Buffalo Bisons 6 | Columbus Clippers 7

While he didn’t pitch particularly well, watching the game I didn’t feel Chris Schwinden pitched nearly as poor as the boxscore shows. He was making some good adjustments throughout the game and pitched into some tough luck defense. After the leadoff man came in to open the game Schwinden settled down and became a double play machine. He got a double play in the 1st to end any possible early threat, a double play in the 2nd, and then again in the 5th to stop the bleeding after Michael Fisher botched a possible double play ball that allowed a run to score. The defensive woes didn’t end there and got to Schwinden again the 6th. With bases loaded and two outs the Clippers’ batter hit a ground ball to left fielder Jason Botts that should have scored just one, or at most have been a close play at the plate on the second runner, but Botts overran the ball to allow all three men two score and really ruin Schwinden’s game. Schwinden was topping out at 91 mph with some decent life on his ball.

The offense did a good job to fight back from the hole they were in. Down 5-3 entering the bottom of the 6th they rallied to put three runs on the board and take the lead. Michael Fisher delivered the biggest blow of the inning, to make up for his defensive miscues earlier in the game, and drove in two men with a double. Zach Lutz drove in the other run with a bases loaded single. The third base coach would later go on to regret holding Fernando Martinez at third. After the Clippers tied the game up in the 7th they took the lead in the 8th when Raul Chavez let a passed ball to score the man from third base.

Stars of the Game: 1. Michael Fisher (1-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K, E) (22pts) 2. Zach Lutz (2-for-4, RBI, BB, K) (15pts) 3. Luis Figueroa (1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB) (2pts)

Binghamton Mets 2 | Trenton Thunder 4

Collin McHugh had a nice little start today that was spoiled by the bullpen. Things could have been better for him had it not been for a wild play in the bottom of the 4th inning. The Thunder batter hit a fly ball to Brahiam Maldonado who missed the catch while diving and remained hurt on the floor. While Jon Malo ran down the ball, the batter scored an unconventional inside the park homerun. Roy Merritt had a very up and down outing. He allowed the first three men he faced to reach safely with two men scoring in the process, struckout the side to end the inning, and then let two men on in the 7th and needed to be bailed out by Erik Turgeon.

Before being shaken up on the inside the park homerun, Brahiam Maldonado hit his second homerun in as many days by taking top prospect Manny Banuelos deep. Maldonado scored the only other B-Mets run as well. He walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a single by Salomon Manriquez. Reese Havens picked up a double in the game, but struckout two more times. He is now up to 22 strikeouts in 16 games this year.

Stars of the Game: 1. Brahiam Maldonado (1-for-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 K) (33pts) 2. Salomon Manriquez (2-for-4, RBI) (10pts) 3. Reesre Havens (1-for-4, 2B, 2 K) (10pts)

St. Lucie Mets 7 | Jupiter Hammerheads 3

Jake Egbert gave up three unearned runs that were aided by a missed catch by Stefan Welch and misplayed ball by Jefry Marte. I think Egbert has had enough time to show he is too advanced for hitters that he his 4-5 years older than and it is about time to throw him into the makeshift Bisons’ rotation. He can’t be too much worse than Pat Misch has been. Nick Carr had a rough first inning before earning his fifth save. He threw a wild pitch, walked two men, and needed to overcome a passed ball, but got out of the inning without giving up any runs. He rebounded nicely with an easy 9th.

The offense had a great day, especially the 3-4-5-6 hitters. Juan Lagares, Jefry Marte, Stefan Welch, and Wilmer Flores combined to go 7-for-14 with five walks, four RBIs, and four runs scored. Cesar Puello didn’t have a bad game either, driving in a run with an RBI single and one with a sac fly. Great performance from the team against a top pitching prospect.

Stars of the Game: 1. Jefry Marte (3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB) (28pts) 2. Wilmer Flores (2-for-3, RBI, 2 BB) (34pts) 3. Juan Lagares (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, K) (31pts)

Savannah Sand Gnats 4 | Augusta GreenJackets 2

Taylor Whitenton was actually very, very good tonight and even better than the boxscore shows. Looking at his final stat line you’ll see the four walks in five innings, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Whitenton was breezing through this game for the most part. The game went by particularly fast due to the easy nature of his first four innings. He wasn’t getting into any trouble, keeping hitters off balance, and getting easy outs. The 5th inning was really the only adversity he faced all game. Whitenton’s command fell apart in the inning and he wound up walking the bases loaded, including two walks with two outs, but got the ground ball to end the inning without giving up any runs. Josh Edgin‘s dominance continued and his ERA dipped below 1.00.

The offense didn’t have a big day, but were able to put up just enough runs with timely hitting by Darrell Ceciliani and Robbie Shields, as well as a little bit of luck. In the 6th inning, with no one on and two out, Ceciliani picked up a single to set the stage for a two-out RBI double from Shields. Then in the 8th inning with two men aboard Ceciliani came up and delivered a two-RBI double, and put the Gnats back on top. A wild pitch then moved Ceciliani to third, which turned out to be crucial as a sac fly by Shields would score him.

Stars of the Game: 1. Darrell Ceciliani (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) (28pts) 2. Robbie Shields (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, E) (32pts) 3. Taylor Whitenton (5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 SO) (5pts)