The Rock Cats and the Snappers use the long ball. Madison Boer has his first good outing in Fort Myers. Miguel Sano steals home.
ROCHESTER 3, GWINNETT 1 IN GWINNETT
Batting stars: Sean Burroughs and J. R. Towles were each 2-for-4.
Pitching star: Liam Hendriks struck out nine in seven innings, allowing only an unearned run on five hits and two walks.
Opposition stars: Luis Durango was 3-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt. Josh Wilson was 3-for-4. Yohan Flande worked seven strong innings, giving up a run on five hits and a walk.
Key inning: The eighth. With the score tied at one, the Red Wings got a hit batsman, a single, and a walk to load the bases with two out. Danny Valencia and Burroughs each delivered RBI singles to give Rochester a 3-1 lead.
Other: George “the Animal” Steele will make an appearance at the Red Wings game June 2.
NEW BRITAIN 6, BINGHAMTON 4 IN NEW BRITAIN
Batting star: Deibinson Romero was 2-for-3 with a walk and a two run homer. Matt Rizzotti hit a two run homer.
Pitching star: Caleb Thielbar struck out four in two shutout innings, allowing one hit.
Opposition stars: Matt Den Dekker was 3-for-5 with a home run. Raul Reyes and Eric Campbell were each 2-for-4.
Key inning: The eighth. In a 4-4 tie, the Rock Cats had two out and none on. Rizzotti walked and Romero hit a two run homer to give New Britain the lead.
CLEARWATER 2, FORT MYERS 1 IN FORT MYERS
Batting star: Daniel Ortiz was 3-for-4 with two doubles and drove in the only Miracle run.
Pitching stars: Madison Boer went five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Matthew Hauser struck out three in two shutout innings, surrendering only a walk. Bruce Pugh also pitched two shutout innings, striking out two while giving up three hits.
Opposition stars: Jim Murphy was 2-for-4 with a two run homer. Anthony Hewitt was 2-for-4. Perci Garner lasted six innings, allowing one run on four hits and five walks.
Key inning: The fourth. With the Threshers trailing 1-0, an error put a runner on first with one out and Murphy hit a two run homer to give Clearwater the lead.
Other: Ortiz led off the ninth with a double and got to third with two out, but Daniel Santana fanned to end the game. Fort Myers was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
BELOIT 9, CEDAR RAPIDS 2 IN BELOIT
Batting stars: Adam Bryant was 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two. Drew Leachman was 2-for-5 with a double and his third home run, driving in three. Eddie Rosario was 2-for-5 with his fourth home run, driving in two.
Pitching stars: A. J. Achter struck out five in five innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and a walk. Tyler Jones struck out five in three shutout innings, surrendering four hits and two walks.
Opposition stars: Kaleb Cowart was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Frazier Hall was 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly. Joe Meloris struck out five in four innings, giving up a run on four hits and three walks.
Key inning: The first. Cedar Rapids jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a walk, an error, a double, and two wild pitches. The Snappers came right back with four in the bottom of the first. Bryant came through with a two run single, Miguel Sano stole home, and Kyle Knudson produced an RBI single.
Other: The description of Sano’s steal of home is less than clear, but it appears that with runners on first and third and a 3-2 count on the batter, the runner took off from first. The pitch was ball four, but the catcher threw to second anyway, and Sano came home…Steve Bedrosian’s son Cameron started for the Kernels, but did not do well, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. For the season, he is 0-4, 6.35.
TODAY’S TILTS
6:00 New Britain at Portland Andrew Albers v. Stolmy Pimentel
6:05 Palm Beach at Fort Myers TBA v. Miguel Munoz
6:05 Rochester at Gwinnett TBA v. Eric Junge
6:30 Cedar Rapids at Beloit Austin Wood v. Tim Shibuya
Milb.com is listing Cole DeVries as Rochester’s starter tonight, but it seems unlikely.