Beloit salvages the day.  The Red Wings and Rock Cats have bullpen meltdowns.  And a Mister Belding sighting!

SYRACUSE 10, ROCHESTER 5 IN ROCHESTER

Batting stars:  Darin Mastroianni was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.  Ray Chang was 2-for-4.

Pitching star:  Anthony Slama struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up one hit.

Opposition stars:  Mark Teahen was 2-for-4 with a grand slam.  Jason Michaels also hit a grand slam.

Key inning:  The eighth.  With the Red Wings leading 5-4, a walk, a single, and an error loaded the bases for Michaels, who hit a grand slam.  Oddly, that did not kill the rally.  With two out, two singles and a walk re-loaded the bases and Teahen singled to drive in two more, putting the game out of reach.  The first four runs came off Tyler Robertson and the final two off Brendan Wise.

Other:  All ten Chiefs runs scored with the bases loaded.  Joe Thurston has signed a minor league contract and has been activated by Rochester.  The Red Wings are now 4-3 in the Thruway Cup series, tied with Buffalo and 1.5 games ahead of Syracuse.

PORTLAND 7, NEW BRITAIN 3 IN NEW BRITAIN

Batting star:  James Beresford was 2-for-3.

Pitching star:  Luke French gave up two runs on seven hits and no walks in 6.1 innings.

Opposition stars:  Derrik Gibson was 3-for-5.  Dan Butler was 2-for-4 with a double.  Charle Rosario struck out three in two shutout innings, giving up only one hit.

Key inning:  The ninth.  Trailing 3-2, the Sea Dogs tallied five times in the final frame.  The runs scored on a double, three singles, a walk, another single, and two errors.  Daniel Turpen was charged with four of the five runs.

Other:   The Rock Cats made five errors in the game. You’ve got to love minor league promotions:  tomorrow night in Portland, they’re going to have a “celebrity appearance” by Dennis Haskins, the guy who played Mr. Belding in “Saved by the Bell.”

PALM BEACH 6, FORT MYERS 2 IN FORT MYERS

Batting star:  Jairo Perez hit a home run, his second, and scored both Miracle runs.

Pitching stars:  Jose Gonzales struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits.  Bruce Pugh worked three perfect innings.

Opposition star:  Seth Maness struck out seven in seven innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits and no walks.

Key inning:  The third.  In a scoreless tie, the Cardinals scored six times and pretty much ended the game right there.  They went double, walk, double, walk, single, ground out, single, double.  All the runs came off Adrian Salcedo, who had allowed no hits going into the inning.

Other:  Palm Beach got three walks and an error in the second inning, but did not score thanks to a pair of caught stealings.  Apparently, you do not run on Josmil Pinto.

BELOIT 9, BOWLING GREEN 3 IN BELOIT

Batting stars:  Jairo Rodriguez was 3-for-4 with a double, scoring twice and driving in three.  Adam Pettersen was 2-for-3 with a double and was hit by a pitch, driving in two.  Wang-wei Lin was 2-for-5 with a double, driving in two.

Pitching star:  Michael Tonkin worked two perfect innings.

Opposition star:  Jeff Malm was 2-for-4 with a double.

Key inning:  The sixth.  The Hot Rods scored in the top of the inning to tie the score at three.  In the bottom of the inning, the Snappers loaded the bases on walks.  Rodriguez grounded out to bring in one.  With two out, Pettersen doubled to bring in two more.  A three run eighth then put the game away.

TODAY’S TILTS

10:35  Syracuse at Rochester             Zach Duke v. Cole DeVries
                                                             Erik Arnesen v. Jeff Manship
6:05    Palm Beach at Fort Myers         Richard Castillo v. Marty Popham
6:30    Bowling Green at Beloit             Jake Floethe v. Matthew Summers