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Friday:
LongBeachState.com Story
Long Beach Press-Telegram
SDSU Website
Box Score

Saturday:
LongBeachState.com Story
Long Beach Press-Telegram
SDSU Website
Box Score

Sunday:
LongBeachState.com Story
Long Beach Press-Telegram
SDSU Website
Box Score

I will never look this gift horse in the mouth, but the first two games were an oddity. In a pair of 2-1 victories over the San Diego State Aztecs, the Dirtbags scored exactly zero earned runs. After the win Friday, Steve Valazco said it best (in the Long Beach Press-Telegram):

"We'll take a win any way we can, even if it is ugly and not what you'd call a classic Dirtbag game"

...The pitch to Brandon Godfrey that led to both Don "Herman" Barbara and Mike Weathers being ejected on Saturday was between the shoulders and letters high. I suspect what angered the coaches, and certainly the faithful in the stands, was the umpire's inconsistency. In the previous inning or two, the ump called similar pitches balls when Marco Estrada was on the mound. After the pitch leading to the ejections, Herm told the umpire the ball was high. The diminutive ump, apparently suffering from a Napoleon complex, told him to get back in the box (at third), to which Coach Barbara "politely" told the little guy that the ball was f*%&ing high. At which point Herman got tossed. That brought Mike Weathers bolting from the dugout (or as much as Coach Weathers bolts). He repeated Coach Barbara's complaint, then berated the ump for not tossing him....until he was ejected.

...The Dirtbags 5 game losing streak was not the only string snapped this weekend. The win by Marco on Saturday ended a run of 3 consecutive Dirtbags wins by relief pitchers with starters getting no decision. You have to go back to February 4 against St. Mary's, when Cesar Ramos got the win. On the 5th and 6th, Neil Jamison was credited with the victories on late runs by the Dirtbags. On Friday, Brian Anderson got the win after he pitched a scoreless 9th, and the Dirtbags scored 2 unearned runs in the bottom half for the victory. Then the Beach started their 5 game losing streak.

...The win Friday was Brian's first since April 8, 2003, against UCLA. He earned his first save of the season yesterday, going 1.2 innings, giving up no hits, runs or walks, and striking out 1.

...Coach Weathers really shook up the lineup yesterday. Freshman Zach Barger saw his first action as a Dirtbag, starting in left field and going 1 for 3. He looks to be a good line drive hitter, making good contact in his at bats. Evan Longoria moved over to 3rd, and freshman Donnie Ecker started at shortstop for the first time...and hit leadoff. Senior Cole Jacobsen started at 2nd. The moves seemed to have the desired effect, as the Dirtbags tallied 11 hits and 6 runs (5 earned). Most importantly, the first 4 batters, Donnie Ecker, Chris Jones, Brandon Godfrey, and Sean Boatright (who DH'ed for the second day in a row after returning from his hamstring injury) came through in a big way. Donnie went 1 for 2 (a double), had a sac hit, and scored a run. He was also hit by a pitch, and stole a base. Chris went 3 for 5 (including a double), with 2 RBI and scored a run. Chris also stole a base. Brandon Godfrey also doubled, while going 2 for 4, driving in 2, and scoring 2. All Sean did was go 3 for 5 (also including a double...my kind of broken record) with an RBI. We haven't seen this kind of production from the top of the order since the ASU series.

...When Donnie Ecker was hit by a pitch, it must have barely grazed his jersey or the umpire imagined it. At first Donnie didn't seem to comprehend that the ump had awarded him 1st on the HBP.

...Former Dirtbag Tim Hutting was in attendance...he's off to spring training in a week or two.

...Word is a new offer from the Jered Weaver camp may be put on the table today. I sure hope this gets done soon.

...San Diego State has been a light hitting team this year (they came in .284 as a team). But before this weekend, they had averaged 4.8 runs per game. Long Beach State pitching was stellar shutting them down. The Aztecs managed just 3 runs for the series (2 earned). As much as the Dirtbags have struggled scoring runs, I have to tip my hat to SDSU's starters on Friday and Saturday, Bruce Billings and Alex Hinshaw. Each went 8.0 innings without giving up an earned run. But for 2 errors, each good for 2 runs, each starter might well have been credited with a win, and with the Aztecs taking 2 of 3 in the series.