With the Jays sent to infuse the system with fresh wave of talent, thanks to the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, two affiliates had very good nights.
Syracuse 17 Columbus 10
Offence was the name of the game as Syracuse scored 17 runs on 18 hits. David Smith led the way with a 3-for-5 night with two homers and five RBI. Erik Kratz was 2-for-5 with a homer, a double and four RBI. Adam Lind chipped in with a 3-for-4 night with two runs scored, two doubles and three RBI. Wayne Lydon, Buck Coats, Danny Sandoval, and Matt Watson each had two hits a piece. Kevin Melillo, obtained today from Oakland, went 0-for-1. On the mound, David Purcey improved to 5-4 after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven batters. Jordan DeJong felt the wrath of the Columbus offence as he allowed six runs on four hits and two walks in one inning. Mike Gosling and Brian Wolfe pitched scoreless innings.
Akron 8 New Hampshire 5
Akron scored seven runs in the sixth to eighth innings to steal the win away from the Fisher Cats. Ricky Romero pitched well and allowed just three runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out four batters. Julio Pinto blew the save and took the loss after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Daryl Harang took over and allowed two runs, thanks in part to three walks in 1.2 innings. Chad Blackwell pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to finish the game. Offensively, Scott Campbell continued to roll and was 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and a double. Travis Snider was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, a walk and (wait for it) a strikeout. Aaron Mathews was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Anthony Hatch was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Dunedin 15 Jupiter 6
The baby Jays turned it out and hammered out 21 hits. Adam Calderone was 4-for-6 as the lead-off batter with three runs scored, two doubles, a triple and two RBI. Sean Shoffit was 4-for-4 at the bottom of the order, scored four times, hit two homers and drove in three. Vernon Wells was 2-for-4 with four RBI in his first rehab start, and John McDonald was 2-for-5 with an RBI. J.P. Arencibia was 2-for-4 with a run scored, double and three RBI. Brad Emaus was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and Jesus Gonzalez was 2-for-6. On the mound, Adrian Martin allowed five runs in five innings, thanks to seven hits and two walks. Paul Phillips allowed a run in two innings and Brian Pettway pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game.
Fort Wayne 4 Lansing 2
Brad Mills had a rough outing on the mound and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks during a four-inning start. Tim Collins, the Wonder Kid, pitched four innings and allowed one hit, one walk and struck out six. The 18-year-old southpaw's ERA in now 0.40 in 22.1 innings. He has allowed just eight hits, 11 walks and has struck out 32 batters. Michael Barbara finished the game with a scoreless inning. Justin Jackson, Kevin Ahrens, Eric Eiland and John Tolisano all had one hit each. Moises Sierra, who is swinging a hot stick, was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a double. Eiland stole his fifth base, while Jackson, Tolisano and Ahrens (2) made errors in the field.
Three Stars:
Third: Adam Calderone for a 4-for-6 night with three runs scored and two doubles.
Second: David Smith for a 3-for-5 night with two homers and five RBI.
First: Tim Collins for awesome pitching tonight and all-year long.
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