Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
If the parent club's opportunity of not getting home field advantage for this year's World Series wasn't bad enough, the affiliates were a combined 0-3 in North America and the Dominican. Each team managed to blow a lead at some point with one club pissing away a five-run bulge. If you don't bother to click the "More" link on this story, I wouldn't blame you but I still had to write the damn thing so just humour me, would ya?
Aberdeen, MD - The D-Days built up a 5-0 lead only to see it disappear when the Orioles affiliate rallied for six runs in the eighth. However, Auburn regained the lead with a two-run ninth only to see the Ironbirds match that in their half of the ninth for a walk-off victory.
Batting - The D-Days impersonated the big club's dependency on the long ball by belting three on the night. Jack Murphy had a homer, a double, a walk and two runs batted in and Oliver Dominguez did the same except for drawing a walk. Yudelmis Hernandez blasted a homer and Marcus "Sportsnet" Knecht-ed for two doubles and picked up an RBI. Carlos Perez walked and was hit by a pitch. Matt Johnson had a single while Gustavo Pierre and Steve McQuail drew a walk apiece. Only Markus Brisker failed to reach base as he went 0-for-4 with two K's.
Running - Johnson and Perez each pilfered a base.
Pitching - Whoa! Casey Lawrence was in line for the win after scattering seven hits and a hit batter over seven shutout innings. He didn't strike out or walk anyone but he induced 11 groundball outs. Instead of a rightful victory, it blossomed into a full blown disaster. Lefty Michael Kelly gave up four runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning and Drew Permison allowed one of Kelly's runners to score while allowing two unearned runs on a hit and two walks before getting the final out of the eighth inning. Permison also threw two pitches that were too wild for TV. Travis Garrett, like Permison, was charged with a blown save and took the loss by giving up two runs on three hits while only getting one man out.
Defence - Pierre made a throwing error and Murphy was charged with a passed ball. On the flip side, Pierre started a 6-4-3 double play and Lawrence picked off a man at first.
Bradenton, FL - The Jays grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third but the Bucs chipped away with single runs in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to raise the Jolly Roger.
Batting - K.C. Hobson was the only G-Jay with two hits and Jake Marisnick reached twice on ball four. Gari Pena and Manuel Falcon took flight with the other singles. However, Pierce Rankin was the on-base leader by drawing a walk and taking one for the team twice. Ronald Melendez, Chris Hawkins, Art Charles and Jonnathan Valdez each drew a walk.
Running - Melendez and Marisnick each stole a base. Matt Abraham made a pinch-running appearance but he did not come around to score.
Pitching - Misual Diaz allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings on three hits and two walks while striking out a pair. Sean Shoffit was charged with the loss by allowing a run on a hit and a walk over 1 2/3 innings. He threw two wild pitches and matched that with two groundball outs. Chris Enourato was also nicked for a run on two hits and hit a batter over his inning of work. His K-BB ratio was zero but he induced three groundouts. Milciades Santana was smooth over his shutout inning in which he struck out a batter.
Defence - Art Charles had trouble handling one at first base. On the positive side, the G-Jays turned three double plays including Carlos Ramirez nailing a runner at first to complete a 9-3 twin-killing.
San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. - The DS-Jays actually led 1-0 in the first and were only behind 4-3 after 2 1/2 innings before things got really ugly.
Batting - Every Jay managed to get on base at least once. Fausto Natera collected three hits that included a double and also drove in a run while Gonzalo "Go Go" Gonzalez reached base thrice on a hit, a walk and a plunk. Alvaro Blanco drew two free passes. Aderlin Gonzalez and Santiago "Whoa" Nessy each went deep with Nessy driving in two runs. Jonathan Pumarol and Manuel Mongas singled while Sony "Playstation" Javier and Gabriel Quintana drew a walk.
Running - "Go-Go" Gonzalez was picked off at first by the catcher.
Pitching - Lefty Jose Avila was rocked for eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over 3-plus innings. He uncorked a wild pitch but he recorded five groundball outs and his K-BB total was 1-0. Luis Mendez gave up a single run on two hits over three innings while striking out a pair. Manuel Lopez was burned for four unearned runs over the final two frames on four hits and a walk while getting one batter to go down on strike three. He also fired a pitch that could not be tamed.
Defence - Not really! The DS-Jays committed five clanks in this one. Aderlin Gonzalez and Quintana accounted for 80% of that total at center and short by butchering the baseball. Blanco chucked one away from second. So much for strong defence up the middle!
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Oliver Dominguez, Auburn
2. Jack Murphy, Auburn
1. Casey Lawrence, Auburn
You can find out more about Lawrence by clicking here.
