Big innings are the order of the day as the Toronto farm wins 3 and loses 2.
Scranton-WB 2 @ Syracuse 6
Syracuse plated 5 in the bottom of the first and coasted from there to defeat the Red Barons. Gabe Gross got things started with a base hit, but the next two batters flew out and Scranton Wilkes-Barre looked to be in good shape. Not so, as 7 consecutive SkyChiefs reached, all by single or by walk. Desi Relaford popped out to shortstop with the bases loaded to end it, his second out of the inning.
John-Ford Griffin singled in the first and later swatted a solo homer, his 26th of the campaign. Julius Matos totaled two singles, while Gross and Joe DePastino each got on base twice with a walk and a single. Working with the solid lead, Chris Baker turned in 6 innings of 2-run ball. Frankie Rosario tossed a shutout frame (1 BB, 1 K), and after 2 outs from Adrian Burnside it was Game Over Gronk coming on to strike out 3 of the 4 batters he faced.
Ricky Romero started for the D-Jays and went a very solid 5 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and a walk, whiffing 4. But Brian Reed and Brad Mumma were torched for 7 runs over the next 2 innings and the Dunedin offence couldn’t keep up. Only leadoff man Rodney Medina had 2 hits amongst the Blue Jays, and he stole his first base of the season. Adam Lind doubled and walked twice. Robinzon Diaz had a base knock to show for his 4 trips to the plate.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Po-Hsuan Keng in his debut season in North America, but he was dealing last night in Fort Wayne. The 20-year-old zapped 8 Wizards over his 6 shutout innings, surrendering just 4 singles and a solitary walk. Aaron Tressler, Dewon Day, and Jordan Timm kept things in check over the final 3, striking out 5 more along the way.
The Lugnuts scored all their runs in one play in the top of the fifth. Josh Lex lead off with a walk, and a single by Al Quintana and a walk to Yuber Rodriquez set the stage for Juan Peralta. He hit a liner that was scored a triple and a throwing error on the centre fielder as Peralta chased home all three baserunners and scored the 4th run himself. Lex had two hits and a walk on the night, as did Aaron Mathews. One of Mathews’ hits was a double, and from left field he threw out two baserunners at second base.
Another great night for CF Ryan Patterson, as he singled, doubled, and walked twice to lead the DoubleDays to victory. 2B Sean Shoffit had a single and 3 walks out of the leadoff spot, and catcher Brian Bormaster whacked a double to go with his 2 walks. SS Chris Gutierrez had the single biggest swing of the night, a bases-loaded triple in the top of the eighth. Big City Metropoulos had a single in 4 trips before Brian Pettway flew out for him in the ninth. LF Jacob Butler went 0-for-5 in his second game in the New York-Penn. On the mound, lefty Eric Fowler got it done with 6-1/3 of 4-hit, 3-run ball, striking out 6 and issuing 3 free passes. Yesson Berroa notched his 5th save of the season, coming on with the bases jammed and 1 out in the bottom of the 8th and recording the final 5 outs in order.
Francisco Mateo was knocked around for 5 runs in 4 innings, and after 2 shutout innings from Ray Sanchez, Scott Byrnes coughed up 5 more over the final 2 frames. Leadoff man Zach Kalter scored 3 of the 5 Pulaski runs as he singled twice and walked twice, and RF Jorge Sandes also reached 4 times – single, double, two walks. 2B Graig Badger singled and doubled, SS Jesus Gonzalez singled twice, and Lee Soto took an oh-fer.
The Third Star: John-Ford Griffin, Syracuse.
The Second Star: Ryan Patterson, Auburn.
The First Star: Po-Hsuan Keng, Lansing.
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