There was a split on the farm last night, with the middle two affiliates losing while Las Vegas and Lansing won their games. Las Vegas was powered by the top of their lineup and patience, while Lansing made their few opportunities count. Meanwhile, New Hampshire and Dunedin could not get the big hit and combined to strand 27 runners on base.
Las Vegas 13 @ Reno 7 – Boxscore
Las Vegas lead 3-1 after 5 innings and then gave up 5 runs to fall behind 6-3. However, these runs demanded answers and the 51s scored ten over the eighth and ninth innings to secure a 13-6 victory. Brad Mills started and, hoping to get his season back on track, went 5.1 innings. He walked four and gave up six hits, but Reno only pushed across three runs, two earned. David Purcey entered in relief and threw 30 pitches over 1.2 innings. He threw 21 of them for strikes and prevented his inherited runner from scoring. However, Purcey then gave up three in the next inning on three hits and a walk, but wound up with a cheap victory. Merkin Valdez managed to pitch a scoreless eighth and Jeremy Accardo pitched the ninth, surrendering one run.
Chris Aguila and Jarret Hoffpauir set the table for the offence, as Aguial reached based in 5 of 6 plate appearances and Hoffpauir did the same in four. Each drew three walks, scored at least two runs and drove in at least one run. Brett Wallace had three hits, a walk, drove in two and scored twice. JP Arencibia didn’t get a hit, but walked three times, which makes 10 walks for the first four batters for those counting at home. This included four consecutive walks by the first four hitters off Clay Zavada during Las Vegas’s four-run eighth. The runs in the ninth came the old-fashioned way, as there was only one walk during the six-run inning. Jeremy Reed had a three-hit, 2-RBI performance and Jorge Padilla had a two-hit, 2 RBI game. Chris Lubanski was the only Las Vegas batter not to reach base on his own, as he went 0-6 and would have made three outs during the eighth and ninth innings alone were it not for a fielding error by the left fielder.
New Britain 9 @ Hampshire 3 - Boxscore
New Hampshire outhit New Britain, but still lost by six runs. New Hampshire’s 13-hit performance was driven by leadoff hitter Darin Mastroianni’s 3-for-5 night and Eric Thames going 4-for-4 in the third spot in the lineup. Not to be forgotten, Adam Calderone went 2-for-5 with a triple and all three hitters drew walks. The lack of runs could be partially explained by the collective 0-for-12 from the 4-5-6 hitters, including David Cooper’s 0-for-5. At the bottom of the lineup, Adam Loewen added a hit and Jonathan Diaz three more. If this wasn’t enough, the Fisher Cats drew 8 walks, including a pair by both Brad Emaus and Brian Jeroloman. Mastroianni stole his 13th base of the year and is now 13 of 14 in stolen base efforts, although he was also picked off yesterday. Despite getting 21 batters on base, New Hampshire only managed three runs, as they left 17 runners on and went 4-for-17 hitting with runners in scoring position.
Kyle Drabek took the loss to go to 4-2. Drabek allowed eight hits and two walks in 5.2 innings, but struck out 7. He gave up six runs, but five were unearned on two errors. Mastroianni’s first error of the year led to four unearned runs in the sixth, but this line might flatter Drabek slightly, as during the inning he failed to retire the sixth, eighth and ninth hitter, any of which would have ended the inning with zero or minimal damage. Neither Bubbie Buzachero nor Dumas Garcia has had a good first month and both continued to surrender damage yesterday, allowing runs during their relief appearances.
Tampa 10 @ Dunedin 2 – Boxscore
Andrew Liebel had a horrendous second inning, surrendering six runs, one unearned, to the Tampa Yankees. Liebel allowed four hits, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch in the inning. Liebel preserved and lasted another 3 innings, but he struggled with his control all day and walked four batters. The relief was only marginally better, as Frank Gailey allowed a run over 2 innings while striking out three. BJ LaMura allowed a run in the eighth with two strikeouts and Matt Daly allowed two in the ninth.
Dunedin pounded 10 hits off Tampa pitching, but the damage was done sporadically. The D-Jays could only cash in two runs, as the team went 1-for-12 when hitting with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base. Kevin Ahrens and Tyler Pastornicky had the only extra-base hits, as each knocked a double. It was Pastornicky’s ninth of the year and Ahrens’ first. Pastornicky, Raul Barron and Mike McDade each had two hits. Ahrens and Barron scored the runs on RBIs by Pastornicky and Sean Shoffit.
South Bend 2 @ Lansing 5 – Boxscore
Lansing made the most of their seven hits, scoring five runs off the South Bend pitching staff. More than half the hits came from Brad McElroy and Ryan Goins, who each had two hits and a run scored. Goins hit a two-run homer with two out in the fourth during a four-run frame for the Lugnuts. Outfielders Chris Hopkins and Eric Eiland each had a hit, a stolen base and a run. AJ Jimenez and Balbino Fuenmayor combined to go 0-8 with five strikeouts and Sean Ochinko went 0-4 and made an error.
Southaw Aaron Loup made his second start of the year, and continued his strong start to the year. However, he also failed to go deep in his eighth appearance for Lansing, lasting only 3 innings. Loup allowed one run on four hits and two walks to raise his ERA on the year to 1.74. He struck out five and picked-off two runners. Nestor Molina picked up the win with 3 innings of scoreless relief before Casey Beck twirled his fifth and sixth scoreless inning of the year. Lansing closer Steven Turnbull gave up a run in the ninth.
Three Stars:
3rd Star – Chris Aguila, 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 4 BB, 2 TB
2nd Star – Brett Wallace, 3-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 4 TB
1st Star – Eric Thames, 4-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 5 TB
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