Toronto's minor-league teams combined for just nine runs and one win yesterday, but the win was dramatic.
SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS 2, CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS 9
Chris Baker endured yet another rough outing, falling to 0-8 with a 6.63 ERA as the SkyChiefs fell to the Knights 9-2. Freshly demoted Jon Rauch earned the win for Charlotte with five shutout innings.
Baker surrendered four homers and four other hits in 4.2 innings and threw in two walks. For the season, Baker has a dandy 16/48 walk-to-strikeout ratio but has allowed ten homers in just 55 innings.
Syracuse didn't offer much offense. Russ Adams hit two singles and a double, Jeff Guiel offered a single and a double, and Noah Hall singled. The rest of the lineup went 0-for-21.
NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS 3, PORTLAND SEA DOGS 2
Catcher Vic Valencia popped a two-out, two-run, ninth-inning homer to carry the Cats over the Dogs.
Sea Dog Jerome Gamble and two relievers held the Cats to seven baserunners until the ninth. John-Ford Griffin reached on catcher's interference and was replaced by Tyrell Godwin. After a one-out single by Matt Logan, Godwin was caught attempting to steal third. Valencia, batting .188/.290/.350 on the season and stuck in a 3-for-35 slump, just cleared the left-field wall on a Bo Donaldson pitch.
Brandon League earned the win for his 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, and Adam Peterson nabbed his 11th save. Starter Ryan Houston allowed two runs and seven baserunners in 5.2 innings.
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Box Score
DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS 3, TAMPA YANKEES 13
Brad Mumma, Santo Valdez and Chad Pleiness combined for a very ragged six-plus innings of work, allowing twelve runs on fifteen hits and three walks in a lopsided defeat. Every starting Yankee recorded at least one hit. Derrek Nunley and Tommi Ozuna put out the fire after the house had burned down.
Chris Woodward doubled in three at-bats. Justin Speier did not pitch. Carlo Cota hit his fourth homer of the season.
CHARLESTON ALLEY CATS 1, HICKORY 5
Danny Core pitched six strong but got no help as Hickory pulled away late. Core surrendered one run on just two hits and three walks. He struck out six. Unfortunately, teammate Mark Sopko allowed two runs in the six and seventh innings.
Charleston had only six baserunners. Juan Peralta hit a solo homer in the sixth to temporarily tie the game at one.
Three Star Selections
Three Stars: Vic Valencia gave the organization its only win with his dramatic ninth-inning homer
Two Stars: Danny Core allowed just one run in six innings, best among minor-league starters
One Star: Ryan Houston pitched capably, paving the way for Valencia's heroics.
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