Hope everyone had a great Star Wars Day yesterday. If you check out my Twitter feed (@JaysfromAway), you can find some of the photos I took in Lansing last year on their May the Fourth Star Wars Day celebration! It’s not too late to catch Star Wars Nights throughout the minor leagues as it looks like they’re all being pushed later into the summer this year.
Buffalo Bisons
Scheduled Off Day
Roster Notes: Miguel Castro and Scott Copeland were sent back down to Buffalo while Chad Jenkins and Steve Delabar were called up to Toronto. Casey Lawrence and Austin Bibens-Dirkx were sent back down to New Hampshire. Daniel Norris and Andrew Albers were activated.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Reading Fighting Phils 5
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost their opener to the Reading Fighting Phils 5-1 and couldn’t get much offense going against Phillies prospect Aaron Nola. Dwight Smith, Jr. didn’t have any trouble, going 2/4 on the day with his third home run of the year. John Anderson made the start and was tagged for all five runs on 10 hits while Scott Barnes (2 IP, 3 H, 2 K) and Tiago Da Silva (1 IP) finished up the game.
Roster Notes: Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Casey Lawrence were returned to the New Hampshire roster.
Player of the Game: Dwight Smith
Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Tampa Yankees 2
In a close game with little offense, the Dunedin Blue Jays emerged victorious after taking advantage of some mistakes by the Yankees. Jorge Saez led off the 10th inning with a single before moving over to second on a sac bunt by Roemon Fields. Dawel Lugo popped out but with two outs, pitcher Conor Mullee threw a wild pitch, advancing Saez to third before Jason Leblebijian hit the ball to third and Miguel Andujar botched the play, allowing Leblebijian to reach and Saez to score.
Newly promoted Justin Shafer started and was excellent, allowing just one hit and three walks with three strikeouts, getting eight ground outs and just three fly outs. Alonzo Gonzalez went the next three innings, allowing a solo home to score but also struck out five. Luis Santos went four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts to earn the win while Wil Browning saved it with two strikeouts in a perfect 13th.
The offense only had seven hits with everyone but Roemon Fields and Jason Lebebijian reaching on a hit. David Harris and Dickie Joe Thon each had a double and an RBI while L.B. Dantzler had a double and walked.
Player of the Game: Justin Shafer and Luis Santos
Lansing Lugnuts 7, West Michigan Whitecaps 6
The Lugnuts scored in bunches and managed to hold off the West Michigan Whitecaps to end their losing streak and move back into a tie for first place in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League. Richard Urena had a huge day, going 3/4 with a double but D.J. Davis and Ryan McBroom each hit a home run and had two RBI (with Davis adding a walk). Anthony Alford had a 2/4 game with a double, a stolen base and two runs and Dan Jansen drove home a pair of runs with a double.
Despite making an error (among three for the team), Tim Locastro saved the game by making a diving stop and initiating a double play in the ninth inning to finish the game. On the mound, Sean Reid-Foley made his longest start of the year, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts while Chase Mallard went another four, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Phil Kish allowed two runs in the ninth (one was unearned) before getting out of the jam and earning the save.
Player of the Game: D.J. Davis and Anthony Alford
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