A line drived ripped off the ankle of your franchise pitcher is not what any fan wants to see. With Roy Halladay almost certain to miss at least some time after his injury in Texas last night, the Blue Jays need to find a starter who can, if not replace The Franchise, at least take his spot in the rotation. And it appears there might be such a pitcher down in Syracuse.
Syracuse 2 Pawtucket 1
If he’s needed, he looks ready. Dave Bush, who might be called up to take Roy Halladay’s spot in the rotation, allowed just 1 run in 7 strong innings, yielding just 6 hits and no walks and striking out 5. Bush’s stats haven’t been great since his return to Syracuse – 2-1, 4.61 coming into this game, with 56 baserunners in 41 innings against just 31 strikeouts – but he has looked better lately. Spike Lundberg got the win with a scoreless inning of relief, with Matt Whiteside picking up the save. Kevin Barker’s second hit of the night, a solo homer with 2 out in the 8th, was the difference. Bryant Nelson had the only other hit for Syracuse.
Portland at New Hampshire, postponed (rain)
Dunedin 5 Palm Beach 2
Mike MacDonald led the way, allowing only 2 unearned runs in 5 innings on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Justin James led a trio of relievers in shutting down the opposition the rest of the way; James allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk in 2 frames. Adam Lind tripled and singled, while Robinzon Diaz singled twice and drove in a run. Carlo Cota’s double was the only other extra-base hit for the D-Jays. Chip Cannon did not play.
Kane County 7 Lansing 5
This was a messy game in which Lugnut pitchers coughed up the lead on 3 separate occasions. Chi-Hung Cheng delivered what has become his signature performance: 5 innings of 3-hit ball, allowing 1 run with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Cheng go more than 6 innings, and with all those BB's and K's, it’s not surprising. Aaron Tressler allowed the tying run to score in the 7th, and then Scott Roy opened the floodgates to 5 runs in the last 2 innings on 4 hits (including 2 home runs) and 2 walks, whiffing only 1. Christian Snavely continued to swing Lansing’s hottest bat with a home run, single and 2 walks, while Aaron Mathews doubled, singled and drove in a run. Curtis Thigpen went 0-for-5.
Auburn 13 Batavia 5
If the Doubledays were tired after the previous night’s marathon 21-inning suspended game, it sure didn’t show. Auburn batters banged out 18 hits and drew 9 walks for good measure. Cory Patton led the hit parade with 2 home runs, 2 singles, 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs in his best pro game yet. Ryan Patterson and Kyle Bohm each homered, singled and walked, while Jermy Acey doubled twice, singled and drove in 3 runs. Patterson’s batting average is now just below .400 and his SLG just under .700 after his first 73 pro at-bats. Second baseman Sean Shoffit reached base 5 times on 2 singles and 3 walks. Randy Dicken had his least effective outing as a D-Day, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Stellar relief was provided, however, by Brian Grant, who sailed through 4 innings of shutout ball, giving up just 2 hits and a walk and striking out 4. Could the bullpen be the right place for the talented but struggling right-hander?
Pulaski 9 Johnson City 5
The P-Jays faced 5 relief pitchers in the final 3 innings of this game and scored 6 runs off them. Right fielder Jacob Butler and DH Paul Franko each cranked out their 2nd homers of the year; Franko tacked on a single as well. Two-hit nights were also registered by shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, second baseman Wesley Stone and first baseman Anthony Hatch. Jesse Litsch took his lumps but hung on for 7 innings of 4-run ball, dodging 9 base hits (including a homer) and a walk, striking out 5.
Your Three-Star Selection:
3. Christian Snavely, Lansing: He reached base 4 times on another home run, a single and 2 walks.
2. Dave Bush, Syracuse: Maybe his last AAA start? 7 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 6.
1. Cory Patton, Auburn:A 4-hit night featured 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
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