Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Minor League Update: September 7

New Hampshire ends the regular season with a bang and Syracuse with a whimper, while Charleston hangs on to win in a nervous ninth. Auburn drops a close one in the farm system’s post-season opener.

Ottawa 5 @ Syracuse 3

The SkyChiefs couldn’t hold off the Lynx in the battle for the basement of the International League’s Northern Division, so the two teams end up tied for 5th with matching 66-78 records. For the Chiefs, Kip Bouknight started and went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits. Bouknight struck out 5 and walked just 1. Dave Maurer had a strong 3-strikeout inning, but Adam Peterson was touched up yet again, this time to the tune of 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk through 1-1/3 innings. Syracuse’s other Mystery Pitcher recorded the final 5 outs, allowing 2 hits and striking out 1. Aquilino finishes the Triple-A year with an ERA of 7.17 in 43 innings. Last year he was 3.42, 74 in the Majors. Youneverknow.

Simon Pond led the Chiefs attack with a double and 2 singles, good for 2 RBIs. Chad Hermansen hit a solo homer, Anthony Sanders a double.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

New Hampshire 19 @ Portland 6

Nothing wrong with the Fisher Cat bats as they prepared for the playoffs by trashing Portland. John Hattig and Dominic Rich mashed out 4 hits each, including 2 doubles for Rich and a homer for Hattig. John-Ford Griffin and Paul Chiaffredo also went deep, while Ty Godwin, Maikel Jova, Michael Snyder, and Chiaffredo also turned in multi-hit games. Want more? Godwin and Snyder both drew two walks to go with their 2 hits. Aaron Hill didn’t get in on the fun, going 0 for 3 before being lifted in favour of Brad Hassey.

Jason Arnold got the start and did not continue his encouraging run of late, lasting just 3 innings and surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Travis Thompson (2 innings, hit-walk-2 strikeouts) was awarded the win in relief, while Ryan Houston, Dan Jackson, and John Ogiltree mopped up.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Union-Leader

Dunedin

Weather permitting, Dunedin will face off against Tampa tonight, game one of their best-of-three first round playoff matchup. Ismael Ramirez is slated to pitch for the Blue Jays.

Lake County 2 @ Charleston 3

The Captains got out to a 2-0 lead in the 4th, answered by the Alley Cats with a deuce of their own in the 6th and then the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th. Matt Dalton made it the shakiest of saves in the 9th, walking the bases full but escaping on a double-play grounder to end the game. It was a rare off-night for starter Mike MacDonald, charged with both Lake County runs for his 3-2/3 inning effort. The damage was done on 4 hits and 2 walks. Eric Rico blew away 4 Captains in his 2-1/3 frames, while Brad Esaray collected 2 tickets and the win in his 2 innings.

Clint Johnston and Eric Arnold each doubled and singled, while Joey Wolfe tripled home 2 runs. Will Rivera collected two singles and the game-winning RBI.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Charleston Gazette

Three-Star Selection!

Note: This report marks the conclusion of the regular season for all of the minor leagues, and hence the conclusion of our Three-Star Selections. Look for a 3-Star final standings article coming soon to a Box near you.

The Third Star: Simon Pond, Syracuse, 4 bases on 3 hits, and Paul Chiaffredo, New Hampshire, 5 bases on 2 hits plus two walks.

The Second Star: Dominic Rich, New Hampshire. 6 bases on 4 hits.

The First Star: John Hattig, New Hampshire. 7 bases on 4 hits.

Playoffs: Auburn 3 @ Mahoning Valley 4
Auburn trails best-of-three series 1-0

The Doubledays sent 2004 first-rounder David Purcey to the hill in the opening game of their first round playoff with the wild card Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Purcey (1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his 12 regular-season innings) was dominant early, then battled through the 5th and 6th innings. His final line reads 2 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings, no walks and 6 Ks.

The offence could only muster 1 run in support of Purcey through the first 6 innings, but a homer from Canadian catcher David Corrente put the Doubledays ahead 3-2 in the 7th. The Scrappers promptly tied it up with a run off Jayson Rodriguez in the bottom of the frame, then pulled ahead with another marker off Rodriguez in the 8th. His line for the night is 1-2/3 innings, 2 runs on 4 hits. Dewon Day recorded the final out of the 8th, coming on with 2 down and a man on third. Day induced a ground ball which Ryan Klosterman stopped diving into the hole at shortstop and threw to first in time to retire the batter.

