It was not a good night for baseball weather wise, and it was not a good outcome for the hometown fans who braved out the rain, and there was a lot of rain, only to see a 2-0 shutout victory for the visitors.

C’s RHP Mike Hart was making his debut as a starter, since signing with the A’s out of Texas State, and he was effective with all 56 pitches he threw.  He gave up one lone hit, and surrendered one walk, while striking out 5 batters in three innings, lowering his season ERA to an astounding 1.59. 

Hart struck out Francisco Peguero, Mike Loberg, Mike Ambort, Casey Bond and Caleb Curry, and ended his day with a double play from RF Jeremy Barfield to Dusty Napoleon after Barfield made a catch, before doubling off Skyler Stromsmoe. 

Once Hart’s day was done, Kenny Smalley came in, and was very effective until the 7th inning.  Unfortunately for Smalley, a pair of strikeouts and a ground out didn’t allow any runs to score, after the C’s had the bases loaded with none out in the bottom half of the 6th.

Then, in the top of 7, Smalley gave up back-to-back doubles to Peguero and Loberg, scoring Peguero on the latter, before Fabian Gomez relieved Smalley who was perfect through 3 innings.

Gomez gave up a single to Jose Flores who advanced his teammate Loberg, before Gomez picked off Flores at first.  Michael Ambort singled in Loberg, and kept the threat alive.  The bases were loaded with two out, before Skyler ‘Tongue Twister’ Stromsmoe grounded out to end the inning.

In the 9th, still down by a pair of runs, the C’s brought in Rodney Rutherford to bat for Leo Gil, and Rutherford struck out swinging.  Then, Napoleon struck out swinging.  And then, Mike Lissman grounded out, to end ‘the game from hell’ where a 3 and a half hour game, filled with pouring rain, a good pitching performance from the C’s, and some timely hitting by Jeremy Barfield that was for nothing, finally ended, before fireworks at the Nat.

As I mentioned Barfield had a great game at the dish.  He was 2-3 with a double and drew a walk, and struck out once.  His other hit was on a bunt single, which was perfectly place, putting him on base.

Dusty Napoleon didn’t get a hit, but extended his on-base streak at home to a dozen games.

David Thomas was 2-4 with a double and a walk, while Leo Gil was 0-4 with 4 strikeouts.

Together, Francisco Tirado and Jareck West were 0-7 with 6 strikeouts.

Game 2 goes Friday at 1:05.