A week after complaining that the affiliates never play well on Mondays, and threatening to fact-check that claim, the affiliates threw a wrench in my plans by going 3-0. The evening featured excellent starting pitching at all 3 levels, and one player went 5-5 with a home run. Who was it? Guess you'll just have to click through!
Las Vegas 6 at Sacramento 4
The Las Vegas rotation is in pretty good shape these days, containing a bunch of good left-handed prospects (David Purcey, Brett Cecil, Brad Mills, Fabio Castro). The last spot is occupied by the one right-hander who is also the only non-prospect: Brian Burres. Tonight, though, the spotlight fell on Burres as he threw 6 excellent innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 7. Dirk Hayhurst and Bryan Bullingon each pitched a scoreless inning, and though Jeremy Accardo allowed 2 runs in the ninth, the 51s had scored more than enough and Las Vegas hung on for the 6-4 victory.
Buck Coats set the table as a lead-off hitter should, reaching base twice, swiping a bag, and hitting a sac fly. Coats currently has a line of 323/380/448 with 15 steals and is one of several AAAA-level 51s who would probably be more beneficial to the Jays right now than John McDonald. Aaron Mathews was the hitting star out of the second spot in the line-up, going 2-4 with a double and 3 RBIs. J.P. Arencibia had a single and a strikeout in 4 trips, while Travis Snider had the day off.
New Hampshire 2 at Harrisburg 1
Brian Burres was good, but Reidier Gonzalez was great. The 23-year-old Cuban went 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6. He also induced 13 ground balls to only 5 flyouts. Gonzalez' season stats: 66.1 IP, 58 H, 16 BB (1.12 WHIP), 43 K (5.85/9IP), 2HR, 1.48 GO/AO, 2.31 ERA. Gonzalez could be looking at a mid-season promotion... if there's room in AAA.
Just like in Las Vegas, the New Hampshire bullpen made things a little dicey in the 9th inning as Edgar Estanga allowed a run without recording an out, but Bubbie Buzachero slammed the door for his first save. Luckily, the Fisher Cats' offense scored just enough against Carlos Martinez, who was otherwise pretty dominant, allowing 4 baserunners and striking out 11 in his 7 innings. New Hampshire's runs both came courtesy of a 2-run single by Adam Calderone.
Jupiter 4 at Dunedin 12
Continuing in the evening's tradition, Andrew Liebel pitched an excellent game for the D-Jays, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks in 6 2/3 innings while striking out 8. Liebel's stats over his last 5 starts: 31.1 IP, 26 H, 11 BB (1.18 WHIP), 29 K. 2.87 ERA. Unlike in Las Vegas or New Hampshire, though, Liebel didn't almost lose the win in the late innings, as Dunedin blasted 12 runs for a lop-sided victory.
Dunedin's 1-2 hitters, Darin Mastroianni and John Tolisano, provided the 1-2 punch, combining to go 8-8 with a walk, 5 runs scored and 6 RBIs. Despite the offensive output, Kevin Ahrens managed to go 0-5 while Justin Jackson went 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Lansing - scheduled day off
Three (plus one) Stars!
3. Andrew Liebel and Brian Burres, quality starts
2. Reidier Gonzalez, 8 scoreless innings
1. John Tolisano, 5-5 with a HR
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090601204057367