Van Kirk, Pastornicky, Lead Lugnuts to Victory

Sunday, May 31 2009 @ 11:06 AM EDT

Contributed by: Gerry

Only one win, by Lansing, in a come from behind victory.  Dunedin and New Hampshire were blown out even though New Hampshire hitters had four home runs and Jesus Gonzalez hit a grand slam.  Several good starters had bad days, Marc Rzepczynski, Chuck Huggins and Henderson Alvarez each struggled.  Las Vegas lost in extra innings when Davis Romero ran out of gas.  Brett Cecil started.

Las Vegas 3  Sacramento 4 - 10 innings

This was another tough loss for Las Vegas, Brett Cecil gave up three runs in 5.2 innings and he was relieved by Davis Romero who finished the sixth and pitched through the ninth without much trouble.  But in the bottom of the tenth Daric Barton had ain infield single, then Romero made an error on a sac bunt.  Danny Putnam also bunted, this time it was a single to load the bases.  Romero then walked Jeff Baisley for the always exciting walk-off walk.  The last inning masked a good appearance by Romero.  Cecil gave up seven hits and two walks with seven K's in his 5.2 innings.

Las Vegas manager Mike Basso was thrown out in the top of the eighth with his team losing 3-1.  The team responded with a run in the eighth as Randy Ruiz drove in Aaron Mathews who had dubled.  That set up the ninth for JP Arencibia to hit a home run to tie the game.

Ruiz was the only 51 with two hits.


New Hampshire 5  Reading 9

Marc Rzepczynski had a tough start, that makes it two bad ones in a row.  Zep gave up nine runs in 3.2 innings with eight hits and four walks.  Only four runs were earned as Al Quintana made two errors.

All of New Hampshires five runs came via the long ball, Brian Dopirak hit two, Brian Jeroloman and Nick Gorneault one each.


Jupiter 8  Dunedin 5

Chuck Huggins made his high A debut and he was hit all over the park in the first inning, he gave up six runs on six hits including a home run and a triple.  But he stayed in there and pitched much better through the fifth inning.  He gave up a lead off double and a walk to start the sixth and was relieved by Tim Collins.  Collins gave up two hits to tack two more runs on to Huggins ledger.  The score was 8-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth and Jesus Gonzalez hit a grand slam and Kevin Ahrens followed with a solo shot.  Darin Mastroianni had three hits.


Quad Cities 4  Lansing 5

Lansing delivered a late come from behind win in a game attended by your correspondent.  Henderson Alvarez pitched just four innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  Jonas Cuotto pitched the fifth and gave up a run and that stage Lansing were down 4-1.  But the bullpen was outstanding for the last four innings, they gave up only one hit and recorded ten K's.

Lansing began the comeback with two runs in the fifth, Brian Van Kirk singled in Justin McClanahan and Tyler Pastornicky to make it 4-3.  That was the score until the eighth, Pastornicky got things started in the eight with a line drive single to right.  With one out Van Kirk hit a high fly ball to the left field warning track.  The left fielder circled the ball but never got under it and let it drop for a double, the throw went home letting Van Kirk move to third with one out.  Yohermyn Chavez then drove a deep fly ball to centre and Van Kirk was able to trot home with the eventual winning run.  Matt Daly got the save with some 95 mph heat.

Van Kirk had three hits, Pastornicky and Mike McDade had two hits each.


Three Stars

3rd star - Brian Dopirak
2nd star - Tyler Pastornicky
1st star - Brian Van Kirk


Standings

Las Vegas - 19-30, last place, 12 GB
New Hampshire - 24-26, 3rd place, 5 GB
Dunedin - 17-28, last place, 13.5 GB
Lansing - 17-30, last place, 13.5 GB, starting to play better, have won three in a row

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