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A perfect 5-0 night on the farm featured some great performances by a few usual suspects.


Reno 8    Las Vegas 12

The 51s snapped a 9-game losing streak in walk-off fashion as Jason Lane smacked a tie-breaking Grand Slam in the bottom of the ninth.  Las Vegas banged out 16 hits in total including seven doubles so feel free to click on the link for all the details.  J.P. Arencibia snapped out of a mini-funk by going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a walk.  He also scored twice and drove in a pair.

Luis Perez started and was knocked around, leaving after 4.1 and allowing six runs on 11 hits and four walks against four strikeouts.  Jeremy Accardo picked up the win after working a third of an inning.



Portland 3    New Hampshire 6

From what I can tell, the Fisher Cats clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.  Unless they did it on Saturday night.  Either way, they're playoff bound.  Zach Stewart started and went three innings, allowing a run on three hits and a strikeout.  David Purcey went one inning of rehab work and retired all three batters, striking out a pair.  Ronald Uviedo went four, got the win, and struck out five.  Alan Farina picked up the save striking out three in his inning.

Eric Thames swung the big bat (what's new?) hitting a three-run homer (26) and driving in four (101).  Darin Mastroianni had three hits, two runs, and two stolen bases (45), while Jonathan Jaspe homered and David Cooper had a hit and two walks.



Tampa 2    Dunedin 4

Yan Gomes had his 8th HR for Dunedin and Mike McDade had a pair of hits to lead the way for the D-Jays.  Ryan Goins had a double to bring his average up to .199.

Joel Carreno started and went five shutout innings allowing five hits and a walk against nine strikeouts.  Bryan Longpre picked up the win in relief while the dynamic duo of Frank Gailey and Matthew Daly finished off the last two innings.



Dayton 3    Lansing 8

Another good day for Kevin Ahrens who was 3-for-5 with a HR (8) and four RBI.  That's a .844 OPS in August now for Ahrens.  Michael Crouse was 2-for-3 with a double and a homer while K.C. Hobson homered amongst his three hits.  Jon Del Campo was the third Lugnut with a trio of hits while Jake Marisnick was 0-for-3 but walked, stole a base, and scored.

Dave Sever started and allowed an unearned run in his 5.1 innings of work.  He gave up three hits, and four walks against three strikeouts.  Matt Wright won in relief while Brian Slover pitched the final two frames.



Mahoning Valley 2    Auburn 4

Carlos Perez and Jonathan Jones each had two hits for the Doubledays while Lance Durham singled, walked twice, and drove in a run.

Jesse Hernandez started for Auburn and went five allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out seven.  A trio of relievers finished things off including Drew Permison who struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save.  He has struck out 54 in 35.2 innings of work.



Three Stars:

3rd Star:  Kevin Ahrens
- 3-for-5, R, HR, 4 RBI
2nd Star:  Joel Carreno- 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K
1st Star:  J.P. Arencibia- 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB

Why Can't They All Be Like This? | 7 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
John Northey - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 10:04 AM EDT (#221695) #
I wonder if there are rules that prevent you from sending down guys in AAA to AA for just the playoffs. I'm sure it would be tempting to provide a few key guys to help boost their playoff odds and provide playoff experience to a few prospects.
Lugnut Fan - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 11:41 AM EDT (#221708) #
There are rules that prevent that from happening John.  There is a certain date I believe that guys have to be in place prior to the playoffs.  Once playoffs start, I know you can move guys up, but you can't move guys down.
tercet - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 11:53 AM EDT (#221711) #
Ahrens has been Lansings best hitter in August, and pretty much since he went to only being a right handed hitter in late July.  His line for August is 327/389/554, with a great 11/15 bb/k ratio.  He finally is showing some poise, and has been pretty nice answering some of my questions on his facebook over the last few weeks.

You guys think he could be a candidate for the AFL?

ayjackson - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 01:53 PM EDT (#221714) #

I think more important than dropping switch hitting has been dropping to low A.  I think it was important for Ahrens to experience success at hitting for the first time since high school - he must have been wraught with self doubt.  I don't think we should immediately rush him back up to a AA/AAA level of ball after a month or two of success at low A.  They've made some strides in rebuilding his confidence, no point in reversing those strides in the AFL.

 

Mike Green - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#221718) #
Yeah.  When I saw Ahrens in early July, he was totally out of whack mechanically (much as Overbay was early in the season).  His timing was completely off. It looks like they have fixed it with the move away from switch-hitting.  You could start him in Dunedin in 2011 and move him up to New Hampshire in June if everything is going well.  22 in double A is right on course.

It's funny because when I originally saw the scouting video of Ahrens, I thought that he looked pretty good from the right side, but awkward from the left.  I found the Chipper Jones comparisons a bit strange, and said so at the time.  
TamRa - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#221723) #
I don't think he'd lose much ground with a stint in the AFL. If he fares poorly it's to be expected, if he does well it further amplifies his success and gives him more reps (as many reps as a guy at that level can expect to get there) but i doubt he goes.

I'm sure he'll probably stick around in instructionals and maybe be placed on some winter ball team to try to keep the momentum up though.


Mike Green - Monday, August 30 2010 @ 05:36 PM EDT (#221746) #
Tyler Pastornicky homered for the second time in three days yesterday.  His double A line now looks very similar to his high A line.  He's only 20 and he has held his own at double A. 
Why Can't They All Be Like This? | 7 comments | Create New Account
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