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Buffalo (22-18) - 3rd in AAA East Northeast Division - 6.5 GB - Currently on 4 game win streak
Win 5-0 Friday
Win 8-6 Saturday
Win 7-1 Sunday
New Hampshire (17-24) - 3rd in AA Northeast Northeast Division - 10.0 GB - Currently on 3 game win streak
Win 3-1 Friday
Win 15-2 Saturday
Win 8-5 Sunday
Vancouver (24-18) - 3rd in High A West - 2 GB - Currently on 1 game winning streak
Loss 8-2 Friday
Loss 12-4 Saturday
Win 7-1 Sunday
Dunedin (17-24) - 5th in Low A Southeast West Division - 10.5 GB - Currently on 1 game losing streak
Win 3-2 & Loss 4-1 Friday
Win 9-4 Saturday
Loss 9-3 Sunday
Buffalo
Friday night saw Buffalo get a tremendous start from Zach Logue in his 2021 AAA debut. Logue went 7 shutout innings, allowing a walk and striking out 8. Dany Jimenez & Travis Bergen both had a scoreless inning of relief.
On offence, the Herd scored 3 in the 3rd and then 2 more in the 4th. In the 3rd, Dilson Herrera had a ground rule double, Breyvic Valera walked and with back-to-back 2-out doubles, Richard Urena & Kevin Smith gave Buffalo the lead. Urena drove in Herrera, while Smith plated Valera & Urena. In the 4th, Juan Graterol singled, was forced out at second by Logan Warmoth, but Herrera followed with a 2-run HR (2). Graterol also picked up 2 more singles in the game.
Connor Overton started on Saturday and allowed single runs in the 3rd, 4th & 5th innings. Overton’s final line was 3 earned on 7 hits and a walk over 5 innings. Casey Lawrence followed and gave up a 2-run HR in the 7th. Hobie Harris threw 1.1 scoreless, while Kirby Snead picked up his 2nd save of the year, allowing a run in the 9th.
Buffalo tied the game in the top of 5, added 4 in the 7th and 1 more in the 9th to win this one. Buffalo scored 8 runs on 8 hits and 9 walks in the game. Richard Urena had the Herd’s only extra base hit, with a double. Urena added 2 more singles as well. Christian Colon had a single and 3 walks. Breyvic Valera & Kevin Smith each had a single and 2 walks. Cullen Large had a single, a walk and was hit by a pitch. George Springer started and had 2 at bats, grounding out in the 1st and then struck out looking to end the 2nd.
Sunday saw Buffalo score in each of the first 3 innings and coast to victory behind the arm of Jacob Waguespack and the bullpen. Buffalo got 2 in the first as George Springer singled, Breyvic Valera walked, Christian Colon singled in Springer, Kevin Smith walked and then after a Richard Urena strikeout, Tyler White singled in Valera. It worked out for Buffalo, but only scoring 2 runs when the first 4 runners get on isn’t great. In the 2nd, Springer was hit by a pitch with 1-out, moving to 2nd on a Colon single and then Kevin Smith homered to left, his 10th of the year. Logan Warmoth tripled to lead off the 3rd, scoring on a Rodrigo Vigil ground out to give Buffalo a 6-0 lead. In the 9th, Colon singled and scored on a Urena double.
Jacob Waguespack threw 5 shutout innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk, striking out 6 and hitting a batter. Jackson McClelland struggled, giving up a hit and 2 walks to score a run in 0.2 innings. Kirby Snead came in with the bases loaded and got the 3rd out of the 6th. Curtis Taylor, Dany Jimenez & Bryan Baker each had a scoreless inning of relief to finish this one up.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire had a fun weekend, sweeping Hartford, though that made up for the first few games when they couldn’t seem to get things going against a team they were ahead of in the standings. Friday nights game was a comeback for the Fisher Cats, as they were down 1-0 heading into the 8th inning. It was a bullpen game and the 4 guys who pitched gave NH a chance. Opening up the 8th inning, Austin Martin struck out. Samad Taylor reached on an error by the shortstop. Taylor stole second, then Otto Lopez walked and Taylor stole 3rd. LJ Talley then singled to score Taylor. Vinny Capra walked to load the bases. Chris Bec was batting when a balk drove in Lopez. Bec then walked before Brock Lundquist flew out to score Talley on a sac fly.
Mike Ellenbest started the game, going 3 shutout innings, allowing a hit and a walk. Graham Spraker followed with 3 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits. Will McAffer threw 1.2 innings, giving up 2 walks. Andrew McInvale finished the game with 1.1 innings to pick up the win. The bullpen allowed only 4 hits and 4 walks in the game, putting in good work with Logue having moved up to Buffalo
Saturday was a bit more of a laugher for New Hampshire, as they pounded out 22 hits and 4 walks in the 15-2 blowout. Austin Martin had himself a big game, with 5 hits, including 2 double. Martin drove in 4 and scored 2 runs. Samad Taylor & Vinny Capra each had 4 hit games. Taylor had 2 singles and 2 doubles, driving in 4 and scoring 3 runs. Capra had 4 singles and scored 3 runs. Otto Lopez had 2 singles and a double. Gabriel Moreno hit a solo HR in the 2nd (7) and added a single and drove in 3. Reggie Pruitt had 2 hits and a walk, scoring 3 runs. Chavez Young & LJ Talley each had a single, while Jordan Groshans was the only Cat without a hit, but he did walk once to reach base.
