A couple of ninth-inning heartbreakers last night, as the minor-league heirs to the Blue Jays closer job showed they're just as fallible as the guys in Toronto. And the New Haven Ravens' triple-triple didn't get them a win. But what a pitching line down in the New York-Penn League for Jamie Vermilyea.
Toledo 12, Syracuse 11
Formerly untouchable closer Juan Pena got touched in a big way — a game-winning, ninth-inning home run by Danny Klassen, following two walks. Juan Acevedo can probably breathe a little easier for the moment. Only Pete Walker, on a rehab start, had a decent pitching line for the Skychiefs. On the hitting side, Jayson Werth broke out of a slump with 4 hits and 3 runs scored, while Kevin Cash singled, doubled and scored twice while driving in 1. Simon Pond knocked in two runs with a double and Kurt Keene drove in 2 with a single and sac fly. Two hits and 2 RBIs for Jorge Sequea, too.
Trenton 6, New Haven 5
Another ninth-inning loss, this one courtesy of Trenton catcher Dioner Navarro, who knocked in the winning runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth off Adam Peterson. The hit made a loser of Jordan DeJong, who’d put the runners on base with a single and a walk, and wasted a decent effort by Cam Reimers, who allowed 8 hits and 3 runs in 5 IP, with (remarkably) 0 walks and 0 strikeouts. Alexis Rios tripled twice and scored two runs, while John-Ford Griffin also had a triple among his four hits — maybe it was the outfield play of rehabbing Bernie Williams that made the three-baggers possible. Gabe Gross doubled and drove in 2 runs, while Dominic Rich had two more hits to raise his average to .242 – getting there, slowly but surely.
Dunedin 5, Tampa 2
Vince Perkins had a strong outing, though not a dominant one: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 Ks – his ERA is now 1.59. Tyrell Godwin had three hits to boost his average to .269, while Mike Snyder connected for his team-leading 6th homer. Shortstop Raul Tablado, recently promoted from Charleston, cracked his first home run and is hitting .310 in his first 29 Abs.
Charleston 9, Lakewood 4
Young veteran Marcos Sandoval threw 5 innings of 5-hit, 3-run ball, striking out 5 and walking none. Sandoval, who came into the organization as a 17-year-old back in 1998, pitched decently in 40 IP at Auburn last year, but bombed out in his previous trip through the Sally League in 2001. He’d thrown 17 strong innings at Auburn before his promotion. Forgotten prospect Scott Dragicevich had four hits, while equally underperforming Brad Hassey had 3 hits and drove in 3. Also notable, the return of Tracy Thorpe, onetime hot pitching prospect who injured his shoulder last summer. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up 1 hit and 2 walks.
Auburn 4, Hudson Valley 3
This is getting happily ridiculous. Jamie Vermilyea, a 2003 9th-round pick of out the University of New Mexico, threw four hitless innings, walking nobody and striking out 10. This is his line so far: 3-1, 1.80, 6 G, 1 GS, 20 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 35 K. It seems fair to say that Jamie will soon be in either Charleston or Dunedin. Third baseman Ryan Roberts had three hits to drive his line to .346/.422/.487, while AJ Porfirio singled and doubled to push his line to .337/.398/.506.
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