Lansing won a squeaker, New Hampshire did too. Las Vegas went down despite 10 hits, scoring only once. Dunedin Jays managed 6 hits, but were shut out.
The 51s traveled to Sacramento to play in front of 5,529 Bees fans. They out hit the Bees 10 to 3, but when it was all over they were down by one run, leaving 8 runners stranded on base. Brad Mills worked well with 7 IP, allowing only 1 hit, striking out 3 and 1 earned run. Sean Henn came on with 2 IP with 1 hit and a K. Chad Cordero (0-1) came on in the 10th to close, but he hit a batter, gave up a single and a sac fly to lose the game. The 51s were good in the field, suffering no errors.
The Las Vegas 1 run offence was led by two 51s who had a 3 hit game. Brett Lawrie (3 for 5, k) and Adam Loewen (3 for 5, 2 Ks) had three hits each but no more. Las Vegas DH Ryan Shealy (1 for 4, 2 Ks, RBI) produced the evenings only run with a single after Chris Woodward (1 for 4, R, 2 BB) walked and scored after moving to third on a single by Loewen. Darin Mastoianni (1 for 5, K), Eric Thames (1 for 5, K) also had a single each. Mike McCoy (0 for 5, 2Ks), Brian Jeroloman (0 for 4, 2ks) and David Cooper (0 for 3, 2BB) were hitless on the night.
The Fisher Cats saved the excitement for the top of the ninth in front of 4,322 Binghampton faithful and plated 2 on a 2 out double by John Tolisano (1 for 4, 2B, 2Ks). Alan Farina earned his second save smoking Binghampton in the bottom of the 9th with 2 fly outs and a K. Matt Daly (2-0) picked up the W with 1.2 IP with a BB and a hit. Reliever Evan Crawford struck out 3 and allowed a run on 1 hit in 1.1 IP. Starter B.J. LaMura pitched 5.0 innings, struck out 4, walked 2 and gave up an earned run while allowing 3 hits. New Hampshire was clean in the fielding department.
Other than Tolisano, Fisher Cats bats also had a noteworthy night with Mike McDade (3 for 4) showing us another 3 hit game and Jonathan Diaz (1 for 4) extending his hit streak to 6 games with a single. McDade (.375 AVE, .412 OBP, .881 OPS) and Diaz (.333 AVE, 500 OBP, .889 OPS) are on top of Fisher Cats batting stats so far in this young season. Adeiny Hechavarria (1 for 4, R) and Anthony Gose (1 for 3, BB, RBI) broke their bat struggles with singles.
Just under 500 Dunedin Fans saw the home boys spread out 6 hits and come up empty-handed on runs, bowing to Tampa 1-0 with the Yankees’ only run coming on a passed ball by A.J. Jimenez (1 for 4, 2Ks). Starter Chad Jenkins (0-2) took the loss, throwing 6.0 IP, striking out 6, walking 2 and allowing 4 hits and the lone run on a passed ball. Casey Beck and Shawn Griffith came on for 3 innings total of scoreless baseball.
Despite the six hits, only D-Jays a Brad Glenn (1 for 4, K) and Justin Jackson (1 for 4, K) are showing any prowess at the plate so far this season with .310 and .412 averages respectively. Ivan Contreras (1 for 4, K), Ryan Goins (1 for 4, 2Ks), Kevin Ahrens (1 for 4, K), and A.J. Jimenez (1 for 4, 2Ks) all managed a single each for the evening.
621 faithful fans in South Bend turned out to see their home team take on Lansing and loose a close contest to the boys from Michigan’s capital city. Lansing’s only and winning run came on a 2B hit by Markus Brisker in the 8th inning. Winning pitcher Casey Lawrence (1-0) had 7 IP and allowed three hits and had 2 Ks. Releivers Scott Gracey and Steve Turnbull who got his first save of the year, combined for 3 Ks and allowed just 1 hit in the last two innings. Lansing’s defence’s only flaw was a throwing error by Gustavo Piere, his third E of the season.
Balbino Fuenmayor (2 for 3, R) had two hits while Carlos Perez (1 for 4) added a single.
THREE STARS:
Third Star: Markus Brisker (1 for 3, 2B, BB, RBI)
Second Star: Casey Lawrence (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 Ks)
First Star: John Tolisano (1 for 4, 2B, 2RBIs)