Elvis Luciano started for the first time since May 23rd, and went 1.2 innings. Luciano allowed a double and 2 walks in his 32 pitches, but no runs. He also struck out 3. Jon Harris got the 3rd out of the 2nd, before making way for Maximo Castillo. Castillo threw 6 innings, allowing 2 earned on 7 hits. Castillo struck out 5 in this one. Fitz Stadler allowed 2 walks and got 2 strikeouts in the 9th to finish up this one.
New Hampshire scored 15 runs on Saturday with only 1 HR, but picked up 4 HR’s on Sunday in their 8-5 win. Gabriel Moreno hit his 8th, a 2-run shot in the 3rd. Otto Lopez followed to straight away CF for his first of 2021. Jordan Groshans and Vinny Capra each hit their third HR’s of the year in the 7th, both were solo shots, but Reggie Pruitt was out in between the two. Moreno added a single and a double in this one. Groshans had 2 singles for his 3-hit game. Capra had a single and a walk. Chavez Young and Chris Bec both had 2 singles, with Young adding a walk. Austin Martin singled. Samad Taylor had a single and was hit by a pitch.
Simeon Woods Richardson started the series finale, and wasn’t quite as sharp as we have seen him, but got through 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk. SWR was solid with the exception of a hiccup in the 4th inning. After allowing back-to-back singles that didn’t leave the infield, Woods Richardson struck out 2 of the 9 he K’d on the day. A walk loaded the bases and a double cleared the bases, leading to the 3 run. SWR got a strikeout to end the inning, and then after a single and a throwing error by himself, SWR struck out 3 straight to end the 5th and his day. Kyle Johnston pitched 3 innings of relief, allowing a run on 3 hits and 2 walks. Brody Rodning pitched the 9th, giving up a solo HR.
Vancouver
Luis Quinones started Friday night and had his roughest outing of the year. Quinones struggled with control as he allowed 2 earned over 3.2 innings. Quinones struck out 6, but also gave up 4 hits, 6 walks and 2 hit batters. Marcus Reyes followed and allowed 4 earned in 2.1 innings, on 5 hits. Cobi Johnson allowed a 3-run HR in his 2 innings. Final for Johnson was 2 hits and 2 walks, but he did strike out 5. Parker Caracci pitched the 9th and allowed a single, but nothing else.
At the plate, the C’s got 5 hits and 3 walks, but were only able to score single runs in the 4th & 8th. Cameron Eden had a single, a double and scored a run. Eden drove in Eric Rivera for the other Vancouver run and also stole his 20th base. Tanner Kirwer had a walk and stole his 25th base of the year. Phil Clarke, Tanner Morris and Rivera each had singles, while Sebastian Espino and Davis Schneider each walked once.
Saturday saw the Vancouver pitchers struggle. Sam Ryan started, allowing 6 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 3.2 innings. Sean Mellen made his Vancouver debut, allowing 3 earned on 3 hits and 3 walks in 2.1 innings. Justin Maese also had a rough go, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in an inning. Willy Gaston was the only C’s pitcher not to allow a run, going 2 shutout innings, on a walk and striking out 1.
For the second straight game, Cameron Eden was the only C hitter to have multiple hits. Eden had a double and 2 singles, scoring 2 runs. Phil Clarke, Spencer Horwitz and Eric Rivera each singled. Luis De Los Santos was hit by a pitch. Rivera added a walk, but that was all the baserunners Vancouver were able to muster off 2020 #6 overall pick Emerson Hancock and the Everett bullpen.
A 5-run 5th inning was the major difference Sunday, as Vancouver was able to get back in the win column. The 5th started with a DJ Neal single and stolen base. Tanner Kirwer walked and then Phil Clarke singled in Neal. After a Cameron Eden flyout, Spencer Horwitz singled in Kirwer. Luis De Los Santos reached on an error, scoring Clarke. Sebastian Espino then doubled in Horwitz & De Los Santos. Outside of the 5th, Rafael Lantigua was the big bat for Vancouver, picking up a triple and his 2nd HR of the year, a solo shot in the 8th. Clarke and Horwitz both finished with 2 hits, while Espino added a single to his 2-run double. Ryan Gold singled and Kirwer also had a hit.
Paxton Schultz started this one, going 3.1 innings, allowing 1 earned on 5 hits and 3 walks. The run came in on a solo HR in the 2nd. Schultz struck out 3. Brandon Eisert threw 3.2 innings of relief, allowing 3 hits and a walk, while striking out 4. Parker Caracci had 2 scoreless innings, striking out 3.
