Syracuse 3 @ Indianapolis 4
Game Over Gronk had a rare off night as the Indians rallied past the SkyChiefs. Gronkiewicz came on in relief of Jamie Vermilyea in the bottom of the 8th with a runner on first and two out, Syracuse up 3 – 2. A stolen base and a wild pitch put the runner on 3rd, and Lee then walked two to load ‘em up. The next batter grounded a single up the middle to score two. The Chiefs managed two singles as a comeback effort in the 9th, but could not score.
It was Chris Baker who made the start for Syracuse, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits of 5-1/3, 3-2 K-BB. Vermilyea came on to strand two runners and tossed 2-1/3 total, with two hits and two whiffs. John-Ford Griffin led the offence, driving in all 3 runs as he hit his 20th homer, a single, and drew a bases-loaded walk. Gabe Gross was in the leadoff spot and reached twice on walks. Some guy by the name of Koskie played 3rd base and went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.
Akron 0 @ New Hampshire 6
Vince Perkins, Bubbie Buzachero, and Brad Mumma teamed up to shut out the Aeros with authority. Only 3 Akronites even reached base (2 singles and a walk off Perkins) as Perkins and Buzachero pitched 4 innings each and the troika struck out 15 for the game.
The offence did its thing in the 3rd inning, scoring 4. Curtis Thigpen got the rally started with a double, the first of two hits for him. He also walked, and Raul Tablado joined him in the 2-hit 1-walk column. Tablado stole his 4th base for good measure.
Dunedin 5 @ Vero Beach 11
The D-Jays banged out 12 hits, but unfortunately they gave up 17 and took it on the chin. Starter Kurt Isenberg could have been advised to be a little more wild, as he walked none but was peppered for 11 hits over his 5-1/3, good for 5 runs (4 earned). He struck out 5 along the way. Danny Hill came on to post the curious line of 1-1/3 innings, 4 unearned runs on 1 hit and 2 walks.
It was doubles night at V-Beach, as the Dodgers smack 5 two-baggers to the Blue Jays 4 (Mayorson, Lind, Smith, Dragicevich). Catcher Guillermo Quiroz went yard as part of a two-hit night. Smith and Dragicevich also registered multi-hit lines.
Fort Wayne 4 @ Lansing 5
A Chuck Anderson homer highlighted a Lugnut win in a see-saw battle. Walks were in vogue, as the ‘Nuts drew 11 free passes, including two each for Anderson, Christian Snavely and Luke Hetherington, and 3 for leadoff hitter Jason Armstrong. Yuber Rodriquez didn’t get in on the walking, but he did hit a double and single.
Russ Savickas started and allowed 2 runs over 5 frames (5 hits, 1-3 K-BB) and was followed by Juan Perez, who was labeled BS for allowing 2 runs over the next two innings. Derek Roy got the W for his spotless 8th inning, and Joey McLaughlin was awarded his 6th save after a nervous ninth which saw him surrender two hits and a walk but no runs.
Auburn 5 @ Brooklyn 4 (Completion of suspended game – 10 innings)
Auburn 4 @ Brooklyn 2 (7 innings)
The Doubledays sailed into first place by completing a come-from-behind win in the continuation of Sunday’s game and then beating the Cyclones in a 7-inning affair.
Down 3-0 after 4 innings when Sunday’s game was suspended due to fog, the Doubledays got the bats going on Monday to score 5 in 6 innings. 2B Sean Shoffit smacked 3 doubles and a single, RF Ryan Patterson collected three base knocks, and CF Matt Cooksey contributed two singles and the game-winning RBI. LF Brian Pettway walked, singled to lead off the 10th-inning rally, and threw out a baserunner at home plate. Eddie Rodriguez picked up Sunday starter Eric Fowler and tossed 3 shutout frames, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out one. Gabriel Alfaro followed with two more shutout innings to collect the win, and Adrian Martin collected his first save with a one-run 10th inning.
In the 7-inning contest, the Doubledays got 8 hits, 1 each from hitters 2 through 9. Leadoff hitter Manny Sena contributed as well, drawing a walk and driving in a run. 1B Big City Metropoulos, DH Kyle Bohm, and 2B Marshall Bernhard all hit doubles.
Kristian Bell had himself a fine outing, striking out 6 over 6 innings while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk. He was capably relieved by Billy Carnline, who notched his first pro save.
Boxscores: Continuation game, 7-inning game.
Danville 10 @ Pulaski 5
The Braves came to town and did a convincing job of showing the Jays why they’re in first place. Francisco Mateo kept things in order over the first six, giving up 8 hits but just 3 runs, but Ben Harrison and Scott Byrnes came out in the 7th throwing BP, tonged to the tune of 5 earned, plus two more off Byrnes in the 8th.
The exclamation point in the12-hit Pulaski attack was a 2-homer night for RF Jake Butler. CF Zach Kalter, 2B Wesley Stone, 1B Paul Franko, and DH Al Quintana also had 2-hit nights.
Three-Star Selection!
With honourable mentions to John-Ford Griffin and Vince Perkins:
The Third Star: Jake Butler, Pulaski. 2 round-trippers.
The Second Star: Bubbie Buzachero, New Hampshire. 4 perfect innings featuring 6 Ks.
The First Star: Sean Shoffit, Auburn. 3 doubles, a single, and a walk in 6 PA.
