LYNX: HAVE A LITTLE FAITH

The Lynx had us indulging a nostalgia for our days covering senior men's fastpitch in a 4-1 loss (boxscore, play-by-play) tonight in Norfolk. One never knew what kind of lineup the local nine would field -- the regular catcher would have work commitments, the right-fielder had to go a baby shower, yadda yadda yadda, and everyone would adjust accordingly

Chris Roberson's call-up to the Phillies in the wake of last night's injuries to outfielders Michael Bourn and Shane Victorino, combined with Danny Sandoval and Joe Thurston being in designated-for-assignment limbo, let the Lynx with a patchwork lineup. Jason Jaramillo hit in the 2-hole for probably the first time all season, Brennan King was at second base, and with Norfolk left-hander Garrett Olson breezed, throwing two-hit, shutout ball across eight innings to cut his ERA to 2.95.

Javon Moran, who was 2-for-4, helped break up the shutout in the ninth inning. In Roberson's absence, the new Lynx outfielder is Shaun Boyd, a former first-round draft pick of the Cardinals. Tonight was his first game since July 23, so it should be forgiven that he was picked off and made an error in left field. It's kind of funny that he ended up with the Phillies, since the Cardinals selected him two picks before all-everything Chase Utley was snapped up by the Phillies in the 2000 draft. Drafting high school and college ballplayers is no sure thing.

Shortstop Jesus Merchan, who was up briefly a few weeks ago, was supposed to be coming up from Double-A Reading, but was instead traded to Seattle. Coming into today's action Merchan was ninth in the league with an .882 on-base plus slugging (thanks mostly to his .404 on-base percentage). Right ahead of Merchan in OPS is, wait for it, ex-Lynx Randy Ruiz, whom San Francisco picked up after Philadelphia dropped him and assigned to their affiliate in Connecticut.

(The Giants organization is willing to accommodate a two-time drug cheat. Who knew?)