Just 1 win out of 4 games in the Minors? On the night of an inspiring win for the Major League team, I'll take it!
Syracuse 6, Louisville 13
It was rat-a-tat-tat in Syracuse as Josue Matos made a rare start and was taken to the woodshed by the Bats. Cincinatti's top-level minor leaguers scored 5 runs on Matos in 4-1/3, and had even more fun with Dave Maurer, knocking him around for 6 runs in just 1-1/3. Talley Haines picked a good night for a less-than-dominating outing, looking good by comparison as he gave up 2 runs in his 3 innings.
RF Alex Rios, 2B Howie Clark, and DH Gabe Gross collected two hits each for the SkyChiefs. Rios added a walk, and one of Gross' hits was good for two bases as he hit out of the 9th spot in the lineup. LF Noah Hall had the only other extra-base hit in the Syracuse lineup, ringing up a triple. SS Russ Adams led off and tried a little of everything; his four plate appearances went single, hit-by-pitch, strikeout, walk.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Post-Standard (AP)
New Hampshire 3, Norwich 7
After pitching 10 scoreless innings to begin his Eastern League career, Francisco Rosario got a nasty awakening in his third AA start. On the rare occassions when he was able to locate the strike zone (2/4 K/BB), the junior Giants navigated his pitches for base hits, totalling 4 in 2 innings, good for 6 runs. Ryan Houston turned in an effective 5 (five!) innings of relief, allowing a solitary run on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. The 24-year-old Houston now has an ERA of 2.60 in 27-2/3 innings, with a 33/15 K/BB and 2 homers allowed.
The Fisher Cat attack was anemic to say the least, with just three hits. A little better was the three walks against four strikeouts. SS Aaron Hill hit a two-run double in the seventh. LF John-Ford Griffin struck out twice in 3 trips to the plate.
The game ended after 7 innings with rain coming down in Manchester.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.
Dunedin 5, Brevard County 7
Down in Brevard County, the Dunedin Jays didn't get it together until the 8th inning, and their 2 runs there and 3 more in the 9th weren't enough as they lost 7-5 to the High-A version of the Expos. It was a power-and-patience attack for the the Jays, as they totalled 9 walks against 7 strikeouts, and 4 of their 5 hits were doubles. LF Jayce Tingler led off with one of each (walk and double), and 1B Vito Chiaravalloti did likewise from the cleanup spot. 2B Carlo Cota and 3B Scott Dragicevich one-upped them, each recording 2 walks and a double.
The Manatee attack of 13 hits (4 2B) and 5 walks against 2 striekouts proved more effective. Starter Neomar Flores lasted just one innings, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Santo Valdez and Jamie Vermilyea followed him with nearly identical 3 inning lines of 1 run on 4 hits and 1 K, with Vermilyea walking one batter. Chad Pleiness was fortunate to allow just a singleton in his inning of work as he gave up 2 hits and 2 walks.
Irrelevant Banter: If you think a Fisher Cat is an odd choice of mascot, check out a few Manatees.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.
Charleston 2, Kannapolis 1
1B Clint Johnston wasn't Intimidated by Single-A White Sox affiliate, delivering a perfect night at the plate (single, homer, two walks) against Kannapolis. 3B William Rivera drove home the other Cat run in the low-scoring affair. DH Joey Reiman had a double and took one for the team in three trips, 2B Ryan Roberts was 1-for-4 with a K.
Davis Romero started for Charleston and went an excellent 5 innings, allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Brian Reed extended his streak of no earned runs in Single-A 15-2/3 innings, picking up a save in pitching an imperfect 9th - one hit, one walk, two strikeouts.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Charleston Gazette
Three-Star Selection!
The Third Star: Alex Rios, Syracuse. 2 singles and a walk.
The Second Star: Davis Romero, Charleston. 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K.
The First Star: Clint Johnson, Charleston. Single, Homer, Walk, Walk.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040525074649999