Let’s face it: The Shartlesville Browns are not meant to be a winning team. Consistently throughout the season when they’ve clawed their way to within site of being .500 they’ve crapped the bed. The Sharts were 2 games under when the Speakers came to town today:

Game 1: Shields v Harvey. The Speakers struck first when Cespedes doubled and was driven in on a Bryant 3B. Bryant made it 2-0 with an RBI ground out in the top of the 3rd. The Browns tied it up in the bottom of the 3rd when Iglesias dropped a 66 to get into the second column followed by an 11 for his first homer of the year. The Speakers 5th inning proved decisive as they used 2 walks, 3 singles and a sac-fly to move ahead 5-2. Matt Harvey earned the win and Darren O’Day got a one out save, marking his 3rd save against the Browns in the last 7 games.

Game 2: Burnett v Archer. The Sharts did all their damage in the 2nd as new Brown Jose Abreu led off with a single followed by a K. Seager walk. With one out Morales drove in a run with a single before Danny Espinosa delivered a 2-run double to put the Browns up 3-0. The Browns would ground into more double plays (2) than hits (1) off Archer the rest of the way. The Sharts pitching staff made the lead stand up, allowing just one unearned run as Burnett got the win and Tony Watson got a 2 inning save. Archer was a tough luck, complete game loser.

Game 3: Hahn v Gallardo. After the Speakers went 3 up, 3 down in the 1st, they plated 2 in the second and batted around while scoring 4 in the 3rd. That chased Gallardo as Carlos Rodon was summoned from the pen to start the 4th. He settled things down, going 4 1/3 and allowing only a solo homer to Gonzalez. Two other relievers also kept the Speakers from inflicting more damage, but all that did was help to lower the pen’s ERA. Hahn baffled the Browns, going the distance for a 4 hit shutout; walking just one while striking out 7 along the way.

Notes:

The Browns wrap up the 2nd period at 30-33. The Speakers improved to 31-20.

For the series the Browns slashed .172/.226/.256. and had only 4 extra base hits.

The Speakers outhit the Browns 28-15.

New Browns Jose Abreu (3) and Adam Jones (2) accounted for a third of the Browns hits.

The Browns had only 3 multi-hit innings in the series: The 3rd in Game 1 and the 2nd in Games 2 and 3.

The Browns are now 4-3 vs the Speakers this year.

Fact: The way I roll I could have the ’27 Yankees card set and still hit .200.

Second Period stats will be out soon.