Chicago Sports Online
Chicago’s AAA affiliate, the Carolina Flight, faced a double whammy in its April 11 game against New Jersey River Rats: losing starter Hector Reyes and the reliever sent in to replace him in the space of just two at-bats.
Reyes lasted into the 5th inning, although he had been roughed up to the tune of 10 hits and 5 runs in 4.1 innings. He retired the first batter he faced in the 5th, but yielded a double and two singles before clutching his shoulder and signaling for the trainer.
He left the game with runners on first and second, and left-hander Lou Mitchell came in to relieve him.
Hector Reyes
Lou Mitchell
His first order of business was to balk the runners on first and second over to second and third. His next order of business was to induce a run-scoring ground ball from New Jersey DH Pepe Villanueva.
Mitchell's third order of business? Clutching his abdomen and signaling for the trainer.
Day - mercifully - done.
Carolina, to no one’s surprise, would go on to lose 13-5. After the game, team trainers said Reyes had a sore shoulder and would be day-to-day for two days, while Mitchell had a pulled abdominal muscle and would be day-to-day for five days.
A more suspicious observer might suspect both pitchers sensed which way the game was going and opted for early showers over sustained humiliation at the hands of New Jersey.
In other words, we think we smell a rat – but not of the River variety!