Game #77: Zephyrs Lose 10-3

The Zs were drubbed in the first of a three-game set against Nashville Thursday night. Man, when this team falls behind, they're a total snooze. All of their losses since July 15 have been by three runs or more.

Wes Whisler's third start of the year was his worst since his call-up on June 19: 6 runs in 4 innings. The Zephs offense, after scoring two in the first, refused to make it close, fading gently into the Nashville night as the Sounds tacked on runs en route to a 10-3 win. Nashville lefty Chris Waters and an effective Sounds bullpen perpetuated an irritating all-or-nothing Zephyrs offense.

The team's best players, Cameron Maybin and Logan Morrison, provided the only spark, each going 2 for 4. Maybin is hitting .357 with a brilliant (if unsustainable) .486 OBP since being demoted from Florida. Most encouraging is that he's making contact: he's struck out just four times in 28 ABs.

In the tragicomedy department, Armando Benitez pitched one inning for the Zs and gave up four unearned runs.