And so the Biscuit Bus heads south to Mobile, the Skitz fresh from a series win at home against the Generals and now with just ten games left on the schedule with a slim three and a half game lead over the Bham Barons.
But lets not get too far ahead!
WELCOME HOME BOYS
Biscuits return from the 11 game roadtrip that saw them turn the tables on the league, a sweep of the Barons put them in first and a series split against the Smokies made for an 8win/3Loss road trip. Coming home in first place the team expected a heroes welcome, but was feeling left out in the cold when there was no big promotion or pomp for their valiant takeover of first place.
When I quizzed folks about it, I was told that the front office was superstitious about being in first place. They don't want to jinx anything.
GET IT WHILE YOU CAN
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| Biscuits clinch 2006 |
As a fan, I am not sure I go for that. Sure, its not a mathematical lock but after so many years of being in fourth and fifth place, the Biscuits should make hay while the sun shines.
The benefits of touting a good team go beyond this homestand or this season - its a chance to change the city perception that the Biscuits suck. A perception that has been mostly accurate since 2007 ended.
So, I'm not saying hang banners or print t-shirts. I am saying the Biscuits have got to put the playoff dates on the team calendar so fans can plan to follow their postseason Biscuits, just to get things started and acknowledge the teams efforts. They need to show the fans they are planning for big things so the fans can be excited.
And excited fans have turned out, this week we saw bigger crowds than late-August Biscuits have drawn in recent seasons. Montgomery supports a winner, like most placed do. Its the most exciting time for Biscuit fans in a decade and perhaps the biggest series in recent memory upcoming with divison rival Birmingham.
BISCUITS BLACKOUT
Speaking of following the postseason Biscuits, there will be one fewer way to keep up with the playoff action. Chattanooga, the first half champs in the North division and the Biscuits first round opponent should they make it, don't have cameras. The Lookouts don't broadcast on MilbTV, so there will be no video looks at the first round until they get to Montgomery.
Also, should the second round be against Mobile, the BayBears also have no cameras and don't offer video to MiLBtv. Its entirely possible that there would be no way to see playoff Biscuits except when they are at home, where most of their fans already will be in attendance!
SUNDAY
KIDS DAY
BISCUITS Beat GENERALS 1-0
Starting Pitcher Jacob Faria pitched a gem, seven shutout innings allowing just two hits and striking out 11. Faria gave the bullpen a much needed break and spent the afternoon dealing strikes.
After the long roadtrip, a quiet game was just what the Dr. ordered and Faria delivered.
Biscuits scored just once and made it hold up, Patrick Leonard scoring from first on a Cameron Seitzer double in the 6th inning.
Bullpen Report: Ryne Stanek came on with two strong innings to grab a save, his first of the season.
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| Ryne Stanek |
MONDAY
BISCUITS Beat GENERALS 10-4
After taking rest on Sunday the Biscuits broke out the sticks on Monday.
Starting pitcher Jamie Schultz gave the Generals another tough day, striking out ten in six innings and allowing just three hits. Hey, thats why he is leading the league in punchouts!
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| Varona |
The Skitz scoring was many and often.
It started in the 1st inning when Patrick Leonard scored on a Varona sac fly. Add two in the second inning, a run in the 4th inning, another pair of runs in the 5th and cap it off with four insurance runs in the 7th inning and this one was all Biscuits.
Bullpen report: Kyle McPherson had two great innings and looks to be getting back on track, throwing strikes and attacking hitters.
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| Sappington |
In the 9th Mark Sappington got two quick outs and then was brutally peppered with five seeing-eye singles that added up to four runs on five hits and a walk.
It was a bizarre sight, as not one of the hits he gave up would have broken a pane of glass but they all landed just past outstretched gloves, eluding the final out. Eventually Sappington rared back and punched out the final hitter on three pitches to put an end to another strange game.
TUESDAY
BISCUITS Beat GENERALS 3-0
Austin Pruitt was on the hill and he had his good stuff going, frustrating Generals hitters by throwing eight innings of two hit ball and striking out eight. Pruitt walked none and was in charge all night long and at just 94 pitches probably could have come back for the 9th.
Jake Bauers drove in Cameron Seitzer on a sac fly in the 4th inning for the first run. He must have enjoyed it, because in the 6th he did the same thing, driving in Cameron for the games second run. Varona would score on a wild pitch later in the inning and it was all Montgomery would need.
Bullpen Report: Brad Schrieber struck out three men in the ninth, allowing one hit and looks to be back in fine form. Schriebs picked up his 8th save on this night.
WEDNESDAY
BBQ FEST
BISCUITS Beat GENERALS 4-2
REGINATTO WALKS US OFF
Extracurricular: The BBQ fest was probably a one time thing, they had different styles available throughout the park. However it cost us the Grilled Cheese Cart, which now looks to be a BBQ sandwich kiosk!
Taylor Guerrieri was the starting pitcher, which is Cajun for "Gets Five Innings" and indeed the prospect hurler went five.
While the top prospects jersey reads "Guerrieri" it is surely pronounced "Houdini". In the top of the first the Generals had men at second and third with no outs and failed to score.
Such was the theme of the game for Taylor G, pitching in traffic in multiple innings but never allowing a runner to cross the plate until he wore down in the 5th. His final line was 2 earned runs on 6 hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
Bullpen Report: Jeff Ames was "Good" Ames, striking out two and allowing
just one walk in two innings.
Matt "Big Show" Lollis was excellent,
walking one and getting a double play in his one inning.
Ryan Garton
worked two innings and his sixth win with two strikeouts.
Biscuits scoring was early and late, three doubles in the second inning gave Montgomery a pair of runs. The big blow would come in the 10th inning when Leonardo Reginatto would foul away five two-strike pitches before launching a two run, walk off homer onto the train tracks beyond left field.
THURSDAY
THIRSTY THURSDAY PUB CRAWL
GENERALS Beat BISCUITS 11-3
Angry and determined not to be swept, the Generals mustered a charge and took out their frustration by scoring in five different innings.
Starting pitcher Chris Kirsch struck out four but was unable to get out of the fourth inning, chased by a pair of homers and six earned runs. The lefthander simply seemed to have a bad day and the Generals didn't miss, swinging angry and often.
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| Patrick Leonard |
Biscuit runs were there, just not enough. In the first inning the Skitz took the early lead on a Patrick Leonard RBI double. In the fifth inning, though they were down seven runs, the Biscuits plated a pair of runs when Tommy Coyle doubled in a run and was driven home himself by Leonard.
Bullpen Report: Mortensen was thrown into the fray in the 4th, the Canadian Biscuit taking one for the team. Morty surrendered three earned, walked five and struck out three while eating 3.2 innings in a selfless effort to save his teammates. Kyle McPherson worked the final two innings, getting three K's.
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| Jake Bauers watches the Generals skipper argue |
The league standings are very close in the South Division but not so much in the North. While the Mobile BayBears losses to the Biscuits this weekend have dropped them a few games back, they are trying to make it a three team contest in the South.
Assuming we do get a replacement. While Durham and Port Charlotte are way out of contention, its not a lock that we will get anything more than Hector Guevara.
