The ‘Roos aren’t just Roolers. They’re LEADERS.

Canberra: L, 0 – 2.  (.147, .194, .206;  7.3 ip, 1 er.)  Kangaroo Taijuan Walker and Wolverine Rich Hill faced off in Seattle.   Taijuan was doing fine until Chris Taylor began booting balls behind him.  Five runs scored in a nightmarish inning — but thanks to Taylor, 4 of them were unearned.  Still, if your team goes 5 for 34, it’s going to be very hard to get the win.

Haviland: W, 6 – 4.  (.278, .333, .556;  6.7 ip, 3 er).  Vincent Velasquez struggled (4 ip, 3 er), but the test of the team avoided falling into the Kangaroo’s pattern, doing well enough to pick up the win and allow the Dragons to slither back into second place.

Old Detroit: W (-1), L 1;  (-6) – 1. (.148, .179, .148; 15 ip, 7 er.)  The Wolverines matched the Kangaroos pitch for pitch, flailing swing for flailing swing… until Matt Moore and Erasmo Ramirez decided to team up in Tampa:  7 ip, 7 er. Anthony Rizzo “broke” his slump going 1 for 5 (still well below replacement), but Yan Gomes tacked another 0 for 4 onto his hopeless futility.

Portland: W, 6 – 0. (.231, .375, .462; 9 ip, 0 er.)  Johnny Cueto came through with a complete game shutout, boosting the Rosebuds to a big win.  Those of you watching the Mariners game will be completely unsurprised that the one Rosebud to fail to make any positive contribution to the team’s offense was Chris Iannetta.

Pittsburgh:  W, 9 – 4.  (.333, .480,.788 — Happy EMD!; 1 ip, 0 er — Who needs much pitching?)  There wasn’t a lot of hitting — only 24 plate appearances — but what there was impressed. Nick Castellanos led the way again: 2 for 3 with a double, a homer, and a walk.

Flint Hill:  DNP, (-2) – (-2).  (.240, .269, .360; 14.3 ip, 3 er.) The Tornados’ results were suppressed by not playing a game Monday.  The hitting was almost perfect replacement level  — a little too much power, but otherwise on the mark — so it should have scored a couple of run, and probably will once the Tornados get their next game in.  The fine pitching will add luster to tomorrow’s report.

Peshastin:  W, 0 – (-1). (.128, .171, .179;  14.7 ip 1 er.)  Fantastic pitching from both Brandon Finnegan and Nick Tropeano was almost wasted by a TON (41 plate appearances from a light MLB schedule) of crummy Kangaroo-inspired  hitting:  5 for 39 with 2 doubles and 2 walks.

Kaline:  L, 2 – 6.  (. 138, .242 .241;  2 ip, 0 er.) There was a lot of crummy hitting around the league today, so I guess the Kangaroos’ really are natural leaders. The ‘Roo influence reached all the way down to the 8th place Drive.

Cottage: W, 12 – 6. (.441, .486, .765 — Happy EMD!. Who needs any pitching?) Salvador Perez went 5 for 5, only a homer shy of a cycle.  Matt Adams did the pinch-hit homer thing (5.000 OPS!).  Todd Frazier went 4 for 7 with a double, a homer and two walks.  With all this going on, the pitchers decided not to try to upstage the hitters.

D.C.:  L,   1 – 10. (.111, .111, .111;  2.3 ip, 3 er).  Two measly singles in 18 at bats. This is primordial bad hitting, pre-existing any Kangaroo influence.   The Twins have a better record, although the Balk are still ahead by a tiny percentage-point margin.