One humiliating loss and a rainout in the Appalachian League was all that kept the Jays’ system from a clean sweep last night. Hmm, where have I heard that before…?
Buffalo 16 Syracuse 2
• Box score
• Game story
Ugly, ugly, ugly. The Skychiefs, weakened by promotions and injuries, ran into a buzzsaw in Buffalo, where the Bisons had won 20 of their last 24. Seventeen Buffalo hits, 7 Buffalo homers, and 4 Syracuse errors later, this one was a smouldering ruin. Chris Baker fell to 0-11 on the season, allowing 6 runs (only 3 earned, all in the 3rd inning) on 6 hits, a walk, a strikeout and 2 homers. Then things actually got worse: Talley Haines came in to throw batting practice, allowing 7 runs (only 5 earned) on 7 hits (including 3 more homers) in just 1 1/3 innings. Offensively, Russ Adams struck out to lead off the game and then left (thanks to Nick for the alert); there’s no report yet as to whether he left for injury or other reasons. Only Gabe Gross had a decent evening, with a single, double, run scored and RBI to bring his average to a tantalizing .299. Otherwise, there was no good news at all here. Gerry and Robert attended the game, and we’re looking forward to their account of the destruction.
New Hampshire 5 Norwich 1 (7 innings)
• Box score
• Game story
Gustavo Chacin shut down the Navigators, hurling 5 2/3 innings of 1-run ball on 4 hits, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts to run his record to a deceptively strong 8-2. Jamie Vermilyea came in to record his 3rd save by retiring all 4 batters he faced. For those keeping track, Vermilyea has now retired every one of the 39 batters who’ve come to the plate against him in New Hampshire (including his perfecto). That is, of course, a remarkable feat, but let’s not get carried away; it must and will end sooner rather than later, and Vermilyea was posting only decent numbers at Dunedin before his promotion. It sure is cool for the time being, though.
Mike Snyder and John-Ford Griffin were the hitting heroes on the night; Snyder’s 2-run homer in the 6th and Griffin’s 2-run double in the 7th provided the winning offence, complementing Tyrell Godwin’s RBI single in the first. Griffin finished with a walk, single and double, while Aaron Hill walked twice, stole a base and scored a run. Anton French walked, singled, stole 2 more bases and scored twice. Dominic Rich went 0-for-3.
Dunedin 5 Clearwater 1
• Box score
Another terrific start for Shaun Marcum, who’s finding the Florida State League to be hardly any more of a challenge than the South Atlantic League. Marcum fired 6 innings of 1-run ball, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 8. The D-Jays didn’t score till late, however, so Tracy Thorpe picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in which he walked 2 batters. Bubbie Buzachero came in for the long 1 2/3-inning save, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while whiffing 2.
On the offensive side of the ledger, Ron Davenport was the hitting star with 2 doubles, a single, 2 runs scored and an RBI. Raul Tablado also had a pair of doubles and a matching set of RBIs, while Scott Dragicevich contributed a double, single and walk. Two walks and a single for Big Vito, and a single and walk for Miguel Negron, must have made Ryan Roberts feel even worse about his golden sombrero: 0-for-4, 4 strikeouts. Despite Roberts’ bad night, this is a team on a roll; the D-Jays are an explosive team right now.
Charleston 7 Delmarva 4
• Box score
• Game story
Clint Johnston had the big bat Friday night for the Alley Cats, reaching base 5 times on a double, 2 singles and 2 walks, scoring twice and driving in a run. Mike Galloway walked, singled and cracked a 2-run triple, while David Smith and (for the second night in a row) Christian Snavely both drilled home runs. Jermy Acey singled twice and struck out twice
On the mound, Brad Mumma made his second Charleston start a more successful one, scattering 7 hits and 2 walks to allow 2 runs over 5 innings, striking out 3. Joaquin Canizal hit the first batter he faced with the bases loaded, but eventually settled down to provide an effective 3 innings of relief, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, 0 walks and 5 Ks. Mark Sopko pitched a shutout 9th for his 3rd save. Tonight’s matchup is an intriguing one: Tom Mastny goes up against top Orioles prospect and Canadian Adam Loewen.
Auburn 5 Mahoning Valley 2 (12 innings)
• Box score
It took 12 innings, but the Doubledays won yet again. Erik Kratz’s 2-run double in the top of the 12th, his 3rd hit of the game, drove in the decisive runs (a third run crossed the plate on a fielding error). The double made a winner out of reliever Kristian Bell, who had provided yeoman’s service with 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief, surrendering just 2 walks and whiffing 3 batters. Starter Mike MacDonald had scattered 6 hits over 6 shutout frames, walking nobody and striking out 5, lowering his ERA further to 0.60.
In addition of catcher Kratz’s heroics, shortstop Ryan Klosterman doubled, singled and scored, though he also struck out 3 times. But the real offensive star was left fielder Adam Lind, who reached base 5 times with 2 singles and 3 walks, scoring twice in the process. Aaron Mathews and Jarad Mangioni each went 0-for-5 with a walk.
Pulaski was rained out again.
Your Three-Star Selection:
The Third Star: Clint Johnston, 1B, Charleston, who reached base 5 times, scored twice and provided an RBI in the Alley Cats victory.
The Second Star:Ron Davenport, Dunedin, who doubled twice, singled, scored two runs and drove one in.
The First Star: Dunedin SP Shaun Marcum, who fired 6 innings of 1-run ball, allowing only 4 baserunners and striking out 8.
Honourable mention: Adam Lind, Joaquin Canizal, Mike Galloway.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040703122212999