Buffalo 3 Syracuse 5
Harrisburg 4 New Hampshire 5
Eugene 9 Vancouver 7 - 10 innings
Dunedin at Fort Myers - postponed
This is what I noted from yesterday's games.
The Buffalo game was a low scoring affair until the eighth. John Aiello made an error on the lead off hitter, two singles followed, then Daniel Palka hit his 26th home run, a slam. Buffalo got a couple back in the ninth but they lost by two.
Hayden Juenger started and went two innings. He did allow a solo home run and he has been a little homer prone this season. However it has been an excellent season for the 2021 draftee. He just turned 22 and looks to be in line for a call-up next season. Nate Pearson also pitched an inning, walking one and striking out one.
The Bisons had four hits before the ninth and added four more in the ninth, scoring two runs. One extra base hit was a double by LJ Talley. I have mentioned Talley a lot recently because he has been hot and because he homered off Max Scherzer. His double in this game was off rehabbing major leaguer Tyler Megill. His OPS in September is .936 and his K rate is down under 10%. It is a small sample but he has hit reasonably well since he moved up to Buffalo. A bit more power would help his status. He has played at first base, second and third this season. He could be an add into a trade package this off season.
For New Hampshire Orelvis hit his 30th home run. He also walked. Zac Cook also homered. Addison Barger and Luis De Los Santos each had two hits, a single and a double. De Los Santos scored two runs.
Harrisburg scored two runs in six innings off Paxton Schultz who had a good start with six strikeouts.
Vancouver were down 2-0 in their best of five playoff final and needed to win to stay alive. The C's trailed 4-3 in the eighth when they rallied. A lead off walk was followed by a Michael Turconi single. A sac fly tied the game Garrett Spain singled in the go ahead run and Andres Sosa doubled in an insurance run. Off to the ninth with a two run lead.
Mason Fluharty had pitched the top of the eighth and he returned for the ninth. The lead off hitter doubled and the call went out for Connor Cooke. Cooke struck out the next hitter but then walked the next man to bring the go ahead run to the plate. That hitter homered to put Eugene back in the lead.
Off to the bottom of the ninth and now Vancouver had one chance left. PK Morris singled to lead off the inning and Gabriel Martinez doubled to score him and tie the game. Martinez was on second with no outs but the C's hitters could not move him. Off to extra innings.
Cooke got the first two outs in the tenth but then surrendered another home run to give Eugene a two run lead. Vancouver went three up, three down in the tenth and their season was over. It was not really a surprise, Eugene won the first and second halves of the league and were by far the strongest team. Vancouver actually outhit the 13-7 but Eugene homered three times to none by the C's.
Chad Dallas started and pitched well, he went 5.1 innings with seven K's. He gave up three runs, two of which were earned. He did not walk anyone.
Dasan Brown was 3-6 with a triple. Brown played 40 games for Vancouver and hit well. It will be interesting to see where he starts next season. Gabriel Martinez, Alex De Jesus and Michael Turconi had two hits each.
Three Stars
Third Star - Chad Dallas
Second Star - Gabriel Martinez
First Star - Dasan Brown
