Winker goes yard despite the opposing catcher trying to pinch him on the bottom
Dayton Dragons
Louisville tarred and feathered the Mud Hens, cruising to a phat 12-0 win. Armando Galarraga was really good again, and wangers were valiantly honked by Nevin Ashley (2-4, 3 RBI) and Felix El Gato (2-4, 2B, 4 RBI). Hank Rodriguez andNeftali Soto both had 2 hits, while Denis Phipps was 3-4. Whole lotta hitting goin' on. Billy Hamilton was 0-4, unfortunately, but he did walk twice, so he's still down with OBP (yeah you know me). Up next: Daniel Corcino (4-11, 6.72) will pitch, if he remembers how, against Indy at 7:05.
Pensacola came out King Goose in a honkerfest, beating Montgomery 5-3. Nothing better than a good ol' fashioned Biscuit-Wahoo match-up. Anyway, the pitching was largely uninspiring in this one. However, five Wahoos had multiple hits, though neither Donald Lutznor Yorman Rodriguez were among them (both 0-4). Two guys went yard that I'd love to see keep hitting, Ryan LaMarreand Tucker Barnhart, with LaMarre's 9th inning 2-run blast being the difference maker. Moose Mattair helped the cause with 3 singles. Mattair has forgotten how to hit for any semblance of power, but sports a .286/.375/.357 line over his last 10 games. I didn't realize Moose was a 2007 2nd-rounder by the Phillies, did you? That's some fonky banana crizazlebeans, yo. Up next: Tim Crabbe (3-7, 3.63) will pinch the Biscuits at 8:05.
Bakersfield tied the game three separate times, but couldn't do it a fourth and lost to the Storm 5-3. The bottom of the order really carried the offense, with the 7-8-9 hitters of Vicioso, Vidal, and Juan Perez hitting a combined 7-10 with a walk, a double, and all the RBI. Shane Dyer gave up all 5 runs, though it was nice to see Kyle Lotzkar not shit himself on the mound for once, tossing 1.1 hitless, with a walk and a K. I'm still baffled as to why he's gotten so much worse in the pen. Up next: Jon Moscot (1-12, 5.22) will embarrassingly look for his second win of the year at 10:05.
Dayton also won big, beating Cedar Rapids starring Ed Helms, 12-6. Jesse Winker hasn't been hitting much recently, but he made his one count today, smashing a first-inning grand slam. It was his only hit in 5 tries, but it was a big one. Seth Mejias-Brean was the eighth Dragon to ever record 5 hits (and the first since...wait for it...Ronald Torreyes), and the final hit of his 5-5 night was a bases-clearing 3-run double. Nice evening at the dish for the Casserole. Sammy Diaz, Jeff Gelalich, and Joe "Hyde Park on" Hudson all added 3 hits apiece in the 18-hit outburst. Sal "Spicy Mustard" Romano allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings, striking out 5 and walking none. 2013 supplemental rounder Michael Lorenzen tossed another clean inning, striking out 2. He's yet to give up an earned run in pro ball (albeit 3 innings). Up next: More Kernel poppin' as the Dragons send Ismael Guillon (4-6, 5.68) to the mound. Somehow, his ERA is less than Corcino's, which is kind of mind-blowing. Game's at 7:35.
Billings fell to Grand Junction, 10-6. Jose "Luis" Guzman was roughed up, allowing 9 runs (7 earned) in 2.2 innings. It wasn't a bad day at the plate for the Mustangs, as 4 guys collected multiple hits, including 3 high-profile prospects: Phil Ervin (2-5, 2B), Gabriel Rosa (2-4, 2R), and Jonathan Reynoso (2-4). 2013 30th-rounder Taylor Terrasas was also 2-4 with a double. Up next: Big Ben Lively (0-1, 0.00) squares off against Grand Junction at 10:05.
The AZL Reds brought out the boomsticks in a 12-6 win over the Royals. Lots of contributors, but Alberti "Hugo" Chavez and Aristides Aquino led the way, going 3-6 and 3-5, respectively. Juan "Nombre Tedioso" Martinez picked up the win with 5 innings of 1-run, 4-hit ball. He walked 3 and struck out 2. Up next: They'll pick it up again against the Junior Royals at 10.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16270813/winker_homer_swing_6le47tgu_o8qwkgz5.0.jpg)