Eye Witness Report - Ordosgoitti = Wow

Last night I got to see Luis Ordosgoitti pitch. He is an impressive 18 year old (9/22/92) right handed pitcher from Venezuela. In his second start, he went 6 innings, giving up one run on just three hits and a walk. He had faced the minimum through four innings on just 30 pitches. He kept Kingsport batters swinging and grounding out. He induced nine ground balls in the first four innings. One of those sneaked through for a hit to center but the rest were gobbled up by infielders. Third baseman Darwin Rivera was busy making five assist in the first four innings.

Ordosgoitti should have gotten out of the game without a run scoring. A routine double play ball was hit to Chan Moon at second who got the force out at second by tossing to shortstop Alex Todd for the put out. However, it appeared Todd had difficulty pulling the ball out of his glove to turn the double play. The runner beat the throw. Ordosgoitti walked the next batter and the next batter singled in the run.

After the game, I heard one of the local reporters talking about how the Kingsport players and managers were raving about how Ordosgoitti's pitches had a great deal of movement on them. He left the game with a 3-1 lead. That lead grew to 5-1 but alas, Ordosgoitti got his second no decision of the season. Each time, he pitched well enough to win.

Quick Notes:

Chase Davidson's HR to center was a fly ball that barely cleared the fence. The Kingsport CF thought he had a chance to catch it and crashed into the wall pretty hard.

Garen Wrights' HR was a line shot to left that got out of the park in a hurry. It was one of three hits on the night for Wright.

Darwin Rivera was a busy man. He had six assist and made one put out. He also made the error that allowed the then go ahead run to score. He made a throw that skipped and Davidson couldn't scoop it. A more experience first baseman might make that play but a better throw gets the out. A couple of times, he double clutched before throwing making plays closer than they needed to be.

There was a batter interference call last night. In the 8th with runners at 1st & 2nd, Luis Alverez laid down a sac bunt. The ball hit him in the back one step from first base. The home plate umpire threw up his hands for a dead ball saying that Alverez was outside the first base running lane. It was very close. That play took what would have been worse case scenario 2nd & 3rd with one out or best case scenario base-loaded with no outs and made it 1st & 2nd with one out because the runners had to return to their original bases. Thankfully the Kingsport pitcher threw a pick off throw into center field and the runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd anyway.
Yep, this is rookie ball. The double steal in the 1oth was actually a pick off. Greeneville had the man on first picked off and in a run down. The runner at third broke for home and the throw home was too late. Therefore, both runners get credit for a steal.

Eye Witness Report - Game #6 = Loss #6

Little Appy Astros and I took in the game tonight. Sunday nights are a great time for fans to catch the G-Stros in action. They start Saturday & Sunday games at 6 so you get out a time that works for early Monday morning schedules and Sunday tickets are buy one get one free. Where else can you get two tickets for $6. On to the game....

I got a first hand look at Jose Perdomo tonight. He lead off the game with back to back called strikes. His fastball showed good pop. He then threw three balls and when he came back with a fastball, it was drilled for a line drive double. That ended up being the pattern with him. He is having no trouble throwing fastballs for strikes. It was when he would miss with the change or the breaking pitches, he would get into trouble. And he missed with the off speed stuff often. He only lasted through the third inning. Five of the seven hits he surrendered were for extra bases. He gave up two singles, three doubles, a triple and one home run. Add into that two wild pitches, a balk and a walk, and you have a rough outing. His season ERA is now very close to the 20 range. I wonder if he makes another start in G'ville or is he sent back to the GCL.

If he is sent down, I expect his spot in the rotation to be taken by Rodney Quintero. Quentero came in and pitched three shut out innings. He fanned 4 during his outing, only allowing one hit. He did hit two batters, otherwise he looked very good tonight. The one hit he allowed was a fly into shallow right that the second baseman, Magee, couldn't catch over his shoulder on the run. He got his hands on it but couldn't quite control it.

Mark Jones looked okay for two innings, but when he came out in the 9th, things unraveled for him. After that, the Astros brought in the side-arming lefty Scott Zuloaga who allowed two inherited runners to score but did get the final two outs.

At the plate, Ernesto Genoves continues to impress me. He hit a HR and a single tonight. All of his extra base hits that I have seen have been to the opposite field.

Darwin Rivera had a two for four night and made some nice plays at third. He tends to double clutch the ball but when he lets it go, it gets there in a hurry.

Jose Vargas was helped off the field after trying to break up a double play. He was not putting much weight on his left leg/foot. Garen Wright replaced him and went 1 for 1.

Ovando Update: He was in uniform again tonight and he was kind enough to sign a ball for my son but apparently not healthy enough to play.

I will be able to make it back out tomorrow to see the Astros try to get their first win against the Kingsport Mets. They too were swept by Johnson City, however, they just swept Bristol who swept the G-Stros in the first series. I hope I see Ovando play and the Astros win tomorrow night.