Sorry for the delay. I'm actually on vacation in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Of all the things I've hoped to do in this small artists town about a three hour drive north of Mexico City, sounding off on another disappointing day for the affiliates isn't one of them. I haven't looked at the boxscores yet so this had better be worth it. EDIT: It was
Salt Lake 6 Las Vegas 18
Alright, this is a good start. The 51s exploded for 18 last night on six homers, including two for Brian Dopirak, and one each from Travis Snider, Howie Clark, Randy Ruiz, and Kevin Howard.
The Free Brian Dopirak movement must be gaining some steam here. After his four-hit effort, his AAA line is up to 375/387/625 in 17 games. The only worrisome part is the 2:15 BB:K but screw it: FREE BRIAN DOPIRAK.
Snider's homer was a three-run shot and pushed his AAA OPS over 1.000. FREE TRAVIS SNIDER.
Howard contributed five RBI and four hits while Ruiz's two RBI pushed his season total to 98. Honestly, there's so much good stuff here you should just check it out for yourselves.
On the mound, Davis Romero started and fared poorly giving up six runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Dick Hayhurst picked up the win in relief with 3.2 shutout frames. FREE DICK HAYHURST. Casey Janssen pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. FREE CASEY JANSSEN.
New Hampshire 3 Connecticut 8
The Fisher Cats actually led this one 3-1 in the fifth but Luis Perez couldn't hold the fort in getting knocked around for six runs on ten hits in 6.2 innings. Leon Boyd pitched 1.1 in relief and allowed two runs to boost his ERA to 5.56.
At the plate, Adam Calderone was 3-for-3 with a walk and a homer. Brad Emaus had two hits, while Scott Campbell had one and David Cooper picked up the 0-fer. Moving on.....
Dunedin 4 Palm Beach 0
When Dunedin's involved in a shutout, they tend to be on the receiving end. So it was a nice change on Sunday to see Charles Huggins to seven frames allowing just four hits and striking out nine. Tim Collins finished things off with two perfect innings in which he struck out three. FREE TIM COLLINS.
The Dunedin offense was nicely represented with twelve hits from seven different guys. Jonathan Jaspe and Manny Rodriguez each had three hits while Kevin Ahrens was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. On the other end, John Tolisano was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. We're not freeing him just yet.
Kane County 0 Lansing 5
Another one! And a one-hitter to boot! Joel Carreno was absolutely dominant for the Lugnuts going 7.1 frames and allowing just one hit and a walk against nine strikeouts. FREE JOEL CARRENO! Gary Roenicke, now just the second best member of his family in the organization, finished things off by retiring the final five in order.
Tyler Pastornicky was the hero at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, walk, and two RBI. Mark Sobolewski, Balbino Fuenmayor, and Ryan McLanahan each had two hits. What the hell, FREE ALL OF THEM! Oh, and Kenny Wilson stole his 25th base. We'll free him, too.
Auburn 3 Mahoning Valley 4
Not a banner day at the plate for the Doubledays who managed just four hits. Sean Ochinko appeared to be the only guy looking for liberation with a 2-for-4 effort with two doubles. Everyone else: Not so much. Ryan Goins, especially, who went 0-for-5 with 4 strikeouts.
Matthew Wright started for Auburn and pitched fairly well, actually, going five and allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven. Austin Armstrong was saddled with the loss in the tenth thanks to a game-winning passed ball by Yan Gomes. He didn't even ask to be freed after the game.
Three Stars (so many to choose from):
3rd Star: Tyler Pastornicky; 3-for-3, 2B, 3B, BB, RBI
2nd Star: Brian Dopirak; 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R
1st Star: Joel Carreno; 7.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 9 K
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090803114033302