They weren't all singles that the Sky Chiefs saw flying around Dunn Tire park yesterday, as the Chiefs were dumped unceremoniously. The farm affiliates went 4-3.
Syracuse 7 Buffalo 17
You remember the old adage about how important it is for a pitcher to shut down the opponents after his teammates have rallied. It didn't happen for Chad Gaudin, Jason Arnold and the Sky Chiefs yesterday. The Chiefs rallied for 4 runs in the top of the 5th to take a 6-5 lead, but the Bisons retaliated with 7 in their half and then another 5 in the 6th. 10 earned runs for Gaudin in 4.1 innings and 6 for Arnold in 1.1 is all the detail that you really need to know. Gabe Gross went 3-5 with a double and a baserunner kill at the plate. Guillermo Quiroz doubled and singled in 4 chances. Desi Relaford and Justin Singleton each homered, with Singleton's being a 3 run shot.
Norwich 7 New Hampshire 4
Ismael Ramirez' record for the season stands at 7-13, although he hasn't pitched poorly. Last night's game was a microcosm of his year. The Navigators got to him for 3 runs in the top of the first, but Ismael shut them down after that through 6 innings. 7 hits, no homers, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts attest to the quality of his pitching. Meanwhile, Rob Cosby hit a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 1st. Then in the bottom of the sixth, after a Ron Acuna sacrifice fly tied the game, Chip Cannon singled in the go-ahead score. Ismael turned over the lead to the bullpen. Steve Andrade pitched a perfect seventh, but then the normally lights-out Jesse Carlson was lit up for 4 earned runs in the top of the eighth and that was that. Ryan Roberts singled, doubled and walked in 5 trips. Cannon doubled in addition to his single in 4 PAs.
Fort Myers 6 Dunedin 2-Game 1
Fort Myers 4 Dunedin 6-Game 2
In Game 1, the D-Jays led 2-1 going to the top of the 7th and last inning. Brad Mumma got an out and left a baserunner for closer Milton Tavarez. It was not Milton's day. Single, single, hbp, grand slam homer, and then 2 more singles to add insult to injury. Justin James started and went 5 solid innings, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. David Smith drove in both D-Jay runs with a single and a double. Jayce Tingler singled and tripled in 4 trips. Vito Chiaravalloti singled and doubled in 3 appearances.
David Smith dominated the nightcap with 2 solo homers, a walk and a single in 4 tries. Scott Dragicevich also homered, while Joey Reiman went 3-3, including 2 doubles and 2 ribbies, with a walk. Kurt Isenberg started and went 6 solid innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits and no walks with 5 strikeouts. Brian Reed finished up in the seventh, and gave the fans who hung in until after midnight to watch the double dip to the end something to bite their fingernails about.
Southwest Michigan 4 Lansing 6
Chi-Hung Cheng got the job done, and Aaron Mathews hit a 3 run homer in a 6 run 3rd inning as the Lugnuts won again. Cheng went 5.1 innings, and allowed 2 unearned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Po-Hsuan Keng allowed 5 baserunners and 2 runs in 2 innings, before Dewon Day and Jordan Timm shut the door. The Lugnuts drew 6 walks to go along with their eight hits; Charlie Anderson, Christian Snavely, David Hicks and Mathews each reached base twice. Mathews tripled and homered; his future as a leadoff hitter is in doubt!
Lansing State Journal article on stadium lease extension
Auburn 4 Batavia 3
Young second baseman Sean Shoffit was the hero as the Doubledays came back with a run in the seventh to tie, and then scored the game-winner on a Shoffit single in the eighth. He had previously tripled and scored, and walked. Starter Kristian Bell struggled, allowing 3 earned runs in 5.2 innings on 10 baserunners, with only 1 punchout, but Sean Stidfole and Paul Phillips combined on 3.1 shutout innings with 2 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Ryan Patterson went 1-5, but drove in the tying run with a single. Brian Pettway went 0-4.
Kingport 1 Pulaski 7
18 year old starter Wilfreddy Aguirre threw 4 shutout innings on 3 hits, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts, while the P-Jays erupted for 14 hits, including Zach Kalter's first pro homer, in an easy victory. Cory Hahn and Benjamin Harrison finished up in solid fashion with Harrison striking out 2 in 2 innings. Catcher Jonathan Jaspe went 3-5 with 2 doubles. 18 year old second baseman Wes Stone reached base 3 times in 4 appearances. Jacob Butler doubled in 4 trips and threw out a runner at the plate.3-star selection
3rd star-Aaron Mathews, unexpected pop in Lansing
2nd star-Wilfreddy Aguirre, 18 and smoking in Pulaski
1st star-David Smith, 5 hits in the doubleheader for Dunedin including 2 homers and a double.
