Syracuse and Dunedin are going through a tough time, both have multiple game losing streaks. Charleston are back on track. New Hampshire are the hottest team, the offense has been on fire since the arrival of Stubby Clapp. And Francisco Rosario is back.
Syracuse 0 Richmond 7
Syracuse lost their sixth game of the week and this one was not close. The Chiefs were down 6-0 after five and never looked to be in it. Syracuse had six hits on the day, two each by Russ Adams, Simon Pond and Shawn Fagan.
Chris Baker conceded six runs in 4.1 innings on eleven hits. Baker's first two starts of the season were outstanding. In his last four starts Baker has allowed seventeen runs in 19.1 innings.
Alexis Rios raised his average to .295 on Thursday. Since then Rios is 0-13. Russ Adams was 2-4, Gross went 0-3 with a walk.
New Hampshire 0 Reading 2
The in game play-by-play captured the action. New Hampshire had ten hits and there were many contributors to the offensive show. Justin Singleton started it with a triple. A Dominic Rich double also paced the Cats to a 2-0 lead. New Hampshire added four in the eighth and three in the ninth. Dominic Rich was 2-3 with a double and two walks. Aaron Hill was 2-2 with a walk. Hill was also hit by a pitch and reached on catcher interference. For the week Hill was 9-23 at the plate, a .391 average. Hill also walked four times, had a HBP and CI, and hit his first home run. Hill's OBP for the week was .517.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Gustavo Chacin was his usual effecient self. Chacin allowed one run in six innings. In five starts this year Chacin has never conceded more than 3 runs and has never allowed more hits than innings pitched. Chacin does not strike out too many but his stuff keeps the hitters off balance.
Brandon League came on to start the seventh and allowed the one run in two innings. The run came from a walk, a stolen base and a single. John Ogiltree pitched a scoreless ninth.
There has been some speculation in DaBox regarding the performances of Dustin McGowan and Brandon League. Both throw hard and can probably be classed as throwers rather than pitchers. When you throw 96/97 you get used to rearing back and throwing hard when you get in trouble. Remember spring training when McGowan got into trouble and then tried to throw the ball past major leaguers? He was hit hard a la Billy Koch. The same can happen at AA. This is part of the learning process for McGowan and League. They need to be able to throw their second and third pitches in the location they want, when they want. That process takes time, be patient. Remember you cannot teach speed. Hard throwers sometimes flame out if they cannot throw strikes. McGowan and League are not overly wild, they are just throwing the ball where the hitters are swinging right now.
Game Story
Dunedin 3 Vero Beach 5
Dunedin entered the game on a four game losing streak and left it on a five gamer. When things are going bad you lose a game like this where you out-hit your opponent 10-7. Francisco Rosario started again, having pitched a total of 4.1 innings combined in his last three starts. Rosario beat that total in this game with 4.2 innings. Rosario retired the first six hitters but ran into trouble in the third when the first four hitters reached base. But the Jays left him in there and he retired the next three hitters to get out of the inning with two runs allowed. Rosario then retired another five in a row before allowing a couple of hits and a run in the fifth, and he was done for the day. It was a good comeback appearance for Rosario.
Dunedin meanwhile had three runs of their own. John Schneider doubled and scored in the second and the Jays added a couple in the fourth on a pair of bases loaded walks.
In the sixth Tommi Ozuna hit a batter and gave up a home run to leave the Jays training 5-3. Dunedin had the first two hitters single in the top of the ninth but they were stranded.
Every Dunedin hitter had a hit except Scott Dragicevich. Jayce Tingler had two hits and a walk.
Lakewood 7 Charleston 9
The bats were working for both teams in Charleston. Tom Mastny joined the list of Jays pitching prospects who have scuffled on the mound this week. Mastny allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in 5.2 innings. Felix Romero and Mark Sopko conceded a duece each in the seventh and eighth. Brian Reed pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.
Brian Patrick was the offensive hero going 4-5. Mike Galloway was 1-2 with two walks, Eric Arnold also had two hits.
News Stories
Ernie Whitt has Olympic dreams
Tampa Bay Online has a Vito story.
Our Three-Star Selection
The 3rd Star: Dominic Rich, 2-3 with a double and two walks
The 2nd Star: Brian Patrick, 4-5, almost as good as Hill but he got out once
The 1st Star: Aaron Hill, 2-2 with a walk, a HBP and cathchers interference.
Honourable Mention: It is a good sign when you have players worthy of HM. Brian Reed deserves a shout-out. He had another routine save yesterday, his sixth. On the season Reed has not allowed a run in 10.1 innings. He has given up six hits and one walk in those 10.1 innings. Another HM to Gustavo Chacin for a quality start.
Standings
Syracuse were 0-6 on the week and their record now is 11-20. Syracuse are in last place, seven games behind Scranton
New Hampshire are 15-12 and are one games behind Norwich. The Cats were 5-2 for the week.
Dunedin 16-16, six games behind Tampa. Dunedin were 2-5 for the week.
Charleston are in first place by four games with an 22-8 record. They were 3-4 for the week.
Combined the Jays minor league teams are 64-56, a .533 winning percentage.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040510095219999