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Brett Cecil had his best start of the year in the first game of New Hampshire’s doubleheader. However, the other three games in the system didn’t go nearly so well, as late inning relievers blew leads or surrendered game-winning runs in the late innings.

Las Vegas

Scheduled off-day.

New Hampshire 3 @ New Britain 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)Boxscore

Brett Cecil started the first game of the doubleheader and had his best start of the 2012 season. Cecil allowed two hits and issued a walk. He also struck out four over 5 innings. Cecil retired seven of the ten batters on balls in play on groundouts. He turned the ball over to Aaron Loup, who pitched 2 hitless innings and completed the shutout.

The Fisher Cats outhit the Rock Cats 9-2 in this game. Mark Sobolewski, John Tolisano and Brian Jeroloman each had a two-hit game. Sobolewski hit a solo homer to lead off the fourth, Tolisano hit his first triple of the season and scored a run and Jeroloman was 2-for-2 with a walk. Mike McDade hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth. Brian Van Kirk had a single and a walk and Ryan Goins added a single.

New Hampshire 3 @ New Britain 6 (Game 2, 7 innings)Boxscore

Ryan Goins led off the top of the fourth of the second game with a solo short and, after Mark Sobolewski and Mike McDade were retired, Brad Glenn added a solo shot. Then, John Tolisano hit an infield single and raced around to score on Brian Van Kirk’s double. Unfortunately, those were four of the five hits the Fisher Cats managed on the afternoon. Tolisano added a single, but the other New Hampshire batters were held hitless. Jonathan Diaz and Justin Jackson didn’t get a hit in either game.

Joel Carreno started for New Hampshire and only allowed three hits over 3 innings in his first start since a short stint in Toronto’s bullpen. However, the third hit was a three-run homer with two-out in the bottom of the third. The homer came off the bat of Estarlin de los Santos, the number 9 hitter, and it was first of the year. Fernando Hernandez pitched 2 scoreless innings and then Danny Farquhar came in. Farquhar struck out two in his inning of relief, but also allowed three unearned runs after he committed a throwing error and took the loss.

Dunedin 7 @ Clearwater 8Boxscore

Asher Wojciechowski started for the D-Jays and didn’t have a strong day. Wojciechowski surrendered six runs on six hits over 3 innings. He also struggled with his command, as although he only walked one batter, he hit two others. Wojciechowski did strike out four batters. Trystan Magnuson and Dayton Martze each pitched 2 innings of one-hit relief. Martze allowed an unearned run on an Oliver Dominguez error. Danny Barnes then had a 1-2-3 8th inning.

Dunedin outhit Clearwater 13-9 (we’ll get to that 9th hit in a minute), but most of them were singles and the hitters failed to capitalize in some key opportunities. Jonathan Jones and Jon Talley were each 2-for-5 with an RBI and Jones came around to score twice. Kevin Nolan and Marcus Knecht were each 2-for-4 with a walk. Knecht had a double, which was one of Dunedin’s four extra-base hits in the game. Ryan Schimpf had two of them, as he went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two runs and 2 RBI and a sacrifice fly. Jack Murphy had a double and Gabe Jacobo added a single and a walk. Dominguez and Kenan Bailli each went hitless, but eached earned walks and scored a run.

Dunedin tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth when, with two out, Jacobo singled in Schimpf and Knecht doubled in Nolan. However, all of this offence was for naught, as Barnes surrendered a game-winning homer to begin the bottom of the 9th.

Fort Wayne 5 @ Lansing 3Boxscore

Andrew Burns and Kevin Pillar led Lansing’s offence. Pillar was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run, while Burns was 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, 2 RBI, a walk and a run scored. Kenny Wilson was 1-for-4 with a run scored, while leadoff hitter Jonathon Berti was held hitless but drew a walk. Carlos Perez and KC Hobson added singles and Hobson and Kellen Sweeney each worked a free pass. Chris Hawkins and Markus Brisker were held off the bases.

Jesse Hernandez had a rather solid start for the Lugnuts. He went 7 innings and allowed five hits and a pair of walks. Hernandez only struck out one, but he induced 13 grounders against four fly balls. He left with a 3-2 lead and was in line for the win. Blake McFarland pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two. However, Ajay Meyer’s struggles continued and he blew his third save of the season. Meyer did strike out three, but he allowed a three-run homer with two out in the ninth to number 8 hitter Lee Orr that put Fort Wayne out in front and gave them the victory.

Three Stars:
3rd Star – Ryan Schimpf, 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SF, 7 TB
2nd Star – Brett Cecil, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
1st Star – Andrew Burns, 2-for-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 7 TB

Late Inning Losses | 7 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
tstaddon - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 07:15 AM EDT (#256484) #
Nice to see Cecil turn in a quality appearance. Does anyone have details about his velocity?

Also very nice to see a couple of hitting prospects warming up. Goins and Tolisano are beginning to look like potential super-utility players. Goins needs to work a few more walks and can play shortstop. Tolisano's very patient and can play all over the diamond. But both may initially get the bat knocked out of their hands in the bigs. Still, could be interesting players a year from now.

Finally, very exciting to see Andrew Burns hitting with such authority. He's beginning to look like a real riser - and another late-round signing bonus steal. Any reports on his defence? Seems to me he may grow out of shortstop.

Lugnut Fan - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 07:24 AM EDT (#256486) #
Burns seems to be a solid defender at short.  I would say great, but he makes all the plays that he should make at short.  I haven't really seen him challenged in the position as of yet to make a great play, but he has decent range, and a good arm and catches all the balls he gets too.
jester00 - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 09:55 AM EDT (#256490) #

tstaddon,

 

Kevin Gray had a comment on his twitter last night that Cecil was working in the 87-89 range yesterday.

Gerry - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#256492) #
Tolisano can play all over the diamond but can he play well all over the diamond?  Defense has never been his strong suit and that will need to improve for Tolisano to become a super-utility player.
lexomatic - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#256496) #
I don't think Tolisano has to play well, Gerry, as long as he can hit enough (better than an all-glove for the positions) and not embarrass himself or the team.
FisherCat - Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 01:32 PM EDT (#256501) #
HOLY CRAP!  Lind demoted to Las Vegas.  Never thought it would come to that!
rtcaino - Friday, May 18 2012 @ 12:40 AM EDT (#256564) #
AA mentioned on the conference call today that he was going to Lansing. He indicated that given the pitching tonight, he could not reschedule.

For his trouble, he was treated to a couple good outings.
Late Inning Losses | 7 comments | Create New Account
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