Aaron Laffey started and had a Laffey-esque evening. Only mildly different in that 3 of the 5 runs he allowed over 5 innings were unearned. The bullpen was better, allowing a single run over 4 innings of work.
At the plate, however, the 51's shined with six players having multi-hit games. Vlad Guerrero finally shook off the jet-lag and picked up 2 hits including a double; Adam Lind was 3 for 5 with a double, Jon Diaz 3 for 4 with a double, and the lone homer went to journeyman Richardo Nanita.
(completion of Wednesday's game)
Bret Cecil started on Wed and got in three shutout innings before the game was suspended. When it was completed on Thursday, the bullpen picked right on the theme and finished the shutout. Ron Uvideo, Sam Dyson, and newly arrived journeyman Evan Englewood combined for six innings of 4-hit ball. Dyson, if you were wondering, is adjusting well to AA. In seven appearances he's been touched for earned runs (2) only once. He does need to bring the K rate up but we're talking about a guy who's yet to pitch his 40th inning as a pro so there's that.
Cecil, by the way, has accumulated 30.1 innings since coming off the DL (over six appearances) and over that time has an ERA of 1.78
The day's offense (that would be Thursday's in this case, as the Fishercats didn't have a hit before the postponement) can be attributed mostly to Mike McDade, who's solo homer in the 4th and RBI double in the 6th accounted for two of the three NH runs.
Deck McGuire continues to be a train wreck n his second professional season. As has repeatedly been the case this year, he can take comfort only in the realization that he didn't manage to hurt himself physically. Statistically it was a different story as he allowed six runs in five innings of wholly unimpressive work.
The only hitter with multiple hits, or an XBH was Sean Ochinko, 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. As you might expect, the hero of the other game – McDade - went hitless in this one.
Dunedin – postponed.
(completion of suspended game)
On Wednesday Aaron Sanchez started and went three only three innings, albeit giving up just one run. He did walk three so perhaps their was a pitch count issue or what. Coming on in the fifth as planned, Justin Nicolino ran his shoutout inning streak to 15 before Bowling Green's Jake Hager homered leading off the 6th inning, They would pick up two more off Nicolino in the 7th to tie the game and force extra innings, the last of which was played on Thursday.
Call-up 2B Andy Fermin, filling in for injured Jon Berti had two hits as did Kevin Patterson and Kenny Wilson, both of whom legged out a double. Once hot shortstop Andy Burns is 3 for his last 22.
This win qualifies Lansing for a playoff spot.
Thursday's regularly scheduled game saw the Lugnuts Jesse Hernandez match the opposing starter note for note, save a second inning RBI ground-out that proved to be the difference in the final score.
On offense, newly installed lead-off man Kevin Pillar was the only hitter with 2 hits, while the aforementioned Andy Burns picked up a double in his three at bats for the teams only XBH in the game.
Unless there's an exceptional performance by a highly paid bonus baby, I'm pretty much just going to link these games without comment.
Third Star - Kenny Wilson: 2/3, double and walk (yes it was a slow night for star performances)
Second Star - Sean Ochinko: 2/3, double, 2 RBI
First Star - Mike McDade: 2/4 with an RBI double and a homer
