Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Rainouts don't slow Blue Jays
After consecutive rainouts, Pulaski uses a six-run sixth inning to remain unbeaten.
PULASKI -- For two nights they scanned the stormy skies over Calfee Park, hoping for a break in the rain and a chance to get out on the field.
Tuesday, after consecutive rainouts, the Pulaski Blue Jays picked up where they left off, extending the Applachian League's best start with a 10-2 win in the first of three games against Burlington.
Pulaski (5-0) remained the league's lone undefeated team, posting four runs in the third inning and six after a two-out error in the sixth.
"For some reason we're putting crooked numbers up," said Jays manager Dave Pano, whose club has scored three or more runs in an inning seven times this season.
With C.J. Ebarb and Luis Fernandez setting the table at the bottom of the Pulaski order, all 10 RBIs came from the first four hitters: Raul Barron, Wes Stone, Jonathan Jaspe and Paul Franko.
About the only Blue Jay to miss out on the fun was Travis Snider, an 18-year-old outfielder making his professional debut after being drafted 14th overall by Toronto three weeks ago. Batting fifth and playing left field, Snider showed a strong arm but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, including two in Pulaski's big sixth inning.
"It's about as good as an 0-for-4 day can be, because we got the win," said Snider, who had not played in nearly a month.
Pulaski, which leads the league with 42 runs and a 1.80 ERA, trailed for the first time this season after Burlington (3-3) scratched out a third-inning run against left-hander Kyle Walter.
The Jays responded immediately with four runs in the bottom of the inning, including two on Franko's double inside the left-field line.
In the sixth, Pulaski exploded for six runs after Burlington shortstop Jose Chavez skipped his throw on an apparently routine two-out grounder.
Jays pitchers had it from there.
"We're throwing strikes," said Adam Rogers (1-0), who threw 2 13 strong innings of relief. "A lot of the teams we're facing ... seem to be struggling with that."
Notes
Jays outfielder Victor Santana was named Appalachian League player of the week after hitting two home runs with seven RBIs against Princeton and Elizabethton. ... Pulaski's other 18-year-old outfielder, 13th-round pick Mikal Garbarino, debuted with a pinch-hit groundout in the eighth. With Johermyn Chavez, 17, also in the fold, the team has three teenagers among its seven outfielders.
Burlington 001 001 000 -- 2 6 1
Pulaski 004 006 00x -- 10 10 1
Storey, Perez (5), Sanders (6), Johnson (8) and Tavarez, Garcia (8); Walter, Rogers (3), Wice (6), Serro (7), McGuigan (8), Dials (9) and Ebarb. W -- Rogers (1-0). L -- Storey (0-1). A -- 716.





