Three victories in four games for the affiliates on Sunday with a couple of notable performances thrown in.
Louisville 3 @ Syracuse 5 Boxscore
It's Hector Luna's world and we're all just living in it. Well, for today, anyway. Heading into the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2, things were looking bleak for Syracuse. But with two out and nobody on, the Skychiefs strung together a couple of hits, including an Adam Lind RBI single to tie matters. Luna then deposited a 2-1 delivery well over the wall in left-centre to snatch victory from the hands of Gary Majewski. The blast made a winner of Shawn Camp who was perfect over 2.2 innings.
Davis 'The Other' Romero made his first appearance since labrum surgery over a year ago, and acquitted himself quite nicely allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out two over three innings work.
Adam Lind went 3-for-4 to give himself a respectable 1.086 OPS on the year. Robinzon Diaz had both a pair of singles and passed balls while Chip Cannon had a fairly typical 3 strikeouts in four AB.
New Hampshire 2 @ Connecticut 4 Boxscore
Things weren't so hot for the Fisher Cats today. Ricky Romero had a frustrating start allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks over, you guessed it, 3.2 innings work. He did strike out five, though. And Troy Tulowitzki's only hitting .192 in Colorado so things aren't all bad.
Nothing too notable of the offensive side. New Zealand's own Scott Campbell did pick up four singles in five trips but everyone else was fairly silent for the Cats. Even the boxscore was kinda boring.
Fort Myers 0 @ Dunedin 3 (6 innings) Boxscore
Kenny Rodriguez's Blue Jays debut was cut short by rain. No matter, though as the 20 year-old Cuban was excellent throughout going the six-inning distance allowing only one hit while striking out seven. Paul Franko supplied a good deal of the offense with two doubles and two runs scored. Travis Snider had an RBI double and two strikeouts. Don't let it happen again, Travis.
Lansing 6 @ Fort Wayne 4 (10 innings) Boxscore
I've got a feeling that following the Lugnuts is going to be quite enjoyable this year. There are no less than five intriguing prospects in the starting lineup and, so far anyway, most are off to promising starts. The Lugnuts spent most of Sunday playing catch-up. Trailing 3-0 through five, the 'Nuts knotted things with a three run sixth thanks to a well, three-run HR by Yohermyn Chavez. Fort Wayne retook the lead in the bottom of the inning but Lansing tied things up again Chavez went yard again, this time good for two. Edgar Estanga closed things out for the Lugnuts with 4 innings of 2-hit ball.
Justin Jackson took an 0-for-4 (though with a walk), but Kevin Ahrens continued his hot start with two singles and a walk in five plate appearances. Both Jackson and Ahrens also stole their first bases of the year.
On the mound for the Lugnuts was two-time Jays draft pick Brad Mills. Mills was shaky, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs over his four innings of work. Picking him up in relief was Dave Stieb wannabe Brian Pettway. He couldn't do it with the stick but on the mound, he seems alright. Two innings of work yielded three singles and a run. Pettway will be an interesting case to follow.
But, as you can tell, Chavez was the real story today. Two years removed from being an overmatched 17 year-old, Chavez looks to be blossoming into the type of toolsy teen the Jays haven't really had since Alexis Rios broke out in 2002.
Three Star Selection
Pretty clear-cut today......
3rd Star: Hector Luna- Walk off HR for Syracuse
2nd Star: Yohermyn Chavez- 3-for-5, 2HR, 5RBI, SB
1st Star: Kenny Rodriguez- CG SO. 6 IP, 1H, 7K
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