As if that were not enough, the entire bottom of the first for the Clippers was absolutely stunning. First, Michael Brantley hit a single, then stole second. Three batters latter, Matt LaPorta hit his 10th home run of the year, which also happened to be a grand slam! Man, the fans were jumping. A few more Clippers get on base, and then Brantley steps up again. He nails a double to deep center, allowing two runs to score. At the end of the first, Brantley scored twice, and Trevor Crowe, Brown, LaPorta, Tony Graffanino, Marte, and Josh Barfield rounded the bases. It is pretty much over when the score is 8-0 at the end of just one inning.
Matt LaPorta lets loose on his grand slam. Credit: Robert M. Barga
While that seemed as though it was enough, the Clippers were far from over. LaPorta scored again in the second and Brown in the third. After the third, there was a small two inning drought, and it seemed as though the massacre had ended – it hadn't. In the sixth, Marte hit a home run, and Barfied also scored. Then, in the seventh, Crowe scored for the second time, and Graffanino hit a home run, sending LaPorta and Brown home for the third time each.
It was 16-0 at the end of seven and I started wondering why there was no mercy rule in minor league baseball. Alas, there isn't, but the Clippers didn't need one anyways. Even though the Mud Hens were able to score three runs off of an error, the Clippers wrapped it up with a quick three-out 9th inning.
While I enjoyed most of the game, two things really stuck out and annoyed me. For starters, the umpire was somewhat anal about distractions. He often was calling time, simply because two of the advertisements on the scoreboard were moving at the same time. Sure, I understood the timeout when the scoreboard was playing a live feed (boy, did he look pissed), but there is no need for the delay when the advertisements are simply rotating.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Saw the box score. Toledo third baseman Mike Hessman, who's in a terrible funk this year, pitched the scoreless ninth inning, which amuses me. Maybe that's how he'll finally get called up.
2 - Robert M. Barga
I love that stat matt, sweet
3 - Robert M. Barga
also, that was in the 8th
4 - Robert M. Barga
oh, and, fyi, that was the first grand slam in Huntington park history