Toronto’s minor league season began in earnest yesterday as three affiliates played their opening games. Unfortunately, they all lost, but the other affiliate improved to 2-0 on the season. However, there are many debuts worth reading about, from Scott Campbell’s first game in Triple-A to how the 2007 draft class fared in their Dunedin debuts.
Las Vegas 6 @ Colorado Springs 9 – Boxscore
Wade Miller got the call on opening day for the 51’s and did not impress, as Toronto’s relationship with Las Vegas did not get off to a positive start on the field. Miller only allowed two earned runs over 4.2 innings, but that figure hides how much he struggled. Miller allowed seven runs on two hits, but he walked seven batters and threw more balls than strikes. Brian Burres, who allowed a run over 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts, followed him out of the bullpen. Another new arm to the organization, TJ Beam, came next and Colorado Springs touched him for a couple of runs on four hits. He also allowed three stolen bases, as the Sky Sox went 5 for 5 on the bases. Sean Stidfole made a one-batter appearance to finish the bottom of the eight.
Joe Inglett led off and went 3-6 on the afternoon with a double and a run scored. Scott Campbell, playing in his first Triple-A game, followed him and went 2-5 with a pair of runs and a walk. Jason Lane also added a double, a walk and a run and cleanup hitter Randy Ruiz drove in a pair of runs on a double and a sac fly. Russ Adams and Aaron Mathews each went hitless, but both reached base on walks. JP Arencibia went 2-5 with a double and 2 RBIs in his Triple-A debut. In the bottom third of the lineup, Buck Coats added a single and Angel Sanchez reached base four times, as he drew three walks in five plate appearances. If this seems like a lot of baserunners to you, you aren’t mistaken. The biggest reason that Las Vegas lost this game may have been their 3-16 hitting with runners in scoring position and the fact they left 15 runners on base.
New Britain 3 @ New Hampshire 4 – Boxscore
New Hampshire improved to 2-0 and picked up the only win for an affiliate on the evening. Reider Gonzalez started for the Fisher Cats and went six strong innings, only allowing two runs on five hits. New Britain leadoff hitter and Toronto native Rene Tosoni hit a leadoff homerun off Gonzalez for his only hit of the game. However, the Fisher Cats fought back in the bottom of the second and took a 3-1 lead. Brian Jeroloman reached on an error with one out and Sean Shoffit and Todd Donovan sandwiched walks around a fly out by Jonathan Diaz to load the bases with two out for New Hampshire’s second baseman. Brad “Might” Emaus delivered and drove home all three runners with a bases clearing double over Tosoni’s head.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning on a New Britain sac fly and a Todd Donovan double that scored Jeroloman. After Gonzalez left the game, Celson Polanco, Rommie Lewis and Adrian Martin combined to pitch three innings of one-hit ball. Matt Moses hit a solo homer off Lewis, but otherwise the bullpen was great and Martin picked up his first save of the season. New Hampshire had eight hits, five of which came from Emaus or Jeroloman. Brian Dopirak added one of the other ones with a double, but David Cooper went 0-4 with a pair of strikeouts.
Dunedin 2 @ Clearwater 5 – Boxscore
Andrew Liebel’s debut did not go as planned, either. Unlike Miller, Liebel did not struggle with his control, walking only one and striking out four. However, Liebel was just too hittable and seven base hits over 3 innings led to five runs, all earned. In fact, it was 5-0 Clearwater after two frames. Chad Beck and Edgar Estanga each came out of the bullpen for 2 innings and struck out three batters. Trystan Magnuson closed out the game with a scoreless inning.
Like Clearwater, Dunedin got all of their runs off the opposing starter as the D-Jays scored a pair of runs off Kyle Drabek, as he struck out seven over 5 innings. Drabek gave up the only two hits Dunedin would have all game, as Moises Sierra and Eric Thames each had a base hit. Dunedin scored their two runs in the fourth, as Darin Mastroianni led off the frame with a walk and stole second. Kevin Ahrens walked and then both runners advanced a base on a balk. Manny Rodriguez popped up, but then Sierra singled home Mastroianni and Thames knocked in Ahrens. However, Jesus Gonzalez grounded into a force out and Matt Liuzza struck out to end the threat. Dunedin would only get two more baseunners the rest of the game, as Raul Barron and Ahrens each drew walks but never advanced further then first base. Justin Jackson was hitless in his High-A debut and Ahrens was 0-1 with a pair of walks. John Tolisano did not play, but Eric Thames and Sierra each went 1-4.
Fort Wayne 4 @ Lansing 0 – Boxscore
There is not a lot to write about here, as Anthony Bass and a pair of TinCaps relievers held the Lugnuts to four singles and did not allow any other baserunners. Kenny Wilson, Yohermyn Chavez, Jon Talley and Michael McDade had the hits for the Lugnuts. McDade and Balbino Fuenmayor hit into double plays, as Fort Wayne pitchers faced only two batters over the minimum.
Venezuelan Henderson Alvarez got the start for Lansing and took the loss, despite surrendering only one earned run over four innings. Alvarez struck out four and did not walk a batter, but also allowed a second run to score on a McDade error. Alvarez turned the ball over to another Venezuelan, as Yorman Mayora came out of the bullpen and allowed the third run over 2.2 innings of one-hit ball. Jared Potts and Michael Barbara finished the game off for Lansing with Barbara rescuing Potts by allowing none of his two inherited runners to score, although Barbara surrendered the fourth run in the ninth inning.
Three Stars:
3rd Star – Angel Sanchez, 1-2, R, 3 BB, 1 TB
2nd Star – Reider Gonzalez, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1st Star – Brad Emaus, 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 4 TB
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