June 19, 2006: The Test Begins

The arrival of late June corresponds with Fleetwood first real measuring stick of the season...namely, can the rebuilt Fleetwood Walkers compete with the elite of the National league? With 7 games each against the defending BRASSball champion Ocala Ocelots and also the über-powerful Metropolis Avengers, the world would soon find out.

The Walkers first home game versus Ocala would feature an excellent pitching matchup. Fleetwood called on Esteban Loaiza, while Ocala turned to Jake Peavy.

Fleetwood showed its power early on, scoring 9 times in the first 3 innings. This scoring was highlighted by a 3-run homer from David Wright, a 2-run double from Bobby Crosby, and a 3-run homer from Ramon Castro. This scoring knocked Peavy out of the game in the bottom of the 3rd.

Loaiza fared better than Peavy, taking full advantage of the run support his offense had provided. He threw strikes, allowing just one run through 7 innings on a Reggie Sanders home run. With his team comfortably ahead, Fleetwood manager Rube Foster brought in Juan Dominguez for the last 2 innings.

Fleetwood had sent a strong message to the defending champions, but also realized that the proud Ocala Ocelots would be ready to battle again tomorrow.

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BOXSCORE: 2006 Ocala Ocelots At 2006 Fleetwood Walkers              6/19/2006
Gm 1: A balanced Fleetwood attack knocks out Peavy early; Loaiza is strong.
 
  Ocelots            AB  R  H RBI AVG     Walkers            AB  R  H RBI AVG
  G.Sizemore CF       4  0  0  0 .301     M.Giles 2B          3  1  0  0 .249  
  J.Mauer C           2  0  1  0 .295     B.Bonds DH          0  1  0  0 .000  
  D.Jeter SS          4  0  1  0 .287   A-L.Matos PH          3  0  1  0 .286  
  T.Helton 1B         4  0  2  0 .332     D.Lee 1B            5  0  0  0 .264  
  R.Sanders LF        4  1  1  1 .255     M.Cabrera LF,3B     5  1  2  0 .330  
  J.Drew RF           2  0  0  0 .271     D.Wright 3B         4  2  2  3 .327  
  T.Iguchi 2B         3  0  0  0 .290   B-J.Valentin C        1  0  1  0 .288  
  S.Burroughs 3B      3  0  1  0 .278     J.Dye RF            5  0  0  0 .271  
  R.Aurilia DH        3  0  0  0 .250     J.Edmonds CF        4  3  2  1 .232  
                                          B.Crosby SS         3  1  1  2 .305  
                                        D-N.Perez PH,SS       1  1  1  0 .281  
                                          R.Castro C          2  1  1  2 .288  
                                        C-D.Dejesus LF        1  0  1  1 .273  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      29  1  6  1                 Totals      37 11 12  9
 
A-Pinch Hit For Bonds In 3rd Inning
B-Subbed Defensively (C ) For Wright In 7th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (LF) For Castro In 7th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Crosby In 7th Inning
 
Ocelots......... 0 0 0  1 0 0  0 0 0  -  1  6  1
Walkers......... 3 1 5  0 0 0  2 0    - 11 12  0
 
Ocelots (36-21)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET
J.Peavy LOSS(7-5)         2 1/3   5   8   7   4   5   2   4.60  A1 B8
T.Walker                  2 2/3   3   1   1   0   4   1   5.50  B9 D1
G.Mota                    1 1/3   3   2   2   1   1   0   4.68  D2 D9
R.Novoa                   1 2/3   1   0   0   1   3   0   4.38  E1
Totals                    8      12  11  10   6  13   3
 
Walkers (43-23)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET
E.Loaiza WIN(8-2)         7       6   1   1   3   5   1   3.15  A1 C9
J.Dominguez               2       0   0   0   1   1   0   4.18  D1
Totals                    9       6   1   1   4   6   1
 
ATTENDANCE- 38,078 DATE- Thursday, June 19th 2006 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
T- 2:55
LEFT ON BASE- Ocelots: 5  Walkers: 8
DOUBLE PLAYS- Ocelots: 0  Walkers: 4
ERRORS- G.Sizemore
DOUBLES- B.Crosby(11th)
HOME RUNS- R.Sanders(8th), D.Wright(15th), J.Edmonds(11th), R.Castro(8th)
WALKS- J.Mauer-2, J.Drew-2, M.Giles-2, B.Bonds-2, J.Edmonds, R.Castro
STRIKE OUTS- D.Jeter, T.Helton, R.Sanders, J.Drew-2, R.Aurilia, M.Giles, D.Lee,
             M.Cabrera-3, D.Wright, J.Dye-4, J.Edmonds, B.Crosby, R.Castro
GIDP- D.Jeter-2, T.Iguchi, S.Burroughs
WILD PITCHES- R.Novoa
WEB GEMS- Top 1st: Bobby Crosby robbed Joe Mauer of a base hit.
          Bot 2nd: Grady Sizemore robbed Derrek Lee of an extra base hit.