The affiliates go 2-4 in what was an interesting night on the farm. Ricky Romero made his long awaited return to the mound, there was an inside the park homer in New Hampshire, a fan favourite was plunked twice in Triple A action, and so were three Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, all in the same inning. Find out more in today's episode of the Minor League Update.
Scranton Wilkes-Barre 4 Syracuse 0
Scranton, PA - The Chiefs continue to struggle as they have lost 11 out of their last 15. This game was scoreless until the 6th when the SWB Yankees got to Mike MacDonald for a pair of runs. A double, a sac bunt, and a MacDonald throwing error on the bunt led to the first Scranton run. Another sac bunt and a single led to the second run. Mike Venafro struck out Eric Duncan to end the frame. It wasn't a bad outing for MacDonald. After stranding a 2 out triple in the first by Shelley Duncan, he faced the minimum number batters in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th - getting a ground ball double play to erase a leadoff walk in the 4th. He worked around a single and wild pitch in teh 5th before running into trouble in the 6th. Brandon League pitched a clean 7th, striking out a batter. The Chiefs loaded up the bases with 1 out in the 8th but Kevin Barker grounded into an inning ending double play. Scranton got to Blaine Neal in the 8th for 2 more runs on 2 hits and a walk in the 8th to round out the scoring.
Russ Adams was 2 for 4 on the night and John Ford Griffin had a double and walk in his 4 plate appearances. Sal Fasano got on base twice the painful way by being plunked twice. Ray Olmedo had a single and a stolen base as the Chiefs were held down by Scranton starter Steven White, who gave up just 2 of the 4 Syracuse hits on the night.
Manchester, NH - Ricky Romero made his first start since May 3rd and it wasn't pretty. He survived a single and walk by racking up a couple of K's but he gave up 4 runs over the next innings on a solo homer in the 2nd; two singles, two doubles, and a walk in the 3rd; and a single, stolen base, double, and a walk in the 4th before Ismael Ramirez got the final out of the frame. Ramirez held the Red Sox affiliates in check until the 7th when he gave up a run on a single and double as Portland grabbed a 5-0 lead.
Finally, the F-Cats awoke from their slumber as Chip Cannon singled with 1 out and he and Dustin Majewski would run track and motor around the bases as Majewski hit an inside the park homer to cut Portland's lead to 5-2. Matt Roney, despite giving up 2 hits, and Seth Overbey held down the fort with shutout innings in the 8th and 9th and the F-Cats got another long ball, this time over the wall from Aaron Matthews, as he brought home a leadoff double from Rob Cosby to make it a one run game. However, the F-Cats went down in order after that to lose the ball game.
The main problem for the F-Cats on the night was making contact as they struck out 14 times, with Portland starter Clay Buchholz getting 11 K's, and they only drew one walk. The K leaders were Aaron Matthews and Chip Cannon, who each got a hat trick. Robinzon Diaz, who will represent the Jays at the World Team for the Futures Games during the All-Star festivities, went 2 for 4 with a double to up his average to .323.
Meantime, the Fisher Cats continue to pack them in according to nhfishercats.com.
St. Lucie, FL - The Mets raced out to a 4-0 lead after 3 innings, thanks to a 3 run first inning off D-Jays starter Robert Ray, who gave up 3 singles and a pair of walks in the frame. Dunedin turned on the power in the 5th thanks to a couple of homers by Jacob Butler and Anthony Garibaldi, who brought home a plunked Brian Jeroloman to cut their deficit to 4-3. John Zinnicker came on to relieve Robert Ray in the bottom of the 5th and he worked around a pair of walks and a double thanks to a punchout and a ground ball double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
They say timing in life is everything and Zinnicker would be the beneficiary of a Dunedin explosion in the top of the 6th as they erupted for 6 runs. A Cory Patton 2-run double and a wild pitch led to the first 3 runs but the capper was a 3 run homer by Jesus Gonzalez to give Dunedin a 9-4 lead.