The top of the 9th was delayed for half an hour when one of the stadium lights went out. Mahoning Valley stuck with reliever Mike Hernandez despite the extended break between innings, and he opened the 9th by walking Joey Metropoulos. Curtis Thigpen, hampered with an injury of late, pinch-ran for Big City and was quickly thrown out at second on a failed sac bunt attempt by Corrente. Greg Powers took over as the pinch-runner at first, but the Scrappers had no trouble turning the double play on Aaron Mathews’ hard grounder to 3rd, sending the sparse crowd home happy.

The Doubledays ended the night with 9 hits. 3 were singles by Adam Lind, while Eric Nielsen and Joey Metropoulos each reached base twice by drawing a walk to go with a single. Chip Cannon blasted a double and walked, while David Corrente had the 2-run homer.

Copious play-by-play detail of this game is available right here in the Box, courtesy of posters Rob and Mike Green.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recaps: AubrunDoubledays.com, Syracuse Post-Standard

Playoff Schedules

First-round playoff schedules are as follows, with probable starting pitchers listed where known. Auburn, Charleston, and Dunedin play in best-of-three series, while New Hampshire plays a best-of-five.

		New Hampshire	Dunedin     	Charleston  	Auburn   
Mon	Sep-6	           	           	           	L, 4-3        
Tues	Sep-7	           	Away (Ramirez)	           	Home (Jackson)
Wed	Sep-8	Home (Chacin)	Home       	Away (Mastny)	Home (McKenzie)
Thur	Sep-9	Home (League)	Home       	           	           
Fri	Sep-10	Away (Baker)	           	Home       	           
Sat	Sep-11	Away (Rosario)	           	Home       	           
Sun	Sep-12	Home

Posted by Jonny German on Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:40 AM EDT.

Minor League Update: September 7 | 44 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

_Kevin Pataky - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:57 AM EDT (#36564) #

Although he is next in line to start, Francisco Rosario will be bypassed - and Gustavo Chacin will be starting game 1 of the Eastern League's Northern Division playoff this Wednesday in Manchester, NH. Binghamton will be countering wil their new stud, Yusmeiro Petit. I am assuming Rosario will go in game 2, Baker in 3. And then Banks or League in 4 and Arnold in 5. I don't think this Series will go more than 4 games however.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:21 AM EDT (#36565) #

Kevin, our pal (and yours) in the Fisher Cats radio booth posted the other day, based on a conversation with Mike Basso, that it's Chacin-League-Baker followed by Rosario if necessary. That led me to speculate that Banks, and presumably Arnold, will be going to the bullpen and if it does go five, Gus would come back a day early.

I'm inclined to agree with you, though -- it's not likely to go the distance. The Binghampton Mets are on a similar "roll" (or whatever it's called when all the wheels come off) to their parent club, having lost nine in a row. Meanwhile, Chacin's won 14 straight decisions, including a couple in a higher league.

_Kevin Pataky - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 10:51 AM EDT (#36566) #

I am surprised League is starting game #2 - he would have only pitched the one innings in well over a week at that point. I knew they'd throw Baker in gm3 - that's the pivital one. The only game in this series I can goto is game 2, but the weather gods are calling for 75% chance of rain all day up there on Thursday - so we'll see.

_R Billie - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 12:43 PM EDT (#36567) #

On paper, New Hampshire looks they have the edge with a fairly stacked pitching staff. But funny things can happen in a short series. Good luck Cats!

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:06 PM EDT (#36568) #

New Hampshire starts its series tonight. I'll be here at 8 p.m. If anyone would like to do some BBRadio, that would be great.

_Sneeps - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#36569) #

Doesn't NH start tomorrow?

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#36570) #

Mike, I think the EL playoffs begin tomorrow night. Auburn's back is to the wall tonight, and the start of the game has been delayed because of wet conditions. They are removing the tarp now.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:29 PM EDT (#36571) #

http://www.syracuse.com/wdwn/
Zach Jackson goes for the D-Days tonight. The lefty has an 0-0 record and 5.40 ERA, but has pitched only 15 innings. The team is 0-4 in games he's started, and oddly enough, this will be his first appearance on his home field. On the pregame show, Zach said that's an advantage; in college, he fed off the energy of the home crowd.

COMN for the Internet radio feed -- Real Player is required. The pitchers are warming up in the bullpens and it sounds like they will try to get the game under way in a few minutes.

Mike D - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:47 PM EDT (#36572) #

Is the Dunedin game available online?

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:50 PM EDT (#36573) #

Top 1:

Identical lineup for the Scrappers to the one that worked last night. Jackson starts CF Reyes off with two called strikes, then after a foul ball, gets a comebacker for the first out. It's a big, loud crowd despite the weather, and they are armed with Thunder Stix.

