Las Vegas split a double-header with Salt Lake, and the 3-4-5 hitters (Randy Ruiz, Travis Snider, Brian Dopirak) continued to mash.
Salt Lake 7 at Las Vegas 5 (game 1)
This was a heart-breaker for Vegas. They built a comfortable 5-2 lead going into the 7th (and last) inning, thanks to a balanced attack - every 51 had a hit (14 in total), and only Buck Coats and J.P. Arencibia didn't either score or drive in a run. Unfortunately, starter T.J. Beam ran out of steam in the 7th, and then Bubbie Buzachero was awful in relief, allowing 2 runs without recording an out, and then being charged with 2 more when Sean Stidfole allowed both of his inherited runners to score.
Beam was pretty good on the whole, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 3 runs. The best offensive days belonged to Howie Clark (3 hits including a double), Randy Ruiz (solo homer in 4 trips), and Brian Dopirak (single and homer). Travis Snider had a single in 4 trips, while J.P. Arencibia was 1-3.
Salt Lake 5 at Las Vegas 6 (game 2)
Jeez, Salt Lake almost did it again. Trailing 6-2 after 6 innings, the Bees scored 3 runs off starter Marty McCleary and Brian Wolfe to almost come from behind twice in one day. But Wolfe slammed the door shut just in time, preserving the victory for Vegas.
McCleary was pretty good - he allowed 2 runs over 6 innings before allowing the first 2 batters to reach in the 7th - Wolfe allowed both of those runners to score. The 3-4-5 hitters for Vegas were once again the story - Randy Ruiz was 2-3 with a homer and a double, Travis Snider was 3-3, falling a triple short of the cycle, and Brian Dopirak had a single (he homered in the afternoon game). On the day, Ruiz was 3-7 with 10 TB (and now has 101 (!) RBIs on the year), Snider was 4-7 with 8 TB, and Dopirak went 3-7 with 7 TB.
New Hampshire - Scheduled day off
Dunedin - Scheduled day off
Lansing 7 at Fort Wayne 8 (12 innings)
After 3 innings, Lansing had built a 7-0 lead, and Chase Lirette had allowed but 2 hits. Chalk one up in the win column for the Nuts, right? Ha ha, that's the funny thing about baseball. Lirette allowed 8 hits and 6 runs over the next 1.2 innings, and suddenly it was a ball game again. Credit to the bullpen: after Jonas Cuotto gave up a run in the 6th, they held Fort Wayne scoreless until the 12th. Unfortunately, the offense mailed it in after those first 3 great innings, and Lansing lost this one in 12.
Johermyn Chavez doubled twice and singled in 6 trips to raise his season line to 266/328/473. Mike McDade hit his 11th homer, and Yorman Mayora pitched 3 perfect innings with 3 Ks.
Auburn 1 at Mahoning Valley 4
Auburn's inability to capitalize on opportunities was their downfall. The Doubledays had 9 at bats with runners in scoring position, but only managed 1 hit in those situations, and it's hard to win when you only score 1 run.
Ryan Schimpf had a good game, as he went 2-5 with a homer. Eric Eiland was the only other D-Day (maybe not the best short form) to reach base twice, with a single and a walk. 2009 draftee Dave Sever pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs.
GCL Blue Jays 4 at GCL Tigers 3
Weirdly named Ryan Shopshire got the start for the Baby Jays and had the best start of the night for Jays affiliates - he went 6 innings, and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6. The bullpen allowed another run, but the offense scored just enough to squeak this one out. 17 year old Gari Pena drove in all 4 runs, on a 3-run homer and an RBI triple. Carlos Perez and Jonnathan Valdez both had 2 singles and a walk. Perez' line is up to 330/407/516.
Three Stars!
3. Randy Ruiz, Travis Snider, and Brian Dopirak - 10-21, 25 TB
2. Johermyn Chavez - 3-6, 2 2B
1. Gari Pena - 3B, HR, 4 RBIs
Bonus! On Friday, New Hampshire will have a cool promotion:
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern League)
Crazy Burger Challenge, Aug. 7
There's really no wrong way to assemble a hamburger, but all methods are decidedly not created equal. On Friday, the Fisher Cats are inviting area BBQ impresarios to participate in a pregame burger-building contest. The always-accommodating ballclub is providing all the ingredients; contestants just need to bring their creativity and flair for the dramatic. The burgers will be judged by local gourmand "Chef Nicole," who is like Prince, Madonna and Ichiro in that she does not require a surname. The winner will receive the immense satisfaction that results from a job well done, as well as gift certificates to local dining establishments.
