Las Vegas lost a squeaker in the late innings in a game that received top billing on MILB.com thanks to Brett Cecil squaring off against the Reno Aces. The rest of the affiliates went 2-4.
Las Vegas 7 at Reno 8
MILB.com's top-billed game for the evening (thanks in part to the fact that it's the seventh of eight straight games between Las Vegas and Reno????!!) lived up to the hype, ending as a one-run squeaker. Unfortunately, Las Vegas was on the wrong end of that narrow margin of victory thanks to Dan Farquhar's first blown save. The Farq, trying to protect a valuable hostage, I mean one-run lead, gave up a two-run, bases-loaded single to Brandon Allen, and the 51s couldn't muster a comeback.
Brett Cecil got the start and pitched okayly. He threw 106 pitches in six innings, giving up eight hits and two walks while punching out three. The lefty also induced nine GBs to just two FBs. Now, we here at Batter's Box don't exactly get inside information about how pitchers feel about their velocity in any given start, but I'd like to see Cecil back up pretty soon.
Las Vegas got homers from Chris Woodward and David Cooper and a grand slam from Jason Lane on their way to scoring seven runs on just eight hits. Woodward also walked twice, and Cooper hit a SF.
Altoona 0 at New Hampshire 2
Jesse Litsch got the rehab start in New Hampshire and showed why he's not a AA starter. The righty pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Then Chad Beck completely outdid Litsch, finishing off the seven-inning game with 3 1/3 no-hit innings, striking out five.
Offensive support was provided by Mike McDade and Travis d'Arnaud, each with a solo homer.
The second (or first?) of New Hampshire's double-header was postponed, presumably as a result of fear on the part of Altoona's hitters.
Dunedin 1 at Tampa 8
The D-Jays got smacked around by, who else, the Yankees on Thursday night. Ryan Tepera was on the receiving end of that offensive explosion, surrendering five runs in five innings. Steve Turnbull didn't have a great game either, allowing three runs in his single inning of work. Dumas Garcia on the other hand, sandwiched in between them, pitched two perfect innings! So there's that.
The offense produced seven hits and four walks - not a bad output for only scoring a single run. Or, the other way to look at it, pretty pathetic run production considering the number of base-runners. Brad McElroy had the best game, reaching base in all three plate appearances on two singles and a walk and throwing out a runner at third base.
Lansing - scheduled day off
Vancouver 9 at Everett 3
Classic short-season pitcher's duel. 1-0 after five innings, then the starters leave and things blow up. Specifically, Shane Opitz blew up, going 4-4, all singles, with 2 RBI. Stephen McQuail also blew up, piling up three hits including a homer. Nicholas Baligod and Garrett Maines got in on the blowing up, each singling and doubling and driving in run(s).
This game's pitching mention goes to Bryan Longpre, who hurled two perfect innings in relief, K'ing four.
Bluefield 5 at Elizabethton 6
A heartbreaker for Bluefield: they led 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Elizabethton came storming back. Two straight singles were followed by a sac bunt, botched by closer Les Williams. Another single and then a fielder's choice, and that was the ballgame.
First baseman Art Charles and catcher Aaron Munoz each had two RBIs, on a single and a homer for Charles and a single, walk and sac fly for Munoz. Chris Hawkins doubled and walked in his four trips. Jose Vargas got the start and lasted four innings, allowing two runs.
GCL Yankees 2 at GCL Blue Jays 3
The Baby Jays took revenge on the Yankees on behalf of the D-Jays. The hero was Santiago Nessy, who hit a two-run homer in the fifth to break the tie. Andrew Liebel also deserves credit, holding the G-Yanks to just one run over his four innings. Julio Carmona also pitched well, no-hitting the Yanks over two innings and striking out four.
D.J. "Game of" Thon"es" (no?) had a single and a walk in three trips, and was once again replaced in the late innings. Anyone know what's up with that?
DSL Marlins 4 at DSL Jays 0
Steven Romero gave up four runs, all unearned, in five innings and struck out nine. No Gabriel Cenas.
Three Stars! (pretty weak three stars for a seven-game night!)