Things got a little heated in the 7th as Billy Carnline, taking over for John Zinnicker was ejected for plunking the only batter he faced. St. Lucie would score twice in the inning off Carnline and Paul Phillips to make it a 9-6 game.but the D-Jays would match that in the top of the 8th as Kyle Phillips knocked in two with a double. He tried to make it a 3 run inning but he would eventually be thrown out at the plate. St. Lucie would score once more off Connor Falkenbach in the 9th to round out the scoring.
Of the 14 hits Dunedin collected, 7 were of the extra base variety and all starters had at least one hit. Jesus Gonzalez had a 3 run homer and double to more than offset an error he made on the night. Eric Nielsen was aboard 3 times as well with 2 hits and a walk as well as Josh Kreuzer, who got a hit and 2 walks. Anthony Garibaldi added a stolen base to cap off a 2 for 5 night that included a homer.
Comstock Park, MI - A two run single by Jonathan Diaz in the top of the 2nd gave Lugnuts starter Nathan Starner a 2 run lead to work with but he gave it all back in the next half inning and then some. He was victimized by back to back jacks to start off the frame and a pair of singles and a sac fly put the Tigers affliates ahead, 3-2. West Michigan would get to Starner for another pair of runs in the 4th on a double, single, grounder, and sac fly all figuring in.
Edward Rodriguez did his part to keep the Lugnuts in the game, tossing 4 shutout innings of relief, giving up just 2 hits while punching out 3. The Lugnuts offence responded in the top of the 8th as Travis Snider went deep to bring home a Yuber Rodriguez single to make it a one run game. The 'Nuts Jonathan Jaspe came off the bench to deliver a 2 out pinch hit single in the 9th but pinch runner Raul Barron would be left at first as Scott Campbell flew out to end the ball game.
Yuber Rodriguez and Matthew Lane were each 2 for 4 on the evening with Y-Rod chipping in with a stolen base. Travis Snider belted his 5th homer of the season but did strike out twice.
Niles, OH - Despite the fact they had no extra base hits among their 8 knocks, the D-Days found a way to pull this one out. Auburn drew first blood in the top of the 2nd as Leance Soto singled, went to 2nd on a balk, and was driven home by a J.P. Arencibia single. Auburn lefty Wilfreddy Aguire saw that lead disappear in the next half inning as two singles, a double, and a fielding error by left fielder Ben Zeskind led to a 2 run inning for the Cleveland affiliates. Mahoning Valley managed to add on another run in spite of themselves. After getting 2 singles to start the inning, Aguirre helped himself out by picking up the runner at 2nd and then at first to clear the bases. However, Aguirre plunked the next hitter and he came around to score on a double to make it 3-1 Scrappers. Aguirre gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings but he did strike out 5.
Auburn got on the board in the 6th as Darin Mastroianni got aboard on an error and got into scoring position by stealing 2nd. Ben Zeskind then delivered an RBI single to make it a 3-2 score. It looked like the Scrappers had this one put away when Auburn reliever Javier Nieves surrendered a 2 run homer, which included a hit batter, to up Mahoning Valley's lead to 5-2. However, a hit batter sparked Auburn in the 8th as Ben Zeskind was plunked with one out. That was the start of a 4 run rally as Manuel Rodriguez knocked home a pair with a single. A wild pitch cashed in pinch runner Wesley Stone with the tying run and an Adam Calderone sac fly cashed in pinch runner Victor Santana with the go-ahead run. Auburn's relief corps took it from there as Edgar Estanza, your winning pitcher, and Ronald Lowe held down the Scrappers to get the one run victory. Lowe recorded the final 4 outs for the save, racking up a K along the way.
No one in the Auburn lineup had more than one hit but C.J. Ebarb drew a pair of walks to get on base 3 times.
