- Louisville traded 6 run innings with Toledo, but still ended up losing 13-9. Despite the 4 run differential, the Bats were outhit by the Mud Hens 21-9, though they did draw 7 more walks. Chad Reineke started and had a WHIP of 3 when he left after 5 innings, and Jordan Smith, fresh off the DL, pushed his ERA into 3 digits with 0.1 innings of work. Sounds like he's ready to be called up. The lone bright spot of the Bats pitchers was Josh Judy, who pitched a scoreless ninth. He and JJ Hoover have looked pretty good at the back end of that Louisville pen. Neftali Soto has his first multi-hit game of the year, going 3-4 with his second homer in as many nights. Future Mrs. Crolfer Mike Costanzo also had a 3-run HR, but that was his only hit. Every Bat reached base at least twice, save for Denis Phipps, who contributed only an RBI double. Up next: Andrew Brackman (0-1, 8.10 ERA) takes on Toledo at 6:35 ET.
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Pensacola lost a close one to Jacksonville, 8-7. After tying it in the 7th on homers by Ryan LaMarre (who also had a triple) and Joel Guzman, Drew Hayes promptly gave up the lead a half inning later. The Wahoos threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but could only squeeze one run across before pinch hitter Mark "Hockey Name" Fleury struck out to end the game, despite a battle of an AB. Didi Gregorius was 4-5, and has now hit safely in eight of his last ten games. We all know he can flash the leather, but it's nice to see him crushing the ball too. Tim "Ten Points from Slytherin" Crabbe went 5 innings, surrendering 4 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks, striking out 7 in the process. Up next: J.C. Sulbaran (1-0, 1.64 ERA) looks to continue his resurgence against Jacksonville at 8:00 ET.
- And Billy continues to hit in Bakersfield. The Platonic ideal of speed didn't steal any bases today, but he did go 2-5 (double, triple) in a 6-4 Blaze win over Visalia. Does it like they've played Visalia like, the last 9 games to anyone else? Anyway, as soon as I call for Yorman Rodriguez to be sent back to Little League, he has a 3-4 day with a double and 2 runs scored. A small but welcome rebound. Bryson Smith and Doppel Donald Lutz also had two hits apiece, and the latter flashed some wheels, stealing his first base of the year. Chad Rogers started and had a 7 K:BB ratio in 5.1 innings, though Visalia made their hits count, still tagging him for 3 runs, all earned...Welcome to the Cal League. Daniel Wolford and Wilkin De La Rosa combined for 2 scoreless innings of relief, with the latter getting the save after retiring the final batter of the game. Up next: TBD takes on TBD of the San Jose Giants at 10:15 ET.
- Dayton whupped Fort Wayne 9-4 thanks in part to a 3-run bomb from Junior Arias, his first XBH of the year. He still doesn't have a multi-hit game, however, and is OPSing a Yorman-esque .342 (ed note: that dwarfs Yorman's .276 OPS). Theo Bowe did his best not to let Billy Hamilton pull away too much in their SB competition, swiping 2 bags as part of a 3-5 night, bringing his season total to 8. The fact that he's still only a handful of steals behind Sir Quix-a-Lot despite the latter having almost double the batting average is worth mentioning. Catcher Yovan Gonzalez continued his hot start, going 2-4 with his second homer of the year. I'm not reading too much into his stats yet, as he doesn't have much of a track record. Tanner Robles started for the Dragons, turning in a very Homer Bailey-ish line of 5.2 innings, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, and 5 K. Up next: Stalin "Gina" Gerson (1-1, 3.48 ERA) toes the rubber against Quad Cities at 7:00 ET.
- Kevin Mitchell is Batman kicked cynicism right in the wee-wee last night as well, in this fantastic recap of last night's miserable light. Preach it, my hoppy brother! If you didn't feel like reading it last night, for whatever reason, do yourself a favor and read it today. It's worth it, and I think that what he says is important.