The boys representing the Canadian club ruined Independence Day in four American cities, as the full season clubs registered wins. And, this being the first Tuesday of the month, it’s time for a Three-Star update.
Norfolk 1 @ Syracuse 2
In a battle of control righties, Jae Seo went longer but Shaun Marcum had better control. The SkyChiefs could only get to Seo for 3 base hits in 8 innings, but they drew an uncharacteristic (for Seo) 3 walks. Aided by a couple Tide errors the Chiefs put up a two-spot in the 8th. Meanwhile, Marcum struck out 4 and walked none in his 6 shutout innings (6 hits), and Brandon League followed him with 2 no-hit innings (1 walk, 1 whiff). Matt Whiteside collected his 15th save, pitching a nervous ninth in which he conceded 3 hits, including a solo homer. Joe Depastino had 2 of the hits for the home side, including a double.
An extra-inning thriller for the Fisher Cats over the Binghampton Mets, as Game Over Gronk had a rare off night. New Hampshire led 9-5 going to the bottom of the ninth, but Gronkiewicz couldn’t handle the non-save situation, surrendering 4 runs (3 earned). Lee got a W next to his name by sticking around to toss a scoreless 10th, as Rob Cosby homered leading off the top of the 11th. Jordan De Jong nailed down the final three outs for his first save of the season.
Earlier, Dustin McGowan started and pitched a rough 5 innings, being touched for 5 earned on 7 hits, 3 of the ‘Gone yard’ variety. He struck out 4 against 2 walks. Cosby, whose extra-inning bomb was his second of the contest, was challenged by Miguel Negron for the Hero mantle. Miggy stole a base and rang up 5 hits, including a double and a triple. Clint Johnson smacked two two-baggers and Raul Tablado collected 3 singles.
Another brilliant outing from Casey Janssen made him the second 10-game winner in the Blue Jay organization thus far for 2005. Janssen struck out 6 over 7 shutout innings, allowing a solitary hit and one free pass. Justin James and Brian Reed each contributed a shutout inning to seal the deal. On offense, Chip Cannon got his 3 hits and was joined in doing so by Robinzon Diaz. Carlo Cota singled and doubled, while Scott Dragicevich tripled.
The Lugnuts fell behind 7-4 after 4 innings of play, but stormed back with 4 unanswered runs over the next 3 innings to slay the Dragons. Charlie Anderson drove in 4 with a homer and a double, with Curtis Thigpen and Eric Nielsen also registering 2 hits. Ryan Klosterman one-upped them with 2 singles, a dinger, and three, count ‘em, 3 stolen bases for 20 on the season. Yuber Rodriquez swallowed an oh-fer.
On the mound, it was Danny Core charged with all 7 runs for his 4 innings of work, 9 hits, 2 walks, 3 punchouts. Jordy Templet was masterful in relief, retiring 9 consecutive Dragons, 5 by K. Joey McLaughlin and Mark Sopko hurled a scoreless inning each.
The organizational quest for a perfect night came to an end in Jamestown as the Doubledays could muster just 4 hits and 1 run off Jammer pitching. CF Ryan Patterson drove in that run with a double, his second hit of the night. The other safeties went to LF Brian Pettway and 3B Jermy Acey, as the team struck out 7 times and walked thrice (two for Joe Metropoulos).
Auburn’s pitching was not so hot either, as Orlando Trias gave up 3 runs over 5 on 5 safeties and 4 walks while striking out 3. Paul Phillips conceded just an unearned run and struck out 3 without walking anybody, but 6 hits in his 3 innings indicate he wasn’t entirely on.
Wilfreddy Aguirre allowed 4 runs (3 earned) over the first 4 innings and the P-Jay comeback was too little, too late as they fell to the Bristol Sox (of the white variety). Dennis Bigley surrendered another run in the 5th, but stuck around to post a nice final line of 3 innings, 5 Ks, 0 BB, just 2 hits. Ben Harrison allowed 3 hits but no runs or walks in striking out 2 over the final 2 innings.
RF Jacob Butler was the bright spot on offence, driving in 3 runs with his two doubles and a single. CF Zach Kalter reached base twice out of the leadoff spot (single, walk), and stole his 7th base in 15 games. 3B Lee Soto struck out twice and walked once.
3 well-deserving pitchers, 3 well-deserving hitters… flip of the coin, and… hitters it is!
The Third Star: Ryan Klosterman, Lansing. 6 bases with the bat, 3 with the feet.
The Second Star: Rob Cosby, New Hampshire. 8 bases, all with the stick.
The First Star: Miguel Negron, New Hampshire. 8 bases batting, another stealing.
If you read these Minor League Updates regularly, you already know who the hottest Blue Jay farmhand was for the month of June. Chip Cannon’s Florida State League debut saw him hit .398 / .479 / .904 in 83 at bats, with 12 round-trippers. Pro-rated to 500 AB, that’s a 72 homer pace. He did strike out 21 times, but maintained a good walk rate (12 free passes).
All this netted Chip seven Three-Star selections and a total of 85 points for the month, dethroning Casey Janssen for the monthly title for the first time this year. Not that Janssen was off his game – he finished up second for June, and maintained his lead in the overall Three-Star standings.
June Three-Star Top Ten
Player Points Stars Chip Cannon 85 7 Casey Janssen 33 2 Chad Gaudin 30 3 Ryan Patterson 30 2 Anton French 29 3 Ryan Roberts 28 4 Zach Jackson 27 2 Eric Arnold 26 2 Chi-hung Cheng 25 2 Kyle Yates 24 3Overall Three-Star Top Ten
Player Points Stars Casey Janssen 108 12 Chip Cannon 97 9 Ryan Roberts 68 9 Shaun Marcum 67 9 JF Griffin 61 8 Kevin Barker 55 7 Chad Gaudin 55 6 Eric Arnold 55 5 Jamie Vermilyea 54 5 Kyle Yates 52 7 Chi-hung Cheng 52 6
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