Not too much good news, unfortunately, from Friday night’s games. Once again, I was a little behind the eight ball last night so it’s a briefer update than I would like. Check out the Jays Journal Recap for more detail.
Buffalo Bisons 1, Gwinnett Braves 4
The Bisons had a lot of trouble with the Gwinnett Braves and Ricky Romero had one of his worst outings, walking nine in just 2 2/3 innings (but allowing just two runs). Austin Bibens-Dirkx shut the Braves down after coming in with the bases loaded but Chad Jenkins allowed another two runs in the sixth. The hitters only had two hits, a Jared Goedert single and an Andy LaRoche double.
Player of the Game: None
Buffalo Bisons 3, Gwinnett Braves 9
And then there was Kyle Drabek. Kyle had another weak outing, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits with just three strikeouts in five innings of work while Ryan Tepera allowed the ninth Gwinnett run. The offense got going a little more in this game with eight hits, two by Andy LaRoche (including a single and a double) while Dan Johnson hit a solo home run. Newly promoted Brad Glenn went 1/3, getting his first hit in Triple-A this season.
Player of the Game: Andy LaRoche
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Binghamton Mets 8
It was going very well for the Fisher Cats. They were cruising along with a 6-4 lead thanks to the grand slam off the bat of backup infielder Andy Fermin in the bottom of the third and then Richard Bleier came out for the eighth inning. He allowed a single (but the batter was thrown out at second base) and a walk and then Dustin Antolin came into the game. Antolin allowed four consecutive hits (single, single, double, single) before retiring a batter and then he gave up another single before Tony Davis came on to retire the last out of the inning. All told, four runs scored and the Fisher Cats let a win slip away, wasting a decent effort (6 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K) by Scott Copeland. The offense was very efficient, getting those six runs off of only five hits including two from Kenny Wilson (single and triple) and the Fermin grand slam.
Player of the Game: Andy Fermin
Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Bradenton Marauders 2
The Dunedin Blue Jays have had a knack for winning close games this year and they came out victorious over the Marauders on Friday. Daniel Norris had another strong start, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing just four hits and one walk, which translated to just one run, with six strikeouts. Arik Sikula continued to dominate from the bullpen, notching his 12th save, striking out all three batters he faced. The offense notched ten hits including two each from Nick Baligod, K.C. Hobson, Derrick Chung (who drove in two runs and also walked) and Jorge Flores (hitting .329 on the season). Marcus Knecht went 1/2 with three walks.
Roster Move: OF Marcus Knecht was activated off the DL after Matt Newman was promoted to Double-A.
Player of the Game: Daniel Norris and Derrick Chung
Lansing Lugnuts 2, Dayton Dragons 13
Facing one of the best pitchers in the Midwest League (Nick Travieso), the Lugnuts’ offense was very quiet, all except for Santiago Nessy who went 2/2 with a home run and double in his two at bats. The club only had five more hits (from five different players) and only took one walk in the game. Tom Robson had another rough start, going 3 1/3 innings and allowing seven of the Dragons’ runs. Roberto Espinosa threw 2 2/3 and surrendered five runs (three earned) while Alonzo Gonzalez finished the game, throwing three innings and allowing just one run on four hits (with no walks).
Player of the Game: Santiago Nessy
May 17 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (21-17)
The Bisons send Liam Hendriks to the mound at 4:05 PM (on MiLB TV) to face Jonathan Pettibone (ironic because there’s a restaurant called Pettibones Grille in Coca-Cola Field). Hendriks has been outstanding all year, with a 1.51 ERA and just two walks in 41 2/3 innings while Pettibone, only 23, has been solid with a 3.42 ERA in 26 1/3 innings with just six walks and 13 strikeouts.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (15-24)
The Fisher Cats can’t seem to win against the Binghamton Mets but will try to get Matt Boyd‘s first Double-A win as he takes the hill to face Rainy Lara (insert weather joke here). We all know of Boyd’s struggles in his three Double-A starts and Lara has been strong this year, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, throwing 33 2/3 innings with a 3.48 ERA, just eight walks and 19 strikeouts. This one starts at 5:35 PM.
Dunedin Blue Jays (29-11)
The Jays’ best minor league team this year, the Blue Jays continue their road trip in Bradenton with Kendall Graveman scheduled to start this 6:30 PM tilt. Graveman has been getting stronger and stronger as he’s gaining more Dunedin experience allowing only two runs in each of his last two starts. Chad Kuhl is his opponent, a 6-foot-3 righty from Delaware who has been hit fairly hard this season with five home runs in 40 1/3 innings. He has a very good strikeout to walk ratio with five walks and 27 strikeouts.
Lansing Lugnuts (19-21)
Finally, the Lansing Lugnuts try to avoid losing three in a row to the Dayton Dragons at home at 7:05 PM at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing. Facing the Lugnuts will be Daniel Wright, a big, 23-year-old righty from Arkansas State who has been very good this season with a 1.93 ERA and a 32-6 strikeout to walk ratio in 32 2/3 innings. The Lugnuts send Shane Dawson to the mound for his fourth appearance (second start). He’s had some rough times, expecially with walks although his last outing was better, walking no one and striking out six in 3 1/3 innings. He’ll likely be followed by Alberto Tirado.
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