Two wins last night that could easily have been 4, if not for some terrible defence by the Fisher Cats and a set of silent bats in Dunedin.
Syracuse 8 Louisville 5
Box score
Syracuse Post-Standard game report page
David Bush was hit hard in the first inning, giving up 4 runs, but settled down after that and gutted out a 6-inning performance that was better than his final line indicated (6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER); his 2 walks and 7 strikeouts over those 6 frames brought his season totals to a very encouraging 14/51 in 54 IP. Nonetheless, the fact remains that Bush has also allowed 61 hits, and his 4.83 ERA indicates he’s not fooling Triple-A hitters very much. But BB/K and K/IP are still the best two indicators of a young pitcher’s future success, and I think that ERA should certainly be down into the 3s by June or July.
After a lengthy offensive drought, the Skychiefs’ bats are coming around, with 26 runs in their last 4 games. Noah Hall was the hero yesterday with 3 hits, including the go-ahead 2-run triple in the 8th inning, to go along with two sensational defensive plays. Paul Chiaffredo and Shawn Fagan had 2 hits, as did Alex Rios, who continues to work his way out of a hole and has his average up to .254. Russ Adams doubled in four trips and is down to .242. Gabe Gross didn’t play and is evidently nursing an injury. Vinny Chulk threw 2 scoreless innings for the win.
Binghampton 7 New Hampshire 5
Box score
New Hampshire Union-Leader game story
A massive team meltdown for the Fisher-Cats cost them a game they should have won. Don’t blame the pen for all of it: the Mets scored 5 runs in the 7th inning on just 2 hits, thanks to 3 walks, 3 errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Ugly stuff; read the game report for the details.
Todd Ozias pitched decently for the Fisher Cats, but Brandon League (2 hits, 2 walks in 2/3 of an inning), Dan Jackson (the eventual loser) and the defence brought the house down. After a promising start at Double-A, League is really struggling -- in 26 innings, he’s struck out 20 and allowed 21 hits, but has issued a whopping 17 walks. Are Eastern League hitters learning to lay off his biting fastball, knowing he doesn’t yet command a solid second pitch? Brandon will almost certainly spend the year in AA trying to find his once-dominant form.
Offensively, Danny Solano and Matt Logan had 2 hits each, while Ty Godwin continued his excellent May with a single and 2 walks. John-Ford Griffin, who flied out with 2 runners on to end the game, is down to .228.
Fort Myers 1 Dunedin 0
Box score
Not much to say about this one. In a game that took less time than your average summer blockbuster (2:18), the D-Jays were shut out on just 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 8 times against 3 Miracle pitchers. The only bright spot was an excellent performance from Ismael Ramirez, who threw 7 innings of 4-hit ball, allowing 1 run on 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Move along, nothing to see here.
Charleston 7 Lake County 1
Box score
A solid win for the Alley-Cats, led by Ramon Mora’s excellent start (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and solid relief from Felix Romero, who whiffed 3 of the 4 batters he retired in a 1-hit performance. Centerfielder David Smith smashed a first-inning 3-run homer, 1B Clint Johnston cranked his 5th round-tripper of the season, and left fielder Brian Patrick singled and doubled.
Your Three-Star Selection:
The Third Star: Ramon Mora, Charleston: 6 innings of 3-hit ball with 6 strikeouts to lead the Alley-Cats to victory.
The Second Star: Ismael Ramirez, Dunedin, who deserved a better fate after his 7-inning, 4-hit performance, walking 2 and striking out 7.
The First Star:Noah Hall, Syracuse: 3 hits, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2 great defensive plays and the game-winning triple.
Syracuse 8 Louisville 5
Box score
Syracuse Post-Standard game report page
David Bush was hit hard in the first inning, giving up 4 runs, but settled down after that and gutted out a 6-inning performance that was better than his final line indicated (6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER); his 2 walks and 7 strikeouts over those 6 frames brought his season totals to a very encouraging 14/51 in 54 IP. Nonetheless, the fact remains that Bush has also allowed 61 hits, and his 4.83 ERA indicates he’s not fooling Triple-A hitters very much. But BB/K and K/IP are still the best two indicators of a young pitcher’s future success, and I think that ERA should certainly be down into the 3s by June or July.
After a lengthy offensive drought, the Skychiefs’ bats are coming around, with 26 runs in their last 4 games. Noah Hall was the hero yesterday with 3 hits, including the go-ahead 2-run triple in the 8th inning, to go along with two sensational defensive plays. Paul Chiaffredo and Shawn Fagan had 2 hits, as did Alex Rios, who continues to work his way out of a hole and has his average up to .254. Russ Adams doubled in four trips and is down to .242. Gabe Gross didn’t play and is evidently nursing an injury. Vinny Chulk threw 2 scoreless innings for the win.
Binghampton 7 New Hampshire 5
Box score
New Hampshire Union-Leader game story
A massive team meltdown for the Fisher-Cats cost them a game they should have won. Don’t blame the pen for all of it: the Mets scored 5 runs in the 7th inning on just 2 hits, thanks to 3 walks, 3 errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Ugly stuff; read the game report for the details.
Todd Ozias pitched decently for the Fisher Cats, but Brandon League (2 hits, 2 walks in 2/3 of an inning), Dan Jackson (the eventual loser) and the defence brought the house down. After a promising start at Double-A, League is really struggling -- in 26 innings, he’s struck out 20 and allowed 21 hits, but has issued a whopping 17 walks. Are Eastern League hitters learning to lay off his biting fastball, knowing he doesn’t yet command a solid second pitch? Brandon will almost certainly spend the year in AA trying to find his once-dominant form.
Offensively, Danny Solano and Matt Logan had 2 hits each, while Ty Godwin continued his excellent May with a single and 2 walks. John-Ford Griffin, who flied out with 2 runners on to end the game, is down to .228.
Fort Myers 1 Dunedin 0
Box score
Not much to say about this one. In a game that took less time than your average summer blockbuster (2:18), the D-Jays were shut out on just 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 8 times against 3 Miracle pitchers. The only bright spot was an excellent performance from Ismael Ramirez, who threw 7 innings of 4-hit ball, allowing 1 run on 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Move along, nothing to see here.
Charleston 7 Lake County 1
Box score
A solid win for the Alley-Cats, led by Ramon Mora’s excellent start (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and solid relief from Felix Romero, who whiffed 3 of the 4 batters he retired in a 1-hit performance. Centerfielder David Smith smashed a first-inning 3-run homer, 1B Clint Johnston cranked his 5th round-tripper of the season, and left fielder Brian Patrick singled and doubled.
Your Three-Star Selection:
The Third Star: Ramon Mora, Charleston: 6 innings of 3-hit ball with 6 strikeouts to lead the Alley-Cats to victory.
The Second Star: Ismael Ramirez, Dunedin, who deserved a better fate after his 7-inning, 4-hit performance, walking 2 and striking out 7.
The First Star:Noah Hall, Syracuse: 3 hits, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2 great defensive plays and the game-winning triple.
