Despite overall scoring deficit just 4 runs (45 to 41) only the AAA and DCL Blue Jays affiliates, came out victorious on a Saturday night. 2 and 6 makes for a tough Saturday night.
Las Vegas 10 Colorado Springs 2
Cashman Field hosted 2,837 paid attendance on a 110 degree Nevada night. And the 51s didn’t leave the fans cold. They out hit Colorado Springs 15 to 9 and got a solid starting performance by Brad Mills (7-6). Mills had 7.0 IP, struck out 4 and gave up just 2 runs on 8 hits. Manny Mayorson (2 for 4, R, RBI, BB) missed a catch for the only error on the evening.
Multiple RBI work was provided by David Cooper (1 for 5, R, HR 2RBIs) who knocked a 2 run blast to left center and Travis Snider (3 for 5, R, 2B, 3B, 2RBIs) who drove in a run on each of his extra base hits. Adam Loewen (3 for 4, 2R, 2 2B, RBI, BB) had a near perfect night reaching the bases 4 of 5 times, including a pair of 2 baggers. Ramon Vasquez (2 for 3, 2R, 2B, RBI, 2BB) was near perfect getting on 4 of 5 times as well. Jason Lane (2 for 2, 2R, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB)had the other multi extra base hit performance, and was the only Las Vegas batter to reach base safely in all at bats. Kevin Howard (1 for 5, R, HR) added another run with a solo HR blast leading off the second. Ryan Shealy (1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K) doubled in one as well.
Henderson Alverez (4-4) suffered the loss at Portland after allowing 6 runs on 8 hit in 5.0 innings pitched. He did manage to get 8 K’s. Adeiny Hechavarria (0 for 5, K) committed a 6th inning fielding error, his 8th on the season.
With the Fisher Cats pitching allowing 8 runs and 10 hits, the spacing out of 9 hits which produced only 4 runs did not make for a happy ending on the evening. Run producers included Travis d’Arnaud (3 for 4, 2 2B, HR, 2RBIs) who hit his 9th HR, a solo blast in the 8th inning. Other runs came from a solo HR from Anthony Gose (1 for 4, 2R, HR, RBI, BB, K), his 7th of the year, and Man Mountain Mike McDade (2 for 4, R, 2 2B, K) who had an RBI double in the 2 run third inning.
Dustin McGowen (0-1) lasted .2 innings of a planned 2 inning outing. In his first time to the mound in almost 3 years, the rehabbing McGowen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, a walk and a K. Dunedin relievers gave up an additional four runs. Kevin Ahrens (2 for 4, R, RBI) opened the game with a throwing error, his 11th error of the year, on a bunt single allowing the first Dayton runner into scoring position.
Dunedin bats produced only three runs, with Ahrens making amends on his error with an RBI single in the 5th inning. Other RBIs came from Brian Van Kirk (1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI) and Ryan Schimpf (0 for 3, RBI, BB, K). Jonathan Diaz (1 for 4, 2Ks), A.J. Jimenez (1 for 4, 2Ks), and Ivan Contreras (1 for 3, R, K) all added singles.
Putting up 16 hits on the evening wasn’t good enough for the win, despite allowing only 8 Great Lakes hits. A four run 2nd inning and a three run 7th inning spelled ruin for the Luggies, who left a total of 13 runners on base. Dayton Maze (3-3) took the loss with 1.1 IP allowing 3 runs on 3 hits. A pair of Lansing errors came from Bryson Namba (1 for 4, BB, 3Ks), his 13th, and Carlos Perez (2 for 4, 3R, BB), his 8th.
Everyone hit for the Lugnuts except for Oliver Dominquez (0 for 4). Lansing’s runs came from a HR by Michael Crouse (2 for 5, R, 2b, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 Ks) who hit a solo homer in 2nd inning. Both Marcus Knecht (4 for 5, 2 2B, 2 RBIs) and Jake Marisnick (4 for 5, 2R, 2 2B, RBI) each turned in a 4 hit performance.
Eugene outhit Vancouver 15 to 10 dominating starting pitcher Zack Breault who gave up 8 of Eugene’s hits in just 3.2 IP, allowing four runs. Eric Brown (0-1) suffered the loss pitching only one inning but giving up 3 run with 3 hits, and 3 BB. Nicholas Boligod (1 for 5, R, 2B, K) and Stephen McQuail (1 for 4, R, K) made the Vancouver errors.
Balbino Fuenmayor (1 for 4, R, HR, 3 RBIs) led the RBI charge, batting in 3 on the evening with a 3 run blast in the 6th inning. Other RBIs came from Matt Johnson(2 for 4, 3B, 2 RBIs, K) who drove in 2, including one from a line drive triple to right field. Garret Maines(1 for 4, R, RBI, 2Ks), Yeico Aponte(1 for 4, R, RBI, 3Ks) and Shane Opitz(1 for 4, 2B, RBI, 2Ks) all added RBIs.
Bluefield managed only a pair of runs in the 8th inning and despite taking a 2 to 1 lead into the 9th, lost when losing pitcher Jonathan Lucas(0-1) gave up the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
Bluefield’s runs came on RBIs by Gustavo Pierre(1 for 5, R, RBI, 2Ks) and Chris Shaeffer(2 for 4, RBI) who had the Blue Jays only multi-hit performance.
Three Stars
David Cooper 1 for 5, R, HR, 2 RBIs
Michael Crouse 2 for 5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs
Travis d’Arnaud 3 for 4, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBIs
