On Monday night, the farm played a bunch of close games, and got a couple great performances from Latin America products.
Fresno 1 at Las Vegas 7
The 51s got out to an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back doubles by Brian Dopirak and Chris Lubanski, and never looked back. That was enough for Bobby Ray, who overcame 9 base-runners in 6 innings (4 hits, 5 walks) and managed to allow only 1 run. Zach Jackson, David Purcey, and Steven Register each pitched a scoreless inning to seal the deal.
Though 2 runs was enough, the offense kept coming. In the third, they added 2 more on solo shots from Brett Wallace and Lubanski, and in the following inning Jarrett Hoffpauir singled home 2. Hoffpauir added an RBI double to make it 7-1. Interesting prospect watch: Wallace: 1-5, HR, no Ks. Arencibia: 0-3, BB, K. Dopirak: 2-4, 2B, BB.
New Hampshire 3 at Reading 4
Boy, is this ever a boring game to recap. Callix Crabbe was the only F-Cat to reach base more than once, and he had 2 singles. In the interesting prospect category, David Cooper, Darin Mastroianni, Eric Thames and Brad Emaus each singled. Bobby Bell started, and was okay - he allowed 7 baserunners in 5 innings, leading to 4 runs, while striking out 5.
Dunedin 4 at Daytona 2 (12 innings)
Henderson Alvarez started and showed why Da Box rated him as one of the Jays' top prospects during the off-season. The soon-to-be-20-year-old (his birthday is on Sunday) shut the D-Cubs out over 7 innings, while only allowing 4 base-runners, striking out 3 and inducing 13 ground balls. He didn't earn the win, though, as Alan Farina gave up 2 runs in the 8th inning to eventually send the game to extra innings. In the top of the 12th, the D-Jays went Small Ball to get the victory - Justin Jackson walked, Tyler Pastornicky and Brad McElroy both tried to bunt the runner over only to have their sacrifice attempts thwarted by the D-Cubs' inability to throw them out, thereby loading the bases, and Travis d'Arnaud brought home the go-ahead run with a sac fly. d'Arnaud had 2 singles and a double in addition to his game-winning hit, while Pastornicky and Jackson continued to play SS/2B and bat 1st/9th, respectively.
Lansing 4 at Great Lakes 3
The Lansing offense produced 4 runs on 10 hits to squeak by Great Lakes on Monday night. Five guys had one hit each, and The Great Balbino accounted for the other half, including a double and a solo home run. Chris Hopkins also had a good day at the dish with a double and two walks; otherwise the offense was somewhat anemic. In fact, Great Lakes scored 2 more hits than Lansing off starter Dennis Tepera and relievers Scott Gracey, Aaron Loup and Steven Turnbull. None of the pitchers were outstanding, though Loup struck out 6 in 2 2/3.
Three Stars
3. Jarrett Hoffpauir, Las Vegas - 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI
2. Henderson Alvarez, Dunedin - 7 IP, 4 baserunners, 13 GB
1. Balbino Fuenmayor, Lansing - 5-5, 2B, HR
Fresno 1 at Las Vegas 7
The 51s got out to an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back doubles by Brian Dopirak and Chris Lubanski, and never looked back. That was enough for Bobby Ray, who overcame 9 base-runners in 6 innings (4 hits, 5 walks) and managed to allow only 1 run. Zach Jackson, David Purcey, and Steven Register each pitched a scoreless inning to seal the deal.
Though 2 runs was enough, the offense kept coming. In the third, they added 2 more on solo shots from Brett Wallace and Lubanski, and in the following inning Jarrett Hoffpauir singled home 2. Hoffpauir added an RBI double to make it 7-1. Interesting prospect watch: Wallace: 1-5, HR, no Ks. Arencibia: 0-3, BB, K. Dopirak: 2-4, 2B, BB.
New Hampshire 3 at Reading 4
Boy, is this ever a boring game to recap. Callix Crabbe was the only F-Cat to reach base more than once, and he had 2 singles. In the interesting prospect category, David Cooper, Darin Mastroianni, Eric Thames and Brad Emaus each singled. Bobby Bell started, and was okay - he allowed 7 baserunners in 5 innings, leading to 4 runs, while striking out 5.
Dunedin 4 at Daytona 2 (12 innings)
Henderson Alvarez started and showed why Da Box rated him as one of the Jays' top prospects during the off-season. The soon-to-be-20-year-old (his birthday is on Sunday) shut the D-Cubs out over 7 innings, while only allowing 4 base-runners, striking out 3 and inducing 13 ground balls. He didn't earn the win, though, as Alan Farina gave up 2 runs in the 8th inning to eventually send the game to extra innings. In the top of the 12th, the D-Jays went Small Ball to get the victory - Justin Jackson walked, Tyler Pastornicky and Brad McElroy both tried to bunt the runner over only to have their sacrifice attempts thwarted by the D-Cubs' inability to throw them out, thereby loading the bases, and Travis d'Arnaud brought home the go-ahead run with a sac fly. d'Arnaud had 2 singles and a double in addition to his game-winning hit, while Pastornicky and Jackson continued to play SS/2B and bat 1st/9th, respectively.
Lansing 4 at Great Lakes 3
The Lansing offense produced 4 runs on 10 hits to squeak by Great Lakes on Monday night. Five guys had one hit each, and The Great Balbino accounted for the other half, including a double and a solo home run. Chris Hopkins also had a good day at the dish with a double and two walks; otherwise the offense was somewhat anemic. In fact, Great Lakes scored 2 more hits than Lansing off starter Dennis Tepera and relievers Scott Gracey, Aaron Loup and Steven Turnbull. None of the pitchers were outstanding, though Loup struck out 6 in 2 2/3.
Three Stars
3. Jarrett Hoffpauir, Las Vegas - 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI
2. Henderson Alvarez, Dunedin - 7 IP, 4 baserunners, 13 GB
1. Balbino Fuenmayor, Lansing - 5-5, 2B, HR
