Pawtucket 10 Syracuse 8
Based on recent performances only, it is a change to say the wheels fell off after Brandon League left the game. League left after five innings with the score tied 2-2. Mike Nannini and Adrian Burnside allowed three runs in the sixth and Chris Baker gave up five in the eighth. The Chiefs scored five in the bottom of the eighth to make it interesting, but it was too little, too late.
League's start was similar to Rosario's the day before. On first look two runs allowed, on two hits, in five innings is excellent, but League walked three, hit a batter, uncorked a wild pitch and had no strikeouts. League and Rosario, and Perkins and Purcey also, need to refine their control, and cut down their walks, hit batters and wild pitches. Twelve of League's outs were ground balls, a good sign that the sinking pitches were working, and this start was his best since he moved down to AAA, also a good sign. On the not so good front Chris Baker's 2005 is similar to his 2004. In 2004 a very good start was followed by a poor May, June and July, which led to a demotion to AA. Today Baker came on to start the eighth and allowed seven hitters to reach base without recording an out. His ERA jumped to 7.47. This year there is no room at AA, so it's get better fast, or step aside. I sense the organization likes Chris so let's hope he can turn it around.
The Chiefs did have twelve hits. Gabe Gross had two doubles, John Ford Griffin also had two hits, one a triple to drive in the first run. The Chiefs five runs in the eighth came off ex-Jay Jason Kershner whose ERA is also over 7. Dave Berg played first base for Pawtucket and went 2-4 with two walks, to move his batting average up to .253.
Game 1 - New Britain 0 New Hampshire 4
Game 2 - New Britain 0 New Hampshire 4
Fisher Cats win their fifth and sixth games in a row.
In game one Cameron Reimers who had been struggling, nineteen runs allowed in his last three starts, found the missing something, pitching a complete game seven hit shutout. Hopefully this will turn it around permanently as Reimers has proved he can dominate at this level. The Fisher Cats scored three runs in the third inning. Maikel Jova and Raul Tablado singled and Vito Chiaravalotti walked to load the bases. A sac fly by Eric Kratz scored one and a two run single by Ron Acuna scored the other two. Acuna doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on two outs.
In game two it was deva-vu with the Shawn Marcum show, another seven inning complete game, six hits, no walks, no runs and one strikeout. Marcum had seven ground balls and twelve fly ball outs. His ERA is down to 2.29. The Cats scored a run in the first inning on three singles by the "senior citizens", Ron Acuna, Kevin Barker and Maikel Jova. Acuna scored the second run in the third inning with a lead-off double, followed by an RBI single from Carlo Cota. Rob Cosby hit his first home run of the year in the fourth, followed by back to back doubles from Jose Umbria and Miguel Negron, and that was all the Cats needed with Marcum baffling the hitters.
Dunedin 1 Brevard County 2
The Dunedin offense is in a funk, after being one hit on Saturday the Jays doubled that total to get two hits on Sunday. One of the hits was home run by Ryan Roberts to lead off the game, Dunedin had one more hit in the next nine innings. Adam Lind continues to struggle some and his average has dropped to .308. This is another example of why clubs like the Blue Jays wait until mid-season before promoting hitters, any hitter can have a hot month. The pitchers have presumably changed their approach to pitching to Lind and he needs to figure out an adjustment.
Davis Romero was the hard luck loser as he moved to 0-5. Romero pitched six innings and allowed five hits and one walk with six strikeouts. His ERA is now uner five, at 4.96.Southwest Michigan 1 Lansing 3
Casey Janssen started.
Oh you want more? Janssen was his usual efficient self, six hits and no walks over seven innings. Janssen's ERA is 1.37 and the Jays have seen enough to promote Janssen to Dunedin, as reported yesterday by Lugnut Fan. Aaron Harang and Danny Hill pitched a shutout inning each to preserve the win. Despite Janssen's solid start the result was in doubt until the fifth. Michigan started James Houser Jr., Tampa Bay's #7 prospect, a lefty selected in the second round of the 2003 draft. Being the #7 prospect for Tampa is an achievement with guys like Delmon Young, Scott Kazmir, Jeff Niemann and Joey Gathright in front of you. Lansing did not have a hit through four innings but Luke Hetherington led off the fifth with a double and Christian Snavely followed with a two run home run. Chip Cannon scored the insurance run in the seventh. Lansing were outhit 8-4.
Your Three Star Selection
Third star - Casey Janssen one run
Second Star - Cameron Reimers shutout
First Star - Shawn Marcum shutout
Honorable Mention - Ron Acuna four hits in the double header, two of them doubles
Standings Update
Syracuse record is 14-15. The Chiefs are fourth, two games back of new division leader, and defending champions, Buffalo.
The Fisher Cats are 17-12, winners of six in a row, and are second, one and a half games behind Portland.
Dunedin's record is 17-14 which puts them in third place, six and a half games behind Lakeland.
The Lugnuts are 18-12, and have dropped into second place, one game behind South Bend, winners of eight in a row.
For the first time this year, since week two, no Blue Jay farm team is in first place
.
