Could Sergio Santos keep his 20-game hitting streak alive? Could Dunedin win in front of 500 fans again? Could New Hampshire get started admist rain in Trenton? Only this Minor League Update has the answers!
Syracuse 4 @ Toledo 2
With Josh Banks' high HR rate, it was just a matter of time until someone we knew went deep against him. Last night, it happened in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of the one and only Josh Phelps. Syracuse still had a 3-1 lead at that point, thanks to the second inning which saw a Rob Cosby double bring home two, then Ryan Roberts followed with a single to right.
Aside from the homerun, Banks was doing very well through five: a Tike Redman double in the second was followed by 13 straight outs until Phelps came up (he then retired another six in a row). He did not walk a batter and had quite a few strikes in his pitch total, which was very low at 83 pitches through 7. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Banks' outs in play (12 of 15) were fly balls, something that you'd think cannot continue if his ERA is to get under 5. The other run by the Mud Hens? Yep, another homer. Still a good start for Banks, though.
Sergio Santos Watch: His 20-game hit streak was in jeopardy when he came up in the top of the seventh, sporting an 0-for-3 on the night. Two men were on and he bunted into a 5-6-4 DP while trying to move them over; Mike Basso was trying to get Wayne Lydon to bunt during the previous AB, so the continuation after the Lydon walk was not surprising. Santos then struck out swinging in the ninth to end the streak.
And in stark contrast to the early-game pitching of Banks vs. Downs/Chulk last night, the Jays got through the Baltimore fourth at the same time Syracuse was batting in the top of the seventh.
New Hampshire 9 @ Trenton 4
This one was delayed due to rain and didn't start until 2 hours and 45 minutes after its scheduled start time. Assuming that was 7:00, that means this game ended at 12:24 am.
Kyle Yates started for the F-Cats and went seven innings, scattering six hits and allowing two runs. He got some help from his defense, as double plays ended both the fifth and seventh innings as well as another in the bottom of the fourth.
Everyone in the starting lineup either walked or got a hit, with Manny Mayorson (RBI double, double, single) and Curtis Thigpen (walk, walk, walk) reaching base three times. Adam Lind drove in three -- two on a single up the middle in the first and another single up the middle in New Hampshire's five-run sixth. Eric Kratz also homered in the sixth, a two-run shot that made it 6-2. That's as close as Trenton got, thanks to one reliever moreso than the other. Connor Falkenbach pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two.
It also appears that Trenton's CF Justin Christian might have been hurt on one of those double plays mentioned earlier. He was the first out on the 6-4-3 in the fourth and was replaced the very next inning.
Clearwater 1 @ Dunedin 3
Three single-run innings did it for the Threshers yesterday afternoon. Robinzon Diaz had two hits including a double to raise his average to .294, and he stole his second base of the year to boot. Eric Nielsen brought Diaz in from third in the sixth on a single, and doubled home another in the bottom of the fourth.
The D-Jays might have had more runs on the board had they not run into two third outs: Ryan Klosterman was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a single, 9-2, to end the second inning and Diaz was caught trying to advance to second on a single, but the throw did not go home and the out was recorded, 8-4-6.
Orlando Trias started and pitched six shutout innings, but he walked a couple, hit another and threw a wild pitch. Clearwater had two runners on base on two separate occasions, but Trias was able to get out of these situations and lower his ERA to 3.62.
Lansing did not play yesterday as they had a scheduled day off, just like everyone else in the Midwest League. They appear to have four games left in the first half and are currently one half game ahead of West Michigan for the first-half playoff spot. No other teams can finish first in the Eastern division at this point.
Three-Star Selection:
3. Orlando Trias
2. Eric Nielsen
1. Josh Banks
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060614222825940