Salt Lake 7 at Las Vegas 5 (game 1)
This was a heart-breaker for Vegas. They built a comfortable 5-2 lead going into the 7th (and last) inning, thanks to a balanced attack - every 51 had a hit (14 in total), and only Buck Coats and J.P. Arencibia didn't either score or drive in a run. Unfortunately, starter T.J. Beam ran out of steam in the 7th, and then Bubbie Buzachero was awful in relief, allowing 2 runs without recording an out, and then being charged with 2 more when Sean Stidfole allowed both of his inherited runners to score.
Beam was pretty good on the whole, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 3 runs. The best offensive days belonged to Howie Clark (3 hits including a double), Randy Ruiz (solo homer in 4 trips), and Brian Dopirak (single and homer). Travis Snider had a single in 4 trips, while J.P. Arencibia was 1-3.
Salt Lake 5 at Las Vegas 6 (game 2)
Jeez, Salt Lake almost did it again. Trailing 6-2 after 6 innings, the Bees scored 3 runs off starter Marty McCleary and Brian Wolfe to almost come from behind twice in one day. But Wolfe slammed the door shut just in time, preserving the victory for Vegas.
McCleary was pretty good - he allowed 2 runs over 6 innings before allowing the first 2 batters to reach in the 7th - Wolfe allowed both of those runners to score. The 3-4-5 hitters for Vegas were once again the story - Randy Ruiz was 2-3 with a homer and a double, Travis Snider was 3-3, falling a triple short of the cycle, and Brian Dopirak had a single (he homered in the afternoon game). On the day, Ruiz was 3-7 with 10 TB (and now has 101 (!) RBIs on the year), Snider was 4-7 with 8 TB, and Dopirak went 3-7 with 7 TB.
New Hampshire - Scheduled day off
Dunedin - Scheduled day off
Lansing 7 at Fort Wayne 8 (12 innings)
After 3 innings, Lansing had built a 7-0 lead, and Chase Lirette had allowed but 2 hits. Chalk one up in the win column for the Nuts, right? Ha ha, that's the funny thing about baseball. Lirette allowed 8 hits and 6 runs over the next 1.2 innings, and suddenly it was a ball game again. Credit to the bullpen: after Jonas Cuotto gave up a run in the 6th, they held Fort Wayne scoreless until the 12th. Unfortunately, the offense mailed it in after those first 3 great innings, and Lansing lost this one in 12.
Johermyn Chavez doubled twice and singled in 6 trips to raise his season line to 266/328/473. Mike McDade hit his 11th homer, and Yorman Mayora pitched 3 perfect innings with 3 Ks.
Auburn 1 at Mahoning Valley 4
Auburn's inability to capitalize on opportunities was their downfall. The Doubledays had 9 at bats with runners in scoring position, but only managed 1 hit in those situations, and it's hard to win when you only score 1 run.
Ryan Schimpf had a good game, as he went 2-5 with a homer. Eric Eiland was the only other D-Day (maybe not the best short form) to reach base twice, with a single and a walk. 2009 draftee Dave Sever pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs.
GCL Blue Jays 4 at GCL Tigers 3
Weirdly named Ryan Shopshire got the start for the Baby Jays and had the best start of the night for Jays affiliates - he went 6 innings, and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6. The bullpen allowed another run, but the offense scored just enough to squeak this one out. 17 year old Gari Pena drove in all 4 runs, on a 3-run homer and an RBI triple. Carlos Perez and Jonnathan Valdez both had 2 singles and a walk. Perez' line is up to 330/407/516.
Three Stars!
3. Randy Ruiz, Travis Snider, and Brian Dopirak - 10-21, 25 TB
2. Johermyn Chavez - 3-6, 2 2B
1. Gari Pena - 3B, HR, 4 RBIs
Bonus! On Friday, New Hampshire will have a cool promotion:
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern League)
Crazy Burger Challenge, Aug. 7
There's really no wrong way to assemble a hamburger, but all methods are decidedly not created equal. On Friday, the Fisher Cats are inviting area BBQ impresarios to participate in a pregame burger-building contest. The always-accommodating ballclub is providing all the ingredients; contestants just need to bring their creativity and flair for the dramatic. The burgers will be judged by local gourmand "Chef Nicole," who is like Prince, Madonna and Ichiro in that she does not require a surname. The winner will receive the immense satisfaction that results from a job well done, as well as gift certificates to local dining establishments.
