By Rick Mariotti
Minor Leagues Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Cape Hatteras, NC – Week 10 was filled with disappointment for the Carolina Flight, and their record showed it: a dismal 2-4.
The Flight opened the week by splitting two games with the Havana Pelicans (New Orleans), then went home to drop 2 of 3 to the Brooklyn Bombers (Atlantic City). Carolina closed its week by dropping the opener to a three game road series against the Milwaukee Choppers (Las Vegas).
Probably the closest thing you’ll find to a legitimate highlight in the wreckage of last week was an exciting come-from-behind win against Havana on June 2.
The Flight went into the 9th inning trailing Havana 5-4. But then, pinch hitter Carl Pitts rifled a one-strike double into left field, bringing defensive whiz (but offensive lightweight) Joaquín Torres to the plate. Torres wasted no time, though, as he tomahawked the first pitch from Havana RP Manuel Cruz to left for a 383-foot 2-run homer that gave Carolina a 6-5 lead it would not relinquish.
In the bottom of the inning, closer Francisco Salgado retired the side in order, striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.
Tenth Week Scores
At Havana
06/01: Carolina 6, Havana 5
06/02: Havana 4, Carolina 3
At Carolina
06/05: Brooklyn 6, Carolina 0
06/06: Carolina 7, Brooklyn 5
06/07: Brooklyn 5, Carolina 4
At Milwaukee
06/08: Milwaukee 5, Carolina 4
Record as of June 8
W-L Record for Week 10: 2-4
Overall Record: 33-31, .516
Position in Standings: In 3rd place in the GL East Coast Division, 12 games behind 1st place Brooklyn.
Position Players of Interest
| Player | Slash Line | OPS | HR | RBI | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomás Durán, 3B ** | .306/.365/.514 | .879 | 7 | 27 | 1.1 |
| Emilio Lugo, 1B | .273/.354/.563 | .916 | 15 | 46 | 0.8 |
| Pete McGrath, RF | .239/.317/.523 | .840 | 7 | 17 | 0.2 |
| Manuel De Los Santos, LF | .215/.282/.273 | .556 | 0 | 14 | -1.2 |
| Wally Poole, RF | .318/.382/.504 | .886 | 6 | 17 | 0.9 |
| Howard James, CF | .256/.336/.381 | .717 | 3 | 22 | 0.2 |
| Hao Hang, RF | .317/.405/.584 | .989 | 6 | 18 | 0.6 |
| Pitcher | ERA | W-L-SV | IP | K's | BB's | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hector Reyes, SP | 2.76 | 7-1 | 84.2 | 89 | 29 | 3.1 |
| Dieter Ruijghaver, RP * | 2.08 | 1-0-0 | 8.2 | 8 | 2 | 0.0 |
| David Bates, SP/RP | 6.63 | 3-3-10 | 38.0 | 33 | 18 | 0.7 |
| Francisco Salgado, CL | 2.89 | 0-2-5 | 9.1 | 16 | 2 | 0.3 |
** Promoted to Chicago on 05/19/41