The farm teams allowed a combined total of six runs in five matches, which included an AA doubleheader. The farm system offences only scored 2.66 runs a game last night, but on a night where the pitching allows only 1.2, it was good enough for a 4-1 record. If you’re a fan of fine pitching, last night would have been a great time to watch any one of Toronto’s affiliates.
Syracuse 6 @ Norfolk 2 - Box Score
More good news to report in Syracuse on the ex-Jay front, as two prominent recent demoted SkyChiefs played quite well in a Syracuse victory in Connecticut. Russ Adams went 4-4 with 4 RBIs against the Tides, who started former Pirate Dave Williams. Strangely, Adams didn’t score a single of the SkyChiefs runs. Ryan Roberts went 2-3, but made his tenth error of the year, while speedy Wayne Lydon went 2-3 and made a nice defensive play, doubling Jeff Keppinger off first base. Roberts and Lydon had the only extra-base hits for the SkyChiefs, a double and a triple respectively. Meanwhile, Josh Towers made 97 pitches over 8 strong innings and didn’t allow a run after the first. He surrendered 8 hits, 2 runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out 2, before turning it over to Brian Tallet for a scoreless ninth. Victor Diaz had the most notable line for Norfolk, going 3-4. All of the hits were singles as the Tides didn’t manage an extra-base hit all game.
Erie 1 @ New Hampshire 5 - Box Score
New Hampshire took the first game of the doubleheader, lead by a strong outing by Kyle Yates. Yates allowed 4 hits in 6 innings, while striking out five. In the top of the first Mike Rabelo doubled home Tony Giarratano, but Yates only allowed one hit after that shaky inning. Tracey Thorpe struck out two in the seventh inning to secure the win for the Fisher Cats. Adam Lind, Vito Chiaravalotti and Chip Cannon all went 0-fer, but CF David Smith covered their backs. Smith went 2-2 with a HR and 6 total bases and also reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Manuel Mayorson also contributed with the bat with a 3-4 day, including 2 RBI and a double.
Erie 0 @ New Hampshire 1 - Box Score
Lance Davis matched Kurt Isenberg pitch for pitch through the first five innings, but New Hampshire was able to get an “Ozzieball” run in the sixth inning to win a fine pitcher’s duel. Davis, making his first start for Erie, pitched a complete game and only allowed two hits and no walks. However, one of those hits was a sixth-inning double to Carlo Cota. Cota promptly stole third and scored on an Adam Lind sacrifice fly, which gave Lind his Eastern League-leading 41st RBI. Ron Davenport was the only other Fisher Cat to reach base, as he hit a single and also reached on a Vincent Blue error. Isenberg notched his second win of the year, going 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. Isenberg scattered 4 hits and 2 walks and Erie wasn’t able to get a run. Isenberg turned it over to Brian Wolfe and Jim Bullard to pitch the seventh and the two managed to hold the fort, only allowing a single to Erie catcher Danilo Sanchez, who had 3 of the 5 Erie hits on the night. Behind two very strong starting efforts New Hampshire swept the doubleheader.
Dunedin 1 @ Tampa 2 - Box Score
Despite outhitting the Yankees Dunedin fell to Tampa for the farm’s only loss on the day. However, it wasn’t the fault of starter Ricky Romero who struck out 8 in 8 innings. Romero allowed 5 hits, all singles, and a walk. Consecutive singles followed by a sacrifice fly led to Tampa’s first run. Justin James replaced Romero for the ninth inning and allowed a single and a stolen base. The next batter grounded to second to push the walk-off run to third with one out. The Dunedin coaching staff elected to issue two intentional walks in a row to load the bases and set up the double-play. James did one better by striking out pinch-hitter Chris Malec. With two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth Dunedin fans suffered the same pain that many Canadians were feeling as Jones walked the next better and forced in the winning run. Justin Singleton scored Dunedin’s only run on a Christian Snavely sac fly. Eric Nielson and Robinzon Diaz were the only D-Jays with two hits, and Diaz also made a nifty defensive play by picking a runner off second base.
Dayton 1 @ Lansing 3 - Box Score
Lansing featured yet another fine starting effort on the farm. Aaron Tressler went seven innings and struck out eight. Tressler only allowed a single run, which was scored by Josh Holden following his third-inning triple. Tressler left after the 7th and turned things over to Yesson Berroa, who allowed two baserunners but kept Dayton off the scoresheet. The bottom of the eighth started out badly for Lansing as a fly out and a strike out retired Jacob Butler and Sean Shoffit. Dayton was four outs away from a victory, but then Anthony Hatch walked. Reliever Justin Mallet was chased by a Cory Patton single. However, Blake Hendley could not prevent the Lugnut rally as Brian Pettway hit an infield single to load the bases. With two out and the bases loading and the game likely hanging in the balance David Hicks doubled to centre, clearing the bases and giving Lansing a two-run lead. Josh Bell struck out, but the damage had been done and Paul Phillips struck out two in the ninth inning to hit the double-digits in saves.
3 star selection
3rd star – Aaron Tressler, 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
2nd star – Kurt Isenberg, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
1st star – Ricky Romero, 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
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