MLN 5/5 - Go Big, Lose, or Hang On

By: Chris Martinez

Fresno Grizzlies (AAA): Fresno 8, Omaha 0

Top Lines:
SS Omar Vizquel - 0-2
CF Clay Timpner - 3-4, 3 R, 1 HR (1), 3 RBI
LF Justin Leone - 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
DH Scott McClain - 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (6), 4 RBI
RF Nate Schierholtz - 2-4, 1 BB, 1 SB (7)
1B Brett Harper - 1-4, 1 2B (6)
2B Travis Denker - 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B (2), 1 BB
SP Nick Pereira - 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, W (3-2)

Nick Pereira was masterful over eight innings in Fresno Sunday to earn his third win of the year. Pereira used great location and control with a good mix of speeds on his pitches to baffle Omaha hitters all day. The start was the longest by a Grizzly all year and the eleven strikeouts Pereira racked up are a personal best for the right-hander. He threw 98 pitches in his start, 73 for strikes. Randy Messenger pitched a perfect inning of relief to end the game for Fresno.

The Grizzlies hitters took control of the game via the home run. Not known for power, Clay Timpner hit his first home run of the year. Timper had three hits on the day and had an RBI in the four-run seventh inning for Fresno. Scott McClain had four RBI on a pair of two-run homers. Nate Schierholtz did not hit a home run, but he did steal a base, his seventh steal this year. Ten is the outfielder's career high.

Connecticut Defenders (AA): Connecticut 14, Binghamton 3

Top Lines:
CF/RF Ben Copeland - 3-5, 4 R, 1 HR (2), 2 RBI, 1 BB
1B Travis Ishikawa - 3-5, 3 R, 1 2B (6), 1 RBI,
RF/LF Carlos Sosa - 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B (6), 4 RBI, 1 SO
C Adam Witter - 1-2, 2 R, 1 2B (4), 1 RBI, 3 BB
3B David Maroul - 2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 SO
LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve - 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR (2), 4 RBI
SP Joe Martinez - 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO, W (1-3)
RP Osiris Matos - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
RP Justin Hedrick - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 WP

Joe Martinez won his first game of the year, going five innings where he allowed three runs. Connecticut busted out offensively to score fourteen runs behind Martinez. The bullpen pitched four scoreless innings following Martinez's performance. Osiris Matos was perfect over two innings and had three strikeouts. Justin Hedrick pitched the final two innings of the game and got into trouble in the eighth inning when he allowed a base hit and a wild pitch, then walked Binghamton first baseman Nick Evans to load the bases. Hedrick shut down one of the New York Mets' best minor league hitters Mike Carp with a strikeout following the walk and retired Caleb Stewart to end the threat.

The Defenders banged the ball around the field with five doubles and two home runs. Martinez got in on the offensive action with a double in the third inning. Connecticut staked their starting pitcher to a 8-1 lead early by the end of the second inning and scored another five runs in the sixth inning. Eddy Martinez-Esteve hit a three run home run in the inning. Martinez-Esteve had four RBI on the day, adding the home run to an RBI single he had in the first inning. Carlos Sosa also had four RBI Sunday on two hits.

San Jose (High-A): Inland Empire 7, San Jose 0

Top Lines:
2B Matt Downs - 1-2, 2 BB
C Pablo Sandoval - 1-3
DH Andy D'Alessio - 0-3, 1 BB, 1 SO
LF Dom Duggan - 1-4, 1 SO
SP Clayton Tanner - 2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 WP, L (2-2)
RP Craig Whitaker - 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO, 1 WP
RP Wilmin Rodriguez - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Clayton Tanner's worst start of his career was also a pretty lousy game for the San Jose Giants. Tanner went only two innings where he allowed six runs. The lefty pitcher has had four poor starts in a row now. Tanner has given up 16 runs in his last four starts and he only went as far as five innings in one of those starts.

The offense did absolutely nothing against Inland Empire pitching, facing Cody White as the starter. San Jose managed four hits all day and never got past first base on those hits. Pablo Sandoval had one hit and returned to catcher Sunday. Sandoval has hit safely in his last ten games.

Augusta (Low-A): Augusta 2, Rome 1

Top Lines:
RF James Simmons - 1-4, 1 3B (1), 3 SO
2B Nick Noonan - 0-4
SS Ramon Corona - 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 SO
DH Thomas Neal - 1-4, 1 R, 3 SO
1B Angel Villalona - 1-4, 1 SO
3B Andrew Davis - 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 SO
SP Steven Calicutt - 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, W (2-1)
RP Andy De La Garza - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, Hold (2)
RP Danny Otero - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, SV (5)

Augusta needed a win and they got one in a tight game against Rome. Greenjackets starting pitcher Steven Calicutt was outstanding over seven innings. The left hander held Rome to no runs and allowed three hits. Calicutt had five strikeouts and kept the ball down most of the game with nine groundouts in the game. Andy De La Garza has had a rough time pitching in relief this year but had a strong performance Sunday. Rome scored their only run of the game against Otero but he limited the damage and kept Calicutt in line for the win.

The offense suffered from a hitless day from usually reliable Nick Noonan. James Simmons had a triple in the seventh inning and was left at third base. It was Simmons' only hit of the game; he struck out three times. Thomas Neal had a hit and scored in the second inning when Andrew Davis singled to center field. Ramon Corona put Augusta ahead by two runs with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to score Jackson Williams.

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