[IBL] BAL vs MNM Spring Training

[Doug Palmer]

Associated Press: 16 March 2016:

Dateline: Ormand Beach, Florida

Spring training began in earnest for the Baltimore Sand Crabs and the
Minneapolis Millers on Wednesday evening as the two clubs opened up
Persimmon League action.  The Sand Crabs are coming off their best season
since moving to Baltimore while the Millers are coming off an excellent
year where they won 101 games before being unceremoniously kicked from the
playoffs by the Redbacks.  Both teams are justified in looking forward to
the 2016 season, and it was with this enthusiasm that the Crabs and Millers
began their 2016 IBL Spring seasons.

Perhaps it was the long winter or maybe it was the half off Long Island Ice
Teas available in the Miller’s new digs in Ormand Beach, but the bats for
both teams didn’t seem to working very well.  The Millers sent  former Sand
Crab Dallas Keuchel to the hill to face the new look Crabs.  New look in
the sense that a pair of new Crabs were in the starting lineup.  Mark
Trumbo and Kyle Schwarber got to wear the teal and mauve for the first time
in their careers.  Unfortunately for the Crabs, hits were rare to find as
Dallas Keuchel held the Crabs scoreless through 8 strong innings with only
3 hits allowed.  Meanwhile, in the other dugout, Kevin Gausman was equally
effective as he only gave up 2 hits through 6.  Unfortunately, wildness did
affect him and 7 Millers reached base via walk.  Only a lazer shot over the
short porch in left field off the bat of Mitch Moreland defaced the
scoreboard and gave the Millers what seemed to be an insurmountable 1-0
lead going to the final frame.

Blame it on the half off drinks, blame it on the Crabs realizing that the
fungo bats that they were swinging weren’t working, but in the 9th inning,
the Crabs came alive.  Miller closer Kevin Jepsen took the hill to close
out the game but unfortunately wasn’t in mid-season form.  The first two
hitters Jepsen faces reached base on a Eric Hosmer walk followed by a Mark
Trumbo single.  Two Crabs on base at the same time was obviously confusing
for Kevin Jepsen as he promptly gave up  a game tying single to Nick
Markakis and the score was tied at 1 apiece.  Jepsen still could have taken
control of the 9th but unfortunately, still couldn’t get his best stuff
past the Crabs and before the sellout crowd of 6,433 fans knew it, it was
4-1 Sand Crabs as the hits just kept coming.  Jepsen was finally pulled for
Nate Karns who finally put the Crabs in their place, but not before
allowing two inherited runners to score.

Suddenly with a lead, David Robertson, the third pitcher the Crabs used on
the night, found a renewed vigor and set the Millers down with 3 strikeouts
in the 9th inning to preserve the win.  Final score from Ormand Beach was
4-1 Sand Crabs.  Mitch Moreland (2 for 4, 1 HR) and Dallas Keuchel (8 IP, 0
ER and 9K’s) stood out for the Millers while newbie Mark Trumbo (2 for 4, 1
RBI) and Nick Markakis (2 for 4, 1 2B) got the Sand Crabs excited for the
upcoming season.  Something that is so completely NOT familiar to this
crew.  Starlin Castro was actually CRYING when the comeback bore fruit.  He
might've been crying because the concession stand was out of rum, but I'd
like to think otherwise.

Many thanks to Paul for putting in the time to get a spring training game
in from Tokyo (am there, pm for me!).  It was good to brush off the rust
and play a game again.
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