Farmers Only: Opening Night of the 2010 Season

Welcome to the first edition of Farmers Only for 2010!  If you're new to the site, this is where nyc and I break down the minor league games and keep you, the Reds fan, as well informed about the young players we have coming up in the farm system.  We take our name from a local commercial that airs during Reds games once in a blue moon.  All 4 teams had games scheduled last night, so let's get right to it.

• Louisville beat Toledo 5-3 in their road opener of the year.  Sam LeCure got the start and was solid in his debut, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 4 hitters in 5 innings pitched.  Chris Heisey, Chris Valaika, Todd Frazier, and Daniel Dorn all had two hits to fuel the offense, and 2-run shots by Dorn and Corky Miller accounted for most of the Bats scoring.  The bullpen came up big in this one, with Pedro Viola and Chad Reineke both contributing scoreless outings, and Jon Adkins pitching a perfect 9th for his 1st save of the year.  Up next: Travis Wood takes the mound in his first start of the year, another 5:30 start against Phil Dumatrait and Toledo.
  

Klinker
• Carolina won 4-2 over Birmingham, behind a studly start by Matt Klinker.  Klinker went 5 innings and gave up 0 runs on 2 hits.  Phillippe-Alexandre Valiquette struck out the side in a perfect 8th, and Jordan Smith pitched a rocky 9th for his first save of the year.  Sean Henry drove in 3 runs, two of them coming off of a homer in his first AB of the year, and Sean Danielson and Denis Phipps both had multi-hit games to add to the offense.  Starting in LF, Yonder Alonso went 1-for-3 with a double and 2 runs scored.  Up next: The Mudcats take on Birmingham at 8:05, and no starter has been named yet.
  
• Lynchburg was rained out in their home opener.  They'll make up the game in a doubleheader on Saturday.  Up next: The Hillcats will take on Frederick at 6:05.  Assuming the rotation doesn't change, Matt Fairel will get the start.
• Dayton needed 11 innings, but managed to beat Lansing 6-5 on a walk-off single by Mariekson (DiDi) Gregorius.  DiDi was 4-for-6 on the night, and Chris Richburg and Kevin Coddington also added two hits each, with Coddington hitting his first dinger of the season.  Josh Ravin had a short outing, but struck out 7 in 3 2/3 innings of 2-run ball.  Justin Walker gave up the tying runs in the 7th, but put in a good effort with 6 1/3 innings of relief work.  Does that count for a Quality Relief Outing?  Donnie Joseph pitched a perfect top of the 11th to earn the win.  Up next: Pedro Villarreal takes on Lansing at 7:00.