When things aren't going so well for the Jays, I usually immerse myself in the minor leagues and think about what might one day be. Sunday was a decent enough day for that as the affiliates went 4-2 and featured a few notable performances from promising youngsters.
Kyle Phillips pulled this one out for the 51s with a ninth-inning solo homer which made a winner out of reliever Bubbie Buzachero. Brett Harper also homered for Las Vegas while Randy Ruiz knocked out his 36th (!) double and 73rd (!) RBI. Joe Inglett had two hits while Travis Snider went 1-for-2 with a walk.
TJ Beam started for the 51s and was alright, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings. Buzachero and Jonah Bayliss finsihed off Fresno with three combined scoreless innings.
Kind of an ugly one in New Hampshire as the bats were relatively silent and the pitching was especially ineffective. 34 year-old Marty McLeary started for the Cats and allowed two runs over five innings. He was replaced by Edgar Estanga who was knocked around for five runs on five hits in his two frames. Celson Polanco picked him up and tossed a bit more fuel on the bonfire, allowing two runs in his two innings work.
At the plate, David Cooper, Todd Donovan, and Darin Mastroianni all had two hits. Donovan chipped in a pair of stolen bases while Mastroianni had the only extra base hit on the day. Brad Emaus was 1-for-4 while Brian Dopirak took an 0-fer.
It was a comeback special in Daytona as the D-Jays rallied with 5 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to knock off the Cubs. Justin Jackson and Manny Rodriguez were the big stars of the day. Jackson went 3-for-4 with a double, run, RBI, and stolen base while Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
On the mound, Andrew Liebel settled down somewhat after allowing three first inning runs and finished with a respectable six innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks to go along with four strikeouts. Three relievers combined for three perfect innings to keep the game close enough for the late inning heroics.
It seems like every time I write about the Lugnuts they score a run on three or four hits. Well, Sunday they stretched themselves thin for five base hits, all singles, in getting roughed up by the Silver Hawks. Not much to write home about, but Tyler Pastornicky had himself a decent day by going 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases to give him 39 on the season. Mike McDade wore the biggest goat horns after taking an 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and an error.
John Anderson fell to 2-6 on the year after allowing fours runs on eleven hits in six innings. At least he didn't walk anybody, and did manage five strikeouts. A couple of relievers finished things off.
The Doubledays scored three times in the sixth to take the morning cap of a doubleheader thanks to Markus Brisker's first professional homerun. Seeing as the Doubledays only managed 4 hits, Brisker had the only notable day at the plate. But good on him.
Egan Smith got the start for Auburn and pitched 3.1 shutout innings. Josh Wells relieved him with 3.2 frames of 2-run ball and scooped up the win.
Another comeback win for the Doubledays as they trailed 6-0 after 1 and 9-6 after three and a half. Lance Durham and Yan Gomes homered for Auburn who managed 14 hits in the nightcap. Five players, including Durham, Gomes, and Brisker each had two hits while everyone else in the line-up contributed one of their own.
Matthew Wright started and left after 2/3 of an inning having allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks. David Miller picked up where Wright left off allowing three runs of his own over 2.1 innings. Two relievers helped calm things down from there on in.
GCL Blue Jays- Scheduled Day Off
Three Stars:
3rd Star- Yan Gomes; 2-for-3, R, 2B, HR, BB, 3 RBI
2nd Star- Justin Jackson; 3-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, SB
1st Star- Markus Brisker; 4-for-6, 2 2B, HR, BB, 3 RBI (doubleheader)
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