SS Finnegan fouls one off, swings through a changeup, then on the 1-2, grounds easily to 2B Brian Hall, who throws it away for an error. Maybe it's wet out there; the announcers seemed surprised that the steady Hall would make such a poor throw.

Jackson gets ahead 0-2 on 3B Gimenez, then without even wasting a pitch, punches him out and there are two away. DH Butia, "a Doubleday killer," according to the radio guys, rolled to third, and another throwing error, this one by Jason Armstrong, puts runners at the corners.

Jackson fell behind C Torregas 1-0, then painted the outside corner to get the fans back in it, and gets himself out of the inning with another comebacker.

Nothing out of the infield; scoreless with the good guys coming to bat.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:56 PM EDT (#36574) #

Bottom 1:

Lefty Tony Sipp on the hill. Not a big guy, but he hits about 93 on the gun and is definitely a strikeout artist. The former Clemson Tiger fanned 74 in 42.2 IP this year, walking just 13.

Long fly ball by Aaron Mathews to the deepest part of CF, but it's caught for the first out. It would have been 1-0 to any other part of the park.

Ryan Klosterman can't catch up to a 2-2 fastball and sits down. Eric Nielsen, who reached three times last night, lines out to center and that's that. No score after one.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 07:58 PM EDT (#36575) #

I think Dunedin's series begins tomorrow as well, Mike. We're all getting ahead of ourselves. :)

Mike D - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:00 PM EDT (#36576) #

Good call, Coach, as always. The D-Jays' website says that the game's been hurricaned out tonight, but that Ismael Ramirez should get the ball tomorrow night in Tampa.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:06 PM EDT (#36577) #

I'm here, Coach, if you need relief. Feel free to carry on though.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:07 PM EDT (#36578) #

Top 2:

LF Montgomery is retired on a routine fly to center, then 2B Parker (a college teammate of Adam Lind) strokes a single for the game's first hit. 1B Pacheco bloops the second pitch over Klosterman's head and in front of Lind for a soft base hit, and Mahoning Valley has another rally going.

Jackson threw RF Encarnacion a change on 1-0, so it's obviously something he has confidence in, then comes right back with another off-speed pitch to get ahead. After a late swing for a foul ball, he's called out looking. Huge K for Zach on the fastball, inside corner.

Two out, two on, top of the order again. Reyes steers a slow roller between the infielders in the 5.5 hole, and the Scrappers take a 1-0 lead. Nothing's been hit hard, but three of them have had eyes.

Jackson goes right after Finegan, pounding him with an assortment of pitches, but they keep getting fouled off. Finally, he's punched out.

MV 1, Auburn 0

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:08 PM EDT (#36579) #

No, it's all yours, Mike. I was just filling in. Maybe you'll bring them some luck.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:14 PM EDT (#36580) #

Strange, I just lost the game feed and there's some barely tolerable music on instead.

_Alex Obal - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:17 PM EDT (#36581) #

Me too. I got a seven-pitch walk from Brian Hall to lead off the inning, and it just cut out. The Mahoning Valley radio feed isn't available on the Net, either.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#36582) #

Well, back when I was calling the harness races and the fog rolled in, I used to just make stuff up. So how's this?

Lind smacks one to right-center, and it's gone!

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:19 PM EDT (#36583) #

Thanks, Coach.

Bottom of 2:

Brian Hall up, runs the count full, fouls off a pitch and then takes the walk.

The broadcast goes down, and college radio comes on. A woman sings "Chop, chop, chop" and angry guitar licks accompany.

When the game returns, the 2nd inning is over and the Doubledays did not score.

_Alex Obal - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:19 PM EDT (#36584) #

And mercifully, the game feed is back in the top of the third.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:20 PM EDT (#36585) #

Oh, well. I tried.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:22 PM EDT (#36586) #

Top of 3:

The first hitter grounds out to Klosterman. Butia grounds out 3-1 to Metropoulos. Wyatt Toregas up. He takes a ball and a strike. The 1-1 is a looping slurve that starts out way outside and backdoors Toregas. On the 1-2 pitch, Toregas grounds out weakly to Jackson. Zach Jack is dealing.

