Buffalo 6 Indianapolis 4
The Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays AAA affiliate) won tonight despite another remarkably poor outing from someone who is 28 and a season and a bit removed from 225 innings of sub 3.00ERA ball in the American League East. Think about that. It takes some time to sink in doesn’t it? How someone could have been so good and now stink so bad? The reports too out of these outings suggest that Romero has literally forgotten how to throw a pitched baseball. It’s equal parts fascinating as it is upsetting.
Romero’s retooled delivery, of which I tend to agree with Gregg Zaun that it’s not really “new mechanics” as everyone here seems to suggest—that Romero is throwing the ball completely differently—he’s just starting his delivery slightly different, which isn’t at all “new mechanics.” Anyways, Romero struggled to get through four innings at one point throwing ten straight balls. He threw 44 strikes and 42 balls. He walked six and yielded three runs, two of which were earned. Ramone has some interesting comments on Ricky’s outing in the previous thread.
The bullpen did its job and some of the usual suspects at the plate carried the load on offense. Luis Jimenez had the go ahead hit and Anthony Gose was on base three times and has inexplicably stopped stealing bases.
Portland 15 New Hampshire 4
New Hampshire took a beating in this one as starter Ryan Tepera didn’t get out of the fourth. Kevin Pillar continues to hit and has a big night every time I write these things. He went 3-5 with a HR. Ryan Schimpf also went deep for an Eastern League leading ninth HR.
Dunedin 0 Fort Myers 2
A solid Jesse Hernandez start was undone by an error and an even better start by an opposing pitcher. Hernandez went five and seemed to evade trouble on several occasions—getting a double play with the bases loaded in the first, another double play with runners on first and second in the second, and a flyout with runners on first and third in the third. While Hernandez is unlikely to ever appear on any prospect list and is old for his level, continued performance should keep him progressing such that he will get his shot to pitch in the Big Leagues.
The bats were silent on the night. Andy Burns had one of the five hits the Dunedin Blue Jays mustered and Marcus Knecht had the lone extra base hit with a double in the seventh.
Lansing 6 Lake County 2
Lansing got the other win on the farm tonight. Kellen Sweeney went deep and Taylor Cole held the latches down for six innings. Cole, much like Hernandez, is a tad old for his level, but should he continue to perform he will also get his shot. Tonight he was solid over six, not allowing a hit until the sixth. His final line: two earned runs on three hits and two walks. He fanned three. Sweeney led the way with two hits and Dwight Smith Jr. had two RBI’s. As a team the Lugnuts walked seven times to seven strikeouts. They won tonight and it’ll be something they’ll have to do a lot more of as they are 14-23 on the season.
Three Stars
3. Jesse Hernandez
2. Kevin Pillar
1. Taylor Cole
