Reidier Gonzalez pitched well enough to win and well enough to finish what he started but he wasn't allowed to as New Hampshire lost a heartbreaker. Lansing got pasted but Dunedin slugged their way to a win. Las Vegas was rained out last night in Salt Lake.
Las Vegas @ Salt Lake - Postponed Due To Rain.
Manchester, NH - Reidier Gonzalez definitely deserved a better fate in this one as he pitched 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The 5-foot-9 righty retired 14 hitters in a row at one point and gave up just five hits, struck out four, walked no one and got 11 groundball outs. Gonzo was pulled after getting the first two hitters in the ninth and lefty Rommie Lewis took over to face the lefthanded bat of Adam Witter, who promptly singled. Zach Dials took over and surrendered a single and a two-run double to Mike Mooney to saddle Lewis with the loss.
The F-Cats best chance to score came in the sixth when Brad Emaus singled, stole second and went to third on a Chris Gutierrez single with one out. However, Brian Dopirak lined into a double play to first as Gutierrez was doubled off the bag. The F-Cats got a pair of two-out singles from Kyle Phillips and Nick Gorneault in the ninth but couldn't do a thing with them.
New Hampshire was limited to five singles and five walks by the Giants affiliate. Kyle Phillips had two of the hits. Adam Calderone had a stolen base. David Cooper was 0-for-1 with a walk before Gutierrez pinch-hit for him in the sixth.
Daytona, FL - The D-Jays turned to the running game early in this one as Darin Mastroianni singled, stole second and third and came in with the game's first run on a Manny Rodriguez sac fly. Kevin Ahrens would double home an Eric Thames walk to cap off a two-run first inning. Dunedin added two more in the second on RBI singles by Thames and Rodriguez, scoring a pair of walks from Justin Jackson and Mastroianni. Jonathan Jaspe decided that small ball was for the birds in the third as he launched his first homer of the year to make it 5-0.
Dunedin starter Andrew Liebel was cruising like the Love Boat as he set down the first 12 hitters in order. However, he started sinking like the S.S. Minnow in the fifth after giving up two doubles, two singles and a walk without a retiring a hitter. Lefty Cody Crowell took over and did a fine job to limit the damage to just the tying run. He got a pop out and three ground balls but one of them was booted by third baseman Kevin Ahrens and another resulted in the tying run coming home.
Dunedin got the lead right back with a three-run two-out rally in the sixth. Thames tripled home a Jackson single and a Mastroianni walk and Thames came home on a Rodriguez single. Tryston Magnuson relieved Crowell in the sixth and gave up an unearned run thanks to Ahrens' second error of the game that allowed a runner to advance to second after an infield single. The run was scored on another groundout to bring Dayton to within two. Magnuson worked the seventh and allowed a pair of two-out singles before getting out of that jam. After that, the Cubs never put a ball in play again. Bobby Bell and Danny Farquahar each struck out the side swinging in the last two innings to put an exclamation point on the victory.
Dunedin had 11 hits and six walks, half of them to going to Mastroianni in a 2-for-2 day that included two steals. Thames and Rodriguez also had two hits and had three RBI apiece. Only Jonathan Baksh did not record a hit.
South Bend, IN - The D-Backs affiliate made like the Fightin' Irish by scoring a TD and safety against the Lugnuts, or if you prefer, three field goals. Lansing did score the game's first run when Kenneth Wilson singled, stole second and scampered home on a Brian Van Kirk base knock.
The lead was gone in the bottom of the first when 6-foot-7 righty Josh Wells walked the bases loaded but got a groundball double play that led to a run. He would give up another run scoring single and a walk before getting out of the inning. Wells struck out the first batter of the second but that was the only highlight as he proceeded to yield four runs on four singles, a double, an intentional walk and another single before being yanked for Jonas Cuotto. Cuotto struck out the final two men of the inning. Wells' ERA is only 40 and a half. At least he kept it below 50 if you're looking for a positive!
Cuotto was nicked for a run but struck out six in 3 2/3 innings, lefty Jared Potts gave up a run but had a 4-1 K/BB mark in two innings, and Yorman Mayora was also singed for a run in his lone inning of work.
Lansing's other run came in the fourth when Jonathan Talley singled home a Jon Del Campo double. Michael McDade was 2-for-3. Balbino Fuenmayor was 0-for-3 and his average is only 71 cents.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Eric Thames, Dunedin
2. Darin Mastroianni, Dunedin
1. Reider Gonzalez, New Hampshire
Standings
Las Vegas 0-4, 1.5GB - Reno, PCL Pacific South, L4.
New Hampshire 3-3, 1.0 GB - Connecticut/Portland, EL North, L3.
Dunedin 2-3, 1.5 GB - Clearwater, FSL West, W1.
Lansing 0-4, 4.5 GB - Fort Wayne, MWL Eastern, L4.
Bonus Material
* The Las Vegas Sun has a piece on Mighty Joe Inglett.
* The New Hampshire Union Leader has a rundown of last night's F-Cat loss.
