Hitters made the day for three of the four minor league clubs as the Fisher Cats, Blue Jays and Lugnuts all took home a victory while the Bisons fell just short.
Buffalo Bisons 2, Toledo Mud Hens 3
Miguel Castro made his third Buffalo start and managed to throw 57 pitches (37 for strikes), going 2 1/3 innings and allowing three unearned runs on five hits and one walk. While the runs were unearned, he allowed two home runs and thus, he shouldn’t be let off the hook for this one. Luis Perez had a great outing, allowing just one hit and two walks in three innings with four strikeouts while Rob Rasmussen finished the game with 2 2/3 innings of no-hit (and two-walk) ball, striking out a pair.
The batters only had seven hits including a solo home run by Brad Glenn. Dalton Pompey was on base twice with a single and a walk and Adny Burns was 2/4 with Caleb Gindl going 2/3 and a walk.
Roster Notes: Todd Redmond was called up to the Blue Jays while Jeff Francis was DFA’ed. After today’s game, Scott Copeland was called back up to Toronto with a corresponding roster move coming on Tuesday. Luis Perez was promoted from New Hampshire to Buffalo.
Player of the Game: Luis Perez and Rob Rasmussen
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Reading Fightin Phils 1
The Fisher Cats got another strong start on the holiday Monday with Casey Lawrence going 5 1/3 innings and allowing just one run on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Scott Barnes finished the sixth inning and Greg Burke came in for the seventh and eighth, allowing just a walk while Blake McFarland picked up his fifth save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Pierce Rankin continues to tear through the Eastern League, getting a single and a double with two RBI while Kevin Nolan also added two hits.
Roster Notes: Luis Perez was sent back up to Buffalo while C Chris Schaeffer was activated off the DL.
Player of the Game: Casey Lawrence and Pierce Rankin
Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Tampa Yankees 3
Despite being down 2-0 before even coming to bat in the bottom of the first, the Dunedin Blue Jays (whose bats have been stagnant for most of the year) rallied for seven runs over their final three innings to come out on top with a 7-3 victory over Tampa. Luis Santos got the start and only made it four innings, allowing all three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. The bullpen really stepped up with Matt Dermody providing three innings of scoreless relief, giving up just two hits and striking out five and Alberto Tirado finished the game, earning his second win of the season with two innings, allowing a hit and two walks.
Maicer Izturis made his first start of the season and was 1/2. The big hero was Mitch Nay who went 2/4 with a double, a three-run home run and four RBI. Matt Dean and L.B. Dantzler each had a single and a double (and scored twice) while Derrick Loveless was 1/3 with a triple, an RBI and a walk.
Roster Notes: Jonathon Wandling joined the Dunedin Blue Jays out of extended spring training and Alonzo Gonzalez was placed on the DL. Maicer Izturis was assigned to Dunedin for a rehab assignment.
Player of the Game: Mitch Nay
Lansing Lugnuts 7, South Bend Cubs 5
The Lugnuts won again, beating the South Bend Cubs who came to visit and opened their series at Cooley Law School Stadium on Monday. Shane Dawson was solid, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on five hits but walked three and only struck out two. Mark Biggs surrendered another two runs on six hits in two innings and Colton Turner came in to finish the seventh inning and Jose Fernandez finished it off, earning the save with a perfect ninth, striking out two.
D.J. Davis was an offensive force, going 4/4 with a double and a stolen base (but he was also caught stealing). Anthony Alford was 3/5 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI while Ryan McBroom, Gunnar Heidt and Dan Jansen each had two hits.
Player of the Game: D.J. Davis
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