Three games, five total runs scored, three of them on solo homers. It's a testament to the strength of Blue Jay pitching that the system came away with a 1-2 record on the night and nearly pulled off a 2-1. Too bad the high-powered Dunedin offence was on All-Star Break hiatus. Accordingly, this minor-league update is a slim and concise volume.

Syracuse 2 Charlotte 0

Chris Baker pitched his best game of the season so far, firing 6 shutout innings scattering 5 hits and striking out 5, walking nobody. Three Skychief relievers combined to complete the shutout, but the most interesting of the 3 was Justin Miller, who struck out 2 batters in 1 1/3 perfect innings. In 30 frames for the Skychiefs this season, The Illustrated Man has allowed 22 hits and 7 walks, whiffing 28 and giving up just 2 home runs. If the Jays need bullpen help later this season, it seems likely that Miller would be one of the first to be recalled, assuming he was to stay with the big club and not risk a waiver claim on his return.

The offence can be summed up concisely: home run Kevin Barker, home run Andy Dominique. Dominique had himself a big night with a homer, double and walk. Chad Mottola also doubled and walked.

Box score

Trenton 6 New Hampshire 2

Zach Jackson got off to a great start, following a thunderstorm-related two-hour delay, retiring the first 6 batters of the game, 3 by strikeout. The first 2 runners in the third reached base (error and infield single), but a double-play and groundout erased that threat: all of Jackson's first 9 non-K outs came by groundball. Then, starting in the 4th, the roof fell in. Trenton scored 6 times in the next 3 innings, with all the runs charged to ZachJack (only 4 were eanred, but one of the errors was his own). He allowed 11 hits (including a homer), walked no one and struck out 5 for his first loss of the season.

Ryan Roberts, who refuses to cool down, homered and drew 3 walks for the Fisher Cats. Roberts' first 83 Double-A at-bats have now produced a nifty .313/.402/.711 line. Maikel Jova singled twice for New Hampshire. Miguel Negron followed up his career night with an 0-for-3 with a walk and strikeout.

Box score

Dunedin – No Game (FSL All-Star Break)

Fort Wayne 2 Lansing 1

It was 2-1 after 2 innings, and that’s the way it remained in a game that took just under 2 hours to complete. Aaron Wideman threw well for the Lugnuts, giving up just 3 hits in 6 innings, walking no one and striking out 4. Unfortunately, 2 of those hits were back-to-back homers leading off the bottom of the second inning. Scott Roy finished up with 2 shutout relief innings, but the Lansing batters couldn’t break through. Leadoff hitter Jason Armstrong doubled, singled and walked, thereby accounting for half of all Lugnut baserunners on the evening.

Box score

Your Three-Star Selection::

3. Andy Dominique, Syracuse: Home run, double and walk to spark the Syracuse offence.

2. Ryan Roberts, New Hampshire: Reached base 4 times and jacked yet another home run for the F-Cats.

1. Chris Baker, Syracuse: 6 shutout innings to lead the Skychiefs to victory.