It was a rough night for the farm affiliates, who went 2-5, but a young kid gave us a sweet taste of what is to come.
Syracuse 6 @ Charlotte 10
An unusual offensive burst went for nought for the Sky Chiefs, as the Knights banged out l6 hits against Jamie Vermilyea and 2 relievers. Kevin Barker homered for the second straight day. Catcher Jason Phillips also homered, but the Knights stole 5 bases without being caught. Barker and John-ford Griffin each reached base 3 times.
Portland 6 @ New Hampshire 0 (1st game)
Portland 7 @ New Hampshire 3 (2nd game)
The Fisher Cats have had better days. In the opener, Mike MacDonald struggled and the Cat offense could muster only 4 hits. In the nightcap, Danny Hill and Kurt Isenberg took it on the chin, but the offense did wake up as Adam Lind had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and David Smith, Vito Chiaravallotti and Brad Hassey each chipped in with a couple of safeties. The Cats scored their 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to make something of a game of it; with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Erik Kratz lined into a double play to end the game.
Dunedin 7 @ Clearwater 4
The D'Jays rallied for 4 runs in the top of the ninth on 2 run doubles by Robinson Diaz and Ryan Klosterman to erase a 4-3 Clearwater lead. Billy Carnline started and went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits including 2 homers and 1 walk. Carnline struck out 6. Paul Phillips allowed a run in 2 innings of work before Connor Falkenbach and Milton Tavarez each threw a scoreless inning for the win and save respectively. Klosterman had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs. Aaron Mathews, Ryan Patterson, Robinson Diaz and Eric Neilsen had 2 hits each.
Lansing 5 @ Wisconsin 8
Big City Metropoulos reached base 4 times and stole his 5th base, but it was not enough for the Lugnuts. Kristian Bell endured 10 Rattler hits and six Rattler runs in 4.2 innings. Adrian Martin did not fare much better in relief. Shortstop Anthony Hatch tripled in 4 trips and scored 2 runs.
Lowell 7 @ Auburn 6
The Doubledays' 4 run rally in the bottom of the ninth off Josh Papelbon had the home crowd on their feet, but the Spinners scored in the top of the 10th for the victory. Fourth round 2006 draft pick Brandon Magee made his first start. Magee went 2 innings and gave up a run, while walking one and striking out two. Jonathan Baksh drove in 2 with a single, while 5th rounder Luke Hopkins reached base 3 times in 5 trips.
Princeton 4 @ Pulaski 9
Travis Snider went 3-4 including a sixth inning grand slam that put the game away for the P-Jays. Shortstop Luis Fernandez singled twice, while second baseman Wes Stone walked twice, each in 5 plate appearances. Starter Alex McRobbie went 4 tough innings, before Joe Wice came on to earn the win with 3 perfect innings of relief, including 3 strikeouts. Wice's ERA for the season is 0.73.
3 stars
3rd star- Joey Metropoulos
2nd star- Ryan Klosterman
1st star- Travis Snider
Syracuse 6 @ Charlotte 10
An unusual offensive burst went for nought for the Sky Chiefs, as the Knights banged out l6 hits against Jamie Vermilyea and 2 relievers. Kevin Barker homered for the second straight day. Catcher Jason Phillips also homered, but the Knights stole 5 bases without being caught. Barker and John-ford Griffin each reached base 3 times.
Portland 6 @ New Hampshire 0 (1st game)
Portland 7 @ New Hampshire 3 (2nd game)
The Fisher Cats have had better days. In the opener, Mike MacDonald struggled and the Cat offense could muster only 4 hits. In the nightcap, Danny Hill and Kurt Isenberg took it on the chin, but the offense did wake up as Adam Lind had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and David Smith, Vito Chiaravallotti and Brad Hassey each chipped in with a couple of safeties. The Cats scored their 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to make something of a game of it; with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Erik Kratz lined into a double play to end the game.
Dunedin 7 @ Clearwater 4
The D'Jays rallied for 4 runs in the top of the ninth on 2 run doubles by Robinson Diaz and Ryan Klosterman to erase a 4-3 Clearwater lead. Billy Carnline started and went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits including 2 homers and 1 walk. Carnline struck out 6. Paul Phillips allowed a run in 2 innings of work before Connor Falkenbach and Milton Tavarez each threw a scoreless inning for the win and save respectively. Klosterman had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs. Aaron Mathews, Ryan Patterson, Robinson Diaz and Eric Neilsen had 2 hits each.
Lansing 5 @ Wisconsin 8
Big City Metropoulos reached base 4 times and stole his 5th base, but it was not enough for the Lugnuts. Kristian Bell endured 10 Rattler hits and six Rattler runs in 4.2 innings. Adrian Martin did not fare much better in relief. Shortstop Anthony Hatch tripled in 4 trips and scored 2 runs.
Lowell 7 @ Auburn 6
The Doubledays' 4 run rally in the bottom of the ninth off Josh Papelbon had the home crowd on their feet, but the Spinners scored in the top of the 10th for the victory. Fourth round 2006 draft pick Brandon Magee made his first start. Magee went 2 innings and gave up a run, while walking one and striking out two. Jonathan Baksh drove in 2 with a single, while 5th rounder Luke Hopkins reached base 3 times in 5 trips.
Princeton 4 @ Pulaski 9
Travis Snider went 3-4 including a sixth inning grand slam that put the game away for the P-Jays. Shortstop Luis Fernandez singled twice, while second baseman Wes Stone walked twice, each in 5 plate appearances. Starter Alex McRobbie went 4 tough innings, before Joe Wice came on to earn the win with 3 perfect innings of relief, including 3 strikeouts. Wice's ERA for the season is 0.73.
3 stars
3rd star- Joey Metropoulos
2nd star- Ryan Klosterman
1st star- Travis Snider