The Zephyrs limped into the first off day of the season by losing each of the final three games against Round Rock by a combined score of 25-2. With that behind them, the Z’s open a four-game set against Albuquerque tonight. Here’s the lineup:

CF Mattison
2B Solano
RF Cousins
1B Montz
LF Petersen
3B Dominguez
C Sammons
SS Velazquez
P Martin

Last night’s rainout cost the Zephyrs at least a share of first place in the division for the first time this season. Coupled with Oklahoma City’s 2-1 victory in Nashville, the Z’s slipped a half-game behind the RedHawks in the division. New Orleans returns home tonight, opening an eight-game homestand with the first of a four-game set against Round Rock. Mini Madonna will take the stage for a postgame concert!

Here’s the lineup:

CF Mattison
2B Solano
RF Cousins
1B Montz
LF Petersen
3B Dominguez
DH Aguila
C Sammons
SS Velazquez

P Sanabia

Gorgeous weather in Memphis for a morning first pitch against the Redbirds. Here’s the lineup:

CF  Mattison

SS  Solano

RF  Cousins

1B  Montz

LF  Aguila

3B  Matt Dominguez

2B  Jeff Dominguez

C   Sammons

P   Martin

After leading the Pacific Coast League with 13 shutouts last season, the Zephyrs got their first of 2012 last night, blanking Memphis behind seven innings of four-hit ball from Alex Sanabia, who retired 20 of the final 22 batters he faced. The Z’s look for the third 6-1 start in team history today in an afternoon tilt at Zephyr Field. The lineup:

CF Mattison
SS Velazquez
LF Petersen
1B Lasater
RF Aguila
C Armstrong
3B Dominguez
2B Lambin
P Hand

Opening Night was an unqualified success last night – a great crowd and a great game capped by Ben Lasater’s grand slam in the eighth inning, leading to a 6-2 Zephyrs win over Nashville. The Z’s look to start 2-0 tonight, with left-hander Brad Hand making his Triple-A debut. Here’s the lineup:

CF Mattison
SS Solano
RF Cousins
LF Petersen
1B Lasater
2B Velazquez
3B Dominguez
C Sammons
P Hand

The 20th season of baseball in New Orleans gets underway tonight at 7 PM against the Nashville Sounds! A mini-bat giveaway, magnet schedule giveaway, performances from the 610 Stompers and postgame fireworks are all part of the pageantry of Opening Day at Zephyr Field!

Ron Hassey’s first lineup as manager of the Zephyrs:

CF Mattison
SS Solano
RF Cousins
LF Petersen
2B Green
1B Lasater
3B Dominguez
C Sammons
P Sanabia

The 2012 New Orleans Zephyrs:

PITCHERS
Rob Delaney
Gary Glover
Brad Hand
Chris Hatcher
Dan Jennings
Beau Jones
Tom Koehler
Wade LeBlanc
J.D. Martin
Robert Ray
Sandy Rosario
Alex Sanabia
Elih Villanueva

CATCHERS
Cole Armstrong
Luke Montz
Clint Sammons

INFIELDERS
Matt Dominguez
Nick Green
Chase Lambin
Ben Lasater
Donovan Solano
Gil Velazquez

OUTFIELDERS
Chris Aguila
Scott Cousins
Kevin Mattison
Sergio Pedroza
Bryan Petersen

A pair of native Louisianans were competing for the long relief role in the Marlins’ bullpen. The winner of that competition was announced Friday, when Miami optioned left-hander Wade LeBlanc to New Orleans, meaning righty Chad Gaudin is in line to make the club as a non-roster invitee.

With health risks for Marlins starters Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez, Lake Charles native LeBlanc, who had a 1.31 spring ERA in six games, including two starts, will continue to work as a starter in New Orleans, rather than see less-frequent work in Miami.

Gaudin, from Harahan, also had a great spring to seize the job, posting a 1.26 ERA in nine games, all out of the bullpen. LeBlanc had one option remaining, while Gaudin would have had to clear waivers to be sent down.

Other names who could join LeBlanc in the Zephyrs’ starting rotation include Tom Koehler, Alex Sanabia, Sean West, Elih Villanueva, Omar Poveda and Brad Hand.

The Marlins appear to have made their choices in the competition among outfielders for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

A week after Scott Cousins was optioned to New Orleans, Bryan Petersen was sent to the Zephyrs on Thursday and veteran Aaron Rowand was released, leaving Chris Coghlan and Austin Kearns as the reserve outfielders. Coghlan will provide a left-handed bat off the bench, while Kearns does the same from the right.

Petersen hit .250 (11-for-44) in the spring, while Rowand, who is owed $12 million by the San Francisco Giants whether he plays this season or not, had hit just .128 (6-for-47).

The Zephyrs appear to have their regular outfield set: Petersen in left, Cousins in right, and Kevin Mattison in center. Chris Aguila and Jorge Padilla are the veteran outfield options.

Miami is still deciding on whether to keep Donnie Murphy or Donovan Solano as their utility infielder. Solano has impressed Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen throughout the spring with his solid play and is hitting a team-leading .389, but the 24-year-old has never played in the Majors and is a non-roster invitee. The veteran Murphy has been with the big club in parts of the last two seasons despite battling injuries, and is already on the 40-man roster, but has hit just .222 this spring.

In other roster moves Thursday, the Marlins reassigned pitcher J.D. Martin and infielder Nick Green to minor league camp. Both could begin the season in New Orleans.

Jose Ceda, who was perhaps the Pacific Coast League’s best relief pitcher last season when he saved 24 games with a 1.36 ERA for the Zephyrs, is likely lost for the 2012 season after tearing a ligament in his elbow.

Ceda appears to be headed for Tommy John surgery next week, which would cost him the 2012 campaign. It’s a tough break for Ceda, who was in line for a spot in the Marlins’ bullpen. He had fanned eight batters in 7 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League play.

The injury could open a spot on the Opening Day roster for Wade LeBlanc, who has enjoyed a fine spring. Heath Bell, Edward Mujica, Mike Dunn, Ryan Webb, Steve Cishek and Randy Choate appear to be locks for the bullpen, leaving LeBlanc and non-roster invitee Chad Gaudin battling for a job as a long man in the bullpen.