Muckrakers blast More Beer 17-2, go to 5-1

CONCORD -- They say it helps to have a short memory if you're a ballplayer, and the Muckrakers put that truism to good use on Thursday on Field 3.

The 'Rakers quickly discarded thoughts of the previous' week's 16-8 shortfall against Got The Runz, their first setback of 2012, and make short work of More Beer, 17-2, for their fifth win in six D-League outings this season,

In contrast to the tightly played games the previous two weeks, this one was decided early and was never in doubt. The rebounding Men of Muck scored seven times in the first inning and led 14-0 after three. It was, in short, what a good team does to a bad team, and, with all due respect to More Beer, this was an outfit that looked every bit the part of a team that had yet to win this season.

It didn't help that MB's pitcher had only the vaguest acquaintance with the strike zone -- the laboring right-hander walked five in the first inning alone. What really got the Muck-In-Ators off to the races in the first was Eric Leithliter's massive grand slam to right-center, scoring Scott Brama, Reed Johnson and Matt Knauff. After that, the 'Rakers kept right on a'rollin' and MB, well, MB did not.

This one showcased the depth of the Muckrakers. Making their '12 'Raker debuts were Ben Enos, Luke Abbott (two RBIs apiece) and Dave Taxier (a soft 3 for 3). Taxier benefited from the hefty offensive support and tossed the complete game, with MB going scoreless for five straight frames before picking up two gratuitous runs in the sixth.

There was even depth in the mascot department, as Sierra The Wonder Greyhound, accompanied by Lindsay Rich, made her first-ever appearance at a 'Raker game. Sierra, showing that team spirit, even helped the 'Rakers dominate the parking lot after the game. One would think the Mucksters have not seen the last of the swift pooch.

In short, it was a typical last-place-team-gets-smacked-down kinda evening. Johnson rolled out a 4 for 4 outing, Knauff went 3 for 5 and Chris Wagnon went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two driven in. Randy Striegel and Matt McCall continue to work like a finely tuned engine around second base. There was much  smoothness and effectiveness all around as the Muckrakers continued to look strong on top of the D-League pack.

P.S. To the guy who collects our cans after the games -- thanks for the lumpia! It was great!