The Vanimal goes on the attack. Three runs is not enough for Cedar Rapids. Bruce Pugh has a no good, very bad day.
ROCHESTER 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 0 IN ROCHESTER
Batting stars: Antoan Richardson was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Eric Fryer was 2-for-4 with a triple, scoring once and driving in two.
Pitching star: Vance Worley pitched a complete game shutout, giving up five hits and four walks.
Opposition star: B. J. Rosenberg struck out five in four innings, allowing one run on two hits and four walks.
Key inning: The sixth. The Red Wings led 1-0. Jeff Clement led off with a single and Deibinson Romero walked. A bunt moved the runners to second and third. A run scored on a fielder's choice and Ray Olmedo delivered an RBI double. Eric Fryer tripled in a run and scored on a single by Richardson. Rochester scored four in the inning to take a 5-0 lead.
NEW HAMPSHIRE 12, NEW BRITAIN 3 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Batting star: Josmil Pinto was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Pitching stars: None.
Opposition stars: Kevin Nolan was 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk, scoring twice and driving in three. Brian Van Kirk was 1-for-2 with a double and three walks, scoring three times and driving in one. Tyson Brummett allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out three in four innings.
Key inning: The eighth. Already leading 5-2, the Fisher Cats scored seven to put the game away. One-out doubles by Adam Loewen and Kevin Ahrens scored the first run. With two out, a walk and a Ryan Schimpf double made it 8-2. Two more walks loaded the bases and Jon Talley hit a grand slam to finally kill the rally with New Hampshire leading 12-2. The runs all scored off Bruce Pugh, who was in his second inning of work.
In case you're interested: Alex Meyer pitched five innings, giving up four runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five.
BURLINGTON 10, CEDAR RAPIDS 3 IN CEDAR RAPIDS (GAME 1--SCHEDULED 7 INNINGS)
Batting stars: Byron Buxton was 3-for-3 with a walk, scoring once and driving in one. Dalton Hicks was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Pitching star: Alex Muren retired all five batters he faced.
Opposition stars: Michael Bolaski was 2-for-5 with a double and five RBIs. Sherman Johnson was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and was hit by a pitch, scoring three times.
Key inning: The fifth. The score was tied at two. Brett Lee hit the first two batters. Kyle Johnson singled in a run, a walk loaded the bases, and Bolaski unleaded them with a double to make the score 6-2. Manuel Soliman came in and prevented any more scoring in the inning, but the damage was done.
BURLINGTON 6, CEDAR RAPIDS 3 IN CEDAR RAPIDS (GAME 2--SCHEDULED 7 INNINGS)
Batting stars: Tyler Grimes was 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run homer, his third. Dalton Hicks was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, scoring twice.
Pitching star: David Hurlbut pitched a scoreless inning.
Opposition star: Sherman Johnson was 2-for-4 with a double, scoring twice and driving in two.
Key inning: The second. The Bees already led 2-0. Catcher's interference put a runner on first with one out. A single moved runners to the corners and a wild pitch scored the first run of the inning. A walk moved runners to first and second. Johnson hit a two-run double, took third on the throw, and scored on a ground out to make it 6-0, which was all Burlington would need. The runs came off Hudson Boyd, who gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks in six innings.
TODAY'S TILTS
5:35 Richmond (Chris Gloor, 3-1, 4.89) at New Britain (Logan Darnell, 4-3, 2.47)
6:05 Bradenton (TBA) at Fort Myers (TBA)
6:05 Lehigh Valley (Ethan Martin, 5-2, 4.94) at Rochester (Andrew Albers, 2-2, 2.61)
6:35 Clinton (Scott DeCecco, 3-4, 3.64) at Cedar Rapids (Mason Melotakis, 3-2, 3.89)
TBA may have a high pitch count in Fort Myers tonight.