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Toronto’s minor league affiliates won two of their three games on Thursday, as all three teams were involved in contests that were decided by two runs. Las Vegas’ offence centred around the home run, Dunedin’s was powered by their 1-2-3 and 9th hitters and New Hampshire saw a very fine pitching performance by their starter and a trio of relievers.

Las Vegas 5 @ Salt Lake 7Boxscore

Joe Inglett got another start at shortstop and went hitless, but drew a walk. He made the turn on a double play and also made a throwing error, his third fielding miscue of the year. Six 51’s each had a hit, as JP Arencibia and Howie Clark each also went hitless. Las Vegas scored all their runs on homers, as a Scott Campbell single was followed by Randy Ruiz’s third homer of the year. In the seventh Brett Harper also hit his third round-tripper of the year to score Jason Lane. Russ Adams followed Harper with a homer of his own.

Dirk Hayhurst struggled in his second start of the year. He gave up four runs over 2.2 innings on five hits and a walk. TJ Beam came in and stranded one runner, but he gave up a run over 1.1 innings. Brian Wolfe then gave up a solo homer to the first batter he faced, Sean Rodriguez, but then he threw 3 innings and only surrendered one more hit. The game was finished by Sean Stidfole, who struck out two in the eighth.

New Hampshire 2 @ New Britain 0Boxscore

Luis Perez had a fine first start and he topped himself in his second with 7 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball Perez struck out six and walked two, retiring 9 of his 15 outs on balls in play on groundballs. Meanwhile, the Fisher Cats put a run across on the first with a Brad Emaus double, followed by a David Cooper single and a Brian Dopirak sac fly. Unfortunately, Nick Gorneault struck out with runners on second and third. New Hampshire doubled their lead in the fifth as Chris Guttierez doubled to lead off the inning. After Ryan Mullins retired Sean Shoffit and Luis Sanchez Todd Donovan doubled home Guttierez.

Edgar Estanga came in to pitch the eighth and struck out one of the two batters he faced. Zach Dials finished off the inning by retiring New Britain’s leadoff and number two hitters. Leon Boyd got the save with two strikeouts during a 1-2-3 inning. On the positive side, Brian Dopirak was 2-3 with a sacrifice fly, whereas on the negative side, Gorneault and Kevin Phillips were 0 for 8 with five strikeouts and the Fisher Cats were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Dunedin 6 @ Daytona 4Boxscore

Dunedin and Daytona each put up two spots in the first inning. Dunedin started with three straight hits: a Justin Jackson double, a Darin Mastroianni single and an Eric Thames RBI single. The next three batters grounded out, a trend that would continue all game, but Moises Sierra’s grounder drove home Mastroianni. Brandon Magee started for Dunedin and put himself into trouble with a throwing error and a walk. He then allowed a double to Russ Frazier, which tied the game.

Dunedin scored two more runs in the fifth, as Raul Barron singled and then Justin Jackson’s speed possibly forced Daytona into a pair of errors, as the shortstop made a throwing error and the first basemen made a catching error on the same play. This pair of miscues allowed Barron to race all the way home and Jackson went to second. Jackson later scored on a Thames single.

The D-Jays scored runs in the seventh and eighth on an RBI single by Mastroianni that scored Barron and a bases loaded walk by Jesus Gonzalez that plated Matthew Liuzza. Brandon Magee was relieved by Ross Buckwalter after 5.2 innings of four-hit ball, allowing only those runs in the first inning. Buckwalter went 2.1 innings and only let one batter reach base. Chad Beck pitched the ninth and gave up a two-run homer. Dunedin’s first three hitters – Jackson, Mastroianni and Thames – were 6 for 14 with two doubles and a walk, while the next three – Liuzza, Sierra and Kevin Ahrens – were 0 for 13 with a walk. At the bottom of the order, Barron was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored.

