Las Vegas: Scheduled Off Day
New Hampshire scored in the 7th and 9th, but it wasn't enough to overcome a rehabbing Phil Hughes, who allowed 1 run and struck out 8 in 6.1 innings. Chad Jenkins was his counterpart for the Cats and he was decent, allowing 10 hits over 7 innings, walking and whiffing 2 apiece. The only problem was he allowed 3 runs, which on this day was too many. New Hampshire could only muster 6 hits, and half of them were by Ricardo Nanita. Anthony Gose and Travis d'Arnaud both singled, but struck out 2 and 3 times respectively, and Mike McDade hit a solo home run and walked.
Nestor Molina stayed red hot in this one, allowing 4 hits while striking out 4 in 5 innings. Obviously he didn't allow a run, and in his last 10 starts he has allowed 1 or 0 runs in 7 of them. Matt Wright and Steve Turnbull finished things out with 3 and 1 perfect innings respectively. On offense everyone other than Kevin Nolan chipped in with a hit. Ryan Schimpf, Kevin Ahrens and Jon Talley each had 2 in fact, with the first two both doubling. Those were the only two extra base hits, and everyone else in the lineup singled (Jackson, Jiminez, Ochinko, Glenn, Mcelroy) with Jiminez and McElroy stealing bases to boot.
This one was over just as soon as it began pretty much, and it was ugly in every which way you could imagine. Sean Nolin was lifted in the second inning after allowing a home run and a single to the first two batters he faced; I presume he was injured in some fashion. Sam Strickland replaced him and didn't fare much better, giving up 4 runs in 4 innings. Either way it wouldn't have mattered much, as Lansing did this with the bats:
- Markus Brisker strikes out swinging.
- Carlos Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Yorman Rodriguez.
- Jake Marisnick reaches on force attempt, fielding error by shortstop Billy Hamilton. Carlos Perez to 2nd.
- Marcus Knecht strikes out swinging.
- K. C. Hobson reaches on throwing error by shortstop Billy Hamilton. Carlos Perez to 3rd. Jake Marisnick to 2nd.
- Michael Crouse strikes out swinging.
Lansing Top of the 2nd
- Matt Nuzzo strikes out swinging, catcher Tucker Barnhart to first baseman Dominic D'Anna.
- Bryson Namba strikes out swinging.
- Garis Pena strikes out swinging.
- Markus Brisker called out on strikes.
- Carlos Perez called out on strikes.
- Jake Marisnick strikes out swinging, catcher Tucker Barnhart to first baseman Dominic D'Anna.
- Marcus Knecht strikes out swinging.
- K. C. Hobson strikes out swinging.
- Michael Crouse called out on strikes.
- Matt Nuzzo singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ronald Torreyes.
- Bryson Namba strikes out swinging.
- Garis Pena grounds into double play, third baseman David Vidal to second baseman Ronald Torreyes to first baseman Dominic D'Anna. Matt Nuzzo out at 2nd.
If you're scoring at home, thats 10 consecutive strikeouts, and it took until 1 out in the 5th to retire a batter on a ball in play. Let's just leave it at that.
Vancouver only struck out 7 times, so already things are improving. Justin Nicolino picked up his second win in this one, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings. He also struck out 4. Alesone Escalante pitched another 4 innings, allowing an unearned run. Roan Salas and Eli Boike both had 2 hits for the Canadians, while Shane Opitz and Matt Newman both drove in 2 runs.
Bluefield won a slugfest after a 2 out error to put a second man aboard in the bottom of the 9th was followed by an Art Charles home run to win the game. It was one of only 8 Bluefield hits, with Daniel Arcila and Chris Hawkins both picking up 2; Gustavo Pierre also homered. Myles Jaye and Aaron Sanchez both gave up 3 runs; Jaye in 4 innings, Sanchez in 2.1 - Sanchez also walked 4 and gave up 4 hits while getting punchouts on 4 of his 7 outs.
Third Star! Ricardo Nanita - 3/4, 2B, RBI
Second Star! Nestor Molina - 5 IP, 4 H, 4K, 0 R
First Star! Art Charles - 1/3, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, GW HR
