...and his manager sees fit to bench him for the second game of the day. Some people are hard to please! Four wins for the Blue Jay farm in six scheduled matches and the continuation of a suspended game. Encouraging efforts from two players on rehab.
Syracuse 3 @ Indianapolis 4
Game Over Gronk had a rare off night as the Indians rallied past the SkyChiefs. Gronkiewicz came on in relief of Jamie Vermilyea in the bottom of the 8th with a runner on first and two out, Syracuse up 3 – 2. A stolen base and a wild pitch put the runner on 3rd, and Lee then walked two to load ‘em up. The next batter grounded a single up the middle to score two. The Chiefs managed two singles as a comeback effort in the 9th, but could not score.
It was Chris Baker who made the start for Syracuse, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits of 5-1/3, 3-2 K-BB. Vermilyea came on to strand two runners and tossed 2-1/3 total, with two hits and two whiffs. John-Ford Griffin led the offence, driving in all 3 runs as he hit his 20th homer, a single, and drew a bases-loaded walk. Gabe Gross was in the leadoff spot and reached twice on walks. Some guy by the name of Koskie played 3rd base and went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.
Vince Perkins, Bubbie Buzachero, and Brad Mumma teamed up to shut out the Aeros with authority. Only 3 Akronites even reached base (2 singles and a walk off Perkins) as Perkins and Buzachero pitched 4 innings each and the troika struck out 15 for the game.
The offence did its thing in the 3rd inning, scoring 4. Curtis Thigpen got the rally started with a double, the first of two hits for him. He also walked, and Raul Tablado joined him in the 2-hit 1-walk column. Tablado stole his 4th base for good measure.
The D-Jays banged out 12 hits, but unfortunately they gave up 17 and took it on the chin. Starter Kurt Isenberg could have been advised to be a little more wild, as he walked none but was peppered for 11 hits over his 5-1/3, good for 5 runs (4 earned). He struck out 5 along the way. Danny Hill came on to post the curious line of 1-1/3 innings, 4 unearned runs on 1 hit and 2 walks.
It was doubles night at V-Beach, as the Dodgers smack 5 two-baggers to the Blue Jays 4 (Mayorson, Lind, Smith, Dragicevich). Catcher Guillermo Quiroz went yard as part of a two-hit night. Smith and Dragicevich also registered multi-hit lines.
A Chuck Anderson homer highlighted a Lugnut win in a see-saw battle. Walks were in vogue, as the ‘Nuts drew 11 free passes, including two each for Anderson, Christian Snavely and Luke Hetherington, and 3 for leadoff hitter Jason Armstrong. Yuber Rodriquez didn’t get in on the walking, but he did hit a double and single.
Russ Savickas started and allowed 2 runs over 5 frames (5 hits, 1-3 K-BB) and was followed by Juan Perez, who was labeled BS for allowing 2 runs over the next two innings. Derek Roy got the W for his spotless 8th inning, and Joey McLaughlin was awarded his 6th save after a nervous ninth which saw him surrender two hits and a walk but no runs.
The Doubledays sailed into first place by completing a come-from-behind win in the continuation of Sunday’s game and then beating the Cyclones in a 7-inning affair.
Down 3-0 after 4 innings when Sunday’s game was suspended due to fog, the Doubledays got the bats going on Monday to score 5 in 6 innings. 2B Sean Shoffit smacked 3 doubles and a single, RF Ryan Patterson collected three base knocks, and CF Matt Cooksey contributed two singles and the game-winning RBI. LF Brian Pettway walked, singled to lead off the 10th-inning rally, and threw out a baserunner at home plate. Eddie Rodriguez picked up Sunday starter Eric Fowler and tossed 3 shutout frames, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out one. Gabriel Alfaro followed with two more shutout innings to collect the win, and Adrian Martin collected his first save with a one-run 10th inning.
In the 7-inning contest, the Doubledays got 8 hits, 1 each from hitters 2 through 9. Leadoff hitter Manny Sena contributed as well, drawing a walk and driving in a run. 1B Big City Metropoulos, DH Kyle Bohm, and 2B Marshall Bernhard all hit doubles.
Kristian Bell had himself a fine outing, striking out 6 over 6 innings while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk. He was capably relieved by Billy Carnline, who notched his first pro save.
Boxscores: Continuation game, 7-inning game.
The Braves came to town and did a convincing job of showing the Jays why they’re in first place. Francisco Mateo kept things in order over the first six, giving up 8 hits but just 3 runs, but Ben Harrison and Scott Byrnes came out in the 7th throwing BP, tonged to the tune of 5 earned, plus two more off Byrnes in the 8th.
The exclamation point in the12-hit Pulaski attack was a 2-homer night for RF Jake Butler. CF Zach Kalter, 2B Wesley Stone, 1B Paul Franko, and DH Al Quintana also had 2-hit nights.
With honourable mentions to John-Ford Griffin and Vince Perkins:
The Third Star: Jake Butler, Pulaski. 2 round-trippers.
The Second Star: Bubbie Buzachero, New Hampshire. 4 perfect innings featuring 6 Ks.
The First Star: Sean Shoffit, Auburn. 3 doubles, a single, and a walk in 6 PA.
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