Durham, NC — The Bisons offence is good, but ultimately not good enough to overcome a nine-run first inning. The Rays affiliate brought the hammer down on Ricky Romero (0-1) as he was charged with eight runs in just two-thirds of an inning. A two-run homer by Wil Myers was among the five hits against Romero and the Bulls also worked him for three walks. Romero had zero strikeouts and only 13 of his 32 pitches found the strike zone. His ERA is now 13.85. Chad Beck pitched the next 3 1/3 innings but gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. Dustin McGowan came on for two innings and half of his outs came via the strikeout. However, he gave up a run on a hit and a walk. John Stilson scattered a hit and a walk and, like McGowan, punched out three batters in two scoreless frames.
The Bisons cut a 10-0 deficit in half with a five-run fifth inning. Moises Sierra had a three-run double and Mauro Gomez followed with a two-run homer. Gomez went deep again with another two-run shot in the seventh. Gomez had the only two-hit game for the Herd. Eugenio Velez had a hit, two walks and two stolen bases. Mike McCoy, Ryan Goins and Mike Nickeas had a hit and a walk apiece.
New Hampshire 12 New Britain 3
Manchester, NH — The Fisher Cats erased a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the first on a wild pitch and a Kevin Nolan groundout. They took the lead for good with two runs in the third when Nolan deposited one over the right wall for a two-run shot. Brian Van Kirk doubled home another run in the seventh before the Fisher Cats put up a converted touchdown in the eighth. Kevin Ahrens had a run-scoring double, a wild pitch produced the second, Ryan Schimpf doubled in two more and Jon Talley delivered the kill shot with a grand slam. Nolan and Adam Loewen had the multi-hit games with Nolan drawing a walk and Loewen slugging two doubles. Brian Van Kirk was the on-base leader with a double and three walks. Kevin Pillar doubled, walked and stole a pair of bases. Clint Robinson drew a pair of base on balls.Ryan Tepera (5-3) gave up a pair of first inning runs but settled down with four shutout innings after that. He limited the Twins farm club to three hits, two hit by pitches and a walk. He struck out seven and of his seven outs in play, six were on the ground. Tyson Brummett earned his first save by pitching the final four innings. He allowed just one run on two hits and posted a K-BB total of 3-0.
South Bend 2 Lansing 1
South Bend, IN — Taylor Cole (2-3) worked his way to three shutout innings but a Dwight Smith Jr. error in center field led to a couple of unearned runs in the fourth. Cole's line was far from impressive as he only got through 4 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, three walks and plunked a batter. He only managed two strikeouts. Lefty Efrain Nieves prevented Cole's line from being much worse by stranding the bases loaded. He finished up with 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. He plunked a batter but struck out three with zero walks.
The Lugnuts lone run came in the fifth on a groundball out by Smith Jr. They got the first two runners aboard in the ninth on a Chris Hawkins walk and a Jorge Flores hit by pitch. Emilio Guerrero pushed them up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt but Smith Jr. and Kellen Sweeney went down swinging to end it. Sweeney had two of Lansing's five hits and also drew two walks. Hawkins also had two bases on balls. Guerrero, Gustavo Pierre and Aaron Munoz had the other base hits. Smith Jr. was 0-for-4 but managed a walk. Christian Lopes was hitless in his four trips to the plate.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Mauro Gomez, Buffalo — Has three homers in his last two games to bring his OPS up to .908.
2. Ryan Tepera, New Hampshire — The Eastern League is hitting just .222 against him and has struck out 41 batters in 49 2/3 innings. Four of his five wins have come at home.
1. Kevin Nolan, New Hampshire — A .971 OPS in his last 10 games and is hitting .309 at home.
Tuesday's Probable Starters...
New Hampshire — TBA @ Portland, 6:00 pm ET.
Dunedin — Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-0, 2.25) @ Lakeland, 6:30pm ET.
Buffalo — Justin Germano (3-4, 7.16) @ Durham, 7:05 pm ET.
Lansing — Ben White (2-3, 4.28) @ Fort Wayne, 7:05 pm ET.