LYNX TURN TO JESUS, SCORE 11 RUNS

The Lynx can take some positives from today's doubleheader split with the ScranYanks. For starters, turning to Jesus worked out well, for one day at least. Jesus Merchan, the 25-year-old shortstop promoted from Double-A Reading, contributed a 2-for-4 effort with a triple and two runs scored in the 11-6 win (boxscore, play-by-play) in the nightcap of the split doubleheader.

It didn't go so well for the other addition to the roster. Right-hander Matt Childers finished serving his suspension (which was initially supposed to be 50 games) for a positive drug test and started the second game, but despite being staked to a 10-run lead after 2 1/2 innings, couldn't make it the mandatory five to qualify for the win. (Geoff Geary got the credit for the W.) However, lefty Eude Brito threw six scoreless innings in his best start in quite some time in the first game, which the ScranYanks won 2-1 in 11 innings (boxscore, play-by-play).

The Lynx stranded 11 runners in that first game. They had the go-ahead run at third with one out in the 10th, and two on with none out in the 11th, but couldn't score (obviously) and lost after Yoel Hernandez's wild throw put the winning run on third base with none out in the 11th. So you can imagine it surely felt good to put some crooked numbers on the scoreboard early in the nightcap. Joe Thurston was 3-for-5 with a triple, homer and five RBI and Chris Roberson counted three runs.

Merchan, who had an .899 OPS in 215 at-bats this year for the R-Phils, is replacing Danny Sandoval, who's been put on the temporarily inactive list. (Ottawa Lynx Blog explains what that means.) Yes, it's a little funny that the Lynx added a guy with the first name Jesus the day after getting dinged for 20 runs.

Childers was suspended for 50 games on June 16, three weeks ago. (He hadn't pitched since May 14). Evidently, he must appealed his suspension. Some readers might remember that the Phillies attributed the ban to a "paperwork problem" over properly clearing a medication the pitcher was using.

Today's 1:30 p.m. series finale is a scheduled rematch between right-handers Charlie Weatherby III (2-1, 3.55, 1.07 WHIP) and Tyler Clippard (4-3, 3.44, 1.58 WHIP), who hooked up last Tuesday in Ottawa. Weatherby had a good outing that day, although he was out of the game by the time the Lynx won 4-3 on a ninth-inning sac fly by Brennan King.