With the end of the season just over two weeks away some of the Jays affiliates are chasing playoff spots. Syracuse rode Gabe Gross' hot bat to beat Ottawa. The Chiefs need to win again today in Ottawa to set themselves up for a four game showdown against division leading Buffalo this week. New Hampshire were swept by Portland but are still in a playoff spot. Dunedin and Auburn would also be in the playoffs if the season ended today. And Josh Banks walked a batter, his first since June.
Syracuse 7 Ottawa 4
Spike Lundberg started for the Chiefs as he continues in his "fill-in" role. Lundberg struggled initially giving up one run in the first, two in the second and another run in the third. The Chiefs played catch-up by scoring three runs in the third on a walk and four singles. Syracuse tied the game in the fifth when Gabe Gross doubled and scored on an error. The Chiefs took the lead with 2 in the sixth thanks to a single by Justin Singleton, a double by Joe DePastino, a ground out, and a double by Gross. Julius Matos doubled and scored on a Gross single in the eighth. Francisco Rosario, Adrian Burnside, Lee Gronkiewicz and Matt Whiteside faced one hitter over the minimum in the last four innings. Gabe Gross led the offense, going 3-4 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in two. Julius Matos was 2-3.
Box ScorePortland 4 New Hampshire 3 - 15 innings
New Hampshire ran their losing streak against Portland to 11 games yesterday, although it took Portland 15 innings to win. Tracy Thorpe gave up a home run to the first hitter he faced in the fifteenth to take the loss. Portland had a chance to win when they scored a run in the twelfth but, in the bottom of the inning, Brad Hassey singled and scored on a single by Ron Davenport to extend the game further. Josh Banks delivered another excellent start. The first hitter he faced hit a home run, and Portland scored another run the sixth, but the big news was that Banks walked a hitter in the fifth inning. Banks' line was 8 8 2 2 1 3. The bullpen held Portland to one run over six innings before the winning home run. Hassey had 3 hits, Ron Davenport and Ron Acuna had two hits each. Chip Cannon went 0-7.
Box ScoreDunedin 6 Tampa 2
Davis Romero got back on track with an excellent start against the Yankee kids. Romero went six shutout innings, no walks and five K's. Look for todays interview with Dunedin manager, Omar Malave, in which he discusses Romero's season. Dunedin scored twice in the first inning, Rodney Medina singled, Carlo Cota doubled him home, David Smith singled, Adam Lind walked and Robinzon Diaz singled home the second run. In the fourth a sac fly by Smith scored Eric Arnold and in the fifth Medina doubled Mike Snyder home. Arnold hit a two run home run in the seventh. Diaz led the offense going 3-5. Arnold, Manny Mayorson, Medina and Cota had two hits each.
Box ScoreLansing 12 Wisconsin 1
Lansing jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the third and cruised to victory. Lansing bashed out 14 hits, Aaron Mathews went 4-5 with two doubles and a home run. Yuber Rodriguez went 3-4 and his average is now .204. Jason Armstrong went 2-6. Ryan Klosterman and Josh Lex homered. Danny Core picked up the win, six innings, three hits, one run, seven K's.
Box ScoreJamestown 9 Auburn 3
Auburn led this game 3-2 until Jamestown scored six in the sixth. Orlando Trias had given up two runs through five but he allowed three more runs and was pulled with two out in the inning. Josh Sowers gave up three more runs before getting the third out. Auburn's first run came on a home run by Brian Pettway. Auburn's other two runs came courtesy of a double by Emmanuel Sena, a triple by Ryan Patterson, and a double by Joey Metropoulos. Sena and Gutierrez had two hits each. The NY Penn league all-star break is Monday and Tuesday.
Box ScorePulaski 4 Bluefield 5
Bluefield scored all five runs in the first two innings off Shane Benson. Benson did settle down to pitch four innings. Pulaski scored all their runs in the third, Chris Martinez singled, Zach Kalter doubled, Wesley Stone singled in one run and Jacob Butler hit a three run home run. Kalter went 3-4, Jesus Gonzalez continued his hot streak with two more hits.
Box ScoreYour Three Star Selection
Third star - Aaron Mathews 4-5, home run
Second Star - Davis Romero, six shutout innings
First Star - Gabe Gross, 3-4, 2 runs, 2 ribbies
Standings Update
Just over two weeks left in the season, three teams, New Hampshire, Dunedin and Auburn are strong contenders for a playoff spot. Syracuse are a longer shot. Lansing and Pulaski will not make it.
Syracuse record is 66-63. The Chiefs are in third place, four games back of Buffalo, who they play four times this week.
The Fisher Cats are 64-64, after being swept by Portland, and are in second place, seven games back of Portland, and a half game ahead of Trenton for the last playoff spot.
Dunedin are 32-24, and are are in first place, a half game ahead of Lakeland. Lakeland were the first half champions, and if Lakeland win the second half then the team with the next best overall record gets the second spot. Dunedin currently are ahead by approx. 4 games in that race.
The Lugnuts are 24-33, and are tied for fourth, ten games back of South Bend.
Auburn are 33-27, in first place, four games ahead of Mahoning Valley.
Pulaski are 29-29, in third place, eleven games behind Danville.
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