Syracuse 2 Pawtucket 1
If he’s needed, he looks ready. Dave Bush, who might be called up to take Roy Halladay’s spot in the rotation, allowed just 1 run in 7 strong innings, yielding just 6 hits and no walks and striking out 5. Bush’s stats haven’t been great since his return to Syracuse – 2-1, 4.61 coming into this game, with 56 baserunners in 41 innings against just 31 strikeouts – but he has looked better lately. Spike Lundberg got the win with a scoreless inning of relief, with Matt Whiteside picking up the save. Kevin Barker’s second hit of the night, a solo homer with 2 out in the 8th, was the difference. Bryant Nelson had the only other hit for Syracuse.
Portland at New Hampshire, postponed (rain)
Dunedin 5 Palm Beach 2
Mike MacDonald led the way, allowing only 2 unearned runs in 5 innings on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Justin James led a trio of relievers in shutting down the opposition the rest of the way; James allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk in 2 frames. Adam Lind tripled and singled, while Robinzon Diaz singled twice and drove in a run. Carlo Cota’s double was the only other extra-base hit for the D-Jays. Chip Cannon did not play.
Kane County 7 Lansing 5
This was a messy game in which Lugnut pitchers coughed up the lead on 3 separate occasions. Chi-Hung Cheng delivered what has become his signature performance: 5 innings of 3-hit ball, allowing 1 run with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Cheng go more than 6 innings, and with all those BB's and K's, it’s not surprising. Aaron Tressler allowed the tying run to score in the 7th, and then Scott Roy opened the floodgates to 5 runs in the last 2 innings on 4 hits (including 2 home runs) and 2 walks, whiffing only 1. Christian Snavely continued to swing Lansing’s hottest bat with a home run, single and 2 walks, while Aaron Mathews doubled, singled and drove in a run. Curtis Thigpen went 0-for-5.
Auburn 13 Batavia 5
If the Doubledays were tired after the previous night’s marathon 21-inning suspended game, it sure didn’t show. Auburn batters banged out 18 hits and drew 9 walks for good measure. Cory Patton led the hit parade with 2 home runs, 2 singles, 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs in his best pro game yet. Ryan Patterson and Kyle Bohm each homered, singled and walked, while Jermy Acey doubled twice, singled and drove in 3 runs. Patterson’s batting average is now just below .400 and his SLG just under .700 after his first 73 pro at-bats. Second baseman Sean Shoffit reached base 5 times on 2 singles and 3 walks. Randy Dicken had his least effective outing as a D-Day, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Stellar relief was provided, however, by Brian Grant, who sailed through 4 innings of shutout ball, giving up just 2 hits and a walk and striking out 4. Could the bullpen be the right place for the talented but struggling right-hander?
Pulaski 9 Johnson City 5
The P-Jays faced 5 relief pitchers in the final 3 innings of this game and scored 6 runs off them. Right fielder Jacob Butler and DH Paul Franko each cranked out their 2nd homers of the year; Franko tacked on a single as well. Two-hit nights were also registered by shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, second baseman Wesley Stone and first baseman Anthony Hatch. Jesse Litsch took his lumps but hung on for 7 innings of 4-run ball, dodging 9 base hits (including a homer) and a walk, striking out 5.
Your Three-Star Selection:
3. Christian Snavely, Lansing: He reached base 4 times on another home run, a single and 2 walks.
2. Dave Bush, Syracuse: Maybe his last AAA start? 7 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 6.
1. Cory Patton, Auburn:A 4-hit night featured 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
