[timmyw3]

Sim #1 – 4/5/04-4/12/04

Game 1 – 4/8/04 - @ Portland - SLC 11 Portland 5
The Speed offense got off to a great start, jumping on Meteor starter John Bondy for 9 runs in 5 innings. 2003 team MVP Robert Cowen picked up where he left off with 2 homers and 4 runs batted in. Newcomer David Cardenas contributed a 3-run double that knocked Bondy from the game. Starter Alton Colligan was unspectacular, allowing 5 runs in 5 innings but the bullpen pitched 4 scoreless innings to help seal the win.
WP – Colligan (1-0) HR – Cowen 2(2), Travis (1)

Game 2 – 4/9/04 – @ Portland - SLC 11 Portland 2
For the 2nd game in a row we put up 11 runs, this time rapping out 15 hits including 4 home runs. David Cardenas was 3-for-5 with a homer and 4 RBI and youngster Jose Magana hit his first career round tripper. Robert Cowen was 4-for-5 and scored 3 runs. Starter Bryan Madison was solid allowing 2 earned runs over 6 innings, striking out 4.
WP – Madison (1-0) HR – Magana (1), Swatzell (1), Cardenas (1), Medina (1)

Game 3 – 4/10/04 - @ Las Vegas – Las Vegas 9 SLC 4
The Speed suffered their first loss of the season to the newly named Las Vegas Aliens. Vegas used a 7-run 6th inning to break the game wide open. Speed starter James Lamay suffered from a bout of wildness, walking 7 batters and allowing 7 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. His counterpart, Aliens starter Danny Jackson, shut us down allowing just 3 hits over 6 innings. Robert Cowen homered and drove in 3 of our runs.
LP – Lamay (0-1) HR – Cowen (3), Dement (1)

Game 4 – 4/11/04 - @ Las Vegas – SLC 7 Las Vegas 4
The Speed improved to 3-1 thanks to the right arm and the bat of Joe McNabb. McNabb pitched 7 strong innings, scattering 7 hits and 3 runs while striking out 7. He also provided the key hit in the 5-run 5th, a 2-out, 3-run double to left-center field. Joshua Travis had 3 hits and Earl Dement drove in 2 and David Guynn picked up his 1st save in a SLC Speed uniform.
WP – McNabb (1-0) SV – Guynn (1)

Game 5 – 4/12/05 - @ Las Vegas – Las Vegas 6 SLC 3
The Speed dropped the rubber match of the series to the Aliens as Las Vegas ripped 4 homers, 3 off of starter Neil Heston. New Alien Pierre Perez accounted for 2 homers while Kevin Arnold and Oswaldo Gonzales each hit their 3rd of the season. Speed catcher Arch Stanton drove in all 3 runs for the Speed which included a 2-run homer in the 5th.
LP – Heston (0-1) HR – Stanton (1)

Player of Game Standings
I will use this to determine team MVP and Pitcher of the Year

1(tie). Cowen, Cardenas, Dement

News & Notes

We’re only 5 games in but Robert Cowen looks pretty comfortable in the #3 spot in the lineup. He’s 9-for 19 with 3 homers, 7 RBI, and 8 runs scored. The player replacing him in the leadoff role, Jose Magana, has not done well despite hitting his 1st career homer. He’s hitting just .190 in 21 at bats. It’s way too early though to consider a change. We’ll give him at least through May to produce.

Our pitching has been bad but this week it’s due to the starters and not the bullpen. Colligan, Lamay, and Heston were hit pretty hard but the bullpen had a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings. Hopefully that can continue.

NA West Standings

LVA 4-1
CGY 3-2 1GB
SLC 3-2 1GB
VAN 3-2 1GB
POR 3-4 2GB
CJC 1-6 4GB

Minor League Update

AAA Cheyenne – 3-2
Top pitching prospect William Blake earned a no decision in his first start – 5 1/3 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts. Hopefully the walks don’t become a concern.

AA Billings – 3-2
22 year old CF Tony Caldas is leading the team with a .467 average.

A Provo – 0-5
1st round pick Julio Gonzalez is off to a slow start. 3-for-19, 7 strikeouts.