May 3 Minor League Report/May 4 Preview

 

Kevin Pillar
Kevin Pillar

 

May the Fourth be with you today as we celebrate Star Wars day in Lansing, Michigan today. Last night was a great (and quick) game for the Lugnuts as they brought home a “W.”

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 6, Charlotte Knights 5

 

Kevin Pillar was the hero for the Bisons, hitting a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the victory. Ricky Romero gave up all five Charlotte runs over his four innings, surrendering eight hits and four hits with three strikeouts. The bullpen took over with two strong innings from Rob Rasmussen (no hits, four strikeouts) and three strong from Ryan Tepera to get his first Triple-A win. The Bisons got 13 hits including three from Ryan Goins (two singles and a triple), two from Darin Mastroianni, two from Mike Nickeas, two doubles from Munenori Kawasaki and Kevin Pillar’s single and triple.

Player of the Game: Ryan Tepera and Kevin Pillar

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, New Britain Rock Cats 6

 

Despite outhitting the New Britain Rock Cats 12-7 in over the 12-inning game, the Fisher Cats ended up on the wrong side of the score on Saturday night. A.J. Jimenez had his best game of the year, going 3/6 with his first home run of the season. Aaron Sanchez had the start for the Fisher Cats and was just ok, going 5 1/3, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks wtih just two strikeouts. Going for the win, John Anderson ended up allowing a run in the 10th to tie up the game again and Richard Bleier allowed two in the 12th (after the Fisher Cats had scored to take the lead), blowing the save and taking the loss. Jon Berti had a pair of hits and a stolen base while Mike Crouse continues to be hot with a 2/5 game.

 

A.J. Jimenez
A.J. Jimenez

Player of the Game: A.J. Jimenez

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 0, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2

 

The Dunedin Blue Jays got blanked by the Flying Tigers despite a strong outing by Ben White who threw seven innings and gave up just two runs on four hits (and no walks) while striking out four. The offense only managed three hits: singles by Dalton Pompey, K.C. Hobson and Nick Baligod.

 

Ben White
Ben White

Player of the Game: Ben White

 

Lansing Lugnuts 2, West Michigan White Caps 1

 

It was a two-man show for the Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday, facing a tough Vanderbilt product in Kevin Ziomek. Jeremy Gabryszwski was very strong, throwing 6 1/3 innings and allowing only one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Gabryszwski was definitely better last night than in the first outing that I saw this year, mixing his pitches well, using a good changeup but locating a sinking 88-89 mph fastball extremely well. The other half of the equation was provided by Matt Dean who went to the opposite field to hit a home run and a triple in his first two at bats. Justin Atkinson went 2/2 with a walk and the team’s other RBI while Mitch Nay hit the ball hard but with nothing to show for it.

Player of the Game: Jeremy Gabryszwski and Matthew Dean

 

 

May 4 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (16-10)

 

Kyle Drabek takes the hill for the Bisons in a 1:05 start against the 10-18 Charlotte Knights. Drabek is 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA and is coming off a five-inning start in which he allowed two runs on six hits and five runs with six strikeouts. Charlie Leesman has been up with the big club already this year and has been very strong in Triple-A, posting a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings wtih 19 hits and nine walks allowed, striking out 16 batters. Catch the game on MiLB TV.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (12-15)

 

The Fisher Cats, losers of a few games in a row, are sending Deck McGuire to the hill to stop the losing streak. McGuire had probably his worst outing of the season in his last start, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks with just one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings. Still, his 3.21 ERA overall and 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio is still quite excellent. He faces Virgil Vasquez of the New Britain Rock Cats. Vasquez has made only two starts out of his four appearances and has surrendered only two runs in his 15 2/3 innings so far. Vasquez is a veteran at 31 and could be a tough challenge for the Fisher Cats. The game is at 1:35 on MiLB TV.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (20-8)

 

Jesse Hernandez
Jesse Hernandez

 

The D-Jays are looking to Jesse Hernandez to stop their three-game losing streak against the Tampa Yankees and an unannounced starter. Hernandez was very good in his last start, allowing only one run in six innings on just three hits and one walk. He’s 2-1 overall with a 3.27 ERA, 15 hits and just 3 walks in 22 innings with 11 strikeouts. This game is a radio game at 5 PM.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (14-14)

 

The Lugnuts play their Star Wars Day game at 2:05 on the day of the Lansing Marathon with Chase DeJong on the mound to face the West Michigan White Caps and Chad Green. Green, a 2013 draftee, has had a rough season so far, posting a 4.66 ERA in 29 innings wtih 30 hits against but just six walks and a very good 27 strikeouts. Chase De Jong is coming off his third solid outing in a row but he just went three innings (thanks to rain delays) allowing two runs (only one earned) on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

 

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