Runs were at an absolute premium last night, except in Pulaski, where the P-Jays scored more times than all the other Blue Jay minor-league squads combined. Happily, there were some excellent pitching performances to counterbalance the offensive droughts.
Syracuse 1 Rochester 0 (10 innings)
Josh Towers probably had the Skychiefs' pitching line of the year, holding the explosive Red Wings lineup (featuring many future Twins sluggers) to 3 hits and 2 walks in 8 scoreless innings, striking out 5. The win went to Brian Bowles, who pitched a scoreless 10th. The offence, however, stranded 14 runners on base before finally cashing in the winner, on a home run by none other than Gabe Gross. The round-tripper, Gross's third hit on the night, helped push his very brief Syracuse line to .245/.351/.408 in 50 at-bats (with a 6/13 BB/K rate). He's coming around. Kevin Cash took the collar in five trips. Jimmy Alvarez had 2 hits and stole his 11th base, or 5 fewer than the entire Toronto Blue Jays team.
Trenton 3, New Haven 1
My man Dave Gassner pitched gamely but not well enough: 8 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings, though with 0 walks and 5 Ks. Jordan DeJong allowed only a walk in 2 shutout relief innings, whiffing 1, lowering his ERA to a sterling 5.52. Gil Quiroz was the hitting star, with 2 singles and a double in 4 plate trips: his line sits at a solid .290/.375/.521 after 286 ABs (33 BB, 62 K). Russ Adams' struggles continue, however, with an 0-for-5 that included 3 Ks: he's down to a pedestrian .270/.327/.342 in 152 ABs (13 BB, 26 K). John-Ford Griffin was hitless in 2 trips, but walked twice and, happily, didn't strike out: his 83 whiffs in 360 ABs easily lead the Ravens.
Clearwater 3-1 Dunedin 2-2
In the first of two with the Clearwater Phillies, Jesse Harper left after just 2 scoreless innings (1 H, 2 BB, 1 K). I don't know the reason, but I hope it's a benign one. Veteran Ryan Houston was brilliant in 4 hitless relief innings (2 BB, 7 K), and Bob File had a healthy if unhappy inning (3 H, 1 HR). In the nightcap, Vince Perkins had a very encouraging outing, 5 shutout innings with 3 H, 2 BB and 5 Ks. The two walks are a great sign: Perkins' command of the strike zone is his weak spot. Jason Waugh singled twice, doubled and tripled in the twinbill, and now stands at .300/.365/.453 in 150 ABs, with a reasonable 16/29 BB/K rate. Mikail Jova hit his 4th homer in the second game.
Lake County 3, Charleston 2
Sandy Nin had a decent outing, 4 innings of 1-run ball (3 H, 0 BB, 2 K), but took the loss anyway. I don't mean to be too harsh on Sandy, who's still a work in progress, but his K rate is dropping and he's not going very deep into games. He's a small guy and needs to add years and muscle, so I doubt he'll get any higher than Dunedin before 2005. Tracy Thorpe threw 2 shutout innings in relief, with 1 each of a hit, walk and strikeout. His comeback season line thus far: 0-0, 0.77, 8 G, 0 GS, 11 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 8 K. Keep an eye on his recovery from surgery.
Auburn 2, Staten Island 0
Yes, even the mighty Doubleday bats were kept in check last night. Still, Aaron Hill had two hits and a walk, while Vito Chiarovolotti doubled and was plunked in 4 trips: their respective lines are .300/.365/.453 in 122 ABs (16/20) and .357/.457/.600 in 115 ABs (19/32). Don't expect either one to finish the season in Auburn. Tom Mastny was the mound hero, hurling 5 shutout innings (2 H, 1 BB, 6 K) -- his season thus far shows 4-0, 2.62, 34 IP, 32 H, 6 BB, 36 K. Bubbie Buzachero picked up his 9th save.
Pulaski 13-4 Princeton 4-2
Breakout time! In the first game of the doubleheader, catcher Robinson Diaz went off again, with a 4-hit, 4-RBI night: his unreal season continues at .440/.467/.631 (including 11 2B) in 84 AB. Expect to see his name on some sleeper lists very soon. Nick Thomas homered, doubled and drove in 3 runs, while delightfully-named shortstop Eugenio Vancamper had 2 hits in trips. Russell Savickas had a mediocre outing (5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K), but got the win. In the nightcap, no one did anything particularly noteworthy.
