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Baseball on a hot night in Richmond The temperature at game time last night in Richmond was 100 humid degrees. It was so hot, the fans stayed away in droves. I guessed the attendance was 2,000 people; the official paid attendance was 2,737 sweltering persons. Usually, when the Ottawa Lynx come south for a game, they are happy to see some warmer weather, but tonight was a blast furnace. In a low scoring game, former Giant prospect and current Orioles farmhand, Brian Burres, took the hill to face Richmond's Jason Shiell in a low scoring game which was eventually won by the Braves in the bottom of the 9th when Brayan Pena hit a single to drive in Martin Prado for the winning run. Final score, 3-2. The game was a homecoming of sorts for Shiell. Picked in the 48th round of the 1995 draft by the Braves (he was the 1,328th player taken), Shiell has made the rounds of the minors, traveling to places such as Danville, Virginia, Macon, Georgia, Rancho Cucamonga, California, Mobile, Alabama and Portland Oregon. Along the way, he appeared in three games with San Diego and 14 with Boston. He was a teammate of Kevin Millar on the 2003 “Cowboy Up” Red Sox and pitched three scoreless innings in his major league debut with the Sox. Previously, his claim to fame was being included in the December, 1999 trade between Atlanta and San Diego in which he was sent west with Bret Boone and Ryan Klesko for Wally Joyner, Reggie Sanders and Quilvio Veras. Shiell went to the Red Sox camp in 2004 but was released after suffering arm problems. After starting this season with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League, Shiell's contract was purchased by the Braves in a move which is reminiscent of last year's purchase of current bullpen stalwart, Ken Ray. Shiell was one of the top pitchers for Somerset this season and his move opened up a spot in the rotation for another ex-Richmond Brave, Billy Sylvester. Shiell's spot on the Patriots roster was taken by yet another former Brave, left hander Andy Pratt, who at one time led the IL in strikeouts before being overtaken by an inability to throw a strike. Given a successful AAA tune-up, Shiell may turn out to be the tonic for an ailing Atlanta bullpen, another success for the Braves scouting department. The only damage done to him was in the top of the 6th when Eli Whiteside led off with a disputed single. Former Mariner prospect Jamal Strong tried to make a diving stop of Whiteside’s line drive to left, but, according to the umpire, came up short of the ball. I was sitting behind 3rd base and was fooled by the call, having already scored Whiteside as F-7. Jason Bowers sacrificed Whiteside to second, and after an Eddy Garabito walk, Fernando Tatis smacked a single to right which scored both runners. Andy Tracy followed with a long double to right which sent the slow footed Tatis to third. The Lynx rally died when Keith Reed grounded out shortstop to first base. I don’t know what Tatis’ clocked speed on the base paths is, but I would surely love to see a footrace between him and Jack Cust to settle the question of who is slower. Burres relied upon his fastball, curveball and slider to pitch effectively and efficiently for the Lynx before the Braves managed to push two runs over in the bottom of the 6th by utilizing an effective bunting game. Tony Pena led off the 6th with a solidly stroked single to right and was advanced when Gregor Blanco laid down a sacrifice bunt which Burres juggled, giving the speedy Blanco time to beat his late throw to first baseman Tracy. After finding success with the bunting game, Prado continued with a sacrifice bunt of his own, advancing both runners into scoring position. Pena was driven in when Pena hit into a fielders choice to shortstop Bowers, who got Blanco going to third. Former Lynx and current IL All Star Carlos Mendez drove Pena in with a single before Whiteside threw him out trying to steal second. Burres ended up pitching seven innings, giving up five hits and striking out three Braves. He did not walk a batter. Former Diamondback minor leaguer Winston Abreu pitched the 8th and 9th innings for the Lynx. Shiell went eight innings, surrendering six hits and one walk while fanning five Braves. The rosters included several players of note. Former major leaguer Fernando Tatis is trying to make a comeback with the Lynx. While slow of foot, Tatis still plays a solid defense at third and is hitting over .300. Whiteside, Baltimore’s top catching prospect (even though he is not on the 40-man roster), started the game for the Lynx and went 2-3. When Whiteside comes to the plate, he comes up hacking. In his three at bats last night, he saw all of seven pitches. Val Majewski went 0-3 last night. Majewski was the Orioles top outfield prospect two years ago until he suffered a torn labrum and missed all of last season. This year, he has struggled with injuries and is currently hitting .207. Reed, the former number one pick in the 1999 draft, is showing signs of figuring the game out …finally. He is hitting the ball on the nose and his average is .293. Former prospect Tracy is entrenched at first for the Lynx and has displayed excellent power so far, hitting 15 homeruns in the first half of the season. The Braves roster has been depleted again this season by the big club, the latest call up being Scott Thorman. The Braves feature current second base prospect Prado as well as slick-fielding, no-hitting Pena. Mendez is an IL All Star. Richmond also has speedy outfielder Blanco and Jonathan Schuerholtz, son of Braves GM, John Schuerholz. --- John
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