I almost forgot

Going for the sweep today....

This season is going to turn around --- all because of THE RALLY DEAN!!! EEEEEEAGH!


The message is loud and clear-- WE WILL NOT GIVE UP!

Now THAT's Bicondoa!!!

Ryan Bicondoa really is back, now. Bic pitched six dominant, one-hit innings and got the win today as the Spirit beat the Cutters 1-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 3,605. The only Spirit run came in the 3rd inning when Jerson Perez's sacrifice fly scored Brad Rea.

In addition to Bicondoa's outstanding outing, the Spirit got great pitching from Shawn McNamara, who pitched 1.2 one-hit innings, Donny Langdon, who came in in the 8th inning to retire lefty Henry Stanley, and Kevin Fitzgerald, who slammed the door with a perfect ninth inning to earn his 3rd save. He struck out two batters beforegetting Jeremy Pickrel to ground out to first to end the ballgame.

It was not a great day if you like offense. The Spirit scored one run on four hits on the day while the Cutters were held to only two hits and never got a runner past 2nd base.

This is the third time the Spirit have won two in a row this year (@ Nashua and @ Atlantic City) and the first time at home. The Spirit, now 8-7, go for their first proper sweep of the year (the rain shortened 2 game series in Atlantic City doesn't count) tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM. The game will be broadcast on Tape Delay on 1510 the Zone at 6 PM, so nothing will be posted here until the broadcast is over.

Player of the Game: Ryan Bicondoa (1)

EDIT: I've decided that posting this is going to be a tradition following all Spirit wins:

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SPIRIT WIN 7-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris Farley pitched six solid innings, giving up just three runs to pick up the victory. Jamie Baker, Derek Drage, and Dennis Robinson shut the door from there, giving the Spirit their 7^th win of the season.

Interestingly enough, Vic gave Dennis Robinson the ball in the 9^th instead of Kevin Fitzgerald. Maybe something like this was needed to give the bullpen a kick in the pants. Fitz has been very unstable so far this year. I’m confident that he’ll turn it around, but until then let’s hope Robinson can do their job.

The Spirit brought their bats to tonight’s game Jerson Perez and Brad Rea got solo homers in the seventh and eighth, respectively to give the Spirit bullpen some much-needed insurance. Each of those guys had a pair of RBI on the night as Rea knocked home the first Spirit run in the 2^nd and Rea brought a run home in the 4^th.

New Haven shot off to an early 2-0 lead in the 2^nd inning but the Spirit started the rally in the bottom of that inning with Brad Rea’s aforementioned RBI single.

The Spirit then put together a big inning in the 3^rd – and the key to it all was BJ Weed, the leadoff hitter, who grounded one to the right side of the infield and busted it down the line to pick up the infield hit. He came around to score on another hustle play. Carlos Rodriguez was up with runners on first and third and one out. Carlos chopped it to shortstop where it looked like Chas Terni had a chance to attempt the double play. But as he saw BJ Weed breaking for home plate, he went home with the ball, but Weed hustled down the line and got around the catcher’s tag to tie the game.

Mike Torres and Wally Rosa added RBI hits in the inning to give the Spirit a 4-2 lead. In the 4^th the Spirit stretched their lead and BJ Weed was again a factor. Gil Gil led off the inning with a double and was moved to 3^rd on a picture-perfect bunt by BJ Weed. Then Perez was able to bring him home with a single to make it 5-2.

New Haven added an RBI groundout in their half of the fifth inning but were unable to score after that off of the Spirit bullpen. In the 9^th they put together a brief threat against Dennis Robinson, putting runners on 2^nd and 3^rd, but Robinson got a big strikeout to end the game.

The Spirit now have two more at home against the hapless Cutters before wrapping up the homestand with another three against the flying Grays.

POTG: Tough call... but I'll say Perez. He added some nice defense with his solid hitting.