Las Vegas 7 @ Omaha 5 (Suspended) – Boxscore

This game didn’t finish, as it was postponed in the top of the ninth inning. However, given that it was 8/9ths of a complete game, I’ll write about it anyway. Scott Richmond started and surrendered 5 runs, 4 earned. Las Vegas committed four throwing errors on the night. Brett Lawrie had a pair and Mike McCoy and David Cooper each had one. Although he wasn’t helped by his defense, it doesn’t appear as if Richmond was particularly sharp, as he walked five against two strikeouts and gave up five hits. However, Richmond preserved over 6.2 innings against a prospect-laden lineup that included Mike Moustakas, Johnny Giavotella, Clint Robinson and familiar faces Lorenzo Cain and Kila Ka’aihue, and wasn’t helped by his bullpen, as Wil Ledezma allowed two hits, which scored his lone inherited baserunner. Winston Abreu pitched a scoreless eighth.

Abreu’s also the pitcher of record, as the 51s scored four runs in the top of the ninth, taking the lead before the game was suspended. Entering the inning down 5-3, Jason Lane began with a double. Adam Loewen reached on a fielding error and then Chris Woodward singled to drive home Lane. Brian Jeroloman sacrifice bunted, but reached first to load the bases. This play led to the ejection of Omaha’s manager, but that didn’t rally his troops, as Jesse Chavez’s inning to forget continued with three consecutive singles, each of which scored a run, by McCoy, DeWayne Wise and Lawrie.

Every 51 starter but Jeroloman had a hit, with Lane going 3-for-4and McCoy and Loewen each notching two hits. Lawrie was 1-for-4, but he also drew a walk. Snider was also 1-for-4, but he struck out twice. Las Vegas also turned the rare 3-4-1 double play. They’ll resume the game with the bases loaded, none out and 2-run lead in the top of the ninth inning.

Binghamton 2 @ New Hampshire 7 – Boxscore

The Fisher Cats ran into a pitcher struggling with his control and drew 8 walks off Bradley Holt over 4 innings. Darin Mastroiannni, Anthony Gose and Mike McDade each drew a pair of walks. Moises Sierra and Yan Gomes each added a walk. Gose, McDade and Sierra had similar lines, as each added a hit to their walk(s) and scored twice. Sierra accumulated 2 RBI on his two-run homer in the fifth. John Tolisano added the other run on a solo shot. Ricardo Nanita was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Adeiny Hechavarria and Mark Sobolewski were each held hitless in four at-bats.

On the mound, it was a continuation of the Rey Gonzalez show. Gonzalez allowed one run over 6 innings on four hits and three walks. He struck out two, but retired 10 of the 15 batters on balls in play on groundouts. The Cuban’s ERA now sits at 1.42 over 50.2 innings, but he has allowed 5 unearned runs and only struck out 27 batters during that span. B.J. LaMura, Evan Crawford and Bobby Korecky each threw an inning of relief. LaMura struck out two of his batters and also got two groundouts, as he struck out one on a wild pitch. Crawford allowed Binghamton’s second run. The Mets pitching coach was ejected in the bottom of the first after three consecutive walks by Holt. Their shortstop, Jordany Valdespin, was also ejected.

Dunedin 5 @ Bradenton 4 – Boxscore

This game sat tied at 4 apiece after 5 and a half frames, as Dunedin scored a single run in the 3rd-6th innings to tie the game after Bradenton retook the lead from Dunedin. However, Dunedin would cash the all-important run in the top of the ninth to take a lead they would not relinquish. The D-Jays were facing a tough battle with two out and none out, as Kenny Wilson had walked, but they been picked off. However, a missed catch by the first baseman on a throw from the pitcher allowed Justin Jackson to reach first and he scored on a double by hot-hitting Kevin Ahrens. Ahrens was 3-for-5 in the game with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Goins was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and and an RBI. Sean Ochinko also had two hits, a run and an RBI, as he entered the game in the bottom of the third for A.J. Jimenez. Bradley Glenn had a rare off-night, as he went 0-for-5.

Asher Wojciechowski had a strong start for the D-Jays. Over 6 innings, Wojciechowski surrendered 7 hits and walked one batter. Despite surrendering all four runs, Wojciechowski struck out four and, of the 12 batters retired on balls in play, he induced 10 of them to ground out. Frank Gailey came in for two innings of hitless relief and picked up the win. Over 114 innings at Dunedin, Gailey now has struck out 116 and walked 16. Wes Etheridge picked up his 12th save of the year and has struck out 15 and walked 3 over 19.1 innings this season.

Lansing 2 @ South Bend 5 – Boxscore

Drew Hutchison had one of his weaker starts, only making it through 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs on six hits and struggled with his control, walking four and striking out a pair. However, despite this early deficit, the Lugnuts hung around the game thanks to a fine outing by reliever Sam Strickland, who stranded both of the runners on base when he entered. After escaping a mini-jam, he threw another 3 innings (for 3.1 total) and struck out three. He didn’t walk a batter and surrendered three hits. Strickland threw away a grounder he fielded, which did lead to an unearned run. Dayton Martze finished the game.

The Lugnuts only went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, which explains why Lansing only scored two runs on nine hits. K.C. Hobson was the standout offensive performer with a 3-for-3 night that included a double. Every other Lugnut had one hit, except Marcus Knecht and Gustavo Pierre. Pierre committed his 23rd error. Marcus Brisker and Carlos Perez each had one hit and struck out three times. Brisker and Michael Crouse scored Lansing’s runs and they were driven in by Kevin Nolan and Bryson Namba, respectively. Brisker had the team’s only triple and also added an outfield assist. Jake Marisnick stole his fifth base, but he was also picked off.

Three Stars:
3rd Star – Jason Lane, 3-4, R, 2B, RBI, 4 TB
2nd Star – Reider Gonzalez, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
1st Star – Kevin Ahrens, 3-5, R, 2 2B, RBI, 5 TB