Three Stars:
3rd Star – Brandon Magee, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
2nd Star – Eric Thames, 2-3, 2 RBI, BB, 3 TB
1st Star – Luis Perez, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
China fan - Friday, April 17 2009 @ 04:58 AM EDT (#198459) #
Three innings for Brian Wolfe -- his injury problems must be behind him.  Perhaps the Jays are finally stretching him out for that long-rumored but never-happened chance at a starting role?  If Tallet falters in his rotation stint, maybe Wolfe will get a crack at it.  The Jays seem, rightly enough, determined to give Cecil and Mills a few more starts in the minors before getting their first major-league exposure.   Scott Downs is thriving in the bullpen and should not be switched back to a starting role.  Litsch is gone for a month or more.   If Tallet can't go more than three or four innings as a starter, and if it's between Wolfe and Murphy for a spot start, Wolfe has 67 innings of major-league experience, whereas Murphy has 7 innings.
tercet - Friday, April 17 2009 @ 09:41 AM EDT (#198468) #
Thames is off to a brilliant start, and I thought that he was a raw player like Eiland, which lead me to think he might stink it up this year.  To those of you that have seen thames, what type of player is he?  Im just assuming hes some speedy OF who can hit for average?
Mike Green - Friday, April 17 2009 @ 10:20 AM EDT (#198474) #
Here's the Thames scouting report from last year (he was the 219th player chosen- he fell in the draft due to a quad injury which seems to have healed).  You can find video of his swing, and it matches the description in the scouting report.  He runs well, has a short compact stroke which generates considerable power, and controls the strike zone well.  His arm is mediocre.  In other words,  a very, very good left-field prospect.  Enough speed and on-base ability to bat leadoff; enough pop to bat third.  Thames is a collegian and might be ready next year.  One might think that there is no room for him in Toronto, but with Lind being a first baseman by trade and Snider being a fair outfielder charitably, there are possibilities.  There would be nothing wrong with having four outfielders and rotating one through the DH slot. 

Eiland is a very different kettle of fish.  He is a centerfielder drafted out of high school, who has some tools and may yet develop, but is a long way from the majors. 
Mike Green - Friday, April 17 2009 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#198506) #
The Fisher Cats won this afternoon 11-1.  Brian Jeroloman homered and doubled and threw out two base thieves for good measure, while Brad Emaus went 3-5 with a walk.
brent - Friday, April 17 2009 @ 05:10 PM EDT (#198508) #
Actually, I think that is the ideal situation, Mike. Four outfielders is the way to go. Then you can afford more infield backups on the roster.
Lugnut Fan - Saturday, April 18 2009 @ 06:21 AM EDT (#198521) #
Lansing played Michigan State University on Thursday in their annual exhibition and got pasted 12-2.  I hope these guys come around offensively soon because the entire lineup has look greatly overmatched to this point of the season.
Sneeps - Saturday, April 18 2009 @ 11:10 AM EDT (#198527) #
keep in mind that nearly all the players in Lansing right now are both A) very young, and B) from warm weather climates



Lugnut Fan - Sunday, April 19 2009 @ 07:29 AM EDT (#198571) #

I know Sneeps, but the reason this loss was paticularly bad in my mind was that 2) MSU is one of the worst baseball teams in the Big 10, b) weren't much older if at all than Lansing c) had to use wood bats and this is the only game most of them use them.  The weather was close to 70, so I don't think that was a factor.  It isn't so much that Lansing lost, it is how bad the kids lost, it is how bad they lost that concerns me.

What I have noticed in the line up is that most of the hitters have trouble with a guy that throws 90 or above.  They have very, very slow hands through the zone.  I will say there is talent on this team, but it isn't quite ready for the MWL yet.

Maldoff - Sunday, April 19 2009 @ 11:55 AM EDT (#198575) #
LugnutFan, how would these guys compare to the group from last year? I know those guys started off real slow as well.
Lugnut Fan - Monday, April 20 2009 @ 12:30 PM EDT (#198618) #

I think time will tell with this team.  They aren't going to be as talented as the team that was here last year, but there was also a time when the starting infield was drafted in the first or second round.  They started swinging the bats a little better this weekend and that was good to see.  They have played a pretty good series against the Detroit affiliate so far.

From watching them, I really like Del Campo and Wilson.  Pastronickey is also a pretty good looking player, but they really need to quicken the bats.  The line up has had a lot of trouble getting around on guys that throw 90 or above so far.

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