Here are your highlights from opening day in the minor leagues. The affiliates split, 2-2. In three of the parks the weather was cold so pitchers can get a mulligan. Some of the lower level hitters might ask for a mulligan too, they might never have experienced cold like that.
Looking Good
In Buffalo's win, Jacob Waguespack, the forgotten starter, pitched six shutout innings with no walks and eight K's. Cavan Biggio had three hits, including a home run. Anthony Alford had two hits.
There was not much positive to report in New Hampshire's loss, Taylor Saucedo pitched three shutout innings. Kevin Smith had the only extra base hit, a double.
Dunedin won 11-2, they had 14 hits and every starter had a hit. Cal Stevenson had three hits, a home run, and a walk. That's a good start for a player who skipped Lansing. Riley Adams homered. Chavez Young, Christian Williams and Ryan Noda had two hits each. Nate Pearson went five innings, one walk, six K's. Vlad Jr. played some of the game, left after his fourth at-bat, and had one hit.
Josh Winkowski pitched five shutout innings with three walks and seven K's. He did require 87 pitches so he wasn't completely efficient. Jordan Groshans had the only extra base hit, a double.
Slow Starters
Bo Bichette was 0-3 and hit into a double play. He did draw a walk. Corey Copping didn't pitch all that well in AA last season and he gave up two runs in one inning in this game.
Patrick Murphy just pitched four innings, three hits, three walks, three runs, five K's. Santiago Espinal made two errors, the team made four.
The hitters struck out 14 times. Only Groshans did not K. The bullpen gave up all three runs in the 3-0 loss, two of the runs were unearned with a Groshans error.
Three Stars
Third Star - Jacob Waguespack
Second Star - Cavan Biggio
First Star - Cal Stevenson
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