Some bright flashes on offence, but some heavy K action from the mound (except for Las Vegas) put the night in the win column for Toronto’s farm club teams. Drabek stumbled mightily in a short-lived appearance.
The 51s brought a slugfest to Reno Friday. Too bad they didn’t bring pitching as well. Reno put up 16 runs on 19 hits. It all began when starter and losing pitcher, Kyle Drabek (0-1) pitched just .2 IP and allowed 5 runs on 4 hits and 3 BB and 2 HRs, one a 3 run dinger and the other a solo blast. Drabek seems to be continuing his struggle. Subsequent bullpen would be rescuers didn’t do much better allowing 11 more runs on 15 more hits, including another dinger.
On the offence side of the ledger, Las Vegas did put up a pair of HRs from Ryan Shealy (1 for 4, 2R, HR, RBI, K) and Kevin Howard (3 for 5, R, 2B, BB, 3 RBI). Jason Lane (3 for 4, R, 2B, BB, K) also had a multi-hit game. Ryan Budde (2 for 5, R, RBI, K) brought one in and Danny Perales (2 for 5, R) smacked a pair of hits as well. Another multi hit performance was turned in by Chris Woodward who went 2 for 3 with a pair of BB and a K. Adam Loewen (1 for 5, 2B) put up a double.
Starter Chad Jenkins put up 6 IP allowing three runs on 5 hits, 4 BB and 4 Ks. Matt Daly (3-0) came on for 1.0 IP shutting down Portland, allowing only a single BB and notching his 3rd win of the year. Clint Everts threw 1.0 IP and Bobby Korecky came on in the 9th for his 5th save.
Moises Sierra (1 for 3, 2 RBIs, K) was the champ in run production for the evening. Anthony Gose (3 for 3, R, 2 2B, RBI) had 5 TB and batted in one. Ricardo Nanita (3 for 4, 2B, RBI, K) had the other multi-hit game, producing a run. Mark Sobolewski (1 for 4) and Adeiny Hechavarria (1 for 2, 2R, 2 BB) each put up a single.
After Nestor Molina (6.0IP, 5H, 1R,2Ks) kept it close, Frank Gailey (4-1) came on for the win in 2.0 IP with a BB and a single hit. Wes Etheridge came on for the save in the 9th striking out one and allowing a single hit. Sean Ochinko (1 for 5, R, K) made a bad throw for his 5th error in the Florida State League.
Dunedin put 4 runs up on 11 hits, including multi-hit performances from: Brad McElroy (2 for 4, 2B, RBI, BB, K), Kevin Nolan (2 for 4, BB), Jon Talley (2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI) and A.J. Jiminez (2 for 4, R, 2B, K). Justin Jackson (1 for 4, RBI) had an RBI and Ivan Contreras (1 for 4, R, K) added a single.
Great Lakes 4 Lansing 6 - 11 innings
KC Hobson ended this one with a two run walk off home run in the eleventh. Sean Nolin started and gave up 4 runs in 4.1 innings. Five relievers held Great Lakes off the board. Matt Nuzzo; Marcus Knecht and Hobson had two hits each.
Vancouver put on a pitching exposition Friday night led by winning pitcher Justin Nicolino (1-0) who threw 6.0 IP shutting out Everett allowing just a single hit and striking out and impressive 7. Blake McFarland and Drew Permison came on in relief to keep the shut out alive. McFarland and Balbino Fuenmayor (1 for 3, 2K) each booted one in the field for the Canucks’ two errors.
With pitching prowess from Vancouvers hurlers, not much offence was required to save the day. Vancouver’s production was led by Garret Maines (2 for 4, 3B, HR, RBI) who lifted a solo blast in the 7th inning, and Jonathan Jones (3 for 5, 2B, RBI) who brought in the other run on a multi hit evening. Bryan Kervin (2 for 4, 2B, K) was the other Canuck with a multi-hit game.
Despite out hitting Danville a dozen to eleven, Bluefield couldn’t end the contest on top. At least losing pitcher Aaron Sanchez (0-1) (2.2 IP, 10H, 8R, 2BB,K) didn’t allow a HR in his 2 innings of work, but did manage a 27.00 ERA. Gustavo Pierre (0 for 4, BB) continued his shockingly error prone ways, notching his 2nd error in four games at Bluefield. That’s on top of a staggering 36 errors he managed before being demoted from Lansing.
A couple of HRs by the Blue Jays highlighted the offence. Daniel Arcila (1 for 4, 2R, HR, 3BIs) was the top run producer with 3 RBIs including his 8th inning 3 run blast. Kevin Pillar (1 for 4, R, HR, 2RBI) was the next best run producer, smacking a 2 run round tripper in the 2nd. Run production also came off the bats of Art Charles (2 for 5, 2B, RBI), Melvin Garcia (0 for 5, RBI) on a ground out, and Christopher Hawkins (3 for 5, 3B, RBI,K) who led the Blue Jays in hits.
The GCL Jays came up short Friday afternoon, dropping a rain delayed contest to the Baby Evil Empire from Tampa. They were not outhit by the boys from across the bay, they tied at 9 hits each, but losing pitcher Luis Mendez (1.0 IP, 5H, 5R, BB, K) had a rocky 8th inning giving up 5 runs on 5 hits. Three throwing errors marred Baby Jays fielding: one by Jorge Vegas-Rosado (1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, K), another by Nico Taylor (1 for 3, BB, and one by Santiago Nessy (1 for 2, 2BB).
In addition to Vegas-Rosado, the other run producer and only multi- hitter for the Blue Jays was Kevin Patterson (2 for 5, R, HR, RBI) who hit a round tripper as well. Dickie Thon (1 for 4, R), Seth Conner (1 for 4), Matt Newman (1 for 4, R, K) and Chris Peters (1 for 3, BB, K) all put 1 hit each on the board.
Three Stars:
3rd Star Justin Nicolino - 6 IP, 1H, 7Ks
2nd Star Kevin Howard – 3 for 5, R, 2B, BB, 3 RBIs
1st Star KC Hobson - walk off home run
