Las Vegas continued their run at Sacramento and Lansing, Vancouver, Bluefield and the DSL Blue Jays put W’s on the Board as well.
8,392 River Cats faithful came to party on a Friday night, and while they were at it, they saw the classic pitchers dual. Despite being outhit 6-2, Las Vegas came out on top even after suffering 14 strike outs from Sacramento pitchers. Jonathan Diaz (0-2, BB) had the game’s only error, a throwing miscue to first base after one of two divin g catches behind the bag at second. The faux pas was erased by the first of two double plays on the evening from the stellar mid infield team of Diaz and Adeiny Hechavarria (1-4) who had one of only two 51s hits on the night.
Starter and winning pitcher Shawn Hill (3-0) along with Jim Hoey and Chad Beck held the Rivercats scoreless on 6 hits and just one BB. Hill, who throws sinking pitches, relied on his defensively solid infield to handle ground balls and shut out Sacremento. The 51s only managed 5 base runners but had the blast that mattered, a fastball rocketed over the left left field wall by Eric Thames (1 -3, HR, RBI), scoring the only run of the contest on a cool Friday evening in California’s state capitol.
The win brought the 51s within 2.5 games of the Division leading Sacramento in the PCL.
New Hampshire 3 Portland 4 (game 1 – 7 innings)
In the first of a twin bill Friday in Portland, New Hampshire suffered the first of two defeats on the evening. Offensively, the Fisher Cats got RBIs from Jake Marisnick (2-4, 2b, RBI) and Kenen Bailli (1 for 4, 3B, RBI). Brian Bocock (1 for 3, 2B) and Brian Van Kirk (1 for 3, 2B) each has a double.
New Hampshire 1 Portland 3 (game 2 – 7 innings)
In the night cap, the Fisher Cats went down to Portland who only produced three hits on the evening. New Hampshire’s only run came in the opening frame after a single by Ryan Goins (1 – 3, R, a Portland fielding error, and an RBI single from Kevin Howard (1-3, RBI). Brad Glenn (1-3, 2B) had the game’s only extra base hit for New Hampshire.
Decent pitching couldn’t overcome lackluster offence as the D-Jays took one on the chin in Jupiter. Losing pitch Egan Smith (7-5) went 7 IP allowing just 1 earned run on 5 hits . Shortstop Oliver Dominguez (0-4) committed his 7th error, a fielding mishap that produced an unearned run in the first inning.
Ryan Schimpf (1-4, RBI, BB) batted in Dunedin’s only run in the 4th inning after a double by Jon Berti (1-4, 2B, R) which turned out to be the D-Jays only extra base his. Jonathan Jones (2-3) had Dunedin’s only multi-hit performance.
The Luggies put on a 10 hit fury at Cooley Law School stadium in Lansing Friday night besting the Quad Cities by no less than a Quad. Winning pitcher Tyler Ybarra (3-2) came on in the 5th and allowed only 2 hits in 3 IP while striking out 6.
K.C. Hobson (1-4, HR, RBI) put some Luggie Lumber to a solo homer in the 5th inning. Kevin Patterson 3-4, RBI) had three hits and drove in one. Andy Fermin (1-4) and Shane Opitz (1 for 4) also added RBIs. Kevin Pillar (2-4) had the other multi-hit game for Lansing.
The Canadians secured a win for the farm with a 13 hit tantrum aimed at Boise. Winning pitcher Nicholas Purdy (1-1) only threw 1.0 IP, but got the glory, striking out 1 and keeping Boise hitless. Starter Bobby Brosnahan had a solid 5.0 IP allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and striking out 4. Shortstop Jorge Flores (1 for 5, RBI) had a fielding error, his 5th of the season.
Balbino Fuenmayor went 2 for 5 with a double and batted in 3. Dan Klein (2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) brought in a pair. Carlos Ramirez was 3 for 5 with an RBI and a double. Derrick Chung was 2 for 3, with the other multi-hit performance by Vancouver.
Bluefield put up a dozen, pounding Pulaski with 13 hits. Winning pitcher Les Williams (1-1) went 3.0 IP and shut out Pulaski with no hits and 2 strike outs. Jorge Vega-Rosado (3-5, 2B, 2 RBIs) redeemed his fielding error by plating a pair with his bat.
Christian Lopes, Santiago Nessy, Eric Arce and Nico Taylor all had multi-hit games for Bluefield. One of Arce’s two hits was a 2 out, 2 run blast in the 3rd, his first of the season.
The GCL Blue Jays came up short, giving up 7 runs and 11 hits to the GCL Evil Empire on Friday. Losing pitcher Zakery Wasilewski (0-1) went 3.1 IP giving up 7 hits, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out 3.
D.J. Davis went 3-5, including a solo home run in the 3rd, his 2nd of the year. The other RBIs came from John Siviano (1-4) and George Carroll (1-3, 2B).
Down Dominican way, the DSL Blue Jays tagged the Tigers with a shut out. Winning pitcher Jose Fernandez (1-0) deftly held the Tigers to no runs or hits, while striking out 4 in 5.0 IP.
The Blue Jays put up 5 runs including RBIs from Deiferson Barreto, Cesarf Barazarte and Rolando Segovia.
Three Stars:
Third Star: Eric Thames – Game winning Homer, his 3rd dinger of the year
Second Star: K.C. Hobson – 1 for 4, RBI, Home Run
First Star: Balbino Fuenmayor – 2 for 5, 2B, 3 RBIs
