Las Vegas stayed in the hunt in their division with their second win in Tacoma to stay 5 games behind Sacremento in the Pacific Southern of the PCL. Two offensive weapons returned to the 51s when Hechavarria and Gose were sent down to Las Vegas late in the evening. New Hampshire, Dunedin, Vancouver and the GCL Blue Jays all won as well.
Las Vegas took advantage of Tacoma’s pitching and scored their only 4 runs in the first inning on four walks and a pair of singles. Starter Bill Murphy (6-5) got his 6th win with an impressive 6.0 IP, striking out 3, allowing 5 hits and just a single run. David Carpenter earned his 4th save in 1.2 IP.
Ricardo Nanita (1-4, RBI) singled in his RBI, and Danny Perales (0-3), Paul Phillips (0-3) and Brian Bocock got theirs forcing in runs on walks. Luke Hughes (2-5, 2B) had the 51s’ only multi-hit game.
New Hampshire and New Britain each had 11 hits, but the Fisher Cats put more across the dish in front of 5,167 home field faithful. Starter Yohan Pino (9-7) put up his 9th win in 7.0 IP with 4 K’s, 2 runs and 9 hits. Brad Glen had a throwing error, his 7th miscue on the season.
Jays’ rehabber Adam Lind went 3-4, but was bested by Brian Van Kirk who went 4-4 with a Homer and 3 runs batted in. Koby Clemens put in a 2-4 effort with a pair of RBIs.
Lakeland matched Dunedin’s 8 hits, but the D-Jays prevailed behind the winning pitching of Marcus Walden (9-1) and the save of Danny Barnes (S, 3), each striking out 3.
Marcus Knecht (2-3) slammed his 13th homer, a solo blast in the 7th inning. Jon Talley (2-4) also turned in a pair of singles.
Lansing came up short versus Great Lakes putting up only three runs on 8 hits. Aaron Munoz (1-3) had an RBI. Jason Leglegijian (2-4) had the Lugnuts’ only multi-hit game and no one managed an extra-base hit for Lansing.
The Canadians edged Boise by a run despite being out hit 10-9. Reliever Zack Breault didn’t get a decision, but did strike out 4 in 4.1 IP. Colton Turner (3-0) took the win in 2.0 IP, allowing 3 hits and striking out one.
Balbino Fuenmayor (2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs) put up major lumber, batting in a pair with a homer in the 7th and adding a double for good measure. Carlos Ramirez went 3-4 with a triple and an RBI. Matt Newman, Christian Lopes, and Tucker Frawley also turned in RBIs.
Kingsport brought the bats to Bluefield and outhit the Blue Jays 10 to 6. Starter Griffin Murphy struck out 3 and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits including a homer. Losing pitcher Colby Broussard (0-4) also gave up a homer and three other hits that produced a pair of Kingsport runs. Mathew Dean (1-3) committed his 23rd error, a bad throw.
Dean did redeem himself batting in a run. Emilio Guerrero (2-5, 2B) batted in a pair and D.J. Davis (1-3) also had an RBI.
GCL Blue Jays 4 GCL Phillies 2
The Jays did their work in the 4th with three and added a run in the 8th to put the Phillies away behind the winning ways of reliever Jesus Gonzales who inked his first win striking out 3, with 2 hits and one run allowed. Chuck Gyles got his 7th save striking out 1 and allowing one hit in a single IP.
In the fourth, Gabriel Cenas (1-4) singled and was plated by Jesus Gonzales (1-4, 3B, RBI) with a triple. Gonzales stole home while George Carrol (0-2) stole second after walking. Shaun Valeriote (1-3,2B, RBI) Then plated Carroll on a double. In the 8th Josh Almonte (2-4) tripled and scored on a passed ball.
Three Stars:
Third Star: Marcus Knecht (2-3, RBI, HR)
Second Star: Balbino Fuenmayor (2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs)
First Star: Brian Van Kirk (4-4 with a Homer and 3RBIs)
