Travis Snider's rehab looks like it should be ending soon and David Cooper hit a couple of dingers and the affiliates went 4-3 on the day thanks to some good starting pitching.
Las Vegas scored 8 runs in the 4th to take an 8-0 lead, but it was an insurance run in the 6th that proved the difference. The 51s sent 11 batters to the plate in plating eight, The damage came on back to back doubles two-run doubles by Brad Emaus and Raul Chavez after Aaron Matthews got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jarret Hoffpauir, who singled to lead the inning, closed the damage with a two run home run. Matthews also scored what would prove to be the winning run in the 6th after a single and two wild pitches. Luis Perez got the start for Las Vegas and was strong, throwing six shutout innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4; 8 of his 11 outs were on the ground. Bubbie Buzachero did not fare as well in relief, allowing 6 baserunners and 4 runs in his 1 inning. Steven Register pitched a scoreless 8th but had more trouble in the 9th after a walk, groundout, error and double. Jeremy Accardo came in to slam the door and promptly allowed a double. He got a grounder, and with the tieing run at the plate gave up a two-run single. Aaron Matthews decided to end things on his own though and threw the runner out stretching at second. The 51s made the most of their one chance and hung on though, despite getting outhit 15-8. Hoffpauir went 2-4 with a homer and two RBI, and Adam Calderone was the only other 51 with two knocks, singling twice. Brett Wallace went hitless but drew the only walk, and Chavez and Emaus had the aforementioned doubles.
The Fisher Cats also had an 8 spot up on the scoreboard after four, scoring 2, 1, 3, and 2 runs in the first four frames, only they didn't have any trouble holding on for an easy W. Reidier "Palindrome" Gonzalez had a better start in his second Eastern League appearance of the year, going 7 and allowing only 6 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts, though he did allow two runs. David Cooper was the star of this one though, homering in back to back innings, culminating in a 2-out 2 on blast in the third that put the game away. His final line was 3-5 with 2 homers, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Adeiny also pitched in with 2 singles in his five at bats. Oh, and that Travis Snider fellow may be ready to return to the bigs; he was 4 for 5 (all singles) with two runs scored, and he didn't even strike out. Jonathan Diaz and Brian Jeroloman both walked twice, though Diaz also had a hit, while Eric Thames walked 3 times and scored twice. Danny Farquhar pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing a walk and a hit and whiffing a batter.
Dunedin could muster only 5 hits in this one and the BC had more than twice as many; unlike in the desert though, this strategy did not lead to success. Mike McDade had two of the hits and Brian Van Kirk had another and drew the only walk, and oh yeah, did I mention they were all singles? Like I said, Dunedin only scored 1 run. Chuck Huggins allowed 5 of the runs in 5.2 innings, allowing 8 hits and 1 a walk, only striking out two. Travis d'Arnaud went 0fer, his OPS sits at .767.
The Lugnuts started this one strong before fading down the stretch. A Ryan Schimpf homer cashed Eric Eiland in the 4th, and that was enough for Matt Fields, who threw 6 shutout innings. He walked 3 and gave up 4 hits to match his 4 strikeouts. The pen didn't do as well though, as Aaron Loup allowed a run in the 7th and gave up two singles to start the 8th before being lifted for Steve Turnbull. Turnbull came in and allowed both of Loup's runners to score plus a run of his own. The Lugnuts went down swinging in he 9th though, literally, with three swinging strikeouts. The Ryans Goins and Schimpf were the only 'Nuts with two hits.
Marcus Knecht and Carlos Perez each had two hits including a double and triple respectively, while Knecht added a walk; Andy Femin walked thrice and singled once and Lance Durham hit a solo home run. Casey Lawrence went 6 and allowed 1 run only 6 hits and a walk, striking out 3. He's now allowed 2 runs in 22.1 innings, and has fewer baserunners (16, on 12 hits and 4 walks) than strikeouts (17.) Pretty decent for an undrafted college free agent who signed less than a month ago.
Shawn Hill started and looked good, which doesn't count in the GCL league against 19 year olds if you've pitched in the majors. The Jays had 7 baserunners in total.
DSL Braves 4 DSL Jays 5 (14 Innings)
3 Stars!
3rd Star! Matt Fields 6 IP 4 H 0 R 3 BB 4 K
Second Star! Luis Perez 6 IP 7 H 0 R 2 BB 4 K
First Star! David Cooper 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Not eligible! Travis Snider 4-5, 2 R, RBI
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