And so do Jays' affiliates, apparently. Sometime I need to compile their collective record on Mondays. I don't expect it to be good. Though considering how the affiliates have been doing, the other days of the week probably aren't much better.
New Orleans 8 at Las Vegas 5
Brett Cecil got his first start since returning to the desert, and had a line inspired by a certain Christmas Carol: 6 hits for Orleans, 5 runs allowed! 4 base on balls, 3 earned runs, 2 strikeouts and a no dec-i-i-sion! When Cecil left the game, the 51s were down 5-4, but they scratched out a run in the 7th on a Randy Ruiz RBI single to tie up the game. Unfortunately, the Zephyrs stormed back for 3 runs off of Dirk Hayhurst, who absorbed his 4th loss of the year.
On the offensive side, Howie Clark went 2-4 with a walk, a double, and 3 RBIs to lead the way. J.P. Arencibia was 1-5 with a K. Angel Sanchez reached base 3 times and currently sports a .699 OPS. That's not good, but he could probably match Johnny Mac's production at the big league level, and is apparently a good glove-man. With that in mind, it's become clear to me that the Jays don't need to keep the Minister of Defense around, as much as I love the guy. Wouldn't the big club be better served using that spot for someone who can hit, like Randy Ruiz or Brett Harper? Both of those guys have OPS's around 900 at AAA, and in case something happens to Scutaro, Sanchez provides the security of having a good glove-no bat SS in the organization. An added benefit is that a spot would be opened up for Brian Dopirak at Las Vegas.
Trenton 7 at New Hampshire 0
Marc Rzepczynski didn't have his best stuff today, as he gave up 10 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings. Even his best stuff might not have been enough, though, as the Trenton pitching staff shut the Fisher Cats down on only 3 hits. There were some positives for Zep: 6 Ks to only 1 walk, and 10 ground-outs to no fly-outs. Danny Farquhar, Nate Starner and Edgar Estanga pitched 4 innings of relief with nothing particularly interesting to report.
As previously mentioned, the hitters were pretty stifled on this day. Adam Calderone walked twice and Brian Jeroloman singled and walked, and nobody else reached base more than once or hit for extra bases.
Dunedin - scheduled day off
Lansing 5 at Cedar Rapids 6
Charles Huggins got the start and was fantastic. Unfortunately, he could only go 4 innings, and the bullpen couldn't hold the lead for him. His line: 4 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, no runs, and 9, that's right, 9 strikeouts. He also had a 1-2 GB:FB ratio. In case you're curious, Huggins was drafted in the 23rd round last year and put up some spectacular numbers as a reliever at Auburn, though we probably shouldn't get too excited yet as he is a little old for the MWL.
Jared Potts, Frank Gailey and Matthew Daly each gave up at least a run, with Daly's 2 runs coming in the bottom of the 9th for the walk-off victory. Despite the bullpen's meltdown, the Lugnuts kept it close by scoring 5 runs of their own, including a 4-run 6th. In the 6th, the bases were loaded on singles by Michael McDade, Jon Talley and Balbino Fuenmayor. Justin Mclanahan singled again to knock in two, and after a Markus Brisker ground-out which advanced the runners, Tyler Pastornicky continued the single parade to cash in two more.
Pastornicky was the hitting star, going 3-5 with 2 RBIs. McDade, Talley and Fuenmayor had 2 hits apiece.
Three Stars!
3. Howie Clark - 2-4, 2B, BB, 2RBI
2. Tyler Pastornicky - 3-5 with 2 RBIs
1. Charles Huggins - 4IP, 0ER, 9K
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090525224756806