Vancouver trounces Marietta

Vancouver laid the smackdown on Marietta over the weekend, sweeping a 4-game set in dramatic fashion. In the four games, Vancouver outscored the Mighty Men by a 51-17 margin, scoring at least 10 runs in each game. Vancouver evens their season record at 14-14, while Marietta dropped their fifth straight game and fell behind Team Buddah.

Arkansas's Jeremy Bonderman had been roughed up all season long, but in yesterday's second game, he pitched a 6-game shutout of New Jersey. The win was the first or the season for Bonderman, who also struck out nine in the game. Alex Rodriguez was 4-4 with 2 RBIs in the game and Mark Ellis also had two hits.

Blue Ridge and Newark battled to an 11-10 final, with the Sugar Bears winning. Blue Ridge was clinging to a one-run lead going into the final inning, but Newark rallied to tie and then win the game on a Chipper Jones single. After a high-scoring game like that, both teams appeared tired in the second match, as the two teams combined for six runs in a 4-2 win by Newark. Ted Lilly did his best to keep the Sugar Bear lineup in check (5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER), but his counterpart, John Smoltz, pitched equally well (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7K). Once again, Chipper Jones gave his team the lead with a 2-run single.

Several players, especially catchers, returned from injury over the weekend. Newark regained Yadier Molina, Las Vegas welcomed back Joe Mauer, and Kurt Suzuki returned to Sardine City. Pitcher Shawn Hill was activated from D.C.'s disabled list.