The Louisville Bats have continued a disappointing season this week, going 1-5 and dropping to 17-39 overall. The Bats are 20 games under .500 for the first time since the end of the 1997 season. This week, though, we’re going to try to stay positive and look at some guys who are doing well despite the struggling record.
Dorn hot
Danny Dorn has been coming on of late. He has hit safely in eight of his last ten games, including a three game stretch of multi-hit games. In his last ten games, Dorn is hitting .282 with a homer, two doubles, and three RBIs. Over this stretch, Dorn has raised his batting average to .206 to .224 for the season.
Gathright way to go
On May 24, the Cincinnati Reds purchased the contract of Joey Gathright from the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League and sent him to Louisville. Joey has not disappointed. Gathright has hit safely in all eight games he’s played for the Bats. The Hattiesburg, MS native is 10-for-30 at the plate with the Bats and had a multi-hit, two RBI day on May 29. Now, if Gathright could the rest of the team to his this well.
Winless Tomko remaining sharp
If you go strictly by numbers, Brett Tomko has been the best and most consistent starter the Bats have put on the mound this season. In ten starts this year, Tomko has authored six quality starts, including five straight dating back to May 6. He hasn’t given up more than three runs in any outing and the most hits he’s given up is seven. He has 44 strikeouts to 28 walks and a WHIP of 1.43. Brett Tomko is winless (huh?). Yes, winless. Tomko, who has a sparkling 3.14 ERA is 0-6. While Tomko has given up just 20 runs in his starts, the Bats have merely matched that. What’s worse? While Tomko has been the pitcher of record, the Bats have scored just nine times. Tomko may be winless, but he’s the best the Bats have right now.
Texeira the shutdown guy
Little known Kaneko Texeira has been one of the bright spots of a beleaguered Bats bullpen this season. After spending all of 2010 in the majors with stints in Seattle and Kansas City, Texeira found himself back in the minors after six appearances with the Royals. Texeira became a free agent and signed with the Reds in the offseason. He has not disappointed. Texeira has allowed just two earned runs in 13 appearances for the Bats. If there is anything he needs to work on, it would be walks. Texiera has given up 13 free passes to just 10 strikeouts. But, with a 0.81 ERA over 22-1/3 innings, he should be just fine.
The Road Ahead
The Bats finish up their homestand with two more games against the Durham Bulls before taking to the road Tuesday. They will play five games in four days against Syracuse. It will be an odd sight on Wednesday as they play the Chiefs in a double header to make up a rain out here in Louisville on Thursday. The Bats, although in the visiting dugout, will be the home team on the scoreboard for one of those games. After finishing up in Syracuse, it’s on to Rochester where the Bats will begin a four game series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The Yankees have been dubbed the “Empire State Yankees” as they will not play in their home PNC Field while the stadium is undergoing renovations. So, an interesting road trip, to say the least, is ahead of the Bats.
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