Las Vegas and New Hampshire made us on proud on Saturday. On the rest, we only hope for a better Sunday. Frustratingly, only one of the farm clubs has an over .500 winning percentage – New Hampshire at .588 (67-47, tied for the Eastern League East division lead). The others’ winning percentages are as follows: Lansing .488, Las Vegas .482, GCL Blue Jays .463, Dunedin .429 and Auburn .367. Dunedin has clinched the first half playoff spot in the Florida League.
On a 97 degree(f) evening, the 51s delighted 7,268 fans at Cashman Field with a come from behind win over PCL inter-division foe Memphis. Vegas starter Sean Henn struggled early with 6IP, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs. A no-hit performance for 2 innings from winner Merkin Valdez (3-3)and a one inning save from Stephen Register were just the ticket as the 51s bats came alive in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. Jarrett Hoffpauir and Mike Jacobs added a double play in the 1st inning.
Solo home runs off the bats of Brad Emaus (1 for 3, HR, RBI) and Jason Lane (2 for 4, HR, RBI) and a two run blast from Raul Chavez (2 for 4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI) capped off the three run 8th inning to gain the W. Lane, Chavez, Aaron Mathews (2 for 4, 3B) and Mike McCoy (2 for 4) inked multi-hit games for Vegas. Adam Calderone (1 for 4) and Danny Perales (1 for 4) added singles.
Kyle Drabek (12-9) put on another no-run pitching exhibition (6IP, 2H, 7K) for the 7,882 Fisher Cats fans. Trystan Magnusan and Alan Farina put together 3 no-hit innings with a collective 5 Ks. New Hampshire’s double play machine was in gear, producing 2 DBs on the evening. But, Adeiny Hechavarria committed a throwing error, his 9th E, and Shawn Bowman added his 10th, a fielding error.
With outstanding pitching, the Fisher Cats needed only 2 runs to take the evening away from Bowie. Hechavarria (1 for 4, RBI) singled in one in the 6th and Jonathan Jaspe (1 for 3, RBI) singled in the other run in the 7th.
633 saw home team Dunedin fall by 1 run in the 11th inning. Starter Joel Carreno gave up 2 HRs, 3 runs and 8 hits in 5 IP to keep the D-Jays playing catch-up all night long. Dumas Garcia (3-3) came on in the 11th a got the L with a gopher ball to Palm Beach.
Anthony Gose (3 for 5, 2B, HR, RBI) had a 3 hit game, including a solo round tripper in the 9th to tie the contest. Big Mike McDade (3 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI) produced a pair of RBIs as did Yan Gomes (2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBIs). Welinton Ramirez (1 for 5) added a double as did Ryan Goins (2 for 5, 2B) and Jon Del Campo(1 for 6). Mark Soblewski(1 for 4), and Justin McCLanahan(1 for 5) each chipped in a single.
The visiting Luggies took a drubbing as 5,918 looked on at Great Lakes. Starter and losing pitcher Dave Sever(4-6) gave up 4 runs and 7 hits in 6 IP. Ryan Schimpf and Jacob Marisnick each had a fielding error and the Luggies turned a double play to end the Great Lakes 6th inning.
Lansing spaced out 7 hits and managed only a run for their effort. Brad Glenn (1 for 3, HR, RBI) batted in the Lugnuts’ only run a solo blast in the 4th inning. Kevin Ahrens (2 for 3) put up a couple of singles and A.J. Jiminez (1 for 4, 2B) added a double. Schimpf(1 for 3) and Sean Ochinko(1 for 4) added singles while Michael Crouse(1 for 3,2B) smacked a double.
Auburn couldn’t get it done for 1,632 home fans Saturday night. Losing pitcher Sam Strickland(1-6) struck out 7 in 5IP, but gave up 2 runs on 4 hits. Three errors plagued the Doubledays’ defence – two from Matt Johnson (6) and another from Oliver Dominguez (10). Auburn did turn a double play.
Spacing out 5 hits, Auburn put up 3 runs on the evening, but only 1 Auburn RBI was credited to Johnson for walking and scoring Yeico Aponte (1 for 3, 2B) who had doubled. Dominguez (2 for 5) had 2 singles, and Jonathan Jones(1 for 5) and Carlos Perez(1 for 4) each managed singles.
GCL Blue Jays 1 GCL Phillies 3
The babiest of Blue Jays went down Saturday morning with their pitching giving up no less than 12 hits. Sean Shoffit (0-3) gave up the 3 runs on 3 hits (including an HR) to the GCL Phillies and was charged with the loss.
With five hits on the day, the Blue Jays only run came in the 6th on an RBI single by K.C. Hobson (1 for 4, RBI) scoring Ronald Melendez(1 for 5, 2B) who had doubled. Dalton Pompey(1 for 4), Melvin Garcia(1 for 3) and Daniel Arcila(1 for 3) each hit singles.
Three Stars
3rd Mike (the Beast)McDade (3 for 5, 2B, 2RBIs)
2nd Raul Chavez (2 for 4, HR, 2B, 2RBIs)
1st Kyle Drabek (6IP, 2H, 0R, 7Ks)
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