Things were not overly fun on Friday night with the affiliates compiling a 1-4 record. Pitching continues to be an area of disappointment - but some of the bigger-named hitting prospects need to step things up a notch too.
Salt Lake 9 Las Vegas 8
Reliever-turned-starter Dirk Hayhurst's struggles continued last night as he allowed nine runs in 3.2 innings of work, although just three were earned. Davis Romero threw and encouraging 3.1 shutout innings with just one hit and two walks allowed. Greinke, who? Jonah Bayliss tossed a shutout inning and has allowed just one unearned run this season in 16 innings (nine games). OF Aaron Mathews, 2B Howie Clark, and OF Buck Coats each had three hits. Shortstop Angel Sanchez went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. OF Jason Lane was 2-for-4 with two doubles and 1B Randy Ruiz added a solo homer.
Binghamton 8 New Hampshire 2
The weather mercifully called the end to this contest after six innings. LHP Luis Perez had a rare bad outing and allowed five runs in 3.2 innings. He allowed six hits and three walks. Perez also struck out four batters. Celson Polanco was hit up for three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings, but he did not walk a batter and the right-hander struck out four batters. The Fisher Cats managed just four hits and DH Brian Dopirak had two of those, including his fifth homer. 1B David Cooper had a double and OF Nick Gorneault had a triple.
Dunedin 4 Tampa 3
Hey, a win - and some pitching! Kenny Rodriguez received the start but was kept on a short leash and allowed just one run in 3.2 innings. He allowed four hits and no walks, while striking out three batters. Chris Michalak helped fill in with 1.1 innings of work, while the club also debuted a few pitchers picked up to help fill the pitching void: Dumas Garcia (formerly of the Cubs org, 25 yrs old), and Vincent Bongiovanni (Arizona, 26). OF Moises Sierra, fresh off being mentioned as a helium pick by Baseball America, had three hits - including a double. 2B John Tolisano and OF Darin Mastroianni each had two hits and the second baseman popped one out of the park. OF Eric Thames was 0 for 2 with three walks. SS Justin Jackson was 0 for 4 with a run scored and three strikeouts. He also stole a base.
Kane County 4 Lansing 1 (Game 1 - seven innings)
Ryan Koch had perhaps his best start of the year by allowing three runs in 6.1 innings, with six hits, two walks and four Ks. SS Tyler Pastornicky was 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base. 3B Mark Sobolewski was 1 for 3. OF Markus Brisker went 1 for 3 with a double and threw a runner out at the plate. 1B Michael McDade was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
Kane County 4 Lansing 3 (Game 2 - seven innings)
Jonas Cuotto received the start and allowed two runs in four innings. He walked just one batter and three hits. Cuotto struck out six batters. Jared Potts allowed one run in two innings and the winning run scored against Matt Daly. 1B Michael McDade went 3 for 3 with a double and a solo homer. OF Kenny Wilson went 1 for 4 with a triple but he struck out three times. C A.J. Jimenez and 3B Balbino Fuenmayor each had two hits. OF Johermyn Chavez was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
The Three Stars:
3. Jonah Bayliss for extending his scoreless streak to 16 innings this season
2. Moises Sierra for a three-hit night, including a double - and a BA mention
1. Michael McDade for a 3 for 3 night with a double and a homer
Salt Lake 9 Las Vegas 8
Reliever-turned-starter Dirk Hayhurst's struggles continued last night as he allowed nine runs in 3.2 innings of work, although just three were earned. Davis Romero threw and encouraging 3.1 shutout innings with just one hit and two walks allowed. Greinke, who? Jonah Bayliss tossed a shutout inning and has allowed just one unearned run this season in 16 innings (nine games). OF Aaron Mathews, 2B Howie Clark, and OF Buck Coats each had three hits. Shortstop Angel Sanchez went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. OF Jason Lane was 2-for-4 with two doubles and 1B Randy Ruiz added a solo homer.
Binghamton 8 New Hampshire 2
The weather mercifully called the end to this contest after six innings. LHP Luis Perez had a rare bad outing and allowed five runs in 3.2 innings. He allowed six hits and three walks. Perez also struck out four batters. Celson Polanco was hit up for three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings, but he did not walk a batter and the right-hander struck out four batters. The Fisher Cats managed just four hits and DH Brian Dopirak had two of those, including his fifth homer. 1B David Cooper had a double and OF Nick Gorneault had a triple.
Dunedin 4 Tampa 3
Hey, a win - and some pitching! Kenny Rodriguez received the start but was kept on a short leash and allowed just one run in 3.2 innings. He allowed four hits and no walks, while striking out three batters. Chris Michalak helped fill in with 1.1 innings of work, while the club also debuted a few pitchers picked up to help fill the pitching void: Dumas Garcia (formerly of the Cubs org, 25 yrs old), and Vincent Bongiovanni (Arizona, 26). OF Moises Sierra, fresh off being mentioned as a helium pick by Baseball America, had three hits - including a double. 2B John Tolisano and OF Darin Mastroianni each had two hits and the second baseman popped one out of the park. OF Eric Thames was 0 for 2 with three walks. SS Justin Jackson was 0 for 4 with a run scored and three strikeouts. He also stole a base.
Kane County 4 Lansing 1 (Game 1 - seven innings)
Ryan Koch had perhaps his best start of the year by allowing three runs in 6.1 innings, with six hits, two walks and four Ks. SS Tyler Pastornicky was 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base. 3B Mark Sobolewski was 1 for 3. OF Markus Brisker went 1 for 3 with a double and threw a runner out at the plate. 1B Michael McDade was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
Kane County 4 Lansing 3 (Game 2 - seven innings)
Jonas Cuotto received the start and allowed two runs in four innings. He walked just one batter and three hits. Cuotto struck out six batters. Jared Potts allowed one run in two innings and the winning run scored against Matt Daly. 1B Michael McDade went 3 for 3 with a double and a solo homer. OF Kenny Wilson went 1 for 4 with a triple but he struck out three times. C A.J. Jimenez and 3B Balbino Fuenmayor each had two hits. OF Johermyn Chavez was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
The Three Stars:
3. Jonah Bayliss for extending his scoreless streak to 16 innings this season
2. Moises Sierra for a three-hit night, including a double - and a BA mention
1. Michael McDade for a 3 for 3 night with a double and a homer