It just doesn't get much better than this.
I don't mean the 4-for-5 performance that the organization put up in the win column yesterday, though that was certainly nice. And I don't mean the callup of Alex Rios, though that may well be memorable one day in its own way.
I mean coming home, exhausted, from work a short while ago (at a very late hour) to see my son, all of 13 months old, dancing to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" in the living room.
The Update will be short and sweet (and quite early) tonight as I am in my busiest period at work all year; and to think it comes on the day of my first Update!
Syracuse 10, Charlotte 6
Boxscore
The biggest news in Syracuse isn't the SkyChiefs win, it's that three of them are headed to Toronto, two to fill holes and one to fulfill his destiny. Vinny Chulk and Bobby Estalella are going to be Blue Jays for probably the next two weeks or so; Alex Rios should be a Blue Jay for most of the next six years.
The win, though, was pretty good, and marked the return to classic form of the now-rebuilt Bob File. File pitched four innings of shutout ball to pick up David Bush, who struggled with ten hits and six runs allowed in his five innings. Lots of offensive stars in this one; Shawn Fagan had a 4 2 3 2 line, Howie Clark went 3-5, and Marvin Benard hit two home runs.
New Hampshire 2, Norwich 0
Boxscore
The Fisher Cats had a four-hitter tossed at them by the Navigators pitching staff, but responded with a four-hit, four-pitcher shutout of their own to scratch out a win. Todd Ozias (3-2) struck out 6 in his 5.1 innings; John Ogiltree, Dan Jackson, and Adam Peterson pitched 3.2 innings of hitless relief to nail down the win.
Brevard County 2, Dunedin 1
Boxscore
The D-Jays had the organization's only loss, as the hitters took most of the night off against Michael Hinckley, who is probably Montreal's top pitching prospect. Vito Chiaravalloti, with 3 walks, was the offensive bright spot and Jason Waugh had the lone RBI. Ismael Ramirez had a fine performance as the starter, with a line of 7 6 2 2 0 3, but took the loss anyway.
Charleston 9, Kannapolis 8 (15 innings)
Boxscore
The Alley Cats thought that the local kids could use some extra time off school as they stretched out their early-start game to 15 innings before beating the Intimidators 9-8. Ryan Roberts had five walks and an HBP, and couldn't score a single run! Eric Arnold was the offensive leader, going 4-for-7 with two doubles and 3 RBI, while David Smith was 3-for-4 with three walks. Tom Mastny pitched reasonably well as the Alley Cat starter, with a line of 6 8 2 2 0 4, but it was Mark Sopko who really kept Charleston in the game with 3.2 innings of fine one-hit relief in the extra frames; Brian Reed similarly had two shutout innings.
Three Stars - Three bullpen performances caught my eye today, so the solid hitting of David Smith, Eric Arnold, Marvin Benard, Shawn Fagan, and Howie Clark will have to take a back seat.
3rd star - The combined forces of John Ogiltree, Dan Jackson, and Adam Peterson in the Fisher Cat bullpen, as they hung on to a precarious 2-0 lead and allowed only one walk and no hits.
2nd star - Mark Sopko, with a terrific long stint out of the Alley Cat pen to hold them in the game through the 12th inning.
1st star - Bob File, four terrific innings for Syracuse. It's great to have him back.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040527120431999