1-0 MV after 2.5 innings.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:24 PM EDT (#36587) #

Yeah, Jackson's all around the strike zone and when he does miss, it sounds like he's just trying to get them to chase. Presumably, he's on a pitch count, but so far he's been economical enough to last six or even get into the seventh.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:33 PM EDT (#36588) #

Boy, I sure hope the Binghampton Mets have thrown in the towel the way their parent club has. A.J. Burnett's got a 1-hitter through five, and Glavine's getting cuffed around. It's 5-0, and barring an unexpected wakeup call, will be the 10th loss in a row for Art Howe's lost cause. Hard to believe they got rid of their best pitching prospects for this playoff "run" -- instead of Kazmir facing the Fisher Cats tomorrow, he'll be in Yankee Stadium Thursday, to the horror of Mets fans.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#36589) #

Bottom of 3:

David Corrente (10 for his last 25) takes a ball, fouls one off and then swings and misses. After a foul, he swings and misses for the K. Jason Armstrong reaches first on catcher's interference. Armstrong is 6-6 in steal attempts this year. Runner on 1st, 1 out.

Aaron Mathews lays down a beautiful bunt that just rolls foul at the last moment. Mathews then loops a single to right; Armstrong to second.

On a 0-2 pitch, Ryan Klosterman grounds a double down the first base line, Armstrong scores, Mathews to third. 1-1.

Eric Nielsen takes a pitch high and tight, and another. He then grounds out to second, Mathews scores, Klosterman to third. 2-1 Doubledays.

Brian Hall strikes out swinging on the 1-2 pitch to end the inning.

2-1 Doubledays after 3.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:50 PM EDT (#36590) #

Top of 4:

Tim Montgomery takes a ball, and Zach Jack then paints the inside corner on the 1-0. After a ball, Montgomery rips a ball on the ground past Klosterman for a single.

Brett Parker falls behind in the count 1-2, fouls one off, then rips one on the ground down the left field line past Armstrong. Lind cuts it off, but Parker has a double with Montgomery to third. Second and third, nobody out.

Pacheco falls behind 0-2 in a lefty-lefty matchup. He tries to check his swing on the next pitch, but the home plate umpire rings him up. One out.

Encarnacion takes a ball, then fouls one off his foot. The 1-1 curveball is way outside. Another ball sets up the classic hitter's count. And he draws the walk to load the bases with one out.

Reyes swings and misses, then takes a ball and fouls one off. He bloops the 1-2 pitch into centre for a 2 run single, Encarnacion to third. 3-2 MV.

Brian Finegan rips the first pitch into left-centre for a single; Reyes to third; Encarnacion scores. 4-2 MV.

Manager Dennis Holmberg comes to remove Jackson from the game.

To be continued.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:55 PM EDT (#36591) #

Top of 4 continued.

Joey McLaughlin Jr. on to pitch.

Chris Gimenez up, runners on 1st and 3rd, one out. McLaughlin comes right after him with 2 called strikes and then flies to short centre, but Reyes tags and scores (Mathews has a weak arm). Finegan advances to second.

Butia is intentionally walked.

Wyatt Toregas grounds the first pitch to Klosterman for a 5-4 fielder's choice and the third out.

5-2 MV after 3.5 innings.

_Alex Obal - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:56 PM EDT (#36592) #

The line on Jackson: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K and 5 runs. It certainly sounded like he couldn't buy a break, with every hit either "past a diving" infielder or a blooper.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 08:57 PM EDT (#36593) #

There's not much margin for error in a best-of-three series. This could be another disappointing early playoff exit for Auburn, but it shouldn't detract from a great regular season. Jackson's pro career hasn't got off to an ideal start, but he'll be fine. We'll see quite a few of these guys in Dunedin next year, where I expect them to have another strong club.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:02 PM EDT (#36594) #

Bottom of 4:

Adam Lind pops up the 2-0 pitch to short. Joey Metropolous is rung up on the 1-2 pitch. Jarad Mangioni runs the count full and takes a called third strike. 3 up, 3 down with 2 Ks.

5-2 MV after 4.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:09 PM EDT (#36595) #

Top of 5:

Tim Montgomery runs the count to 3-1, swings and misses, fouls a couple off, and then gives a casual wave at a changeup for the K.

Brett Parker takes a change and a curveball and then swings and misses on another off-speed pitch for McLaughlin's 2nd K.

Pacheco grounds a single into left on the first pitch. Encarnacion falls behind 1-2, as McLaughlin looks to strike out the side. A changeup is low. Encarnacion then grounds into a 6-4 fielder's choice.

5-2 MV after 4.5.

