A Tuesday night in Colorado Springs to forget for a recently demoted starter but a trio of outfielders is on the comeback trail. It was a 1-for-3 night for the affiliates but the one was a walk off win in extras.
Colorado Springs 17 Las Vegas 3
Colorado Springs, CO - The Rockies affiliate scored in every inning but the second. The 51s scored in the second, sixth and eighth frames but dropped their seventh in a row.
Batting - Darin Mastroianni, who was the DH in this one, led Las Vegas with three hits that included a pair of doubles. Brian Jeroloman had two singles, a walk (BJBBM=8!) and a sacrifice fly for a perfect night at the dish. Jonathan Diaz was the third member of the 51s to get aboard three times with two singles, a base on balls and a run batted in. The prodigal Jay, Dewayne Wise, had a pair of hits and Scott Podsednik drew a pair of walks. Craig Stansberry had a single and an RBI. Brett Lawrie doubled while Eric Thames and David Cooper had a base hit apiece. Even though everyone except the "Podfather" had a hit, the 51s hit into a trio of twin killings.
Running - Nothing of note to report here.
Pitching - When your ERA clears the 20.00 mark (20.77), you know you had a rough night. Lefty Brett Cecil found no answers in the mile high altitude of Colorado as he was rocked for 11 runs (10 earned) in just 4 1/3 innings. He was raked for 13 hits (three homers) and issued three walks while striking out two. He threw 99 pitches (64 for strikes) and got nine groundouts and two flyouts. Recent returnee Danny Farquhar was also victimized by the long ball as he surrendered four runs on six hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings while whiffing one. Chad Cordero also served up a meatball over the fence as he was nicked for two runs for five hits over two frames. He did not strike out anyone but he didn't walk anyone either. In total, the SkySox racked up 24 hits.
Defence - Diaz threw one away and booted one at short. Jeroloman had two passed balls behind the dish. Two double plays were turned (6-4-3, 4-6-3).
Manchester, NH - The Twins affiliate scored a run in the first before the Fisher Cats responded with a run in the sixth. The Rock Cats outscored New Hampshire 3-1 in the seventh and tacked on another run in the ninth to seemingly put this one away. However, New Hampshire did not get the memo as they scored three times in the ninth before getting the walk-off win in the tenth.
Batting - Mike McDade had a double among his three hits and reached base a fourth time by drawing a walk. Ricardo Nanita and Anthony Gose had two hits and drove in a run apiece with Gose tripling and singling home the tying run while Nanita doubled home the winning run. Rajai Davis showed promise with a hit and a walk. Yan Gomes doubled and drove in a couple of runs and Mark Sobolewski also had a hit of the two-base variety. Adeiny Hechavarria and Moises Sierra each singled with Sierra plating a run on a sacrifice fly. John Tolisano did not have a hit but drew a couple of walks.
Running - Sierra was caught stealing twice as he was nailed at second and at third.
Pitching - Zach Stewart pitched a batter into the seventh before he got the hook from manager Sal Fasano. Stewart could hold his head up high after allowing just two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. He retired eight straight batters and 14 out of 15 at one point. Five of his eight outs in play did not get airborne. However, Stewart was on the hook for the loss after lefty Mike "Ralph" Hinckley could not come to the rescue. The former Expos draft pick allowed Stewart's runner to score and two of his own to score by giving up a hit and issuing an intentional walk while getting just one out. Fellow lefty and Expos draft pick Clint Everts changed the scenario with 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief by allowing just one hit while striking out four. Another southpaw, Evan Crawford, allowed an unearned run in the ninth despite allowing a walk but he struck out a pair as he pitched a shutout tenth inning to get the victory.
Defence - Tolisano dropped one at second base but started a 4-6-3 double play and helped turn a 4-6-3 twin killing. Gomes nailed a runner trying to pilfer second with Stewart on the mound.
Lansing, MI - The Loons soared to a 5-0 lead with a run in the second on a double steal and added four more in the third. The Lugnuts chipped away with a three-run sixth but could not get any closer.
Batting - Oliver Dominguez had the only two-hit night and the only extra-base knock for the Lugnuts with a double that plated two runs. Jonathan Jones, Markus Brisker and Gari Pena had the other hits for the home side while Lance Durham drew the only walk. Carlos Perez, K.C. Hobson and Gustavo Pierre were a combined 0-for-12 in the three, four and five spots in the batting order but Hobson did knock home a run. Bryson Namba was 0-for-3. The Lugnuts struck out a combined 11 times with Pierre whiffing three times. However, his night with the glove was much worse.
Running - Dominguez was caught stealing second.
Pitching - Misual Diaz allowed all five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings. The Dodgers affiliated collected seven hits (including a homer) against the Dominican and drew a pair of walks. Diaz struck out a pair and four of his seven outs in play were on the green. Lefty Sam Strickland managed to keep the Loons off the board for 3 2/3 innings despite giving up six hits and a walk. He struck out four and got four of his six outs in play on the carpet. Dan Barnes continued the shutout relief with a near perfect 1 1/3 innings with two Ks and a groundout. His only blemish was plunking a Loon.
Defence - Gustavo Pierre made not one, not two, not three but FOUR errors on the night to better his hat trick of strikeouts. He threw a pair away, he booted one and he dropped one. On the plus side, Dominguez gunned down a runner at home from left field and Perez picked off a runner at second from behind the plate.
3. Darin Mastroianni, Las Vegas
2. Anthony Gose, New Hampshire
1. Zach Stewart, New Hampshire
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