The pitching staff loves throwing in Ubisoft. Six of the eight starts were Quality Starts, i.e., at least six innings pitched with no more than three earned runs. In fact, the Montreal pitching staff only allowed more than two earned runs in three of the games and threw shutouts in two of them. The team currently leads the Johnson League in fewest runs allowed.
Joe Jackson
Of particular note has been the waiver wire / trade acquisition of left fielder Joe Jackson from Sacramento. Since his arrival in late June, the team is 16-8, with Jackson hitting .403/.409/.581 (175 OPS+) in 66 plate appearances. Of equal note is the promotion of starting pitcher Ricardo Negrete from AAA. In his six starts since mid-June, Negrete has recorded a microscopic 1.26 ERA, allowing only six earned runs and one home run. All six of his starts have been quality starts.
Ricardo Negrete
Next up for the Blazers is a road trip to Phoenix for a four-game series, after which they return home to play four-game series against Boise and Charm City to wrap up July. Phoenix is 47-51 on the season, but 30-19 at home in Denny's Paul D. Lunn Memorial Stadium, which is a hitters' park. Montreal swept a four game set from Phoenix earlier in the season at home in Ubisoft.