Back from the DL, Bill Murphy started for the 51's and surprisingly wasn't awful. He gave up one run in six innings, then Tim Redding pitched 1.2 scoreless. All this reflects pretty poorly on the Tuscon offense.
At the plate, there were no extra base hits to be found. Hech and Thames had two hits apiece, and five different players drove in a single run apiece.
Fill-in starter Fernando Hernandez had much better results in his fourth start for the F-Cats than he did in his previous three outings. He gave up 2 rons, but more impressively he struck out six while walking no-one. Aaron Loup took over and threw two innings of one-hit ball, striking out 3.
The story of the game going in, though, was the debut of super-prospect Jake Marisnick in CF. He didn't disappoint, going 2 for five with a double and an RBI. Mark Sobolewski, Brad Glenn, and Jack Murphy also had two hits apiece, the latter two with home runs in the mix. Tolisano homered two.
But the most notable performance of the night came at the hands, or rather feet, of a man who didn't even get a hit. DH Brian Van Kirk walked twice, and and both times he stole both second and third base and scored.
Wojo took the mound in Dunedin and turned in six respectable innings. He gave up three runs, two earned, but the fly in the ointment was the four walks he allowed. This, however, is a rarity for him and is likely no big deal.
Catcher Koby Clemens was one of two offensive giants, going 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. The other big contributor was newly promoted Jon Berti who was 3 for 5 with a double and a triple. Oliver Dominguez was also 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.
One of the Three Amigos pitched tonight for Lansing – this turn went to Justin Nicolino. The bad news is that in four innings of work he gave up more earned runs (five) than he did in the collective 39 innings he pitched in April and May (four). He did, however, strike out seven while walking one so it wasn't a total loss. The four runs in the fourth scored on five singles. It would be interesting to know how hard those balls were hit and how much it was simply a bit of bad luck.
The offense was pretty quiet, the only XBH being Carlos Perez's fourth inning triple which would lead to one of the teams two runs. Andy Burns walked and stole second and was driven in by KC Hobson, who was the only Lugnut with 2 hits.
Rule Five selection Javier Avendano continues to impress as a Vancouver starter. He threw five innings Thursday night and struck out eight while walking two and giving up a single run. The VanCan's pen was equally effective, striking out seven hitters in four collective innings while giving up one run.
It was also a good night at the plate for the Canadians, with four hitters having multi-hit games. Jason Leblebijian was 3 for five with a double; Carlos Ramirez was 2 for four with a triple, and Kelen Sweeney had a rare solid effort, going 2 for 4 with a home run – for the second night in a row. Ian Parmley also had 3 hits in five at bats, and Dan Arcilla also went yard.
Underdog Venezuelan Devy Estrada had his first quality appearance of the year for Bluefield, going five strong and allowing only one earned run (and one unearned) to the opposition. Griffin Murphy followed and blew up real good. In 1.1 IP he allowed five hits and five runs, 2 of them earned.
Chino Vega got his second start since joining the Bluefield squad after an injury rehab and had an excellent night, going 3 for 4. Nico Taylor was 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. Prospects Santiago Nessy and Christian Lopes were both 2 for 4 with a double and Lopes also walked while nessy drove in 2.
17 year old Alberto Tirado made his third start Thursday for the GCL squad, and has now completed nine innings of work on the season. Collectively he's allowed seven hits and one earned run, while walking 2 and striking out 10. Opposing hitters have managed a.219 batting average. Kid might be pretty good. And this having had no experience in the DSL as most Dominican prospects do.
Among the hitters, Justin Atkinson and Shaun Valeriote put up two hits apiece
Three stars-
Third Star: Brain Van Kirk - 4 SB without a hit.
Second Star: Jon Berti - 3/5 double and a triple
First Star: Koby Clemens - 4/4 with a double