Coach - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:13 PM EDT (#36596) #

D-Days were 27-9 at home this year, and they might still have a comeback in them. They need to be patient and get baserunners, not have everyone try to hit 3-run homers. They do have Esposito and Cannon on the bench as potential pinch-hitters vs. RH relievers, but I think Thigpen is limited to pinch-running.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:23 PM EDT (#36597) #

Bottom of 5:

David Corrente flies out to deep right centre. Jason Armstrong runs the count to 2-2, takes a ball high and outside, fouls one off, and takes the next pitch high and inside for a walk.

Aaron Mathews takes 2 pitches high. Fireballer Sipp seems to be losing control. Mathews takes a high strike, then swings and misses. A fastball outside runs the count full. Will Armstrong take off? He doesn't, but Mathews fouls it off. The next pitch is outside and Mathews walks. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Rally cap is on.

Ryan Klosterman swings and misses on 3 straight fastballs.

Eric Nielsen fouls off the first three pitches, fastballs. Klosterman was way late, Nielsen just a little. The next pitch, a splitter, is low. A fastball is outside. The 2-2 pitch is lined right at the second baseman. 3 out.

5-2 MV after 5.

_Sneeps - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:27 PM EDT (#36598) #

Oh man. Auburn has just blown another season.

Mike D - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:29 PM EDT (#36599) #

Relax, Sneeps. The minors, especially the low minors, are all about player development and getting acclimated to the organizational philosophy.

And anyway, don't be disappointed on behalf of the D-Days. Instead...

BELIEVE!

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:30 PM EDT (#36600) #

Top of 6:

Reyes grounds a single into left on the 0-1 pitch. Brian Finegan lays down a bunt. Jason Armstrong throws wildly to first. Reyes to third, Finegan to second.

Cheng is warming in the bullpen. Infield is in.

Chris Gimenez lines a single to center, 2 runs score. 7-2 MV.

Chi-Hung Cheng on to pitch for McLauglin.

To be continued. Incidentally, I'm good through the bottom of 6. After that, I'll need relief.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:36 PM EDT (#36601) #

Top of 6 continued:

Cheng on to face Mike Butia. He swings and misses on a huge looping curveball. Corrente throws out Gimenez. Butia runs the count full and then strikes out on a fastball, 2 down, nobody out.

Wyatt Toregas takes a ball, swings and misses and takes another ball low. A changeup misses. The 3-1 fastball is over. Toregas grounds out to Armstrong on the full count pitch.

7-2 MV after 5.5 innings.

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#36602) #

Bottom of 6:

Scott Roehl (15 innings pitched, 4 walks, 20Ks) on to pitch for MV.

Brian Hall runs the count full, and takes a ball low and outside for a walk.

Adam Lind takes a fastball for a strike and then a ball low, and another outside. The Doubledays' General Manager is leading the crowd in noise-making with thundersticks. Lind fouls a couple off, and then lines out to the right-fielder.

Joey Metropoulos pops up the 0-1 pitch to right for the second out.

Chip Cannon on to pinch-hit for Mangioni. Cannon takes a ball outside, and then another low. The 2-0 is outside. The 3-0 is down Broadway. Next pitch is outside. Cannon walks, runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs.

David Corrente swings and misses, then takes 2 balls. The thundersticks are really going. Corrente flies out to right on the 2-1 pitch. 3 outs.

7-2 MV after 6 innings. I'm off. Go Doubledays.

_Emerald - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 09:57 PM EDT (#36603) #

Cheng is out, Danny Hill is in. 7-2 in the top of the seventh, runner at first, one out I believe. Here's Encarnancion.

I'm kind of new at this so excuse my sloppiness.

_Emerald - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 10:01 PM EDT (#36604) #

Ground ball to Klosterman who turns the Inning ending DP.

7-2 MV going into the bot of seven.

_Emerald - Tuesday, September 07 2004 @ 10:07 PM EDT (#36605) #

Doubledays go quickly in the 7th, still 7-2.

If anyone wants to take over here, it's fine by me.

Go Auburn!

_Holy Hand Grena - Wednesday, September 08 2004 @ 02:42 AM EDT (#36606) #

Auburn gets back a run in the bottom of the 8th on a Brian Hall home run, but it's too little, too late as MV takes the game 7-3.

_Smack - Wednesday, September 08 2004 @ 09:39 AM EDT (#36607) #

Well it seems like an upset, but Auburn really cooled off after their torrid start to the season. I wonder in the long run was it better to have Jackson and Purcey start the series to give them a taste of serious competition, or to let the guys who have started well all year do the job. Then again, winning the NY-Penn league doesn't help the big league team much this year.

Minor League Update: September 7 | 44 comments | Create New Account

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