Ugh. Let’s just forget Thursday ever happened. A loss to K.C., five losses on the farm and two poor pitching performances by two of Toronto’s best pitching prospects. At least a couple of the games were exciting, as two of the affiliates failed in comeback bids.

Syracuse 1 @ Charlotte 5 - Box Score

Well, Dustin McGowan did strike out seven in five innings. Aside from that there was little positive in his start as he gave up six hits, five walks and five runs. McGowan’s start dropped his record to 3-4, but it wasn’t close to the worst start in the minors tonight. At least the relief pitching was positive, as Adrian Burnside struck out two in his inning of relief and Jason Frasor took a step towards regaining a spot in Toronto’s bullpen with five K’s in two baserunner-less innings. Offensively, Wayne Lydon went 3-4 with a walk and John Hattig and John-Ford Griffin each had two hits.

New Britain 12 @ New Hampshire 1 - Box Score

Ricky Romero’s second start for New Hampshire went worse than his first did. His ERA rose to an even 9.00 after Romero gave up six in five innings on seven hits and three free passes. Romero had three K’s, striking out Doug Matienzo, who went on to collect a golden sombrero, twice. Brian “The Warm Body We Got for Corey Koskie” Wolfe gave up six runs in 1.1 innings to turn the game into a laugher. Adam Lind went 2-4 with a 2B and an RBI as he drove in Carlo Cota with the Fisher Cats only run.

Sarasota 4 @ Dunedin 3 - Box Score

If you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Dunedin, you’d be right. Although, they only got marginally better. Orlando Trias gave another performance to forget on Thursday. In 3.2 innings he gave up all four Sarasota runs on five hits and five walks. Justin James and Matt Duff held Sarasota in check while Dunedin brought themselves back into the game.

Cory Patton hit a solo homer in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the ninth Eric Nielsen doubled, Ryan Klosterman stuck out, Cory Patton walked and Chris Gutierrez was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and one out Eric Arnold pinch-hit for Christian Snavely and promptly struck out. Juan Peralta then came to the plate and singled, scoring both Nielsen and Patton and advancing Gutierrez to second. A hit would tie the game and an extra-base hit would win it, but Aaron Matthews grounded out to third to end an exciting game. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, as the D-Jays ran out of outs before they could tie the game.

West Michigan 3 @ Lansing 2 - Box Score

In a decent pitching performance Sean Stifole went five innings and only allowed two runs. Brad Mumma then came into the game and began playing with fire, allowing two hits and three walks. However, he picked opportune times to record his four strikeouts and escaped without allowing an earned run. Nevertheless, his own error led to an unearned run, which would eventually prove to be the difference in the game. Cameron Maybin went 1-3 with an RBI, a run, a SB and two walks. Brian Pettway went 3-4 with 2 2Bs, although Jacob Butler and Luke Hetherington scored the Lugnut runs.

This was another case of a late-inning comeback, as Lansing scored their runs in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth Anthony Hatch singled home Hetherington with one out. Brian Pettway picked an inopportune time for his only out of the game as he grounded out, but managed to advance Jason Armstrong to third and Hetherington to second. Then David Hicks was intentionally walked for Josh Bell, who struck out to end the inning. With one out in the ninth Butler doubled and was driven in by a Hetherington single. Joey Metropoulos walked and Anthony Garibaldi, representing the winning run, came in to pinch-run. However, Lansing couldn’t even drive in Butler to tie the game as Armstrong struck out and Hatch flew out.

Auburn 3 @ Mahoning Valley 8 - Box Score

Brian Bull gave up six runs, but only one was earned, in 6.1 innings. Javier Nieves gave up another two runs before Seth Overbey pitched six outs of scoreless relief. Three Auburn batters hit doubles, including Jonathan Diaz, who was 2-4 with a run and an RBI. He scored on Adam Calderone’s two-run double in the fifth, which turned a 6-0 game into a 6-2 game, but Mahoning Valley got the runs back in the bottom of the inning and deflated the Doubledays.

Bristol 5 @ Pulaski 6 - Box Score

Seven pitchers combined to hold the lead for Pulaski and give the organisation a victory for the day. Michael Barbara gave up two in his four inning start, but struck out six and only walked one. Alan Stidfole gave up a run in his inning and Nathan Malek and Drew Taylor combined to hold Pulaski’s lead over another two innings. Patrick McGuigan blew his first save of the year when he gave up two runs, but he picked up the cheap win as Pulaski scored in the bottom of the eighth. Travis Snider went 2-4 with a 2B and 3 RBI and Chris Emanuele and Wesley Stone combined to go 2-5 with a 2B, an RBI, 3 BB and 4 runs.

3 star selection

3rd star – Wayne Lydon, 3-4, BB, 3 TB

2nd star – Brian Pettway, 3-4, 2 2B, 5 TB

1st star – Travis Snider, 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 TB