4 wins against 1 loss down on the Blue Jay farm.
The Chiefs saw their 3-0 lead through 4 go up in smoke as the Knights rang up 4 in the 5th and 5 in the 7th, but the Syracusians came storming back with 5 of their own in the bottom of the 7th and a 2-run 8th for the win.
Kevin Barker was the hero with the 2-run double in the 8th. Wayne Lydon, Chad Mottola, Erik Kratz, and Russ Adams all had 2 hits, including a homer for Lydon. Jason Scobie, Ryan Houston, and Adrian Burnside were all roughed up before FREE JASON FRASOR came on for the 1-walk 1-strikeout save.
New Hampshire: Scheduled off day.
Billy Carnline dodged and weaved through 5 innings (3 runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits and 3 walks), but Danny Core was hit for 3 runs in 1 1/3 as the Jays fell to the Miracle. Aaron Mathews had 3 singles out of the leadoff spot, and Eric Nielsen drove in 2 with 2 hits and a walk from the cleanup spot. Josh Kreuzer homered and walked twice.
Luke Hetherington hit two solo homers to set up a walkoff win for the Lugnuts. It was an unusual bottom of the ninth to say the least; Josh Bell opened with a single, and when Tony Garibaldi attempted to sacrifice him to 2nd the first baseman threw the ball away to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Yuber Rodriguez was then intentionally walked, and after a Sean Shoffit groundout the shortstop booted Jason Armstrong’s grounder and 2 runs scored. Put it in the win column.
Casey McKenzie started and held the Bees to 3 runs on 9 hits through 6, a 5-0 K-BB ratio coming in handy. Eddy Rodriguez earned the win with 3 shutout innings. Joining Hetherington with 2 hits were Armstrong, Garibaldi, and Josh Bell.
Though the State College Spikes are in fact an official New York-Penn League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Doubledays stuck it to them as if they were a Divison-III school team. Ben Zeskind and Shawn Scobee each smacked 3 hits including a double, Luke Hopkins tripled, singled, and walked twice, and Matt Lane and Jon Diaz each singled twice. Zach Dials tossed 5 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned), with Scott Byrnes and Ben Harrison each turning in 2 innings of shutout relief.
Paul Franko reached base in all four of his plate appearances as the Blue Jays downed the Rays. Franko single twice, drew a walk, and was hit by a pitch. Chris Emanuele had 2 RBIs on the strength of a double, the only extra base hit for Pulaski.
Drew Taylor got the start and for reasons unknown went just 2 innings, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Kyle Ginley struck out 6 over the next 4 frames, allowing a run on 3 hits. Pat McGuigan notched his 6th save with a 1-hit ninth.
The 19-year-old Ginley was Toronto’s 17th round selection this year out of St. Petersburg junior college in Florida. Here is an interesting article on how the Cincinatti Reds did the Jays a big favour.
Three Star Selection!
The Third Star: Kyle Ginley, Pulaski. Punches out 6 in a dominant 4-inning relief appearance.
The Second Star: Luke Hopkins, Auburn. Single Triple Walk Walk.
The First Star: Luke Hetherington, Lansing. 2 bombs.
