Palm Beach, FL Jesse Hernandez (4-5) only made it through four innings plus one batter, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits, including a home run. The unearned run was the result of a Peter Mooney error at short. Hernandez struck out three and walked nobody. Ajay Meyer was unable to strand a Hernandez runner and the eventual winning run crossed the plate on his watch as he allowed three hits with one strikeout. Rehabbing lefthander Luis Perez made his 2013 debut with two perfect frames and one strikeout.
The Dunedin offence did not get going against the Cardinals until the fifth when Pierce Rankin led off the frame by saying "fare thee well, love" to the baseball by putting it over the fence. Matt Newman lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth and an Andy Burns groundout in the eighth produced the final run. Mooney, Gabe Jacobo and Nick Baligod all had two-hit efforts with Jacobo adding a double. Mike Crouse and K.C. Hobson had the other base hits. Jon Berti drew a walk.
West Michigan 1 Lansing 0
Comstock Park, MI Javier Avendano (4-4) pitched the way Vancouver Canadians fans were accustomed to seeing last season. He went seven innings and was charged with an unearned run on five hits. Avendanos K-BB ratio was 4-0 and his GO-FO total was 9-4. Lefthander Griffin Murphy finished up with a scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout.
The Lugnuts managed all of two hits and two walks in this one. The singles came from Dalton Pompey and Gustavo Pierre while Dwight Smith Jr. and Christian Lopes got on base via the base on balls. Pierre and Smith both swiped bases. Kevin Patterson was 0-for-4 while Munoz, Carlos Ramirez, Emilio Guerrero and Jorge Flores were all in the 0-for-3 club.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Luis Perez, Dunedin Saw his first game action since July 8 of last year against the White Sox in Chicago when he was shelved with Tommy John surgery.
2. Pierce Rankin, Dunedin Belted his first home run of 2013 but is just hitting .134 this season.
1. Javier Avendano, Lansing Enjoyed his longest outing of the season. Has struck out 52 batters in 62 innings.
Boxscores
Tuesday's Probable Starters...
DSL Blue Jays vs. DSL Tigers, 10:30 am ET.
Buffalo Chad Jenkins (0-1, 9.00), Todd Redmond (1-0, 9.53) @ Scranton Wilkes-Barre 5:35 pm ET (DH).
New Hampshire Marcus Walden (4-6, 3.25) vs. Akron, 6:35 pm ET.
Dunedin Casey Lawrence (3-5, 3.76) @ Palm Beach, 6:35 pm ET.
Lansing TBA vs. South Bend, 7:05 pm ET.