Syracuse 9 @ Durham 6
The SkyChiefs plated 4 in the first inning and 5 in the 3rd to run the Bulls in Durham. John Hattig was the key to the first inning, with a 3-run rip, with Ryan Roberts doing the same honours in the 3rd. Roberts and Luis Figueroa finished the day with 3 hits, while Hattig, Wayne Lydon, Kevin Barker, and Justin Singleton collected two knocks each. J-F Griffin had a walk and a double for his 5 trips to the dish, while Sergio Santos had just a walk.
Jamie Vermilyea pitched down to his run support and chalked up a W despite allowing 6 runs (5 earned) over 5. Vinnie Chulk and Brandon League wrapped up with 2 scoreless 1-hit innings each, Chulk’s featuring 4 Ks.
New Hampshire 3 @ Binghampton 4 (13 innings)
The Fisher Cats blew one-run leads in the 9th and the 13th innings to fall to the Mets. Mike MacDonald got the start and was effective in the extreme for 8 innings, holding Binghampton to a single run on just 2 base hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Jordan De Jong couldn’t hold it in the ninth. Joey Wolfe then worked 3 shutout innings, and when he was inexplicably sent out for a 4th he put runners on the corners with just one out. Kurt Isenberg came on to allow 2 singles, and that was that.
Curtis Thigpen singled, doubled, and walked twice in 7 plate appearances. Adam Lind had a double and 2 walks. David Smith managed 3 free passes, plus a base hit. Chip Cannon had just a walk for 6 trips.
Just 5 hits for the Blue Jays as they fell to the Miracle. Eric Arnold had two of those, both doubles, and also walked. Ryan Patterson, Robinzon Diaz, and Ryan Klosterman were all oh-fer.
Billy Carnline started and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings, walking 3 and whiffing 2. Matt Duff and Justin James each pitched an inning and allowed a run, Paul Phillips pitching the 8th in 1-hit 2-K fashion.
The Lugnuts thought they were in good shape with a 6 – 2 lead after 5 innings, but the Whitecaps plated 4 runs in consecutive innings to vault ahead and Lansing’s 2-run ninth inning rally was insufficient. 2-hit nights were enjoyed by Jason Armstrong, Joey Metropoulos, Jacob Butler, and Yuber Rodriguez. Most impressive of these were Metro’s, being complemented by 2 walks, and Butler’s, featuring a homer and a walk. Anthony Hatch and Brian Pettway were each 1-for-5, Pettway’s hit being a 3-run triple.
Kristian Bell and Adrian Martin would rather we didn’t discuss their outings. In a word: Shellacked. Randy Dicken was very good over the final 2 1/3, striking out 4.
Dan O’Brien was roughed up for 5 runs in 2 2/3, followed by 2 1/3 shutout frames from Ben Harrison. Scott Byrnes allowed a run on 3 hits over his 3 innings, 3 punched out, and John Tritz tossed a 1-hit ninth.
Right fielder and leadoff hitter Zach Kalter got the job done with 2 hits and a walk, but his support was lackluster to say the least, with no other Doubleday managing 2 hits (a nod to 2B Scott Campbell’s hit & walk performance) and only SS Jonathan Diaz knocking one for extra bases.
A grand slam from LF Victor Santana punctuated a 6-run 5th as the Jays downed the Sox. Santana also had a single on the night, and was joined in the 2-hit circle by 1B Paul Franko and RF Johermyn Chavez. Catcher Roger Ebarb hit a solo homer and walked.
Alex McRobbie got his first Win of the season for 5 innings of 2-run ball, 6 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. Lefty Drew Taylor followed with 2 no-hit 2-K innings, before Matt Foster and Jeff Gilmore made it interesting by allowing 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth. Pat McGuigan came on to get the final out and notch his 3rd save of the campaign, though he did allow 2 inherited runners to score on a hit and 2 errors.
Honourable Mention: Eric Arnold, Dunedin. 2 doubles and a walk amidst a lot of non-hitting.
The Third Star: Victor Santana, Pulaski. A grand slam, plus a single.
The Second Star: Ryan Roberts, Syracuse. A homer as part of a 3-hit night.
The First Star: Mike MacDonald, New Hampshire. 8 innings of 1-run ball.
