He’s Gaudin for speed…
An undefeated night for the farm featuring a near-perfect game.
Columbus 0 @ Syracuse 3
The last time Chad Gaudin had a start like this, he was just a couple weeks away from being promoted to the majors. That was his AA debut in 2003, a 20-year-old prospect for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and he tossed a 7-inning perfect game. Yesterday in AAA Syracuse, the 22-year-old Gaudin threw 8 perfect innings before allowing a leadoff single in the ninth. Unfazed, Chad went on to strike out the next two batters and complete the 1-hitter with a total of 7 Ks. Will Gaudin be appearing soon at a Rogers Centre near you? Unlikely. The Jays and Rays are polar opposites in their player-development philosophies, and this being Gaudin’s last option year the Jays will want to be sure he’s fully seasoned before promoting him back to the bigs.
The SkyChiefs gave Gaudin all the run support he’d need in the bottom of the first. John-Ford Griffin singled to cash Bryant Nelson, who had reached first on a passed ball strikeout and moved up via a steal and an Aaron Hill single. Syracuse tacked on insurance runs in the 5th (Anton French round tripper) and 7th innings. 3B Jason Alfaro had a double and a single in the game, Hill two singles, and newly acquired catcher Joe Depastino continued his strong start with two base knocks. First baseman and ninth hitter Eric Crozier smacked a double in his 3 trips.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Post-Standard
While not quite approaching perfection like Gaudin in Syracuse, the pitching in Dunedin was mighty fine too. Zach Jackson (6 innings, 5 hits, 2 K, 2 BB), Brian Reed (2 innings, an unearned on 2 hits) and Tracy Thorpe (1 inning, 2 Ks) shut down the Hammerheads, while the D-Jay offence banged out 4 doubles amongst their 8 safeties to score 5. The re-habbing John Hattig had one of those two-baggers, plus 2 singles. 3B Eric Arnold and SS Manny Mayorson had a walk each to go with their deuces, while LF Adam Lind was content with just the double.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.
Taking over for the promoted Casey Janssen, lefty Daryl Harang made his first ever professional start. He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks in his 4-1/3 innings but limited the damage to 3 runs, 1 of those unearned. It was game over for Wisconsin from there, as Po-Hsuan Keng Rattled the Timbers for 3-2/3, striking out 6 and conceding just two singles. Closer Danny Hill notched his 10th save of the campaign with a 1-walk no-hit ninth.
The Nuts supplemented their 9 hits with 6 walks in scoring 5 runs. Centre fielder and leadoff hitter Yuber Rodriguez was on base thrice for the second consecutive game (single, double, walk), as were catcher Curt Thigpen and left fielder Luke Hetherington (single and two walks each). First baseman Chip Cannon blasted his 8th homer while also drawing a free pass.
Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Lansing State Journal
The Third Star: Zach Jackson, Dunedin. 6 shutout innings.
The Second Star: Po-Hsuan Keng, Lansing. 6 Ks in 3-2/3 dominant innings of relief.
The First Star: Chad Gaudin, Syracuse. A single short of perfection.
Courtesy of my friend Brad, gentleman, scholar, and tug-o-war champ, here’s a look at the delivery of Lansing’s Aaron Wideman.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050517095124664