Gulf Coast League Phillies 8 Gulf Coast League Blue Jays 7
Florida - It was a rough first inning for GCL Jays starter Brad Cuthbertson, who was rocked for a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 1st. The Jays responded with a 2 run inning as the great Balbino Fuenmayor was plunked by a pitch. Fuenmayor eventually scored but it took a balk, a Yohermyn Chavez hit by pitch, a wild pitch, a walk to John Tolisano, and another wild pitch before he crossed home plate. Michael McDade was the third plunked batter of the inning but a line out double play by Moises Sierra made it look like the Phils were going to escape giving up just one run. However, Eric Eiland singled for the Jays 2nd run.
The GCL Jays grabbed the lead with a 2 run 3rd inning. Chris House drew a walk and Jonathan Del Campo and Balbino Fuenmayor each singled to load the bases. House would score on a balk to tie the game. A Yohermyn Chavez sac fly gave the Jays the 4-3 lead. The Jays would add another run in the 6th on a Chris House sac fly to increase their lead to 5-3. However, the Phillies erupted for 5 runs in the their half of the 6th against Jason "The Full" Monti and Jacob Cook.
The GCL Jays got 2 runs back on a Moises Sierra RBI single and an Eric Eiland double to chop the Phils lead down to 8-7. Ross Buckwalter held the Phillies in check the rest of the way but his teammates could not complete the rally. Balbino Fuenmayor drew a one out walk in the 8th and moved to 3rd on two wild pitches but Yohermyn Chavez and John Tolisano were unable to bring him home. The Jays went down in order in the 9th.
Eric Eiland had a 3 for 4 night with a walk, a double, and 2 RBI, Jonathan Del Campo was 2 for 4 with a walk, and Moises Sierra was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored, a stolen bases and an RBI. Balbino Fuenmayor was 1 for 3 with a walk and Kevin Ahrens was 0 for 3 but did draw a pair of walks.
Brad Cuthbertson struck out 5 in 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Jason Monti whiffed 3 in 2 1/3 innings but gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Jacob Cook took the loss, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in just 2/3 of an inning. Ross Buckwalter gave up 2 hits and 2 walks but punched out 1 in 2 scoreless innings.
*** 3 Stars! ***
3. Edward Rodriguez, Lansing - 4IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 3K
2. Eric Eiland, Gulf Coast League - 3/4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
1. Jesus Gonzalez, Dunedin - 3/5, 2B, HR, 3RBI
Honourable Mentions -
Syracuse - Russ Adams, John-Ford Griffin, Ray Olmedo, Mike MacDonald, Mike Venafro, Brandon League
New Hampshire - Dustin Majewski, Aaron Matthews, Robinzon Diaz, Ismael Ramirez, Matt Roney, Seth Overbey
Dunedin - Josh Kreuzer, Jacob Butler, Eric Nielsen, John Zinnicker
Lansing - Yuber Rodriguez, Travis Snider, Matthew Lane, Jonathan Jaspe
Auburn - Manuel Rodriguez, Darin Mastroianni, C.J. Ebarb, Adam Calderone, J.P. Arencibia, Wilfredde Aguirre, Edgar Estanga, Ronald Lowe
Gulf Coast League - Moises Sierra, Jonathan Del Campo, John Tolisano, Balbino Fuenmayor, Kevin Ahrens, Ross Buckwalter
Standings..........
Syracuse - 34-42, 4th place - International League North Division, 8GB Buffalo, 2L
New Hampshire - 39-35, 2nd place - Eastern League Northern Division, 8GB Trenton, 2L
Dunedin - 2-3, 4th place - Florida State League West Division, 2.5 GB Tampa, 1W
Lansing - 2-3, 4th place - Midwest League Eastern Division, 3GB West Michigan, 3L
Auburn - 4-3, 2nd place - New York Penn League Pinckney Division, 1GB Williamsport, 1W
GCL - 2-4, 4th place - Gulf Coast League North Division, 3.5 GB Phillies, 3L
Today's Schedule........
Dunedin at St. Lucie, 10:30 a.m.
Lansing at West Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
GCL Indians at GCL Blue Jays, 12:00 p.m.
Charlotte at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m.
Auburn at Mahoning Valley, 7:05 p.m.
New Hampshire - Scheduled Day Off
