It was a very good night for the Jays' farm system (4-0), and for top prospects in particular. Zach Stewart, Deck McGuire, Eric Thames, Carlos Perez and Travis d'Arnaud all had good games, but none was as good as Mike McCoy.
Fresno 8 at Las Vegas 9 (10 innings)
The Grizzlies and the 51s combined for 31 hits in a classic PCL slugfest which didn't end until the bottom of the 10th. The 10th was forced, by the way, by Fresno tying the game in the 9th with two runs off Mike Hinckley and Rommie Lewis. Lewis, however, slammed the door in the 10th to earn the dubious blownsavewin. While we're on the topic of pitching, despite allowing 12 hits and five walks, nobody on the pitching staff had particularly awful lines, though none pitched all that well either. The real story was the offense, so let's talk about that.
Before you get all in a tizzy, Brett Lawrie didn't play on Monday night. Eric Thames did, however, and the Eric Thames freight train just kept on rolling. Thames delivered four hits in six at bats, including a double and a walk-off RBI single. Thames' season line is up to .449/.518/.755 with 12 Ks and 7 BBs in 12 games.
Even more impressive was Mike McCoy, who reached base in all six plate appearances, including two singles, a double and three walks. Somehow he only scored one run. There were plenty of other impressive hitting lines, but I'm not going to just list the whole team - everyone reached base at least twice except Brian Jeroloman.
New Hampshire 7 at New Britain 3
The middle of the order did exactly what they were supposed to do for the Fisher Cats on Monday night, driving in six of New Hampshire's seven runs. The 4-7 hitters (Mike McDade, Travis d'Arnaud, Ricardo Nanita and Moises Sierra) each had two hits, including a double from McDade and a homer from d'Arnaud. Sierra also had a noteworthy day in the "other" category, grounding into a double play, getting caught stealing, gunning down a runner at second base, getting gunned down himself from the outfield, twice, and getting ejected.
That was plenty of run support for Zach Stewart, who put in a dominant pitching performance, allowing a single unearned run on just two hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out five. Stewart appears to be getting sharper with each start in the early season.
Dunedin 4 at Lakeland 0
Not to be outdone by his AA counterpart, Deck McGuire did one better than Stewart, hurling a shutout over his 5 2/3 innings, although he allowed five base-runners to Stewart's two while recording three fewer outs. The defense didn't let McGuire down, though, and like in New Hampshire, the bullpen finished off the game without allowing a run.
Kevin Nolan led the offense with a single, double and walk, though he didn't contribute to the run-scoring or producing at all. Kevin Ahrens also reached base twice, doubling and walking, while Sean Ochinko delivered a two-run single.
Lansing 7 at Lake County 5
Lansing scored early and often, getting on the board in the top of the first and scoring in five other innings to squeeze out a 7-5 victory against Lake County. Carlos Perez led off and started the game with a double, then scored on a line-out and a ground-out. Almost everybody was involved in the offensive attack, particularly K.C. Hobson (3 singles) and Balbino Fuenmayor (2 singles, walk).
Daniel Webb (who actually uses an abbreviated version of his middle name McDaniel, lol) got the start and allowed two runs, one earned, and five base-runners in four innings. Sam Strickland pitched two perfect innings with a pair of Ks for the win.
Three Stars!
3. Eric Thames - 4/6, 2B, walk-off RBI
2. Zach Stewart - 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K
1. Mike McCoy - 3/3, 3 BB, 2B
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20110418230219807