Some games were closer than others, but all the boyz on the farm made us proud on Friday evening. Las Vegas was a winner and so was Lansing, both squeaking in runs in the late innings. The D-Jays behind some great pitching put the shut out hurt on cross town rival Clearwater while New Hampshire put their second win in the books for a good start to their defence of last year's Eastern League Championship.
To the 4,424 home field faithful at Cashman Field, the 51s were out of this world reversing the fortunes of opening night and putting an extra inning whoppin’ on Sacramento. Although allowing 2 runs and 4 hits early on, Starter Jessie Chavez settled down and threw 4 IP and struck out 7. Andrew Carpenter, Ryota Igarashi, Jim Hoey and Chad Beck provided the needed relief missing from opening night by combining to strike out 7 more and allow just 2 hits. Jerry Gil (1-0) came on in the 10th to shut down the Bees and take the win.
Travis Snider (2 for 4, HR, R, BB, 2RBI, 2K) knocked in a pair in the 6th to get Las Vegas back in the game. David Cooper (1 for 5, RBI) won the contest with a walk off ground ball single scoring Snyder also had a ground ball single. Small ball, but big enough to bring Las Vegas the first win of this year’s campaign. Adeiny Hechavarria (2 for 4, R, BB, RBI) continued his hitting ways bringing in Mike McCoy (1 for 3, R, SB, BB) who had singled. McCoy stole a base as did Travis d’Arnaud (1 for 4, BB, SB, K).
The Fisher Cats, in their second consecutive road game, visiting the spawn of the Evil Empire in Trenton, brought down said empire behind good, but not flashy pitching by starter and winner Chad Jenkins (1-0). Jenkins put in 6.0 IP allowing the Thunders only one run in the first inning with a solo home run. Matt Daly and Danny Farquar came on in relief, throwing no hit ball to ice the win.
The Fisher Cats brought enough bats to ruin the clear and chilly evening for the Trenton faithful. In the Fifth, Multi-hit Man Mountain Mike McDade (3 for 4, 2B, 2RBI) batted in Kevin Howard (1 for 4, R, RBI, K) and Jonathan Diaz (2 for 4, R, SB, BB, K). In the Sixth, Howard his a sac fly to bring in Ryan Goins (2 for 4, R, 2b) who had doubled. Mark Sobolewski (1 for 4, K) added a single. Diaz and A.J. Jiminez (0 for 3, SB, BB, K) each stole their second bases of the young season. McDade and Justin Jackson (0 for 4, K) each suffered errors in the field.
In the evening’s only shutout, Dunedin made the short trip to Clearwater and beat down the Threshers behind the winning pitching of Sean Nolin (1-0) who threw 6 IP of no run ball, allowing 4 hits and striking out a pair. Relievers Egan Smith and Dustin Antolin came on a get the fire out in the last three innings on a windy Clearwater evening.
The D-Jays put on a lumber show with 10 hits to get their 5 runs. RBIs were had by Jonathan Jones (2 for 5, R, RBI), Sean Ochinko (1 for 4, 2B, K, RBI), Ryan Schimpf (1 for 3, K, RBI) and Kevin Nolan (1 for 4, RBI). Jake Marisnick (2 for 4, 2B, BB) and Kevin Ahrens (2 for 4, R, 2B) added doubles, while Michael Crouse (1 for 4, R, 3B, K) smacked a triple.
The Luggies managed only 4 hit but outscored visiting Great Lakes behind the pitching of starter Noah Syndergaard and Anthony Desciafani who combined for a total of 10 strike outs, and allowed no runs in the first 6 innings of the contest. Brandon Berl (1-0) earned the win. In all, the Luggies hurlers threw an impressive 13 strike outs on the evening. The Luggies were also helped with 4 errors by Great Lakes, whose pitchers only had a single earned run.
With pitching like that, Lansing pieced together 3 runs and took home the marbles. Carlos Perez (1 for 4, RBI) and Kevin Patterson (1 for 4, RBI) kicked in RBIs. No one had a multi-hit contest, but Chris Hawkins (1 for 4, 2B, K) added a double and Andrew Burns (1 for 3, K) managed a single.
Stars…
1st Star Jessie Chavez (7 Ks in 4.0 IP)
2nd Star Travis Snider (2 For 4, HR, R, BB, 2RBI, 2K)
3rd Star Mike McDade (3 for 4, 2B, 2RBI)