3. Brad McElroy - 2-2, BB, OF assist
2. Chris Woodward - 1-2, HR, 2 BB
1. Shane Opitz - 4-4
Las Vegas 7 at Reno 8
MILB.com's top-billed game for the evening (thanks in part to the fact that it's the seventh of eight straight games between Las Vegas and Reno????!!) lived up to the hype, ending as a one-run squeaker. Unfortunately, Las Vegas was on the wrong end of that narrow margin of victory thanks to Dan Farquhar's first blown save. The Farq, trying to protect a valuable hostage, I mean one-run lead, gave up a two-run, bases-loaded single to Brandon Allen, and the 51s couldn't muster a comeback.
Brett Cecil got the start and pitched okayly. He threw 106 pitches in six innings, giving up eight hits and two walks while punching out three. The lefty also induced nine GBs to just two FBs. Now, we here at Batter's Box don't exactly get inside information about how pitchers feel about their velocity in any given start, but I'd like to see Cecil back up pretty soon.
Las Vegas got homers from Chris Woodward and David Cooper and a grand slam from Jason Lane on their way to scoring seven runs on just eight hits. Woodward also walked twice, and Cooper hit a SF.
Altoona 0 at New Hampshire 2
Jesse Litsch got the rehab start in New Hampshire and showed why he's not a AA starter. The righty pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Then Chad Beck completely outdid Litsch, finishing off the seven-inning game with 3 1/3 no-hit innings, striking out five.
Offensive support was provided by Mike McDade and Travis d'Arnaud, each with a solo homer.
The second (or first?) of New Hampshire's double-header was postponed, presumably as a result of fear on the part of Altoona's hitters.
Dunedin 1 at Tampa 8
The D-Jays got smacked around by, who else, the Yankees on Thursday night. Ryan Tepera was on the receiving end of that offensive explosion, surrendering five runs in five innings. Steve Turnbull didn't have a great game either, allowing three runs in his single inning of work. Dumas Garcia on the other hand, sandwiched in between them, pitched two perfect innings! So there's that.
The offense produced seven hits and four walks - not a bad output for only scoring a single run. Or, the other way to look at it, pretty pathetic run production considering the number of base-runners. Brad McElroy had the best game, reaching base in all three plate appearances on two singles and a walk and throwing out a runner at third base.
Lansing - scheduled day off
Vancouver 9 at Everett 3
Classic short-season pitcher's duel. 1-0 after five innings, then the starters leave and things blow up. Specifically, Shane Opitz blew up, going 4-4, all singles, with 2 RBI. Stephen McQuail also blew up, piling up three hits including a homer. Nicholas Baligod and Garrett Maines got in on the blowing up, each singling and doubling and driving in run(s).
This game's pitching mention goes to Bryan Longpre, who hurled two perfect innings in relief, K'ing four.
Bluefield 5 at Elizabethton 6
A heartbreaker for Bluefield: they led 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Elizabethton came storming back. Two straight singles were followed by a sac bunt, botched by closer Les Williams. Another single and then a fielder's choice, and that was the ballgame.
First baseman Art Charles and catcher Aaron Munoz each had two RBIs, on a single and a homer for Charles and a single, walk and sac fly for Munoz. Chris Hawkins doubled and walked in his four trips. Jose Vargas got the start and lasted four innings, allowing two runs.
GCL Yankees 2 at GCL Blue Jays 3
The Baby Jays took revenge on the Yankees on behalf of the D-Jays. The hero was Santiago Nessy, who hit a two-run homer in the fifth to break the tie. Andrew Liebel also deserves credit, holding the G-Yanks to just one run over his four innings. Julio Carmona also pitched well, no-hitting the Yanks over two innings and striking out four.
D.J. "Game of" Thon"es" (no?) had a single and a walk in three trips, and was once again replaced in the late innings. Anyone know what's up with that?
DSL Marlins 4 at DSL Jays 0
Steven Romero gave up four runs, all unearned, in five innings and struck out nine. No Gabriel Cenas.
Three Stars! (pretty weak three stars for a seven-game night!)
3. Brad McElroy - 2-2, BB, OF assist
2. Chris Woodward - 1-2, HR, 2 BB
1. Shane Opitz - 4-4
