4/7/08: Van Benschoten Shoots Chiefs Down

For the second time within the last three games, the Syracuse Chiefs took over half the game to get their first hit. This time it was the Indianapolis Indians and their starter John Van Benschoten who held them in check during the 5-1 Indianapolis victory. It wasn't until Joe Inglett came up with 2 outs in the sixth inning that the Chiefs finally got off the 0 in the hit column. His triple, then an Adam Lind double in the seventh were all Van Benschoten (W, 1-0) gave up going six and a third innings. Lind came around to score the only Chiefs run, giving Van Benschoten his final stat line of 2 hits, 1 earned run, and 3 walks. The Indians, however, didn't even stay off the scoreboard for more than two pitches, as Andrew McCutchen took Bill Murphy's 1-0 pitch far out of the park. Murphy (L, 0-1) gave up another run in the second, before finally calming down. Bubba Nelson had a much calmer time in his second appearance for the Chiefs, going 2 2/3 and only allowing a walk to Matt Kata. He was charged with an earned run as Kata scored after Tracy Thorpe came in for Nelson. Thorpe then gave up a ninth inning homer to Josh Wilson, as well as another run to round out the scoring.

Not sure what can be said here. The Chiefs lineup is not very offensively friendly. When it takes until the sixth or seventh inning in two of the five games this year to get their first hit, that means something is wrong. Matt Watson has struck out SEVEN times already, in only fourteen plate appearances. Curtis Thigpen is 0 for 15 on the season. Neither of these guys have a history of being anywhere near as bad as their numbers have been so far. These are the guys that need to perform, as I still don't expect much from the infield.

I was just looking at the Dunedin roster and am trying to figure out if we will be seeing a couple of the pitcher's rehabbing down there. Gustavo Chacin is on their active roster, as well as Armando Benitez. I'm a bit confused for Benitez since last I heard he was supposedly going to be in Syracuse. Also, B.J. Ryan is rehabbing down there, so I am hopeful we will get to catch him with the Chiefs and hopefully during a homestand.

Even though he is currently not on the Indianapolis roster, Craig Wilson was spotted at the game in an Indians jersey. I am not sure if he would be coming back as a player or possibly just a coach, as reports showed him interested in doing possibly either.

Indians first baseman Adam Boeve was hit on the hand by a pitch in the eighth inning by Tracy Thrope and was taken out of the game.

Official attendance today over 2800...apparently over 2300 of those came dressed as empty seats. To be honest, I think I estimated around 300 there, but I'll say 500 just to be nice.