On the second to last day of the season, we report good pitching by Mike Smith and Josh Banks, not so good pitching from the Charleston bullpen. We read Mikael Jova's escape from Cuba story and how Glenn Williams is unhappy to be still in Syracuse.
Ottawa 3 Syracuse 4 - 10 innings
Round one in the battle of the basement went to the Chiefs. A win today in the season finale will keep the Chiefs out of the basement. Ottawa scored one in the first but the Chiefs fought back. Tim Whittaker singled and scored in the second. Howie Clark tripled home Julius Matos in the fifth to give the Chiefs the lead, and Clark singled home Anthony Sanders with an insurance run in the seventh.
Mike Smith registered his fourth straight quality start, seven innings, one run on five hits and three walks. Mike Nakamura came on for the save in the ninth and, for the second time this week, blew a win for Smith. The game was tied and we went to the bottom of the tenth when Clark led off with a single. Glenn Williams also singled and Jeff Gueil was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chad Hermansen drew the bases loaded walk to win the game.
Howie Clark went 4-5 and Sanders, Matos, and Hermansen had two hits each for the Chiefs.
Game Story plus Glenn Williams is not happy to be still in Syracuse.
New Hampshire 7 Portland 4
NH are getting set for the playoffs so Brandon League started and only pitched one inning as a warm-up for game two of the playoffs. It was not the best warm-up as he allowed two runs, one unearned, on three hits. Josh Banks came on for the second inning and pitched six innings allowing only two runs. Bank's line was 6 IP, 4 hits, two walks, five K's, two runs.
NH scored three in the top of the first, Tyrell Godwin scored on a Dominic Rich double. Rich and John Ford Griffin scored on a Mikael Jova single. Jova doubled and scored in the third. NH scored three runs on four doubles in the fourth. Danny Solano, Griffin, John Hattig and Justin Singleton went for two.
Singleton had three hits, Griffin, Godwin and Jova had two each. Aaron Hill was rested. Jova has been playing well recently and has moved his stats up. He escaped from Cuba on a raft and the Union Leader has the story.
Mikael Jova Story
Dunedin
Playoffs start Tuesday with Ismael Ramirez on the mound.
Lake County 9 Charleston 5
Charleston scored five runs in the first inning and took a 5-2 lead into the eighth, but a bullpen blow-up conceded three runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth. The five runs in the first inning for Charleston were a group effort but the hit parade was capped by a three run double from Eric Arnold.
Kurt Isenberg started and allowed one run in four innings. He avoided more trouble as he allowed nine baserunners on seven hits and two walks. Brad Esaray allowed the three runs in the eighth, although only one was earned. Derrek Nunley gave up four runs in the ninth.
Charleston made four errors, they also had ten hits. Rodney Medina, Robinson Diaz, Joey Reiman and Eric Arnold had two hits each.
Auburn
Playoffs start today, Auburn at Mahoning Valley, who were the wild card winner. Game one is one the road, games two and three will be back in Auburn. David Purcey is the probable starter for Auburn.
Pulaski
Toast
Our Three-Star Selection
The 3rd Star: Mike Smith, Seven innings, one run on five hits
The 2nd Star: Josh Banks, six innings, two runs on four hits
The 1st Star: Howie Clark, 4-5 and led the offense
Standings
Syracuse were 5-1 on the week and their record now is 66-77. Syracuse are sixteen games behind Buffalo, but one game ahead of Ottawa in the race for last place.
New Hampshire, 5-2 for the week and are 83-57, seven and a half games ahead of Binghamton who they will face in the playoffs
Dunedin, were 2-2 for the week and finished 35-28 in the second half. Dunedin finished the second half in second place and will play first place Tampa in the playoffs
Charleston were 6-1 for the week and are 42-27 for the second half. Charleston are in second place and will face second half winner Hickory Crawdads in the playoffs.
Auburn were 4-4 for the week and finished 50-24 to win their division by nine games. Auburn finished with the best record in the NY Penn League.
Pulaski were 1-0 for the week and finished 40-27, good for second place, a game and a half behind Danville
Combined the Jays minor league teams were 23-10 for the week and their record is 398-298, a .572 winning percentage.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040906093753999