The Jackrabbits took care of the Vancouver Mounties by a score of 3-1 in front of a sellout crowd at John Ducey Park, opening their 2035 season with a win. Lynch, who finished second in Frick Nebraska voting last season, pitched into the eighth and struck out seven Mounties before conceding the rest of the game to stopper Alfredo Martinez). Lynch outdueled fellow youngster Manuel Soliz, and threw 113 pitches while allowing eight baserunners.
In the debut, rookie Luis Costello (.381/.435/.571, 0 HR, 3 RBI) logged his first major-league hit, and free agent pickup Dusty Rhodes (.273/.304/.273, 0 HR, 4 RBI) -- not known for too much speed -- stole two bases. The win was the first of three for the Rabbits, who swept the Mounties under the rug and sent them en route to a winless first stretch of the season.
THE LOVE MACHINE COMES OUT SWINGING
While teammate Mitch Dalrymple (.450/.478/.650, 1 HR, 4 RBI) is hitting .450 and working on a 10-game hitting streak dating back to last season, newcomer Luis Costello (.381/.435/.571, 0 HR, 3 RBI) has hit safely in all five of his major-league games to this point, with three of his eight hits going for extra bases. Combined with a positive defensive showing so far, Costello has made an immediate first-week impact at the top of the order. Yes, it's exceedingly early, but this is the kind of presence in the lineup that Edmonton fans have been looking for in the lineup -- and expecting from the former second-overall draft pick.
CRAUEN, FABRE IMPRESS IN STARTING ROLES
At the end of spring training, two lineup slots were handed to relatively unproven players. Declan Crauen (.474/.500/1.000, 2 HR, 7 RBI) was given DH duties, after 106 starts last year showed his offensive potential but not much in the way of defensive value. Eric Fabre (.444/.524/.722, 1 HR, 2 RBI) was acquired in a trade with Yellow Springs, and beat out Miguel Valencia) and Juan de los Santos for the outright starting catching job after spring training. So far, both assignments are looking good.
Crauen has four multi-hit games in five starts, with as many extra-base hits as games played, and a team-leading 291 OPS+ so far in the first week of play. Fabre is right behind him, with 8 hits in his first 18 at-bats, including a 4-for-5 showing in which he nearly hit for the cycle in a loss to the Madison Wolves. Together, they've already combined for nearly a full win above replacement.
