Ryan Noda hit his first home run of the year in the eighth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and set Lansing up for the win. Maximo Castillo had his best start of the season. Buffalo won 7-3 with several good performances. New Hampshire came from behind to win thanks to a couple of late home runs from two of the lesser known players. Vlad did not reach base for the second time this season, cancel the promotion! Dunedin were rained out.
Buffalo
The Bisons jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Tim Lopes and Anthony Alford singled to start the game for the Bisons. Lourdes Gurriel singled in two runs before Jason Leblebijian hit a three run home run. Columbus came back in the game to make it 5-3 but in the fifth Alford doubled followed by a home run from Randall Grichuk. Alford has been slow to get off the mark in AAA but his two hits in this game are an encouraging sign. Gurriel, Lopes and Leblebijian also had two hits each.
Taylor Guerrieri started and went five innings with three runs allowed. Conor Fisk pitched three shutout innings although he didn't have a strikeout. Fisk got just one ground ball, five flyballs and three pop outs.
New Hampshire
The Fisher Cats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, Cavan Biggio hit his 13th home run scoring Aledmys Diaz. But Portland fought back to take a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh Connor Panas hit his second home run of the season to tie things up. In the eighth Ryan Hissey hit his first homer of the season to put NH ahead. Later in the eighth Bo Bichette singled, went to third on a steal and error, and scored on a sac fly. Vlad Jr went 0-4 without a walk and his average dropped to .417. Panas and Diaz led the way with two hits each. In eight games from May 16 to May 23 Bo Bichette had three hits and saw his batting average drop from .279 to .244. Since then, in his next eight games, he has 12 hits and his average is back up to .269. You could say he has dealt with some adversity, always a marker for promotion. Is Vlad's failure to reach base some adversity for him?
Justin Dillon made his first start since his demotion from AAA. He pitched six innings and gave up two runs on eight hits. Jackson McClelland conceded a run in the seventh and Kirby Snead pitched the last two innings for the win.
Dunedin
Dunedin were rained out. The weather has been poor in Florida so far this season. A doubleheader is scheduled for tomorrow.
Lansing
Lansing played a close game. They trailed 2-0 headed to the seventh. They made it 2-1 with an unearned run. Chavez Young doubled with two outs and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. That was only the second hit by the Lugnuts and headed to the eighth it was looking like a tough day for the hitters. But Yeltsin Gudino started the inning with a single and then Ryan Noda picked a great time to hit his first home run of the season.
Maximo Castillo delivered his best start of the year, he had nine strikeouts and just one walk in five innings. At one stage he punched out six hitters in a row. That is Castillo's second good start in a row after suffering through a rough patch earlier in May. Donnie Sellers went three innings, one run allowed, before Matt Shannon navigated a nervy ninth. In case you missed it Reggie Pruitt has been activated off the DL.
3 Stars
3rd star: Connor Panas and Ryan Hissey
2nd star: Ryan Noda
1st star: Maximo Castillo
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20180530143742437