Buffalo, NY — Chad Jenkins faced just one batter over the minimum in the first two innings with just a walk but the 18-wheeler went off the cliff in the third and it all started with a leadoff walk. Six hits, two walks, a wild pitch and two errors led to Jenkins heading for the showers. Lefty Rob Rasmussen got the final out of the third inning but not before allowing both of his inherited runners to score on a single, a hit and another wild pitch. Rasmussen retired the first hitter in the fourth before the rains came.
The Herd got to Red Sox prospect Matt Barnes for three runs in the first inning on a RBI single by Chris Dickerson and a two-run triple by Matt Hague. Dickerson and Ezequiel Carrera each stole a base. This game will resume on Tuesday in the top of the fourth inning with one out and nobody on at 5:15 pm Eastern Time.
New Hampshire 4 Reading 3
Manchester, NH — Foxy Jakey! Hey, better a Jimi Hendrix pun that than "What Did The Fox Say?" Jake Fox was the New Hampshire offence in this one by going 3-for-3 with two home runs, including a three-run shot in the eighth to erase a 3-1 deficit against the Phillies affiliate. Fox also added a walk to his perfect day at the plate. Jorge Flores also went 3-for-3 with a double and Dwight Smith Jr. was 3-for-4 with an extra-bagger.Michael Lee lasted seven innings and gave up three runs on nine hits and two walks while whiffing three. All 12 of his outs in play were on the ground. Lefty Luis Perez (1-0) got the win by scattering a hit, a walk and a plunk over 1/1-3 innings while stranding a runner. Blake McFarland stranded a runner by getting the final two outs for the save.
Of note, former Blue Jays farmhands Art Charles and Gustavo Pierre were in the Reading lineup. Charles was 2-for-3 while Pierre went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Dunedin 9 Bradenton 6
Dunedin, FL — A three-run fifth helped Dunedin break a 2-2 tie against the Pirates affiliate with David Harris connecting for a two-run homer. Christian Lopes drove in a pair with a double and a single. Derrick Loveless had two singles and two RBI. Jorge Saez picked up a double and a single. Harris walked and stole a base. Emilio Guerrero had a single and a swipe. Mitch Nay singled but Matt Dean and Roemon Fields were a combined 0-for-10. Fields did contribute defensively by starting an 8-6-2 play to get Pirates prospect Reese McGuire at the plate in the seventh inning.Scott Silverstein threw two shutout frames of one-hit ball with two strikeouts but Dusty Isaacs was victimized for a pair of unearned markers on a Guerrero error in 2-1/3 innings. Isaacs recorded seven of his eight outs in play on the ground. Alberto Tirado (1-0) allowed a run on four hits but struck out three over 2-2/3 innings. Brady Dragmire pitched the final two innings and got the save despite being bopped for a three-run homer in the ninth.
Lansing 9 Fort Wayne 1
Fort Wayne, IN — The Lugnuts stamped out a 1-0 deficit with the last nine runs of the game against the Padres farm club. A Richard Urena home run tied the game in the fourth inning before a two-run double by Justin Atkinson in the seventh put Lansing ahead for good. Ryan McBroom capped a five-run ninth with a bases-clearing double. McBroom and Rowdy Tellez had the two-hit efforts for Lansing. Urena also reached twice by adding a walk. D.J. Davis was 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. Josh Almonte had an RBI single. Tim Locastro (1-for-5) and Chris Carlson (0-for-3) each stole a base. Dan Jansen walked once in five plate appearances.Conner Greene pitched five innings and gave up a run on five hits and a walk while striking out five for a Game Score of 57. Lefty Alonzo Gonzalez (1-0) was dominant in his three innings of work by striking out seven of the 10 men he faced. Southpaw Francesco Gracesqui walked a couple but put up another zero in the ninth.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Alonzo Gonzalez, Lansing
2. Conner Greene, Lansing
1. Jake Fox, New Hampshire
Photos courtesy of MiLB.com.
Extra Innings
The Lansing State Journal looks back on some of the notable players in Lugnuts franchise history.
Tuesday's Schedule
Lansing @ Fort Wayne, 11:05 am ET
Reading @ New Hampshire, 5:35 pm ET
Pawtucket @ Buffalo, 6:05 pm ET
Bradenton @ Dunedin, 6:30 pm ET