Fish Farm Recap: April 19th

Triple-A

New Orleans Baby Cakes 3 @ Iowa Cubs 8

Unfortunately, the shiny happy feelings that the Cakes felt after Scott Copeland’s last start were short lived. During that last start, Copeland and two relievers combined on a no-hitter. Today, he only lasted 1 1/3 innings and gave up eight runs and eight hits. The driving force behind this was the Cubs long-ball potency.

Iowa’s John Andreoli hit homers in each of the first two innings, and Taylor Davis hit a grand slam in the fatal second inning that sent the Baby Cakes’ starter to the showers.

On a positive note, New Orleans had solid relief efforts from four different relievers, and shut Iowa out for the final 7 2/3 innings. Matt den Decker continued his solid season at the plate with a double, RBI, and a stolen base.

T: 2:57

Att: 4,499.

The Cakes battle the Iowa Cubs again Thursday at 7 PM EST in Iowa

Double-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5 @ Pensacola Blue Wahoos 7

The Jumbo Shrimp (5-8) fell to the Reds double-A affiliate (10-3) despite a solid outing from Jacksonville starter Omar Bencomo. Bencomo went five innings, and gave up two runs while striking out seven. The bullpen faltered however, blowing a lead 5-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth by giving up four runs on the road to a 7-5 loss.

In a losing effort, there were several good hitting performances for the Shrimp, with two hits coming from Taylor Ard, Austin Nola and Alex Yarbrough.

T: 3:20.

Att: 3,060

The Shrimp play again in Pensacola on Thursday at 7:35 PM EST.

Single-A (Advanced)

Jupiter Hammerheads 3 @ Lakeland Flying Tigers 2

Whereas the Marlins triple-A team was beaten down by the long ball, their high-A club can attribute a large part of their victory to two solo shots. Justin Bohn hit his first dinger of the year, and Dustin Geiger hit his second, to power the Hammerheads to a 3-2 win over the Flying Tigers (7-7).

The Hammerheads (6-8) were also boosted by a strong pitching performance from Oregon State product Ben Holmes who started the game. In his second straight strong outing, Holmes tossed 4 2/3 innings while giving up only 1 run while fanning 4.

To close out the game, Andy Beltre continued the stellar start to his season to get the save; he has now thrown 7 1/3 innings this year, and has only given up one hit and no runs all season, while fanning ten.

T: 2:53.

Att: 832.

The Hammerheads will play in Lakeland again Thursday at 6:30 PM EST.

Single-A

Greensboro Grasshoppers 1 @ Delmarva Shorebirds 6

The biggest takeaway from the Grasshoppers (7-7) perspective after this loss to Delmarva (7-7) would be another solid start from former University of Kentucky hurler Dustin Beggs. After his last start where he hurled five shutout innings, Beggs tossed six innings without giving up an earned run tonight to lower his ERA to 1.80.

The Grasshoppers most memorable moment was when former University of Pittsburgh outfielder Boo Vazquez (what a name!) tripled in the sixth to tie the name.

T: 2:42.

Att: 2,006.

The Grasshoppers head back to Greensboro on Thursday to face the Augusta GreenJackets at 7:00 PM EST.