Pitching Matchup; Game of the Day 5/27/11

7:00pm
Trenton Thunder (Manny Banuelos 1-0, 1.96)
vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Stolmy Pimentel 0-6, 7.56)

7:05pm
New Britain Rock Cats (Deolis Guerra 3-4, 8.91)
vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Chad Beck 4-0, 3.07)

Indianapolis Indians (Brian Burres 2-6, 4.65)
vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (Matt Fox 4-2, 3.09)

Game of the Day– Thunder vs. Sea Dogs – We’ve made it back to one of my favorite MiLB pitchers as ManBan (I've ignored him a few times around) and the Trenton Thunder invade Hadlock Field for five games. Despite only having 1 win in 8 starts this season, Thunder starter Manny Banuelos has been solid as the Yankees ease him into a full season of work. Tonight will be his fourth start of the season against Portland. In his prior three outings against the SeaDogs Banuelos went 12 1/3 innings, allowing 14 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 10. He pitched 4 scoreless innings against Portland in his last start on Sunday in Trenton when he only allowed 2 hits, but also walked 4 batters. He will be opposed by Stolmy Pimentel who is still in search of his first win of the season. Pimentel faced off against Banuelos this past Sunday and had his worst start of the season, lasting only 1 1/3, allowing 7 hits and 6 earned runs. Trenton also tuned him up back on May 4th for 8 hits (2 home runs) and 4 earned runs. After allowing 15 hits and 11 runs over his last 5 2/3 innings of work, this is a crucial start for Pimentel, who has only had one quality start in 8 outings and possesses an ERA (7.56) and WHIP (1.71) that would be in the top 3 worst in the Eastern League if had pitched enough innings to even qualify. Trenton comes into tonight’s game as the hottest team in the EL, winners of their last seven straight. Portland on the other hand, comes into the game with the worst record in the Eastern League and after dropping 3 of 4 to New Hampshire at home, they now sit sub .500 at Hadlock with a 10-11 mark.

Side note prediction (5-12) – My seven-month old son has a stuffed animal that you can program to say his name, but when it does it says it as if it’s a question. For instance, the thing says, “I love you. Kyle?” This is how I feel with today’s prediction when I say, “You’re going to get your first win today. Stolmy?” I don't know why I keep making outrageous predictions that almost have no shot at happening, but if this one does, I will program my son's stuffed animal to say Stolmy!

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