Two doubleheaders were split down the middle by the affiliates as part of a 3-3 night on the farm.
Round Rock , TX - The Express offence delivered with eight runs over the first two innings and that was enough to offset a late 51's rally who put up a "2012" in the final four innings on the linescore.
Batting - Jarrett Hoffpauir and Aaron Matthews had a double among their two hits and Luis Figueroa had a double and a walk. Brian Dopirak had a double and a run batted in. Brett Wallace had a single and took one for the team. Las Vegas was just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Running - No stolen base attempts but Hoffpauir was thrown out from right field after a single.
Pitching - Lefty Brian Tallet was rocked by the Astros affiliate to the tune of eight runs on nine hits, including two homers, and a walk in just 1 1/3 innings. He only struck out one in his 61 pitch outing. Lance Broadway scattered seven hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings while picking up two K's and eight groundball outs. He did uncork one wild pitch. Lefty Jesse Carlson was perfect through two innings with one strikeout and three outs on the ground.
Defence - The 51's turned one double play of the 6-4-3 variety.
Game 1 - New Hampshire 7 New Britain 5 (7 Innings)
New Britain, CT - Two runs in the fourth and a five-run fifth by the Fisher Cats withstood a five-run rally in the seventh by the Twins affiliate.
Batting - A grand slam by David Cooper highlighted a perfect performance at the plate for the former first round pick. He doubled and walked to cap off a five RBI day at the dish. Manny Mayorson, Adam Loewen and Jonathan Jaspe had multi-hit games. Eric Thames had a double while Brad Emaus and Shawn Bowman picked up a base hit. Darin Mastroianni had a walk.
Running - Loewen stole his eighth base of the season.
Pitching - Lefty Luis Perez fired six shutout innings but lost it in the fifth when he went 0-for-5 in trying to get the final three outs of the game. His final line score looked ugly as he was charged with five runs on six hits, including two homers, three walks and a hit batsman over six innings. He struck out two and his groundout/flyout total was 12-3 to improve to 5-3 on the season. Trystan Magnuson allowed his only inherited runner to score but he overcame two hits and struck out a man in a scoreless frame to pick up his second save.
Defence - Perez made a throwing error but the F-Cats turned one double play and Jaspe threw out a runner on the basepaths.
Game 2 - New Britain 2 New Hampshire 1(7 Innings)
New Britain, CT - The Fisher Cats tied the game in the seventh after the Rock Cats scored first in the fourth. However, New Britain scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off win.
Batting - Eric Thames was the only F-Cat with two hits and Manny Mayorson had the only RBI. David Cooper had another double and Brian Jeroloman had a two-bagger but no walks (BJBBM still 27!). Callix Crabbe and Shawn Bowman had the other hits. However, New Hampshire was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position as first round pick Kyle Gibson picked up a complete-game win.
Running - Cooper was picked off at second after his double.
Pitching - Adrian Martin allowed one run in four innings in a spot start. He gave up two hits and two walks while racking up three strikeouts and getting a half-dozen outs on the grass. Lefty Tim Collins allowed just two hits in two shutout frames and struck out four batters. Lefty Boomer Potts suffered the hard-luck loss in his Double-A debut. He gave up an unearned run on one hit and an intentional walk.
Defence - Potts did not do himself any favours by giving up a leadoff single and compounded that by throwing away a sacrifice bunt attempt to put two runners in scoring position. Manny Mayorson booted one at short to allow the winning run to score. Eric Thames also made a throwing error in left earlier in the game.
Managing - Luis Rivera earned himself an ejection in the seventh after Potts' intentional pass.
Dunedin, FL - It was 4-4 after one and 6-6 after three before Dunedin scored three times in the fourth and another in the fifth for the win. The Phillies affiliate could only muster a two-run seventh.
Batting - Adeiny Hechavarria was only a home run short of the cycle as he went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. Travis d'Arnaud was 3-for-3 with a homer and two walks. Michael McDade also went deep among his two hits. Jon Talley had two hits and three RBI while Kevin Ahrens had a double, a hit by pitch and a ribbie.
Running - Welinton Ramirez pilfered his third base of the season.
Pitching - Kenny Rodriguez got the win despite giving up six runs (four earned) over five innings. He allowed six hits, including a homer, and two walks but got four batters via the strikeout and his nine groundball outs offset one wild pitch. Chad Beck was burned for two runs in 1 2/3 innings after giving up three runs. Alan Farina struck out two and allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Matt Daly struck out a pair in a perfect ninth to lock it down for his 13th save.
Game 1 - West Michigan 3 Lansing 0 (7 Innings)
Lansing, MI - A 47 yard field goal in the third was enough to give the Tigers affiliate the win.
Batting - Four singles and two walks. That was it, that was all. The singles were provided by Kenny Wilson, Ryan Goins, Chris Hopkins and Oliver Dominguez. A.J. Jimenez and Brad Glenn drew the free passes. The Lugnuts hit into three double plays.
Running - Wilson was picked off first and caught stealing. Glenn was also thrown out trying to steal.
Pitching - First round pick Chad Jenkins lasted 5 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs on eight hits and two walks. He threw one wild pitch but struck out five and recorded eight groundball outs. Lefty Matt Wright overcame a hit and a walk in 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Defence - Wright picked up two outs by starting a 1-6-3 double play.
Game 2 - Lansing 7 West Michigan 1 (7 Innings)
Lansing, MI - A four run first was all the Lugnuts needed but they went ahead and added insurance with a two-run third and one more in the fourth. The Whitecaps scored their lone marker in the third.
Batting - Believe it or not, the Lugnuts hit into three more twin-killings but they managed to cross home plate more than once this time around. Every Lugnut batter had a hit and three - Ryan Goins, Mark Sobolewski and Karim Turkamani - had two hits. Goins added a walk to reach base three times while Sean Ochinko reached base thrice with a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch. Eric Eiland drove in two runs.
Running - No steals or mishaps on the basepaths here.
Pitching - Lefty Aaron Loup surrendered only one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four and his 10 outs in play were split evenly on the ground and in the air to improve to 2-0 on the year. Nestor Molina racked up four groundball outs and yielded just one hit over two scoreless frames.
Defence - The Lugnuts converted on two double plays, one a 6-4-3 twin killing with the other being a Tony Reali special.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Adeiny Hechavarria, Dunedin
2. David Cooper, New Hampshire
1. Travis d'Arnaud, Dunedin
