Blowouts were the rule rather than the exception but the exception featured arguably the best pitching performance turned in by a Jays farmhand this season. It was a 3-2 night for the affiliates with Lansing enjoying the day off, save for one Lugnut who was at the Midwest League All-Star Game.
Tacoma, WA - The Mariners affiliate totaled six runs in the first three innings, scored another two in the fifth and rolled a six after the seventh-inning stretch. Brian Burres was the victim of this senseless slaughter by giving up 12 runs (only 10 earned though!) on 13 hits and two walks while whiffing three in six innings. Jeff Clement and Chris Shelton each took the former Oriole and Ottawa Lynx lefty deep. Bubbie Buzachero mopped up in relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits over two innings but did strike out two.
Kevin Howard and Buck Coats were the lone bright spots for the 51's offence. Howard hit two solo homers and a double and Coats also reached base thrice with a single and two walks. Joe Inglett was 0-for-5 in his return to Vegas.
Reading, PA - Lots of hits and errors in this one as both teams combined for 21 hits and two clanks apiece. Randy Boone survived a two-out rally in the first when the Phillies had a hit and an walk and set down the side in order in the second with two strike outs. However, Reading scored the first two runs of the game in the third with a pair of doubles and a Michael Taylor RBI single. Boone bounced back from a Brad Emaus error at second to get an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
The Fisher Cats had problems on the base paths in the early going when Todd Donovan was thrown out trying to steal second in the first and Scott Campbell was picked off at first to end the third. However, the offence exploded for a seven-run fourth off Oregon State College World Series star Eric Stutes. Cody Haerther singled with the bases loaded to bring home the first run. The second run scored when Reading catcher Ozzie Chavez dropped the ball after Darin Mastroianni hit a grounder to first. Luis Sanchez took advantage by delivering a two-run single to make the score 4-0. Donovan followed with a sac fly, Brian Dopirak knocked home another run with a single and Adam Calderon had an RBI double to make it 7-0. He was denied a second ribbie when Dopirak was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Boone retired six hitters in a row but an error by Dopirak extended the fifth inning and Taylor went deep for a two-run homer to cut the New Hampshire lead to 7-4. However, "Big Brian" matched Taylor's two-run blast in the sixth with one of his own to score a Campbell single and that restored the Cats five-run bulge. Boone worked through a couple of singles and a walk in a shutout sixth and Rommie Lewis went three innings to get the save as he scatted two hits and two walks while striking out four. Boone allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings while yielding eight hits and two walks. He struck out four to improve to 5-4 on the year.
Dopirak connected for his 17th homer of the season in a three hit game at the dish. Campbell was on base four times with one hit and three walks. Brian Jeroloman had a couple of safeties but no walks so the "BJBB Meter" remains one shy of 30.
Viera, FL - When your club strikes out 17 times in a game, you shouldn't expect a win - unless your pitching is absolutely stellar! That was the case as D-Jays starter Andrew Liebel enjoyed his best start as a pro. Liebel gave up just one run on one hit against the Brewers affiliate. Lee Haydel had the only safety as he singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on another ground ball. After that, Liebel retired 13 straight hitters into the eighth before an error by John Tolisano in the eighth. That didn't bother Liebel one bit as he induced a 6-3 inning-ending double play. Tolisano drove in both runs as he belted a solo homer in the third and drove in a Sean Shoffit double in the eighth to snap the 1-1 tie. Zach Dials locked it up for Liebel with a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Liebel struck out six and didn't walk a batter in his eight innings and recorded a whopping 13 ground outs. Tolisano and Moises Sierra had two hit nights and Jonathan Jaspe had a hit and a walk. However, every Dunedin batter struck out as least once as Justin Jackson and Eric Thames each had a hat trick.
Lansing Lugnuts - Scheduled Day Off
Midwest League All-Star Game - Brian Van Kirk was the lone Lugnut to play in the game because the club's other All-Star selection, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, had pitched Sunday. Van Kirk was 0-for-2 with a strikeout after PH'ing and DH'ing.
Jamestown, NY - D-Days starter Matthew Morgal was lit up in the first inning as the Marlins affiliate scored four runs on three walks, two singles, a hit by pitch and an Eric Eiland error in center field. Morgal did set down the final seven hitters he faced before giving the ball to Zach Outman in the fourth. He gave up a run that inning on a single, an errant pickoff attempt and a sac fly. Dave Sever relieved in the fifth and gave up the other two runs on two singles and a double and a Markus Brisker error in right also figured into the mix. Like Morgal, Sever settled down by retiring the last seven men he faced. Lefty Willi Mendez had a shaky eighth by giving up three singles and uncorking a wild pitch but Christopher Hopkins threw out a runner at second with a 7-4 put out.
The D-Days managed just six hits and two walks in this one. Jack Murphy had the lone two-hit game and Eric Eiland had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Kevin Nolan joined Murphy as the only Auburn players to get a two-base hit.
Gulf Coast Blue Jays 7 Gulf Coast Phillies 1
Clearwater, FL - The G-Jays took control of this one by scoring twice in the second inning and three more times in the third. Matthew Nuzzo put the visitors in flight with an RBI single to score a John Roberts base knock and a Gustavo Pierre fielder's choice scored a Michael Crouse walk. Roberts' double brought home a Yudelmis Hernandez two-bagger, Crouse singled home Roberts and a wild pitch allowed Crouse to score the G-Jays fifth run. Crouse also delivered a two-run triple in the seventh to score a Yan Gomez single and a Carlos Perez walk.
Chris Holguin earned the win with five shutout innings and allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out two. Lefty Carlos Pina surrendered the lone Phillies run which was unearned thanks to a Pierre error. He scattered two hits and a walk in his two frames of work. Lefty Dan DeLucia worked a one-walk eighth while punching out one and David Slovak survived a two-walk ninth while striking out one to keep the Phils off the board. Roberts, Gomes and Crouse each had two hits and Gomes drew two of the six G-Jay walks. Crouse also added a stolen base.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Brian Dopirak, New Hampshire
2. Kevin Howard, Las Vegas
1. Andrew Liebel, Dunedin
Extra Innings........
* The Las Vegas Review-Journal speaks with rehabbing catcher Michael Barrett and also has a word with David Dellucci.
* The New Hampshire Union Leader has a chat with Scott Campbell.
* Baseball America gives props to lefty Marc Rzepczynski as a "prospect on the move" and lists him in its Prospect Hot Sheet.
