It was the worst of times on Wednesday, there was no best of times. The four affiliates combined to concede 41 runs and lose all four games. They scored 18 although Buffalo had 11 of those. The starting pitching was bad, except for Johnny King. The bullpens were terrible. And the hitting below Buffalo was poor. Vancouver needed five walks to score their two runs. Below Buffalo the three teams scored seven runs combined, five of those came in the ninth innings when the games were all but decided. The bright spot was Sean Keys who hit two home runs, a small ray of light on a gloomy night. Johnny King had a rough first inning but he settled down to go five.

Buffalo 11 Iowa 18

Somerset 10 New Hampshire 2

Vancouver 2 Hillsboro 4

Tampa 9 Dunedin 3

Three Stars

Third Star - Johnny King

Second Star - Jon Clase

First Star - Sean Keys

Boxes

NOTES

Bisons pitching had a nightmare game on Wednesday. Jake Bloss was the starter and he got through the first inning unscathed. But then Iowa scored two in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth, one of which was charged to Bloss. Iowa had eight hits off Bloss in 3.1 innings, four of them were extra base hits. Devereaux Harrison and Conor Larkin combined for 12 runs allowed in 1.2 innings.

Jon Clase gave the Bisons a first inning lead with a two run home run. Sean Keys added a pair of two run home runs, he is up to six home runs now in 17 games. For the second home run the right fielder did not move. Both home runs were hit at over 100 mph. CJ Stubbs hit one in the ninth inning.

Jay Harry had a single and a double. He has just ten games in AAA but his OPS is over 1.000 still. Clase had a single to add to his home run. From time to time he produces games like this but then he goes for stretches with no success. His average is .219 with a 670 OPS. You know there is a player in there, he needs to find it more consistently.

Bloss averaged 97 mph with his fastball and touched 98. He did mix in five pitches but he only had four whiffs on 31 swings. It is still early in his rehab but he does need to miss more bats. When you look at his hits allowed chart he was too much in the middle third of the plate, many down low at the bottom of the zone, but still middle.

The pitching was lacking for NH too. Chris McElvain started and he was charged with five runs in 4.1 innings. Just like Buffalo the relievers were no help giving up five more.

The Fisher Cats were held to three hits. A Nick Goodwin triple led to the first run. Cutter Coffey singled in the second run in the ninth.

For Vancouver Johnny King joined the "what's happening" club. Two hits, a walk and 29 pitches in the first inning led to one Hillsboro run. However King settled down after that and completed five innings with six K's. Jack Nedrow followed and the Hops took it to him, six hits and three runs off him in three innings.

The C's had only three hits in the game, all singles. They did score two runs in the ninth thanks to five walks.

Tampa hit three home runs off Dunedin starter Blake Purnell. Tampa tallied five off him in three innings. They added four more off the bullpen.

The Tampa starter entered the game with a 7.53 ERA. He proceeded to hold the Jays to one hit over 4.2 innings while striking out ten. Once he left the game Jojo Parker hit a solo home run and Blaine Bullard doubled in two more consolation runs in the ninth. Bullard was the only hitter with two hits.