Buffalo won 9-5 with 12 hits. New Hampshire are on a cool streak and they lost again. They have lost four of their last five games and six of their last eight. Dunedin bashed out 15 hits and won 9-3. Lansing lost 4-2 even though they outhit their opponents 9-4. Kevin Smith had a big night as did Danny Jansen. Ryan Noda hit two home runs as there was competition for the three stars.
Here are some random notes from around the affiliates.
In case you missed it Vlad Jr. has been placed on the seven day DL. I think this is a good move. When he tweaked his hammy last week he took two days off but then re-aggravated it. Obviously he needed more than two days off so by putting him on the DL they guarantee he takes enough time to hopefully get better.
Danny Jansen had the big year last year and there was always some interest to see if he could repeat that this year. I think now we can safely say he has repeated it. Jansen has almost 150 at-bats this year. He controls the strike zone with pretty much the same numbers of walks as strikeouts. On Thursday he homered and doubled and drove in five runs. His batting average is .318 and his OPS is almost 900.
Several Bisons had multi-hit games. Tim Lopes and Ian Parmley each had two to keep their averages above .300. Neither of them have a home run this season and their OPS is approx. .750 and .700. While they could hit at the major league level, they are liable to be singles hitters. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also had two hits.
Jordan Romano had what looks like a bad start, he gave up seven runs on five hits. But most of the damage came on three pitches. Two home runs accounted for four runs and a double, conceded by Braydon Bouchey, after Romano left the game, accounted for two more. In between the home runs he pitched well. Faint praise perhaps but don't bail on him after this start.
Harold Ramirez homered, his second. He is on pace for six for the season. That is not good enough for a major league outfielder. Ramirez does have his average up to .300, much better than last season.
Kevin Smith had been struggling since he arrived in Dunedin so the manager gave him a day off on Wednesday. That seems to have worked as Smith had a break out on Thursday. He was 4-5 with a home run and three RBI. Smith was also hit by a pitch.
Nash Knight had three hits and four RBI.
Patrick Murphy didn't get off to a great start in Dunedin but he has been pitching better recently. On Thursday he pitched six shutout innings with just three hits allowed. That is no runs allowed in his last two starts and five consecutive starts with no more than two runs allowed.
Riley Adams had two hits and is now hitting .228. After a terrible April he raised his OPS in May to .757 and so far in June he is in the 800's. There is some hope there.
Chavez Young had just one hit but he was walked twice. Could the pitchers in the Midwest League be paying attention and being careful with him.
Ryan Noda hit two home runs.
Three Stars
Third Star - Ryan Noda
Second Star - Danny Jansen
First Star - Kevin Smith
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