Louisville prevailed on Friday over the Scranton Stranglers, 2-1. Billy Hamilton was 1-3 with a walk, a run, and 2 larcenies. Chad Rogers pitched well, lasting 5 2/3 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits. He walked nobody and struck out 5. Way to go, Sharkbait. Pedro Villareal notched his first save with 2.1 scoreless to close it out. On Saturday, the Bats won 2-1 again, but this time it took 10 innings. Mike Hessmania and Felix Perez were both 2-5 with a double, and Yohan Pino pitched well. A-Rod struck out 3 times HAHAHA. Sunday made it a clean sweep, as the Bats beat the RailRiders 4-1. Billy Hamilton had pretty sweet night, going 2-3 with a double and a walk and 2 more steals. Felix the Cat hit a two-run meow-mix, and Daniel Corcino allowed just one run in 5.2 innings. He walked 3 and struck out 5. And only 2 hits! Lil Cueto! OK, maybe not quite there yet. Senor True House picked up save number 2. Up next: Ryan Dennick makes his first start in AAA at 7 against Syracuse.
Pensacola lost to Huntsville on Friday, 3-2. Nobody really stood out in this one, on either side of the baseball. Mike "Son of God" Costanzo had a double and a walk in his only two trips to the plate. On Saturday, some Huntsville mook jacked three dingers and the Wahoos lost 10-5. Yorman Rodriguez was friggin' 4-5 with a triple, and Tucker Barnhart was 2-3 with a walk. The pitching was generally pitiful. Sunday was better, as the Hoos down in P-Ville grinched the Stars, 7-5. Our-Man was 1-2 with 2 walks (!!) and the Brown Hulk was 2-3 with a 2 RBI triple. More unpleasant pitching, overall. Up next: Shaun "Puffy" Ellis (3-1, 3.55) will face Huntsville at 7.
Friday in Bakersfield was salty as hell, with Robert "Long Rob Silver" Stephenson making his first start in the desert. In 6 innings, Bob Steves struck out 5 and walked none, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, the bullpen. Carlos Gonzalez gave up 5 runs (4 earned) in 1 inning, walking 3 and striking out only 1, and the Blaze fell 8-4 to Visalia. On Saturday, the Lancaster JetHawks came to town, and the Blaze won 6-3, despite being outhit 12-8. Shane Dyer picked up the win, striking out 6 in 5 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits and no walks. Juan "Rio" Duran drove in 2 on a 2-3 night, and Kyle Waldrop went 2-4 with a double. Bakersfield won in a slugfest on Sunday, beating the JetHawks 10-7. The Blaze jumped out to an early lead, putting up 7 by the time the second inning had ended. Steve "Too" Selsky "For the Cal Leage" brought the thunder, going 4-5 with a double and a triple. Junior Arias (3-5) and Juan Duran (3-4) honked a pair of wangers, and Danny "Sid" Vicioso went 3-4. Mike Dennhardt wasn't great, but he didn't need to be, tossing 5 innings of 4-run ball, striking out 4 and walking 2. It's starting to look like Kyle Lotzkar is toast, he gave up 3 in 1.2 innings, and is now sporting a 6.49 ERA. Up Next: Jon Moscot (1-13, 4.96 ERA) takes the hill at 10:45.
Dayton had a solid weekend, taking two of their three games. On Friday, the Dragons beat the Beloit Snappers 8-5. Naughty Nick got the start, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits in 5 innings, striking out 4 and walking 1. Uncle Jesse Winker ripped a triple and drove in 2 on a 2-5 night, and Sammy Diaz went 2-4 with a 2 run honk job. On Saturday, the Dragons fell to the Timber Rattlers 6-2. Amir Garrett made his first start in Dayton, giving up 3 earned runs in 4 innings, striking out 1 and walking 2. Tanner Rahier, who's having himself a pretty solid July, went 2-4 with a dinger. Seth Mejias-Brean was 2-3 with a wanger and a walk. The Dragons eked one out on Sunday, winning 7-6 against Wisconsin. The 3-Brean Casserole reached base 4 times, going 3-3 with 2 doubles and a walk, and Jesse Winker was 2-5 with a double and a dinger. Up Next: Sal Romano (6-8, 4.37 ERA) fires up his engine at 7.
Billings lost 3-2 on Friday, despite a quality start from Luke Moran, who hurled 6 innings of 3-run ball, striking out 4 and walking none. Jonathan Reynoso was the only offensive standout for the Mustangs, going 3-4 with 2 doubles. Billings won on Saturday, besting the Orem Owlz 7-4. Ronald "Ronnie be Good" Bueno drove in 1 and scored twice. OBP machine, Phil Ervin went 1-3 with a double and a walk. The Mustangs lost 6-4 on Sunday on the heels of a poor start from Jose Guzman (3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 K, 4 BB). Uncle Phil banged out a double and a solo ding dong on a 2-4 night. Up Next: The 'Stangs take on the Owlz at 9:05. No starters announced yet.
The AZL Reds shockingly won both of their weekend games. The Reds shut out the Baby Snakes on Friday, winning 6-0. Junior Morillo spun 5 innings of 3-hit ball, striking out 4 and walking 1. Kevin Garcia had the Jr. Reds only multi-hit game and XBH, going 4-5 with a double. After an off day on Saturday (Shomer Shabbos!), the Lil' Reds beat the Little Seamen 9-4 on Sunday. Kevin Garcia had yet another 4-5 day, driving in 1 and scoring 3 times. After a meh season in the DSL last year, Garcia is slashing .383/.405/.568 in 21 games this season. All 4 runs were charged to reliever Juan Martinez, who allowed 5 hits in 1 inning pitched. Up Next: M's vs. Reds at 10.