They don't call it a game of inches for nothing...

The Navs fall 9-8 tonight to the RockCats, their fourth loss in a row. Navs jump out to a quick 4-0 lead after two innings but New Britain scorces 9 unanswered runs before a Navs rally falls short. Fred Lewis was the story in alot of ways for the Navs going 4 for 5, 3RBIs and a SB as he continues his hot pace of late. Fred lead off the first with a single, stole second (see pic), went to third on a groundout and scored on a SF just what your leadoff guy is supposed to do. In the second he lines a based loaded clearing double into the gap but gets thrown out at third. In the bottom of the 8th he starts a 4 run rally with a single. In the 9th well..he misses a game tying solo HR by a few inches and again is thrown out on a wierd play at third. He had the double and with the play in front of him stops about 15 or so feet in front of third and is tagged for the final out.
Merkin Valdez cruised thru the first two inings and headed in the top of the third with a 4-0 lead but does what I swear is a trend for this pitching staff and that is after the team scores in the preceding inning they give up runs starting with the thing I hate most: a leadoff walk and give instant life to the other team. Now again about those inches--all the hits Merk gave up were dinks and dunks just in there by inches and the one hard hit ball Orty missed by inches and before you know it a 4-0 lead turns into a 5-4 score the other way. Malzone on the mound Sunday and I'm wearing an old school Navs hat as a steak breaker.

Misc. Fan notes: I haven't seen anything in terms of signage/promotion about the name change in the park. The Eliezer Alfonzo HR was a big time blast over everything. I was out in the Gator Garden when he hit it and took about 2 seconds to get out. Carlos' slump continues. Frandsen doesn't have a hit on the homestand yet and left the game after a HBP in the 8th. Walter with a start at DH.
Great night weather wise for baseball but a disappointing crowd with 3200 announced. Bat night for the kids helped the number. Nice looking bats too--real Louisville sluggers. There's always a bunch of RockCats fans at Dodd. I wonder how many Navs fans go to New Britain?