Strong pitching and weak hitting was a theme in the minors on Sunday, as the four affiliates allowed just 10 runs in five games yet still only won two of 'em.
Las Vegas 1 Nashville 5
Brad Mills was a hard luck loser today. Mills threw six strong innings allowing two runs on five hits and two walks to go against seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, Brian Bullington and the offense conspired to drop Mills to 0-5 despite an ever-improving 3.63 ERA. Bullington allowed three runs in his lone inning to put things completely out of reach.
At the plate, Angel Sanchez, Buck Coats, and Randy Ruiz combined to go 6-for-12 for the 51s. Unfortunately, the rest of the lineup went 0-for-22. That seems like a good place to end this one.
New Hampshire 0 Connecticut 1 (Resumed from Saturday)
This game was postponed Saturday night with the score 1-0 in favour of Connecticut through one inning. And, well, eight innings later, that's exactly where things ended.
At the time, the rain seemed like a stroke of luck for the Fisher Cats as it removed top Giants prospect Tim Alderson from the mound. Well, things only got tougher as his replacement was the even better Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner one-hit the Cats for six innings while striking out nine. David Cooper and Brian Dopirak were each 1-for-4 though Cooper did strike out three times.
Casey Janssen picked up for Randy Boone in the second and was impressive in going 5.2 and allowing just three hits and two walks against three strikeouts. Janssen has now allowed just two runs in 23.2 innings to got with a 17:5 K:BB ratio.
New Hampshire 8 Connecticut 2
So after being shutout for 8 innings this morning, what do the Fisher Cats do? Why, score 8 runs before they record six outs, of course. Crazy how baseball works. Four hits in one game, and 8 in the first inning plus, just minutes later.
Nick Gorneault swung the big stick for New Hampshire today going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Brian Dopirak was the only other Fisher Cat with two hits, but nearly everyone else had at least one. Brad Emaus was 1-for-4 with a run scored while David Cooper went 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and an RBI double.
Reidier Gonzalez started for the Cats and was brilliant going 6 innings and allowing a run on five hits. He struck out 8 against no walks. The 23 year-old is now sporting a 1.88 ERA through seven starts.
Daytona 0 Dunedin 6
The D-Jays faced a tough task today in rehabbing Cubs star Carlos Zambrano. The portly one didn't impress them much, though as Dunedin jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to two walks and three singles including RBI raps by Manny Rodriguez and Adam Loewen. Zambrano settled down for a couple of frames but the Jays struck again in the fourth when Darin Mastroianni ended The Big Z's day with a two-run single.
All told, Dunedin scored six times on seven hits with only Loewen recording more than one safety. Justin Jackson was 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. Kevin Ahrens went 1-for-4 with a run scored, and more importantly, zero whiffs.
The real story on the day was starter Kenny Rodriguez who threw seven shutout innings allowing only three hits and a walk to go against seven strikeouts. Chad Beck and Tim Collins each provided a scoreless inning of relief.
Dayton 3 Lansing 0 (12 innings)
Boy was the Lansing offense ever flat on Sunday. A hit here or there and they escape with a 1-0 win. Instead, the Lugnuts only mustered five singles and a double in dropping this one in extras. Kenny Wilson was one of the worst offenders going 0-for-6 with 3 strikeouts. Jonathan Talley and Justin McClanahan each had two hits. Nearly everyone else sucked.
Chase Lirette started and went five innings, allowing just two hits and walk. Three other relievers bridged the gap to the 12th where Jonas Cuotto surrendered the three-spot.
Three Stars:
3rd Star: Casey Janssen; 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
2nd Star: Reidier Gonzalez; 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K
1st Star: Kenny Rodriguez; 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
Las Vegas 1 Nashville 5
Brad Mills was a hard luck loser today. Mills threw six strong innings allowing two runs on five hits and two walks to go against seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, Brian Bullington and the offense conspired to drop Mills to 0-5 despite an ever-improving 3.63 ERA. Bullington allowed three runs in his lone inning to put things completely out of reach.
At the plate, Angel Sanchez, Buck Coats, and Randy Ruiz combined to go 6-for-12 for the 51s. Unfortunately, the rest of the lineup went 0-for-22. That seems like a good place to end this one.
New Hampshire 0 Connecticut 1 (Resumed from Saturday)
This game was postponed Saturday night with the score 1-0 in favour of Connecticut through one inning. And, well, eight innings later, that's exactly where things ended.
At the time, the rain seemed like a stroke of luck for the Fisher Cats as it removed top Giants prospect Tim Alderson from the mound. Well, things only got tougher as his replacement was the even better Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner one-hit the Cats for six innings while striking out nine. David Cooper and Brian Dopirak were each 1-for-4 though Cooper did strike out three times.
Casey Janssen picked up for Randy Boone in the second and was impressive in going 5.2 and allowing just three hits and two walks against three strikeouts. Janssen has now allowed just two runs in 23.2 innings to got with a 17:5 K:BB ratio.
New Hampshire 8 Connecticut 2
So after being shutout for 8 innings this morning, what do the Fisher Cats do? Why, score 8 runs before they record six outs, of course. Crazy how baseball works. Four hits in one game, and 8 in the first inning plus, just minutes later.
Nick Gorneault swung the big stick for New Hampshire today going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Brian Dopirak was the only other Fisher Cat with two hits, but nearly everyone else had at least one. Brad Emaus was 1-for-4 with a run scored while David Cooper went 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and an RBI double.
Reidier Gonzalez started for the Cats and was brilliant going 6 innings and allowing a run on five hits. He struck out 8 against no walks. The 23 year-old is now sporting a 1.88 ERA through seven starts.
Daytona 0 Dunedin 6
The D-Jays faced a tough task today in rehabbing Cubs star Carlos Zambrano. The portly one didn't impress them much, though as Dunedin jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to two walks and three singles including RBI raps by Manny Rodriguez and Adam Loewen. Zambrano settled down for a couple of frames but the Jays struck again in the fourth when Darin Mastroianni ended The Big Z's day with a two-run single.
All told, Dunedin scored six times on seven hits with only Loewen recording more than one safety. Justin Jackson was 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. Kevin Ahrens went 1-for-4 with a run scored, and more importantly, zero whiffs.
The real story on the day was starter Kenny Rodriguez who threw seven shutout innings allowing only three hits and a walk to go against seven strikeouts. Chad Beck and Tim Collins each provided a scoreless inning of relief.
Dayton 3 Lansing 0 (12 innings)
Boy was the Lansing offense ever flat on Sunday. A hit here or there and they escape with a 1-0 win. Instead, the Lugnuts only mustered five singles and a double in dropping this one in extras. Kenny Wilson was one of the worst offenders going 0-for-6 with 3 strikeouts. Jonathan Talley and Justin McClanahan each had two hits. Nearly everyone else sucked.
Chase Lirette started and went five innings, allowing just two hits and walk. Three other relievers bridged the gap to the 12th where Jonas Cuotto surrendered the three-spot.
Three Stars:
3rd Star: Casey Janssen; 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
2nd Star: Reidier Gonzalez; 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K
1st Star: Kenny Rodriguez; 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
