Moises Sierra had himself a bit of a day as Buffalo swept a doubleheader with Scranton/WB. Kyle Drabek was solid for New Hampshire, but failed to record a strikeout. Dunedin continues to struggle and Lansing, despite mounting a late charge fell to West Michigan. An undermanned Vancouver lost and Bluefield rallied in the ninth to beat a local rival. Our GCL and DSL squads both won today. The affiliates were 5-4.
Scranton/WB 2 Buffalo 5 Game One
Moises Sierra was the story here. Sierra went three for three with two homeruns—homerun one and homerun two for your enjoyment. Sierra, who from what I can gather, has been hobbled by a few injuries this year as well as mechanical changes to his swing will look to finish up strong here in hopes of a September recall. After the doubleheader Manager Marty Brown intimated that Sierra may have had his head turned by not getting a recall after a hot April start. On the mound Thad Weber went the full seven innings. He scattered four hits, one of which was a solo homerun, and two walks over his seven innings. He struck out seven for good measure and continues to add to his solid year to date.
Scranton/WB 1 Buffalo 2 Game Two
Buffalo completed the doubleheader sweep of the Yankees affiliate with a 2-1 win in the nightcap. A two-out, two RBI single by Andy LaRoche was all Buffalo needed in this one as starter Bobby Korecky allowed just one run in four and a third. John Stilson and Mickey Storey shut the door from there. Anthony Gose had two doubles and Moises Sierra continued his impressive play from the day game with a wall crashing catch.
Bowie 9 New Hampshire 2
While Drew Hutchison has made the jump to AAA in his rehab, the Blue Jays have been less aggressive with Kyle Drabek. Drabek made his second AA start tonight and on tonight’s evidence perhaps could stand a few more starts at the level. That is not to say Drabek struggled—he pitched four innings and only ran into trouble in the fifth where he allowed a leadoff homerun. In all he allowed three hits and two earned runs, and most important for Drabek he did not walk anyone. He threw 65 pitches. He GO/FO was a respectable 10/2 and for you math geniuses at home, yes he did not strike anyone out. It’s the lack of strikeouts that suggest to me he probably needs some more time at AA. Drabek has one of best power curveballs I’ve ever seen. He needs to learn how to throw it for strikes, or at least the suggestion of a strike. A.J. Jimenez provided the offense with a two run homerun. The Fisher Cats grounded into four double plays.
Dunedin 3 Lakeland 4
The Dunedin squad are reeling at the moment—losses in six straight. Matt Newman had three hits and Shane Opitz had two RBIs and the only extra base hit against Mark’s kid. Yes, Kevin Eichhorn kept the Dunedin Blue Jays to three runs in six innings, picking up the win.
West Michigan 5 Lansing 4
Lansing were edged late as former second rounder and Rollie Fingers designate Griffin Murphy allowed runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Dwight Smith Jr., Christian Lopes, and Emilio Guerrero had two hits apiece. Emilio Guerrero also kicked his 29th ball and Santiago Nessy allowed his 16th ball to pass through the wickets. Real learning I hope going on in Lansing this season. Daniel Norris starts tomorrow and looks to build on his recent success.
Vancouver 5 Boise 7
Vancouver made it close late, scoring four runs in the final two innings, but that was too little too late. Chaz Frank had two hits and Andy Fermin drove in two runs. Alonzo Gonzalez allowed four runs in four and two-thirds. Dickie Thon Jr. hasn’t played since injuring his ankle last week. A Vancouver Sun writer here suggests there might issues with Jeremy Gabryszwski.
Bluefield 3 Princeton 1
Bluefield got two runs in the ninth to take this one. Starter Jairo Labourt went six innings and allowed a solitary run on a solitary hit and a solitary walk. He struck out four. Matt Dean had two hits and Mitch Nay came off the bench in the ninth to score the winning run. There were four batters hit by pitches during this game.
GCL Blue Jays 13 GCL Astros 9
A proverbial slugfest down in Florida as the two teams combined for 22 runs on 28 hits. Franklin Barreto had three hits including a double and a homerun. Barreto also stole a base and threw the ball away for the seventeenth time this year. Gabriel Cenas had two hits including a homerun. Koby Kraemer and Thomas Collins both had solid days with four and three hits respectively. Jesus Tinoco looked good through his first two innings of work, but allowed a four spot in his third and final inning. Tyler Gonzales continues to struggle as the Jays try to get him to become more of a pitcher than the thrower they drafted. There is video of Gonzales floating around out there of his new delivery this year and it looks bad. He’s way too mechanical and he’s lost some of the arm speed he had at draft time. They have him coming a bit more over the top and I don’t think that’s going to work for him.
DSL Cardinals 1 DSL Blue Jays 5
The DSL Blue Jays played five innings of rain shortened ball today. Enough time for Rodrigo Orozco to bat in three runs, Richard Urena to double, and Juliandry Higuera to pitched five innings of one run ball. The DSL squad posts a healthy 32-23 record.
Three Stars
3. Thad Weber
2. Jairo Labourt
1. Moises Sierra
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20130809020214756