Charleston clinched the 1st half title, and New Hampshire kept on winning on Saturday. It was also my daughter's Bat Mitzvah, so even a 2-3 record for the farm affiliates tastes sweet.
Columbus 5 Syracuse 4
The Sky Chiefs led 2-1 going to the eighth, but the bullpen surrendered a run in the eighth and three unearned runs in the ninth, and a Syracuse rally in the bottom of the ninth fell short. Mike Smith was given a spot start and pitched 4 effective innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Dave Maurer pitched 1.1 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. Chris Baker and Kevin Frederick, who took the loss, finished up. Stubby Clapp went 3-5 with 2 doubles, Simon Pond homered, Jorge Sequea reached base 3 times, and Tim Whitaker reached base in all 4 of his PAs to lead the offence.
Box Score
Syracuse Post-Standard game story
Trenton 2 New Hampshire 8
The Fisher Cats exploded for 6 runs in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie. John-Ford Griffin had the tie-breaking single, and Dominic Rich and Tyrell Godwin each had 2 run singles in the inning. Josh Banks started and pitched well again, going 6 innings and allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Andy Torres pitched 2 hitless innings with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts, and rode the offensive breakout to a W. John Ogiltree finished up. Aaron Hill and Tyrell Godwin each reached base 3 times in the game.
Box Score
New Hampshire Union Leader game story
Dunedin 4 Fort Myers 7
Kurt Isenberg was raked for 4 runs in the first inning, and Dunedin could not catch up. Isenberg gave up a walk, a walk, a 3 run homer, a walk, a single, a popup, a flyout and another single and he was gone from the game. Chad Pleiness, Robert Nunley and Bubbie Buzachero finished up. Bubbie was again perfect. The Baby Jay offence was led by Ron Davenport who went deep twice. Big Vito singled, doubled twice and walked in 5 plate appearances, and Rodney Medina reached base 3 times. The day after clinching the first-half title, Dunedin rested Miguel Negron and Raul Tablado.
Box Score
Dunedin Blue Jay website game summary
Lexington 3 Charleston 7
The Alley-Cats completed the "Cats daily double" by jumping out to a 7-0 lead after 5 innings and coasted to victory. Danny Core went 5.2 solid innings, giving up 1 earned run on 4 hits and no walks, with 4 strikeouts. Felix Romero was buffeted about for 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 1.1 innings. Joaquin Canizal and Brian Reed finished up. Clint Johnson homered and drove in three, and Ryan Roberts reached base 3 times to lead the Alley-Cat offence.
Box Score
Auburn 1 Mahoning Valley 2
The Doubledays started off the season with a second tough loss. Trailing 1-0 going into the ninth, the D-Days tied it up on a Jarad Mangioni homer, but Dewon Day gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth to take the loss. Chris Leonard made his return, and pitched great- 2 innings, 1 hit, no walks and 2 strikeouts. Brad Mumma had started and went 6 innings allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts. Auburn had only 5 hits, with Mangioni's homer and single leading the way.
Box Score
Your 3 star selection
3rd star-Josh Banks, who after 2 rough outings, is finding his way in double A
2nd star-Ron Davenport, who if chicks really do dig the long ball, picked the right night to hit two, and
1st star-Chris Leonard, who showed that return from arm surgery does not necessarily have to be painful.
Columbus 5 Syracuse 4
The Sky Chiefs led 2-1 going to the eighth, but the bullpen surrendered a run in the eighth and three unearned runs in the ninth, and a Syracuse rally in the bottom of the ninth fell short. Mike Smith was given a spot start and pitched 4 effective innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Dave Maurer pitched 1.1 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. Chris Baker and Kevin Frederick, who took the loss, finished up. Stubby Clapp went 3-5 with 2 doubles, Simon Pond homered, Jorge Sequea reached base 3 times, and Tim Whitaker reached base in all 4 of his PAs to lead the offence.
Box Score
Syracuse Post-Standard game story
Trenton 2 New Hampshire 8
The Fisher Cats exploded for 6 runs in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie. John-Ford Griffin had the tie-breaking single, and Dominic Rich and Tyrell Godwin each had 2 run singles in the inning. Josh Banks started and pitched well again, going 6 innings and allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Andy Torres pitched 2 hitless innings with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts, and rode the offensive breakout to a W. John Ogiltree finished up. Aaron Hill and Tyrell Godwin each reached base 3 times in the game.
Box Score
New Hampshire Union Leader game story
Dunedin 4 Fort Myers 7
Kurt Isenberg was raked for 4 runs in the first inning, and Dunedin could not catch up. Isenberg gave up a walk, a walk, a 3 run homer, a walk, a single, a popup, a flyout and another single and he was gone from the game. Chad Pleiness, Robert Nunley and Bubbie Buzachero finished up. Bubbie was again perfect. The Baby Jay offence was led by Ron Davenport who went deep twice. Big Vito singled, doubled twice and walked in 5 plate appearances, and Rodney Medina reached base 3 times. The day after clinching the first-half title, Dunedin rested Miguel Negron and Raul Tablado.
Box Score
Dunedin Blue Jay website game summary
Lexington 3 Charleston 7
The Alley-Cats completed the "Cats daily double" by jumping out to a 7-0 lead after 5 innings and coasted to victory. Danny Core went 5.2 solid innings, giving up 1 earned run on 4 hits and no walks, with 4 strikeouts. Felix Romero was buffeted about for 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 1.1 innings. Joaquin Canizal and Brian Reed finished up. Clint Johnson homered and drove in three, and Ryan Roberts reached base 3 times to lead the Alley-Cat offence.
Box Score
Auburn 1 Mahoning Valley 2
The Doubledays started off the season with a second tough loss. Trailing 1-0 going into the ninth, the D-Days tied it up on a Jarad Mangioni homer, but Dewon Day gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth to take the loss. Chris Leonard made his return, and pitched great- 2 innings, 1 hit, no walks and 2 strikeouts. Brad Mumma had started and went 6 innings allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts. Auburn had only 5 hits, with Mangioni's homer and single leading the way.
Box Score
Your 3 star selection
3rd star-Josh Banks, who after 2 rough outings, is finding his way in double A
2nd star-Ron Davenport, who if chicks really do dig the long ball, picked the right night to hit two, and
1st star-Chris Leonard, who showed that return from arm surgery does not necessarily have to be painful.
