It was exciting day on the farm as the affiliates went 4-1 and won a couple of close games.
Las Vegas 1 at Salt Lake 2 (8 Innings)
Las Vegas 2 at Salt Lake 0 (7 Innings)
The 51s played a doubleheader and allowed a total of 2 runs over 15 innings, yet still managed to walk away with only one victory, in large part because they could manage only 3 runs of their own (and had an unfortunately timed defense miscue.) Lance Broadway got the start in game one of the double bill and tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, walking two and giving up 5 hits against 2 strikeouts. Josh Roenicke closed out the 6th inning before Rommie Lewis came in for the save, in what was a scheduled 7 inning game on account of the doubleheader. He allowed the first Bee to reach, who was promptly picked off by JP Arencibia (one of two Bee's he caught napping at first in the game.) Lewis then gave up a walk and a fielder's choice groundout before third baseman Christian Colonel threw away out number three, allowing the tieing run to plate. Similar unluckiness would befall Lewis in the 8th, as he would strike out the first two batters before giving up a single, a stolen base and another single, and that was all she wrote. The 51s got their only run on a Chris Lubanski homer in the third, his third of the season. Jarrett Hoffpauir had two singles as did the goat Colonel (that just seemed fun to write) and Jeremy Reed had a walk and a knock.
In game two the 51s could muster only two runs on 6 hits (they had 8 in the opener), but that would be all they needed as Zach Jackson made his first start of the season in his second go round with the Jays. He put up blanks on the scoreboard for five, extending his streak of scoreless innings to 11 to start off the year. He continued a trend of being less than sharp, however, as he walked 3 and struck out only one; in four appearances he has yet to whiff more than he's walked, and his k/bb ratio now sits at 6/9, against 7 hits. David Purcey and Sean Henn each contributed an inning of scoreless relief, and both struck out two batters, with Henn walking 2 and Purcey giving up a hit. Meanwhile the offense came from Brian Dopirak, who gave the 51s a lead they would never relinquish with an RBI single in the first, one of two hits on the day for the first baseman. Brett Wallace added a homer, his PCL leading 6th, for good measure, and also contributed with a walk.
New Hampshire 10 at Binghamton 3
As the score might indicate it was a big night for several Fisher Cats, as the team scored multiple runs in each of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings to take a lead and never look back. Adam Calderone was the big hitting star on the day, going 3/5 with a homer and a double with 4 runs driven in. Eric Thames scored 3 runs and stole 2 bases despite going hitless; he managed to walk once and reach twice on errors. Darin Mastroianni, David Cooper and Jonathan Diaz each had two hits, and Brian Jeroloman continued his fine early play by adding two doubles; his OPS sits over 1.000 to start the year. Bobby Bell got the start for the Cats and allowed two runs over 6 innings, whiffing 7 and walking 1 while giving up 6 hits. Trystan Magnuson and Danny Farquhar closed out the game.
Brevard County 1 at Dunedin 6
Henderson Alvarez kept the beat going down through the system, turning in another fine performance. After getting into a bases loaded and none out jam in the top of the first Alvarez would escape unscathed, and go on to retire 11 straight before giving up a single in the fourth. In the fifth he would allow Brevard County's only run after a two out throwing error by third baseman Justin McClanahan would eventually allow a run to plate. In total Alvarez went 5 innings and allowed 5 hits and one unearned run, with one walk against 3 k's. The D-Jays meanwhile would draw 8 walks and knock out 9 hits. Shawn Bowman, playing his first game of the year at DH, led the charge, going 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored, while Dan Perales added a homer and a double, driving in 3. Tyler Pastronicky continued to play well, reaching base safely on two walks and two hits while driving in 2, and Raul Baron walked 3 times. Travis d'Arnaud went 0fer.
Lansing 11 at Fort Wayne 8 (10 Innings)
Our last game of the evening was our most exciting, presuming you like late inning dramatics, lots of scoring and the Jays affiliates winning. Lansing fell behind 4-1 and 6-4 early as Ryan Tepera got knocked around, and the Lugnuts went into the top of the 9th down 7-4. That's when Ryan Goins walked, Ryan Schimpf singled and A.J. Jiminez tied the game with one swing of the bat. In the top of the tenth the Lugnuts wasted little time taking the lead, as Goins drew a one out walk, Kenny Wilson bunted safely for a hit and Schimpf got hit by a pitch before 9th inning hero A. J. Jimenez walked in the go ahead run. After a strikeout Brad McElroy tripled in three just to give Lansing some much needed breathing room, as Steve Turnbull would give up an unearned run in the bottom half of the frame. Mark Sobolewski and McElroy each had 3 of the Lugnuts 15 hits, while WIlson, Jiminez, Schimpf and Sean Ochinko each had 2. Ryan Goins walked twice and also had a base knock. On the pitching side of the equation things weren't as pretty, as Tepera gave up 6 runs in 4.2 innings, walking 1 and whiffing 3. Brian Slover picked up the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief work.
Third Star: Adam Calderone - 3/5 2B, HR 1 R, 4 RBI
Second Star A.J, Jiminez - 2/5 HR BB 4 RBI, including the game tying and game winning.
First Star: Shawn Bowman - 4/4 2 2B 2 R 1 CS
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