I'm all out of clever, so here it is in plain, brutal honesty: The pitching stank in New Hampshire and wasn't very good in Dunedin either. The pitching was excellent in Lansing but the offence was disappointing.
The Syracuse Chiefs and Columbus Clippers (Washington Nationals) were rained out. The Chiefs are getting outstanding starting pitching this season from Kane Davis (3.48 ERA in 13 starts), Bill Murphy (4.19 ERA in 13 starts), David Purcey (2.41 ERA in 12 starts), John Parrish (2.65 ERA in 10 starts), and Davis Romero (3.75 in 13 starts). After years of mediocrity, the club is only 1.5 games out of first place.
Akron 13 New Hampshire 6
It was another ugly night on the hill for New Hampshire. Canadian starter Scott Richmond allowed six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out six batters, allowed one walk and three homers. Recent pick-up (and former Astros prospect) Jared Gothreaux did not do any better and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. Daryl Harang was lit up for four runs on two hits and four walks in one inning. Travis Snider went 1-for-4 and hit a three-run homer. Scott Cambell was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Eric Nielsen threw up the same line but added a double. Chris Gutierrez also had two hits. Jacob Butler was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Daytona 6 Dunedin 2
A.J. Wideman's nightmare season continues. The Canadian southpaw has been demoted to Dunedin and he was awful Thursday evening against the Cubs' affiliate. He allowed eight hits and five runs in 3.1 innings of work. He walked one batter and struck out one. Rehabbing reliever Jeremy Accardo actually received the start for the Jays but work just one inning and allowed one run on two hits (therefore picking up right where he left off in the majors). Celson Polanco worked 2.2 scoreless innings and struck out three batters. Edward Rodriguez and Connor Falkenbach also pitched scoreless frames. At the plate, Brian Dopirak was 2-for-4 against his former club and hit a solo homer in the ninth inning with the game out of reach. Chris Emanuele was 1-for-3 with a run scored and J.P. Arencibia was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
West Michigan 1 Lansing 0 (10 innings)
The Lugnuts wasted a great start by Randy Boone who went seven innings and did not allow a run. He gave up five hits, three walks and struck out three. Catcher Matt Liuzza catch two runners try to swipe bags. Cody Crowell pitched well in 2.2 innings of relief but the WhiteCaps nickle-and-dimed him for the win in the 10th with two out. Overall, he allowed two hits, one walk and struck out four. The southpaw now has 55 strikeouts in 35 relief innings. Offensively, the Lugnuts were fairly quiet when it mattered. Moises Sierra and Eric Eiland had two hits. Darin Mastroianni and John Tolisano each had one hit. Mastroianni stole his 18 bag of the season (and has yet to be caught), while Sierra nabbed his 10th and Raul Barron stole his fifth.
Three Stars:
3. Moises Sierra, for two hits, his 10th stolen bases and a nice play on the base paths avoiding a tag
2. Travis Snider, 1-for-4 with a three-run homer
1. Randy Boone, for seven shutout innings.
The Syracuse Chiefs and Columbus Clippers (Washington Nationals) were rained out. The Chiefs are getting outstanding starting pitching this season from Kane Davis (3.48 ERA in 13 starts), Bill Murphy (4.19 ERA in 13 starts), David Purcey (2.41 ERA in 12 starts), John Parrish (2.65 ERA in 10 starts), and Davis Romero (3.75 in 13 starts). After years of mediocrity, the club is only 1.5 games out of first place.
Akron 13 New Hampshire 6
It was another ugly night on the hill for New Hampshire. Canadian starter Scott Richmond allowed six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out six batters, allowed one walk and three homers. Recent pick-up (and former Astros prospect) Jared Gothreaux did not do any better and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. Daryl Harang was lit up for four runs on two hits and four walks in one inning. Travis Snider went 1-for-4 and hit a three-run homer. Scott Cambell was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Eric Nielsen threw up the same line but added a double. Chris Gutierrez also had two hits. Jacob Butler was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Daytona 6 Dunedin 2
A.J. Wideman's nightmare season continues. The Canadian southpaw has been demoted to Dunedin and he was awful Thursday evening against the Cubs' affiliate. He allowed eight hits and five runs in 3.1 innings of work. He walked one batter and struck out one. Rehabbing reliever Jeremy Accardo actually received the start for the Jays but work just one inning and allowed one run on two hits (therefore picking up right where he left off in the majors). Celson Polanco worked 2.2 scoreless innings and struck out three batters. Edward Rodriguez and Connor Falkenbach also pitched scoreless frames. At the plate, Brian Dopirak was 2-for-4 against his former club and hit a solo homer in the ninth inning with the game out of reach. Chris Emanuele was 1-for-3 with a run scored and J.P. Arencibia was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
West Michigan 1 Lansing 0 (10 innings)
The Lugnuts wasted a great start by Randy Boone who went seven innings and did not allow a run. He gave up five hits, three walks and struck out three. Catcher Matt Liuzza catch two runners try to swipe bags. Cody Crowell pitched well in 2.2 innings of relief but the WhiteCaps nickle-and-dimed him for the win in the 10th with two out. Overall, he allowed two hits, one walk and struck out four. The southpaw now has 55 strikeouts in 35 relief innings. Offensively, the Lugnuts were fairly quiet when it mattered. Moises Sierra and Eric Eiland had two hits. Darin Mastroianni and John Tolisano each had one hit. Mastroianni stole his 18 bag of the season (and has yet to be caught), while Sierra nabbed his 10th and Raul Barron stole his fifth.
Three Stars:
3. Moises Sierra, for two hits, his 10th stolen bases and a nice play on the base paths avoiding a tag
2. Travis Snider, 1-for-4 with a three-run homer
1. Randy Boone, for seven shutout innings.
