It was a productive eve for Syracuse and New Hampshire, with homers figuring prominently. The farm affiliates went 2-2.
Norfolk 6 @ Syracuse 7
The Chiefs used the long-ball to break out to a 7-3 lead and held on for the victory. A three-run rip from Russ Adams, a two-run Chad Mottola blast and a solo shot from John Hattig were the blows in question. John Thomson started and went 6 innings, allowing 3 unearned runs on 5 hits and no walks, with 2 strikeouts. Thomson induced 13 ground ball outs, including 3 double plays. Justin James pitched a scoreless 7th before Mike Venafro gave up a 3 run homer to old acquaintance Jason Dubois in the 8th inning to make the game close. Jordan DeJong struck out the side around a single in the 9th inning for the save. Wayne Lydon singled and walked in 4 plate trips and stole his 7th base out of the leadoff slot in the order.
Trenton 3 @ New Hampshire 4, 10 innings
Dustin Majewski's 7th inning homer tied the game to set the stage for Ryan Patterson's game-winning RBI single in the 10th. Yusaku Iriki started for the Fisher Cats and went 6.1 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Jean Machi walked 2 in 1.2 innings, but emerged unscathed before Lee Gronkiewicz shut the door in the 9th and 10th innings. Gronk was perfect and struck out 4 of the 6 batters he faced. The Cats fell behind 3-0 after 3 innings before Juan Peralta's 2 run double in the 5th inning started their comeback . Chip Cannon, David Smith and Peralta each reached base 3 times in 5 plate trips. Sergio Santos went 0-5.
Dunedin 4 @ Clearwater 7
Jacob Butler provided the Jay offence with a homer and 2 doubles, but it was not enough yesterday afternoon. Orlando Trias started and went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, on 2 solo homers, 6 other hits, no walks and 4 strikeouts. Danny Core was roughted up in the seventh before Seth Overbey restored order for a scoreless inning. David Corrente threw out 2 of 5 runners attempting to steal but threw one away, one of three Dunedin errors on the day.
Lansing 2 @ West Michigan 3
The Lugnuts suffered a painful loss to West Michigan yesterday. The Whitecaps and Luggies are in a tight race for a first half playoff spot. The Lugs broke out on top in the fourth inning. Travis Snider led off with a single. Matthew Lane followed with a double, but Snider was thrown out trying to score. One out later, Brian Pettway hit a 2 run homer. Kyle Ginley gave up a run to the Whitecaps in the sixth and was taken from the game, having allowed one earned run on 4 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. Julio Pinto came on in the seventh, and surrendered the tying and go-ahead runs, and the 'Nuts went three up, three down in both the eighth and ninth innings. Snider was 1-4 on the game.
3 stars
3rd star- John Thomson
2nd star- Jacob Butler
1st star- Lee Gronkiewicz
Norfolk 6 @ Syracuse 7
The Chiefs used the long-ball to break out to a 7-3 lead and held on for the victory. A three-run rip from Russ Adams, a two-run Chad Mottola blast and a solo shot from John Hattig were the blows in question. John Thomson started and went 6 innings, allowing 3 unearned runs on 5 hits and no walks, with 2 strikeouts. Thomson induced 13 ground ball outs, including 3 double plays. Justin James pitched a scoreless 7th before Mike Venafro gave up a 3 run homer to old acquaintance Jason Dubois in the 8th inning to make the game close. Jordan DeJong struck out the side around a single in the 9th inning for the save. Wayne Lydon singled and walked in 4 plate trips and stole his 7th base out of the leadoff slot in the order.
Trenton 3 @ New Hampshire 4, 10 innings
Dustin Majewski's 7th inning homer tied the game to set the stage for Ryan Patterson's game-winning RBI single in the 10th. Yusaku Iriki started for the Fisher Cats and went 6.1 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Jean Machi walked 2 in 1.2 innings, but emerged unscathed before Lee Gronkiewicz shut the door in the 9th and 10th innings. Gronk was perfect and struck out 4 of the 6 batters he faced. The Cats fell behind 3-0 after 3 innings before Juan Peralta's 2 run double in the 5th inning started their comeback . Chip Cannon, David Smith and Peralta each reached base 3 times in 5 plate trips. Sergio Santos went 0-5.
Dunedin 4 @ Clearwater 7
Jacob Butler provided the Jay offence with a homer and 2 doubles, but it was not enough yesterday afternoon. Orlando Trias started and went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, on 2 solo homers, 6 other hits, no walks and 4 strikeouts. Danny Core was roughted up in the seventh before Seth Overbey restored order for a scoreless inning. David Corrente threw out 2 of 5 runners attempting to steal but threw one away, one of three Dunedin errors on the day.
Lansing 2 @ West Michigan 3
The Lugnuts suffered a painful loss to West Michigan yesterday. The Whitecaps and Luggies are in a tight race for a first half playoff spot. The Lugs broke out on top in the fourth inning. Travis Snider led off with a single. Matthew Lane followed with a double, but Snider was thrown out trying to score. One out later, Brian Pettway hit a 2 run homer. Kyle Ginley gave up a run to the Whitecaps in the sixth and was taken from the game, having allowed one earned run on 4 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. Julio Pinto came on in the seventh, and surrendered the tying and go-ahead runs, and the 'Nuts went three up, three down in both the eighth and ninth innings. Snider was 1-4 on the game.
3 stars
3rd star- John Thomson
2nd star- Jacob Butler
1st star- Lee Gronkiewicz
