A casual observer would say that the boys on the farm need to work with their hitting coaches to limber up the lumber and produce some runs. In 8 games on Saturday their were only 16 runs scored and half of those came in games won by the D-Jays and the Babiest (GCL) Jays.
10 hits only produced 3 runs for the 51s and that wasn’t enough to take the OK home team on Saturday night. Late reliever Stephen Register (1-3) only threw 1.0 innings, but came up with the loss after stepping in for starter Luis Perez and giving up 2 runs on two hits. Mike McCoy had a costly fielding error, his 7th, in the OK 8th inning resulting in the go ahead run for the home team.
Batting, the 51s put lumber to the ball 10 times, but left 8 on base, 7 of which were in scoring position. DH Aaron Mathews (4 for 4, 2b) did his part getting on, but the 51s couldn’t get him in. Jason Lane (3 for 4) and Jarrett Hoffpauir (2 for 5, 2b) added multi-hit performances and Mike Jacobs(1 for 2, BB, RBI) pitched in a single and a sac fly to score Hoffpauir who had doubled in the 5th. McCoy also had a sac fly in the 9th to score Danny Perales.
The Fisher Cats went to sleep at the plate and mustered an anemic 2 hits which couldn’t produce a run in the pitcher’s dual for 5,934 home fans in Altoona. Starter B.J. LaMura (5-4) suffered the loss despite his 3IP, 2 hit, 4K outing. Relievers Ronald Uviedo (3IP and 6K’s) and Danny Farquhar (2IP, 2 K’s) combined for 8 K’s in five innings of no hit ball, but it was no help with the NH bats silent after the 6th inning single by Darin Mastrianni (1 for 4). Eric Thames (1 for 4) had the only other Fisher Cat hit, a single in the first inning.
In the opener of a twin bill in Daytona, the D-Jays could scare up only a single run on 7 hits. Dumas Garcia (3-5) suffered the loss facing only 6 batters and giving up the winning run to Daytona after a double, and intentional walk and a single in the 7th inning.
Dunedin’s only run came after Anthony Gose (1 for4) singled in the 3rd followed by a single by Jesus Merchan (1 for 4, 3Ks) and an RBI single by Concepcion Rodriguez (1 for 4, RBI). Welinton Ramirez (2 for 3, 2B) had the D-Jays only multi-hit performance and Ryan Goins (1 for 3) added a single and
Mark Sobolewski (1 for 2, 2B) punched a double to right in the 4th.
The D-Jays turned the tides in the nightcap, with 7 hit 4 run outing. Starter Joel Carreno (8-5) almost went the distance with 6IP and 4 K’s while spacing out just 4 Daytona hits. Matt Daly got the save throwing 2 Ks and giving up a single hit in the Daytona 7th. Despite a fielding error by Brad McElroy (10), and two fielding miscues by Carreno (8), Dunedin prevailed with some lively lumber.
Mike McDade (2 for 3, 2 RBIs) and John Talley (1 for 3, HR, 2 RBIs) were the productive Dunedin bats. Anthony Gose (1 for 3), Ryan Schimpf (1 for 4), Ryan Goins (1 for 3) and McElroy (1 for 3) all added singles.
Ft. Wayne bested the Luggies in front of 11,138 fans at Cooley Law School Field in Lansing Saturday Night. Starter Ryan Shopshire (7-11) was tagged for 4 runs and 7 hits including 3 HRs and suffered the loss.
Lansing’s bats produced five hits with DH Brad Glen (1 for 4, 2 RBIs) putting the Lugnut’s only runs on the board. Kevin Ahrends (1 for 4, 2B) had the only extra base hit and Kevin Nolan (1 for 3, BB), Jacob Marisnick (1 for 3) and Justin Jackson (1 for 3) all added singles.
Auburn 1 Connecticut 2 (game 1)
The Doubledays opened the twin bill on the short end of Connecticut after starter Sean Nolin (0-1) was tagged for 2 runs in the CT third inning. Auburn managed just 5 hits, let by Carlos Perez’s (2 for 3, 2B) multi-hit game and Marcus Knecht’s (1 for 3, RBI) RBI single. Gustavo Pierre (1 for 3) and Jonathan Jones added singles.
Auburn 1 Connecticut 0 (game 2)
Auburn produced 7 hits and a single run to back up starter and winner Sam Strickland (2-6) who sparkled with 6.1 innings of 3 hit, 3 K pitching. Auburn’s lone score came on an RBI by Jonathan Jones (1 for 4, RBI) in the 2nd inning. Stephen McQuail (2 for 3) added 2 singles and Marcus Knecht (1 for 3) added one. Jack Murphy (1 for 2, 2B, BB) and Jonathan Fernandez (1 for 3, 2B) smacked a double each.
The Baby Jays produced 8 hits and bested the GCL Yankees behind closer and winner Leandro Mella (1-0) who came on in extra innings. Starter Deivy Estrada smoked the Yankees with 4 ks in 5 IP of shut out ball.
DH Bryson Namba (1 for 4, 3B, 2RBIs) led the Blue Jays with a 2 RBI triple and Carlos Ramirez (1 for 4) and Gari Penna (1 for 4) each added an RBI single.
Three Stars:
3rd Star (tie) LaMura, Uviedo, Farquhar (combined for total 12 K’s)
2nd Star Mike McDade (2 for 3, 2 RBIs)
1st Star John Talley (1 for 4, HR, 2 RBIs)
