Asheville chased Greensboro out of town by beating them 5-2. There was some good pitching and a pretty solid infield backup that kept Greensboro on the run.  The manager is in the stands for the third victory. Carte hit another home run and Bechtel registered his 19th stolen base.  Next the Hickory Crawdads will be looking for a win in Asheville.

The Dust Devils were very stingy in the hit department by shutting out Boise 1-0. Katz got a win and Chivilli got a save. We are still waiting for those bats to come alive. Mayora hit a triple that livened things up but most of the hits have been singles. They are becoming more aggressive with a few attempts at stealing bases. There were a couple of controversial calls that kept the Boise manager peaked and ranting. I think that Suarez is looking better each game. He did a nice job fielding a line drive and gets the POB for today.

The manager at Asheville is still in the bleachers and will be until next Tuesday but the Alums were able to keeping batting away and stealing bases. Cuadrado and Bechtel kept up the pressure with Daniel Carte to beat Greensboro 8-5.

You really cannot say enough about that young pitching staff the Dust Devils have this summer. At every game I think I have seen the best and it just keeps getting better and better. The low scoring games are certainly an indication that the throws from the mound are right over home plate. It was good to see another win over Vancouver of 2-1.  We are still first in the eastern division and Boise will be in town for three games. The POB has to go to Tomas Santiago and the seven shut-out innings.

Things are somewhat normal in Asheville. There was a double header Tuesday and they were split with Greensboro. Carte and Paulk had hits in the first game that they lost 9-3. However, it the nightcap the Alums came out on top 4-2. Van Kooten, Bechtel, and Carte all got on and Paulk stepped up and hit his second grand slam home run. Pretty nice for our old friends.

It was a long hot game for the Dust Devils. It looked like they were going to pull off their third win in the eighth inning. And then they were tied, finally losing it in the 10th 6-5. Kreidermacher pitched a credible game for 5 innings. The final out in the 5th inning Kreidermacher stopped a line drive – pretty spectacular. I have decided Andrew Kriedermacher gets the POB since he did not get a lot of credit for a job pretty well done.  Too bad he could not chalk up a win.

Asheville postponed the game Monday and should have two Tuesday if the weather is cooperative.

The Dust Devil lost 3-1. It was not a matter of hits. There were plenty (9) with 10 left on base trying to score.  The batters were able to get to the Vancouver pitchers but pushing a score across was more difficult.  Sullivan took the loss but it probably boiled down to one bad pitch.  At Tuesday’s game I expect someone is going to uncork and start some scoring.  Once that starts it seems contagious. There were some changes in the fielding positions.  I thought Matt Repec did a good job at first so my POB goes to Matt.  He is a good fielder and a good batter.

Down in Asheville the Alums left Lexington after losing 5-2. The manager was still steaming in the southern drizzle. The competitive spirit sometimes gets the best of us all. At least they will be home for a few games now and will take on Greensboro.

The temperature was hot in TriCities at 100. It was a fast paced game with some good pitching from both pitchers.  I really like the new radar gun that measures the speed of pitches. The 3-2 win puts the Dust Devils in the lead in the eastern division. The one lapse by Mayora was not indicative of the general hard work of the fielders. Ferrante’s solo home-run in the second took the sting out of Vancouver’s lead. TriCities’ lead was secure in the 8th with Jackson’s score. The best defense had to be Banda’s catch of Affronti’s bunt.  I think the POB belongs to Anuery Rodriquez who pitched 6 innings and seemed to get better the longer he pitched. I counted 87 pitches to batters and 52 were strikes.

The weather is still damp and forbidding in North Carolina but the Alums could not put it to their advantage. Lexington slipped by them 4-3. Bechtel and Cuadrado figured in the scoring. They have one more game in Lexington.

The Dust Devils played before a record crowd in perfect baseball weather. Shane Lindsay put on a great performance.  He pitched 84 pitches and had 12 strikeouts. It is very apparent that his days are number in TriCities.  He will soon be moving up. Katz and Collis added to the hit drought for Vancouver.  The fielders were error-less.  This was an important aspect since they were full of holes in Everett. With solid pitching and a stingy backup the scores are low and you should win. Jackson made a spectacular save in the ninth with a diving catch. The POB has to go to Lindsay who put on a masterful performance. It was all well worth the price of gas and admission.

The rains continue in North Carolina and the alums were given a win when the game was called in the seventh.  Bechtel’s bunt turned into a throwing error and Asheville came out on top 4-2.

The Dust Devils had to be glad to leave Everett after losing 8-2. But at least they are going to be home for eight games and maybe we will find our groove here.  They dropped to second in the eastern division but we hope to make some improvements.  I guess that Mayora would have to get the POB for his second home run.