Inexplicably, sometimes the 51's get a nice pitching performance from a completely unexpected source. Such was the case tonight as Bill Murphy scattered 8 hits and held Fresno to only 2 runs in six innings. Clint Everts and the newly acquired David Carpenter each contributed a scoreless inning of work. In 3.2 innings in 3 appearances Carpenter has yet to be scored on and has recorded six strikeouts.
Offensively the night belonged to Adeiny Hechavarria, as he went 3/4 and drew a walk. That's his third straight multi-hit game after having suffered through a 3 for 28 slump. David Cooper was the only other hitter with more than one hit, one of his two being a double.
New Hampshire rained out, will play a double header tomorrow.
Jesse Hernandez continue to roll along and at some point we are going to have to ask the question – when is he legitimately on the prospect radar? His one run in 5 IP tonight puts him at a 1.1.4 ERA over his last five appearances totaling 23.6 IP. He's also allowed a mere 10 hits and 3 walks in that stretch while striking out 24
As you might imagine from a one-run output, the hitters were wholly unimpressive in this game. Only Jon Jones recorded an extra base hit (a double) and no one had more than one hit.
No question about the prospect status of Noah Syndergaard. The big Texan pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs with six Ks and 4 walks (unusually high for him – he had nine total in his previous nine appearances).
Six Lugnuts got a hit, all singles except for the double recorded by Chris Peters and the triple by Kevin Patterson, who accumulated the team's only 2 RBI.
Of minor note, Ian Kadish, who'd been the best pitcher in the Vancouver bullpen was promoted to Lansing which was, in my opinion, well deserved.
Rule Five gem Javiar Avendano continues to make his case for a return to Lansing as a member of the starting rotation. Six innings of 2 hit shutout ball, supported by 6 strikeouts against only a single walk make a strong argument in that case. Avendano has made only one misstep since stepping into the Canadians rotation when the short-season began, that a five run outing on July 11 when he was victimized y the only two homers he's allowed for the team. Take out that one appearance and he's got a 0.75 ERA in his other 36 innings of work. I'm prepared to say this guy is an actual prospect. He still has a lot to prove but he's arguably worth of the top 50 or so at least.
In his case, one run was enough where it had failed two starters at higher levels, even though it came to late in the game to give him the win. In the ninth inning of a 0-0 game, Jason Leblebijan reached and advance to second on a throwing error by the Eugene SS, moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on a sac fly.
Highly regarded Kevin Comer got the start in Bluefield and gave up one earned run in 5 IP. Some may note with mild concern that he only struck out one opponent. Particularly after no Ks at all in his previous outing. Forgotten man Griffin Murphy came on the contribute 3 innings of scoreless relief. He's a 1.86 ERA with nice ratios and can probably make a good case, at 21, for a promotion. Would be a nice tidbit of inside info to find out if the Jays see him only as a reliever now and if that means he will take a faster track through the system.
The Bluefield squad had the best offensive night in the system, and the best performance by an individual hitter. Third baseman Matt Dean was 4 for 4, including a solo homer and a total of 3 RBI. No one else had more than one hit, but C prospect Santiago Nessy did have a homer of his own.
The tandem of Biggs & Cardona took their collective turn on Thursday and Had a nice outing, combining for 8 innings of 3 run pitching with 10 strikeouts between them. Of particular note, given his recent four game stretch of ugliness is Cardona, who's 3 innings yielded only one run and six of those strikeouts.
Seven batters got a hit, only Gabe
Cenas for extra bases (a double) and only Justin Atkinson had more
than one, and he added a walk to his two singles.
Third Star - Adeiny Hechavarria
Second Star - Javiar Avendano
First Star - Matt Dean
