Farmers Only: Yonder!

There was a full slate of exciting games last night, which all would have been better than watching the big league club suck in Chicago.

Alonso
• Louisville won a close one in Columbus, 3-2.  Homer Bailey started the game for the Bats, and had his first good start of the season, going 6 innings, giving up 2 runs, and striking out 3.  The bullpen was nails too, with Adam Pettyjohn throwing 2 hitless innings and Robert Manuel pitching the 9th for his second save of the season.  Break up the Bats, they've won 4 straight, in a strikingly similar fashion to the Reds recently... without much hitting.  Wes Bankston had a hit with 2 RBI, and Norris Hopper, Adam Rosales, and Craig Tatum all had one hit each.  Those four guys were the only ones in tonight's Bats lineup batting over .200.  Up next:  Ramon Ramirez takes the hill in the finale at 11:35 AM ET.
• Tough loss for the Mudcats, as they lose a close one 2-1 to Huntsville.  Carolina starter Travis Wood was the story of this one, taking a no-hitter into the 7th.  He allowed two runners in the inning (on a hit and walk), and Derrik Lutz allowed both of them to score.  Wood is 0-2 right now, but is posting a 0.57 ERA, which is why W-L record is a terrible statistic.  Sean Watson also pitched a perfect inning of relief.  Not much offense in this one... Todd Frazier had 2 of the 4 Mudcat hits.  Up next: Day game today at 11:00 AM.
  
• Sarasota won 7-5 over the Charlotte Stone Crabs on a brilliant performance by Yonder Alonso.  Yonder went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and a HR, and 4 RBI total.  Dan Perales and Justin Reed added two hits each as well, which was good because the pitching wasn't.  Up next: Zach Stewart is scheduled to start tonight at Charlotte, a 7:05 start.

Fairel
• Dayton blew a 5 run lead in the 8th to lose their 9th in a row, 7-6 to Great Lakes.  It's a shame too, because an awesome start by Matt Fairel was pretty much wasted in the late innings.  Fairel gave up 1 run in 6 innings, striking out 12 (!) and walking only 1.  Unfortunately, Aguido Gonzalez gave up 4 in the 9th to drop the lead and earn him the loss.  Offensively, Frank Pfister went 3-for-4, and David Sappelt and Tony Brown were both 2-for-4 with 2 RBI each.  Up next: Josh Ravin tries to get the Dragons back on track, game time 7:00.