I’m headed back out to Lansing right after I get this post up (ok, I’m actually going to try to get the next podcast up too) so I’m going to do the quick version. We’ve got some great content for you this weekend too and we’ll have more interviews from the Lansing Lugnuts. On to the recap, don’t forget to check out Jays Journal!
Buffalo Bisons 6, Charlotte Knights 1
The Bisons got another great start from Liam Hendriks and the Bisons capitalized on their eight hits to come out with another victory. Hendriks was very good, allowing only a solo home run among the six hits he gave up in his seven innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Kevin Pillar drove in three runs with a single and a double and has now run his batting average up to .266 thanks to a 12-game hit streak, over which time he’s hitting .391. Matt Tuiasosopo went 2/4, as did Erik Kratz who had a single and a double, driving in two runs.
Player of the Game: Liam Hendriks and Kevin Pillar
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Trenton Thunder 3
In Game 1 of the double header, Matt Boyd saw his first Double-A action and got into some trouble but managed to stay out of the worst of it. It took him 90 pitches to get through four innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk but he also struck out four. Scott Copeland earned the win with an inning and a third in which he gave up a run on two hits and three walks while Tony Davis got the save for 1 2/3 innings, walking two batters but striking out two. Andy Burns and Brad Glenn went deep and A.J. Jimenez drove in a pair of runs.
Player of the Game: Brad Glenn
New Hampshire 1, Trenton 2
In Game 2, the Fisher Cats could only score one run in support of Shawn Hill and they ended up dropping the second half of the double header 2-1. The batters only had three hits including Mike Crouse‘s first home run of the year. The big Canadian prospect is hitting .290 on the season. Andy Burns went 1/2 with a walk and stole three bases but also made an error. Shawn Hill threw a complete game, going all seven innings and giving up two runs on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
Player of the Game: Shawn Hill
Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Lakeland Flying Tigers 7
The D-Jays dropped their second game in a row and the usually stoic bullpen took a beating. Taylor Cole struck out seven batters without giving up a run in his 4 2/3 innings (allowing six hits and three walks) but Efrain Nieves, who managed to shut things down in the fifth, coming in with the bases loaded, went on to give up three runs of his own in 2 1/3 innings from two home runs despite striking out five batters. Blake McFarland gave up the other four runs in his inning of work. Nick Baligod and Dalton Pompey each had a pair of hits with Pompey adding the team’s only RBI as well as a walk.
Player of the Game: Dalton Pompey
Lansing Lugnuts 9, Dayton Dragons 6
The Lansing Lugnuts had a very good overall game that saw Alberto Tirado start to really get into a groove as well as some power break-outs from the batters. Tirado went five innings, his longest out of the season, giving up just one run on one hit and three walks with four strikeouts. Shane Dawson and Yeyfry Del Rosario made their season debuts and neither had a particularly good day. For Dawson, control was the issue as he handed out five free passes. The offense, with L.B. Dantzler added, has been churning its way through the opposition as the Lugnuts move to a .500 record. Dantzler hit his first Midwest League home run, a grand slam in the seventh inning to put the Lugnuts on top for good. Mitch Nay hit his first of the season, a solo shot in the sixth and Jorge Saez hit his second of the season, going 2/4 and pushing his batting average to .364. Matt Deal also had three hits and a walk while Carlos Ramirez went 2/3 and stole a base.
Player of the Game: Jorge Saez and Alberto Tirado
May 2 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (14-10)
The Bisons continue their home series against the Charlotte Knights at 7:05 pm on MiLB TV with Sean Nolin on the mound. Nolin has a 2-0 record and a 1.96 ERA in his four starts and has been very good with the exception of his lack of control, walking 11 batters in 23 innings. The Bisons will face the White Sox’ Erik Johnson, making his first start of the season with the Knights after being demoted from the big league squad after a rough start.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (12-13)
The Fisher Cats haven’t announced their starter for Friday night’s 6:35 game on the road against the New Britain Rock Cats. My thinking is that it’ll be Casey Lawrence who gets the nod on slightly short rest while lefty Sean Gilmartin goes for the Rock Cats. Gilmartin has a 2-2 record with a 4.37 ERA but an excellent 23-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dunedin Blue Jays (20-7)
The Dunedin Blue Jays send Ben White to the mound at 6:30 PM ET to stop a two-game losing skid against the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Jake Thompson. Thompson, 20, is the #4 prospect for the Tigers (according to MLB.com) has been very tough this year, posting a 2-1 record in five starts with a 1.20 ERA and 10 walks and 28 strikeouts in 30 innings. White, is a plucky pitcher who gets the most out of his abilities, lodging a 1-0 record this year in his four starts with a 3.57 ERA and 29 hits and five walks in 22 2/3 innings.
Lansing Lugnuts (13-13)
The Lugnuts open up a series against the West Michigan White Caps at 7:05 pm with an undetermined starter on the mound. Jeff Thompson (0-0, 5.14 ERA) goes for the White Caps while Charlie Caskey has reported that Matt Dermody is with the Lugnuts, waiting to be activated. Looking over the projected starters for the next few days, Dermody (who Caskey reports has been stretched out to be a starter in extended spring training) makes a lot of sense to be on the mound to start Friday night’s game. The 6-foot-5, 23-year-old lefty had a fantastic season with the Vancouver Canadians last year, putting up a 1.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, mostly coming out of the bullpen where he struck out 50 and walked just four batters in 40 2/3 innings. I’ll be in Lansing to catch the game and I’ll be tweeting and watching for you all back home.
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