Dunedin
On Friday, Dunedin played 2, as Thursday night was rained out. In the first game, Sem Robberse started and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings. The 1st run came on a solo HR against Robberse. Gabriel Ponce threw 1.1 innings to pick up the save, allowing a single and a walk.
In the early game, Dunedin did all of their scoring in the 1st inning, as Miguel Hiraldo had a 1-out double and scored on an Orelvis Martinez 2-out single. PK Morris doubled to move Martinez to 3rd and then Addison Barger singled to score Martinez & Morris. Barger was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double, but the two runs counted. Hiraldo was able to add a walk later on, and Zach Britton singled, but that was all the offence in this game.
The lack of offence continued in game 2, as Dunedin was only able to score 1 run. After walks to Leo Jimenez, Miguel Hiraldo & PK Morris to load the bases, a wild pitch plated Jimenez. Harrison Ray walked to reload the bases with 0 out, but MacKenzie Mueller & Jhon Solarte both struck out, and Jose Ferrer flew out to end the threat. Morris added a double, while Jimenez also had a single. Ferrer had a double as well.
Rafael Ohashi started and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in an inning plus. Juan De Paula came in and allowed 2 inherited runners to score, and then later gave up a solo HR in his 2 innings of work, walking 2 and striking out 2. Alejandro Melean threw 4 innings, allowing an unearned run on 4 hits and a walk.
Saturday’s game saw Dunedin put up 6 runs in the 6th, to take a big lead. Zach Britton got this started with a double. Orelvis Martinez lined out before Miguel Hiraldo singled. Addison Barger singled in Britton. Hiraldo & Barger then pulled off a double steal, both scoring on a MacKenzie Mueller single. Ryan Sloniger & Jhon Solarte walked to load the bases. Harrison Ray doubled in 2, followed by a Leo Jimenez walk to load the bases again. Britton walked to plate one, before Martinez made the 2nd out of the inning and Hiraldo grounded out. Ray finished the game with 3 hits, including 2 doubles and 4 RBI’s. Mueller added a single, while Hiraldo also singled. Jimenez & Britton both had a single and 2 walks.
On the mound, Naswell Paulino started and was solid. Paulino went 6 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Elixon Caballero had a rough inning, allowing 3 earned on 2 hits and 2 walks. Jefferson Herrera threw a scoreless inning, striking out 1. Geison Urbaez made his professional debut, throwing an inning, allowing a run on 2 doubles and a walk. Urbaez was a signing over the winter who sat 93 MPH in his first appearance.
In Sunday’s finale, Trent Palmer started for Dunedin. Palmer threw 2 scoreless innings, allowing a single and 2 walks, while striking out 5. Julian Valdez followed allowing 6 runs on 8 hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Roither Hernandez got the final out of the 5th inning, before Jol Concepion came in. Concepcion allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 6 walks over 3.1 innings. Wilgenis Alvarado pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing 3 hits but no runs.
At the plate Addison Barger had a single and a solo HR (5) in the 9th to be the only D-Jay with multiple hits. Leo Jimenez had a double and a walk. Orelvis Martinez had a 2-out solo HR in the 4th (6). Harrison Ray had a single and PK Morris added a walk.
The Week Upcoming
Buffalo takes their league leading pitching to Syracuse for a set with the division basement dwelling Mets. The Mets are 11-30 with a league worst -90 run differential. Syracuse has used 45 fielders & 29 pitchers so far, and most of the pitchers have struggled. Buffalo is currently playing 3 games behind their Pythagorean record as they continue to shut down opposing offences. Barring any changes, Nate Pearson should pitch Tuesday’s opener, followed by Thomas Hatch in game 2.
New Hampshire goes from a series with the basement dwelling Yard Goats to the division leading Bowie Baysox. The Baltimore AA club is 27-13 and have scored 46 more runs than they have given up. Based on expected records, New Hampshire would be second in their division at 21-20, but are playing 4 games worse than that. Top O’s prospect Adley Rutschman has led the way for Bowie to this point, while New Hampshire will face top pitcher prospect DL Hall. With the way things have been going lately for New Hampshire, I would think most of the series will be a bullpen series, unless there are some reinforcements from Vancouver arriving.
Vancouver’s schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they went into their last series against Everett, with Everett leading the league. As Vancouver & Everett beat each other up, Eugene, the High A affiliate of San Fran took the league lead, by 1 game on Everett & 2 on Vancouver, so a good series from the C’s would help a lot. Eugene pitchers get a lot of strikeouts, almost 12/9, so the C’s hitters will need to be ready to pounce when they can get the bat on the ball.
Dunedin hits the road to take on St. Lucie, for the 1st time this year. St. Lucie is the Low-A affiliate of the Mets and is off to a 23-19 start, good enough for a 2-game lead in the East division. Dunedin’s offence is quite similar to St. Lucie, as both clubs average over 5.5 runs per game, but the Mets pitching is over a run per game better than Dunedin. The two clubs are at the bottom of the K/9 numbers in the loop, so there should be more balls in play.