Matt Boyd's first start in AAA went well but Buffalo lost. His replacements in New Hampshire did not pitch well and lost. Dunedin has suddenly found the lumber, they put up seven in the first inning and cruised to the affiliates only win. Lansing lost, as their playoff chase enters its final week.
Charlotte 2 Buffalo 1
Matt Boyd struggled when he first moved to AA and that was a concern as he moved to AAA. His struggles lasted two hitters. Micah Johnson singled to start the game. Boyd then threw the ball away on a pickoff and Andy Burns added an error on the next hitter to send Johnson to third. A ground ball scored the run but Boyd settled down. Boyd never had more than one baserunner in any inning after that. He did give up a home run in the fourth. Boyd went seven innings, he didn't walk anyone, he struck out 8. Only one of the two runs was earned.
The Bisons only run came in the first inning when Luke Scott doubled in Andy Burns. Matt Hague did not have a hit, Scott had two as did Ramon Santiago.
New Hampshire 6 Altoona 7
With Boyd promoted Austin Bibens-Dirkx made the start. Bibens-Dirkx has been bounced around this season and his rust showed in the first inning, he gave up four runs and was hit hard. He settled down to pitch well over the next three innings. Jimmy Cordero came on for the fifth and he was wild and gave up three runs.
The Fisher Cats scored two runs in the third, with four ground ball singles. They also scored three runs in the last two innings to make the score look closer than the game really was. Singles were the name of the game for NH, they had 11 hits, 10 singles and one double. Jack Murphy, Dwight Smith, Jorge Flores and Shane Opitz each had two hits.
Lakeland 2 Dunedin 7
The D-Jays have found their bats. They struggled offensively, particularly in May but they have scored 52 runs in their last 8 games. In this game they scored all seven runs in the first inning. Christian Lopes had two doubles in the inning with two RBI's. Although they scored seven runs they had just eight hits. Lopes had three and LB Dantzler had two.
Luis Santos started and went 5.2 innings. He did allow the two runs but registered 8 K's. Alberto Tirado pitched the last 3.1 innings. The Tigers had three hits off him.
Lansing 3 Cedar Rapids 8
The Lugnuts are in a big battle for a first half playoff spot. Five teams are separated by four games as they fight for two spots with a week to go. The Lugnuts took a step back on Sunday, they were tied at two after six innings but lost. Shane Dawson gave up a couple of singles to start the seventh then threw the ball away on a bunt and two runs scored. Colton Turner gave up three more in the ninth. Dawson's line was 6 10 5 2 2 3.
The Lugnuts had only five hits, Ryan McBroom had three of them including a double and a home run.
3 Stars
3rd star: Ryan McBroom
2nd star: Matt Boyd
1st star: Christian Lopes
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