Syracuse 1 Rochester 0 (10 innings)
Josh Towers probably had the Skychiefs' pitching line of the year, holding the explosive Red Wings lineup (featuring many future Twins sluggers) to 3 hits and 2 walks in 8 scoreless innings, striking out 5. The win went to Brian Bowles, who pitched a scoreless 10th. The offence, however, stranded 14 runners on base before finally cashing in the winner, on a home run by none other than Gabe Gross. The round-tripper, Gross's third hit on the night, helped push his very brief Syracuse line to .245/.351/.408 in 50 at-bats (with a 6/13 BB/K rate). He's coming around. Kevin Cash took the collar in five trips. Jimmy Alvarez had 2 hits and stole his 11th base, or 5 fewer than the entire Toronto Blue Jays team.
Trenton 3, New Haven 1
My man Dave Gassner pitched gamely but not well enough: 8 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings, though with 0 walks and 5 Ks. Jordan DeJong allowed only a walk in 2 shutout relief innings, whiffing 1, lowering his ERA to a sterling 5.52. Gil Quiroz was the hitting star, with 2 singles and a double in 4 plate trips: his line sits at a solid .290/.375/.521 after 286 ABs (33 BB, 62 K). Russ Adams' struggles continue, however, with an 0-for-5 that included 3 Ks: he's down to a pedestrian .270/.327/.342 in 152 ABs (13 BB, 26 K). John-Ford Griffin was hitless in 2 trips, but walked twice and, happily, didn't strike out: his 83 whiffs in 360 ABs easily lead the Ravens.
Clearwater 3-1 Dunedin 2-2
In the first of two with the Clearwater Phillies, Jesse Harper left after just 2 scoreless innings (1 H, 2 BB, 1 K). I don't know the reason, but I hope it's a benign one. Veteran Ryan Houston was brilliant in 4 hitless relief innings (2 BB, 7 K), and Bob File had a healthy if unhappy inning (3 H, 1 HR). In the nightcap, Vince Perkins had a very encouraging outing, 5 shutout innings with 3 H, 2 BB and 5 Ks. The two walks are a great sign: Perkins' command of the strike zone is his weak spot. Jason Waugh singled twice, doubled and tripled in the twinbill, and now stands at .300/.365/.453 in 150 ABs, with a reasonable 16/29 BB/K rate. Mikail Jova hit his 4th homer in the second game.
Lake County 3, Charleston 2
Sandy Nin had a decent outing, 4 innings of 1-run ball (3 H, 0 BB, 2 K), but took the loss anyway. I don't mean to be too harsh on Sandy, who's still a work in progress, but his K rate is dropping and he's not going very deep into games. He's a small guy and needs to add years and muscle, so I doubt he'll get any higher than Dunedin before 2005. Tracy Thorpe threw 2 shutout innings in relief, with 1 each of a hit, walk and strikeout. His comeback season line thus far: 0-0, 0.77, 8 G, 0 GS, 11 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 8 K. Keep an eye on his recovery from surgery.
Auburn 2, Staten Island 0
Yes, even the mighty Doubleday bats were kept in check last night. Still, Aaron Hill had two hits and a walk, while Vito Chiarovolotti doubled and was plunked in 4 trips: their respective lines are .300/.365/.453 in 122 ABs (16/20) and .357/.457/.600 in 115 ABs (19/32). Don't expect either one to finish the season in Auburn. Tom Mastny was the mound hero, hurling 5 shutout innings (2 H, 1 BB, 6 K) -- his season thus far shows 4-0, 2.62, 34 IP, 32 H, 6 BB, 36 K. Bubbie Buzachero picked up his 9th save.
Pulaski 13-4 Princeton 4-2
Breakout time! In the first game of the doubleheader, catcher Robinson Diaz went off again, with a 4-hit, 4-RBI night: his unreal season continues at .440/.467/.631 (including 11 2B) in 84 AB. Expect to see his name on some sleeper lists very soon. Nick Thomas homered, doubled and drove in 3 runs, while delightfully-named shortstop Eugenio Vancamper had 2 hits in trips. Russell Savickas had a mediocre outing (5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K), but got the win. In the nightcap, no one did anything particularly noteworthy.
