It's entirely possible that the most exciting and entertaining thing to happen in Sin City today was the baseball game.
Sacramento 11 Las Vegas 14
What a crazy friggin' game. So much happened. I don't even know where to begin. How about I tell you the top four things, in point form:
- The 51s scored in every inning save for the 8th where they left the bases loaded.
- Jarrett Hoffpauir hit for the cycle, scored five times, and walked in 6 plate appearances
- J.P. Arencibia reached in five of six appearances with two hits and three (!) walks
- Trailing 11-10 with two out in the ninth, Brian Dopirak smacked a pinch-hit, walk-off Grand Slam
Phew. Virtually everyone did something good (at least at the plate) so just check out the boxscore. Aside from those above, Luis Figueroa was 4-for-5 with 2 RBI. Brett Wallace went 2-for-5 with a walk.
Rey Gonzalez started and got smacked around. He lasted 4.1 and allowed six runs on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Jesse Carlson got roughed up in relief but David Purcey was the big winner going two shutout frames with two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
New Hampshire 2 Binghamton 4
The Fisher Cats managed all of their scoring in the first thanks to a single from Darin Mastroianni and a two-run shot off the bat of Eric Thames. Thames's Double-A career is off to a pretty nice start at .311/.368/.475 in 61 AB. Don't forget, he's still just 23 years-old. Mastroianni finished the day 2-for-4 with 2 SB to give him 11 on the year without getting caught. Other than those two, nobody did anything worth mentioning at the plate.
Randy Boone started and was perfectly mediocre over five innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks and two strikeouts. From there, the incredible trio of Tim Collins, Tryston Magnuson, and Danny Farquhar. Honestly, it's conceivable that all three of those guys could be sitting in the Jays bullpen within a year or so. In any event, Collins was the best striking out two in his inning. If you're keeping track, that's 14 in 8 shutout innings for Diminutive Tim.
Dunedin @ Clearwater- SUSPENDED- Dunedin leading 5-2 in 4th
Dayton 3 Lansing 7
Has anyone noticed the season A.J. Jimenez is putting together? After posting a .636 OPS in Lansing as a 19 year-old in 2009, Jimenez has come out guns-a-blazin' this year with 10 hits in his first 26 AB including four doubles and a HR. To boot, he's stolen 6 bases, including one today. Not bad for a catcher.
Eight different Lugnuts reached base at least twice on Sunday highlighted by two hit efforts from Oliver Dominguez, Sean Ochinko, Eric Eiland, Balbino Fuenmayor, and Ryan Schimpf. And to keep Mike Green happy, Kenny Wilson was 1-for-3 with a walk, HBP, two runs, and a stolen base. Jimenez also drove in two runs to give him 9 in six games.
On the mound, Scott Gracey started and was fine but Aaron Loup was the real story going 3.1 shutout frames allowing just one hit and a walk to go against five strikeouts. Dustin Antolin and Steve Turnbull finished things off.
Three Stars:
3rd Star: Brian Dopirak- 1-for-1, Pinch-hit, walk-off, Grand Slame
2nd Star: J. P. Arencibia- 2-for-3, 3 R, 2B, 3 BB
1st Star: Jarrett Hoffpauir- 4-for-5, Hit for Cycle, BB, 5 R, 2 RBI
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20100425175851191