The Farm Boys bats came alive with a half a hundred hits on Friday Night.
No Mayorson, no McCoy, a line-up shake-up so to speak, and the 51s come up short against Salt Lake. Ryan Budde (1 for 4, R,HR, RBI) homered in the 9th while playing an unfamiliar second sack for the evening committing one error. But to the delight of the 4,804 Cashman Field fans, Brett Lawrie (3 for 4, 3R, 2HR, 2RBI) continued his on fire tearing up the ball from the batters box (BA .431) with 2 solo dingers and a single while playing a clean error-free evening in the field. Ryan Shealy (1 for 3, R, HR, RBI) joined Lawrie with a dinger in the 8th. David Cooper (2 for 4, R, 1b, 2b, RBI) added a run with a double in the first inning.
Starter Jessie Litsch went 3.0 IP allowing 4 hits, 1 run and had 2Ks in his non-decision outing. Sean Henn, Danny Farquahar, and Chad Codero added a combined 4.1 IP with Farquahar giving up 4 runs (1 earned), Henn giving up 1 run (earned), reliever Winston Abreu (1-1) taking the loss in 1.2 IP, allowing 2 hits and the go ahead run. Craig Stansberry (0-3,BB, K) joined the team yesterday from AA New Hampshire and played shortstop.
Callix Crabbe and Jonathan Diaz are slated to join Vegas in Colorado Springs from New Hampshire on Saturday evening. The musical transitions continue to, from, and within the farm.
A rehab assignment brought Rajai Davis (1 for 3, K) to the Fisher Cats on a rehab assignment. According to WGIR AM radio announcers, Davis looked healthy and agile despite the chilly weather and the unfamiliar confines of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The bigger story on the evening was the shut out winning effort from Chad Beck (W 2-0) who had 7 shut out IP with just 4 hits and a healthy 6 Ks. Newcomer Yohan Pino and Mike Hinkley delivered a combined 1 IP of scoreless relief. Alan Farina (S, 3) came on with lights out work in the 9th for the save, allowing 1 hit, 1 BB, and striking out 3, including a called 3rd strike on a fastball to end the game.
The Cats only managed six spaced out hits against Mets pitching. Mark Soblewski (2 for 3) had the only multiple hit performance for NH. Travis d’Arnaud (1 for 4, 2B, RBI) doubled in Moises Sierra (0 for 2, R, HBP) who earlier took a hit by pitch in the 4th inning. Man Mountain Mike McDade (1 for 4, R, HR, RBI) launched his first AA homer ever, a solo blast in the 6th inning.
Outfielder Scott Podsednik (1 for 5, K, RBI) continued his rehab for a foot ailment in Dunedin Friday night batting in one in the wild 10-run 2nd inning for the Baby Jays. Went like this: Single, Single, Single. Walk, Score, Double, Score, Score, Sac Fly, Score, Single, Score, Force Out, Double, Score, Pitching Change, Single, Score, Single, Passed Ball, Score, Double, Score, and finally a Ground Out. The junior Evil Empire saw the D-Jays come up in the 2nd and they brought an offence butt kicking with them.
Dunedin added the 11th run in the 3rd on a double by Kenny Wilson (1 for 5, 2B, RBI). Everyone in the line-up including PH Kevin Nolan (1 for 2) hit for Dunedin. Multi-hit leaders were led by A.J. Jimenez (4 for 5, 2R) followed by John Talley (3 for 5, RBI), and Brad Glenn (2 for 5, 2R, 2B, RBI). Other run producers included Sean Ochinko (1 for 4, 2B, 2RBIs), Ryan Goins (1 for 2, R, 2B, 2RBIs), Kenny Wilson (1 for 5, 2B, RBI), Dewayne Wise (1 for 5, 2B, RBI), and Ivan Contreras (1 for 4, R, RBI).
So there you have it. 16 hits later, and your pitchers space out 7 hits. That spells nothing but disappointment for the cross bay Evil Empire. And rightly so!
Lansing 4 West Michigan 1 (first of double header)
In the first of a double header on a rain soaked early spring 44 degree evening in Grand Rapids, the Luggies heated things up with 13 hits and 4 runs in front of 1,604 White Caps faithful. Pitching was outstanding from starter Drew Hutchinson (W 1-0) with 6 IP allowing 6 hits, 1 run and striking out 6. Danny Barnes came on in the 7th with a called out K, pop out and ground out to end the game and get the save. On a down note, SS Gustavo Pierre (0 for 3), mishandled a ground ball for his 9th error of the young season.
Multi-hitters included Jake Marisnick (3 for 4, RBI), Jonathan Jones (3 for 4), Carlos Perez (2 for 4, R), Balbino Fuenmayor (2 for 2, R, BB, RBI), and Marcus Brisker (2 for 3, R, RBI). The other RBI was courtesy of Michael Crouse (0 for 4, RBI) on a grounder.
Lansing 5 West Michigan 1 (second of double header – rain shortened)
In the rain shortended nitecap, the Luggies pitching 4 hit West Michigan, allowing only a single run. Starter Egan Smith (W1-0) (5.1IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 4Ks) was strong and Drew Permison (S,1) pitched to two batters in the 6th before the game was called.
Runs came from RBI leader KC Hobson (2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 RBIs) on a pair of doubles. Jonathan Jones (2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI) batted one in on a double, Oliver Dominguez (1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI) got one on yet another double.
Three Stars:
3rd Star KC Hobson (2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 RBIs)
2nd Star Chad Beck (7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 6 Ks)
1st Star Brett Lawrie (3 for 4, 3R, 2HR, 2RBIs)
