Out of nowhere, the Blue Ridge Bombers have become a team to be reckoned with. The Bombers started the season taking 2 of 3 against Arkansas, then split a 6-game series with Vancouver. Now after yesterday's 5-3 win over the Falcons, the Bombers are sitting 1/2 game out of first in the Morris Division. Sitting atop the team batting leaderboard, the Bombers lead the league in team batting average (.314) and are second in team OPS (.842) and tied for second in runs scored (55). But what about their pitching? The Bombers are third in the league in ERA (3.30) and WHIP (1.19), second in OPS allowed (.661) and third in total runs allowed (35).The key offensive cogs in their lineup are first round pick Kendry Morales (.429/.432/667) and Hunter Pence (.389/.450/.694). "Kendry hasn't even started hitting for power yet" said Bombers manager Michael Lewis. "Once those doubles start going over the fence, watch out!" The Bombers' 5 team homers is last in the league, but they are tied for the league lead in doubles (28) and alone atop the league in triples (5).
Meanwhile, the young pitchers have started to establish themselves. Adam Wainwright is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.73 WHIP and 17 strikeouts, and Edwin Jackson is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA. The only starter that is struggling is their other first round draft pick J.A. Happ, who is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA, though he pitched well in his second start against Vancouver.
Blue Ridge had 3 picks in the first round (Aaron Hill was the third), so no doubt the influx of that talent has helped this team. Can they sustain their success though? That's the big question
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