The farm only went 2-6, but the most interesting team on the farm prospect-wise won in a blowout, and there were plenty of good prospect performances.
Las Vegas 9 at Salt Lake 10
I was about to say Las Vegas is getting a little boring what with the promotions of Thames and Snider, then they go out and have a game like this: down 10-3 in the ninth inning, the 51s came roaring back and nearly sent it to extras. Four of those runs came on a Ryan Shealy grand slam, and those weren't Shealy's only RBIs of the day - he also cashed in two with a double and one on a groundout. Yes, that's seven RBIs.
Jesse Litsch got roughed up, allowing seven runs on 12 hits in just three innings. Ronald MacDonald (aka Mike Uviedo) finished off the game with 5 innings of solid relief.
Some other 51s had good days at the plate: Darin Mastroianni, Manny Mayorson and Jason Lane had three hits, and David Cooper three walks.
New Britain 1 at New Hampshire 11
After Adeiny Hechavarria struck out to open the bottom of the first, Anthony Gose came up and, well, made another out. At home plate. The speedster blasted a triple and tried to extend it into an inside-the-parker before getting thrown out at home. To atone, he would hit a regular homer just three innings later and later added a double. With Gose's speed, falling a single short of the cycle is probably the most likely almost-cycle.
Chad Jenkins was excellent, though he didn't exactly need to be. Jenkins pitched eight innings, allowing five hits and a single run on a solo homer, striking out four. He got plenty of run support from the aforementioned Gose, Mike McDade (1B, 2 2B) and Callix Crabbe (grand slam). Jenkins has a 3.34 ERA in five AA starts, though his GB:FB ratio has slipped considerably.
Dunedin 5 at Lakeland 2
The excellent pitching continued in Dunedin where 2011's biggest surprise Nestor Molina continued his fantastic season. Molina hurled five innings, allowing five hits, all singles, and hitting a batter, while striking out six and walking none. After tonight, Molina has the eighth best K/BB in the minor leagues at just under 11 (87/8).
The bats counted 12 hits, including four of the extra-base variety, and four walks, and probably deserved to score more than five runs. Jonathan Diaz, Sean Ochinko and Brad Glenn each reached base thrice, and Kevin Nolan hit a homer. Wes Etheridge, not to be outdone by Molina, notched his twenty-ninth save, most in the minor leagues... by six. Or about 20%. That's about where Bautista was in homers at the end of May. Except that homers actually matter. But, you know.
Lake County 7 at Lansing 4
Just a generic loss for the Luggies. Not much exciting to report - Lance Durham had three hits, Matt Nuzzo one and two walks. Scott Gracey was the best pitcher, going two scoreless innings.
Vancouver 3 at Eugene 7
Interesting Prospect Justin Nicolino started on Monday night for Vancouver and lots of weird stuff happened - a few hits and walks, a few steals and balks (two), an error, a pickoff and a run scored on a double play meant that Nicolino allowed three runs on seven base-runners in four innings. He also struck out seven.
None of the Canadians had more than one hit, but the Great Balbino reached base twice.
Princeton 5 at Bluefield 4
2010 draftee Aaron Sanchez got the start and was okay, allowing two earned runs in five innings. Sanchez walked and struck out one. Reliever Myles Jaye picked him up and pitched three scoreless innings... and then one non-scoreless inning. In the ninth, Prince tallied a couple of runs to eke out a one-run victory over Bluefield.
Carlos Ramirez swung the biggest stick for the Jays, homering and walking.
GCL Yankees 6 at GCL Jays 2
Nothing to see here. Dalton Pompey doubled and walked, stole a base, and scored each time he was on base.
DSL Braves 2 at DSL Jays 1
The DSL team always seems to be the only team to get a game in when everyone else gets rained out. They must have the only dome in the DR or something. Anyway, Jairo Labourt got the start and pitched four innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks, striking out two. 18-year-old Luis Zerpa pitched three perfect innings and struck out four. Jonathan Pumarol had two doubles.
Three Stars!
3. Anthony Gose - 2B, 3B, HR
2. Chad Jenkins - 8 IP, 1 R
1. Ryan Shealy - 7 RBIs
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20110704235855162