Game 6: Krakens 4 MCCLELLAN 3 (3-3)

The Krakens began their first road trip of the year with a matchup of Gio Gonzalez and Jeff Samardzija. Gonzalez gave up a 2-run homer to Jonny Gomes in the second but otherwise kept the Macs off the scoreboard until he was pulled in the sixth. Samardzija was gave up one hit until the eighth when the wheels fell off. Two walks and a single loaded the bases and an Infante single and doubles by Hardy and Infante gave the Krakens a 4-2 lead.  Rodney held on for the save despite giving up a run. Can this be the start of a turnaround?

Game 5: Cleveland 5 KRAKENS 3 (2-3)

The CLeveland Buckeyes went up 5-0 thanks to 3 homers including yet another by Andrew McCutchen (he eats Kraken pitching like whales eat krill). Coney Island's relievers pitched well but it was just a case of closing the barn door after the horse had left. The Krakens threatened and Scott Hairston came to the plate as the tying run in the bottom of the 9th but Ryan Cook shut him out to give the Buckeyes the series. 

Overall a disappointing series for the Krakens. The starting pitching was inconsistent, the bullpen overused and the promised hitting explosion has yet to materialize. J.J. Hardy wen 0-14, A.J. Ellis 2-19 and leadoff man Ben Revere 3-22. Kudos to Josh "The Willing Hammer" Willingham who hit 438/813/571.

Game 4: Cleveland 5 KRAKENS 2 (10) (2-2)

Miguel Cabrera broke out of his funk with a home run in the third to give the Krakens an early lead. After a rain delay the Buckeye's Alex Gonzalez and Jeff Keppinger hit their own home runs in the fifth. In the eighth Boone Logan came in to shut down AJ Ellis but the catcher knocked in Cabrera with a two-out double. In the tenth Rafael Soriano gave up two walks, a single and a three-run triple from Nick Markakis to give Cleveland the game.

Game 3: KRAKENS 8 Cleveland 5 (2-1)

Coney Island jumped to a 7-0 lead after two innings. The big hits were a Josh Willingham triple (!) and a 3-run Encarnacion home run. It could have been worse, JJ Hardy left five men on base to get the final out in both innings. Both teams exchanged hit batters and it looked like tempers might flare but umpires calmed the situation. Cleveland struck back for four in the third including two from an Andrew Ethier double. The game quieted down until eighth when the Krakens scored a run. Andrew McCuten hit yet another home run but the Buckeyes couldn't close the gap.

Game 2: KRAKENS 3 Cleveland 2 (1-1)

Andrew McCutchen opened the game with a lead off home run for the Buckeyes but the Krakens tied it up thanks to a Ben Revere single and steal followed by an Edwin Encarnacion RBI single. No runners got into scoring position until Coney Island got two walks in the fifth. In the seventh Morales hit a deep shot that Vogelsong turned from a HR to a 2B and he scored the go ahead run thanks to an Alex Gonzalez single. In the bottom of the inning Harrell returned the favor converting Willingham's HR into a 2B. After two singles the score was tied and JJ Hardy gave Coney Island the lead with a rare Sacrifice Fly double play! Soriano and Rodney closed out the game for the first Kraken win of the season. 

Opening Day: Cleveland 9 KRAKENS 3

Opening day at Coney Island's Lifeway Kefir Park and hope springs eternal. Kraken fans enjoyed their debut season in 2012 but hope for a post-season berth in 2013. The opener showcased a rusty Gio Gonzalez for Coney Island and a sharp Yovani Gallardo for Cleveland. The Buckeyes scored five in the third with five singles in a row and an error from the normally sure-handed Gerardo Parra. Coney came back with three in the bottom thanks to a Ben Revere triple and a Butler single. The Buckeyes stretched the lead out with two more runs in the fourth and Andrew McCutchen's homer in the eighth was the coup de grace.