In the absence of a Blue Jay game, the minor leagues were the focus last night. A revolving roster of Bauxites provided play by play on yesterday's minor league thread. The Daytona broadcast, through Jordan as scribe, provided a small town perspective on baseball. If any Bauxites are headed to Daytona we have the inside scoop on chicken wings and babes. What more do you need?
Scranton 10 Syracuse 2
Sean Douglass on the mound trying to register his first win in four starts and stem a three game losing streak for the Chiefs. Hope faded early in upstate New York. Douglass was gone after two, down 5-0. Josue Matos poured fuel on the fire and it was 8-0 after three. I know the Jays have high hopes for Douglass but it is hard to see why. In four starts Douglass has lasted 0.2, 2.2, 4.2 and now 2 innings. His ERA is 11.70.
Mike Smith returned from the DL to strike out the side in his one inning. Glenn Williams supplied the offense with a two run home run, his ninth. Alexis Rios, Simon Pond, and Gabe Gross each had two hits on the night. Russ Adams was 0-4. Rios has his average up to .295, another 2-4 night would make him a .300 hitter.
Matt Michael asks whats wrong with Douglass?
BTW last night was "Friends" night at the park. If your name was Monica, Chandler, etc. you could score a free ticket. Even though the game was a blowout it was probably less painful than the TV show.
New Hampshire 2 Reading 3
This game was decided in the bottom of the ninth, and not the way we hoped. Derek Lee was efficient, going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs to Reading. New Hampshire took the lead in the fourth inning. Back to back doubles by John Ford Griffin and Matt Logan gave the Cats a brief lead.
The Cats tied it in the seventh. Aaron Hill singled, went to third on a hit by Jose Umbria and scored on a sac fly by Mikael Jova.
Brandon League, finished the sixth and pitched the seventh allowing one hit and a walk but no runs. Dan Jackson breezed through the eighth but gave up three hits in the ninth to lose the game.
Dominic Rich was 2-4; Aaron Hill was 2-3 with a walk; and Jose Umbria was 3-4. Tyrell Godwin cooled off at 0-4.
Dunedin 1 Daytona 11
Kurt Isenberg started. The combination of poor defense and the long ball ended his night after 4 innings with the score 5-0 Daytona. Chad Pleiness came on in (non) relief and did not register an out. Three hits and a walk made the score 10-0 after five and the night was over. Dunedin registered a consolation run in the sixth on a sac fly from Vito.
Carlo Cota had as many hits, two, as he had errors. Brad Hassey also had a couple of hits. Dunedin registered seven singles on the night, no XBH.
Hagerstown 6 Charleston 2
Charleston have now lost three in a row, their worst stretch of the year.
Danny Core, Charleston's opening day starter, took to the hill for the Alley Cats. Core was solidly average in this start, leaving one out short of a quality start. In his 5.2 innings Core allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. Hagerstown scored a run in each of the second, third and sixth innings.
Charleston scored in the first inning, Ryan Roberts singled and was driven home by Clint Johnston. That was it for the Cats until the bottom of the ninth. Brian Patrick walked and scored on a sac fly from Juan Peralta. Charleston had seven hits on the day, Mike Galloway was the only hitter with two to keep his average over .300.
Yesterday was a 10:35 am school day game. The students were instructed about the dangers of tobacco abuse before the game. Then they watched the ballplayers chew and spit their way through nine innings.
The WV Gazette has the details
The Daily Mail explains why Hagerstown are doing so well right now
Jack Bogaczyk looks at Cats pitching coach Tom Bradley
Our Three-Star Selection
On a night when no minor league team won, the hitters get recognition for their losing efforts.
The 3rd Star: Glenn Williams, home run number nine to stay tied for the league lead
The 2nd Star: Aaron Hill, the subject of a Box interview yesterday, went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored
The 1st Star: Alexis Rios, hit the ball hard and was 2-4
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040507095412999