Muckdogs Win in 14, James Nelson Collects 3 Hits

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Triple-A

Pacific Coast League

New Orleans Baby Cakes (53-77) vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox (77-53) (cancelled, rain)

Double-A

Southern League

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5, Biloxi Shuckers 10

Matt Tomshaw started and earned no decision for the Shrimp (65-67) against the Shuckers (66-63) with 3,248 in attendance at MGM Park. Esmerling De La Rosa (2-2, 4.59) surrendered four earned runs in 2/3 of an inning for the loss.

The Shrimp got on the board quickly, scoring two runs on John Norwood’s 18th home run of the season in the first inning. After the Shuckers tied it in the fourth, the Shrimp again took the lead in the fifth, scoring a run on an Austin Dean RBI-triple to make it 3-2, good guys.

Biloxi scored twice in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead before the Shrimp brought home two in the seventh on a Braxton Lee RBI-single and a Dean RBI-groundout. De La Rosa came on in the seventh and surrendered home runs to Angel Ortega (8), Javier Betancourt (6) and Jacob Nottingham (8). It was Nottingham’s second round-tripper of the night.

Cleuluis Rondon had a pair of singles, joining Dean as the only Shrimp with multiple hits in the contest. Despite their loss, the Shrimp remain three games ahead of the Mobile BayBears with eight games remaining. The Bears lost their contest to the Montgomery Biscuits, 1-0.

Ortega and Betancourt homer to lead Biloxi to 10-5 win over Jacksonville

Advanced-A

Florida State League

Jupiter Hammerheads (64-64) VS. Bradenton Marauders (67-58) (doubleheader, cancelled, rain)

Single-A

South Atlantic League

Greensboro Grasshoppers 0, Rome Braves 2

Rome (71-61) defeated the Hoppers (71-58) in front of 2,005 fans at State Mutual Stadium, leaving Greensboro a game back of the Hickory Crawdads with seven contests remaining.

James Nelson led Greensboro’s offense with a double and two singles. Brian Miller and Rony Cabrera also collected singles to comprise all of the Hoppers’ offensive output for the day.

Ethan Clark (3-2, 2.25) pitched well, but took the loss, surrendering both of Rome’s runs on five hits and a walk in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings. He struck out five. Kyle Keller struck out four in 2 ²⁄₃ shutout innings.

Walker, Kennedy and Burrows shut out Greensboro, Rome wins 2-0

Short-Season-A

New York-Penn League

Batavia Muckdogs 3, Auburn Doubledays 2 (14)

The Muckdogs (27-36) kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 3-2, 14-inning victory over the Doubledays (25-38) with 1,007 in the house at Falcon Park.

Sam Perez turned in a quality start, dropping his ERA to 2.08 by surrendering two runs (but only one earned) on two hits and a walk in six innings, striking out four. Tyler Frohwirth whiffed five in 2 ¹⁄₃ perfect relief innings, and Shane Sawczak (3-1, 3.38) pitched a perfect 13th and 14th for the victory.

In the first inning, Brayan Hernandez scored on a passed ball by opposing catcher Jeyner Baez, then Tyler Curtis (2) went deep to double the lead before Auburn got to the plate.

The Doubledays scored in the fourth on a Kameron Esthay (4) homer and in the sixth on a Lazaro Alonso throwing error, and that’s the last anyone would score through regulation.

The Muckdogs left nine runners on base between the seventh and 13th innings before Harrison White crossed the plate in the 14th on a Brayan Hernandez bunt-single and subsequent throwing error by opposing 3B Jake Scudder. The Muckdogs outhit Auburn, 12-to-5, led by three singles from Mathew Brooks. Curtis added a single to his homer, and Hernandez also had a pair of base hits.

Hernandez's single leads Batavia over Auburn in 14 innings

Rookie

Gulf Coast League

GCL Marlins 8, GCL Nationals 9

The Nationals (31-19) scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra baseball, then walked off to earn a 9-8 win over the Marlins (26-23) in the 10th at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Matt Givin turned in a solid effort, striking out four in five innings for the Marlins, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and a walk. Dakota Bennett, Obed Diaz, and Manuel Rodriguez each pitched a scoreless relief inning before the wheels came off in the ninth.

Javier Garcia blew a save situation by surrendering two runs on three hits in ²⁄₃ of an inning, and Bryce Howe (1-3, 1.53) was saddled with the loss after allowing a walk and a single to start the 10th. The game-winner crossed the plate on a Ronal Reynoso fielding error.

Ben Fisher hit a double and two singles, Michael Donadio and Joe Dunand each hit a single and a double, Albert Guaimaro hit a single and a triple, and J.D. Osborne also collected two singles as the Marlins outhit the Nats, 12-to-11.

Tomorrow’s Action

5:05PM - The Muckdogs will play a scheduled seven-inning doubleheader against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Dwyer Stadium. Alejandro Mateo (3-2, 3.00) is slated to start the opener, and Taylor Braley (1-1, 2.35) will pitch the nightcap.

6:30PM - The Lakeland Flying Tigers (58-63) will host the Hammerheads in the first game of a three-game series. Cody Poteet (3-7, 4.50) will start for Jupiter.

7:35PM - Trevor Richards (5-5, 3.08) will take the hill for the Jumbo Shrimp against Biloxi, in the third game of a five-game set.

8:05PM - the Baby Cakes will play the first game of a four-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers (69-64). Scott Copeland (9-10, 5.13) will start.

Birthdays

Jan Mercado, Miami’s 13th round selection this season, turns 18 today. He went 0-for-4 yesterday, and has gone three-for-34 from the plate since his selection.

History

In 1920:

With less than a month left in the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Baltimore Orioles reached a virtual tie for first place in the International League. In the amazing pennant race that ensued, Toronto would win 20 of its last 22 games, but not claim the prize. Baltimore copped the flag by winning every one of its last 25 contests, edging Toronto by 2 1/2 games.

After battling each other the entire season, Baltimore finished 110-43 (.719) and Toronto was 108-46 (.701). Buffalo (96-57, .627) and Akron (89-62, .589) remained in the chase after midseason before drifting back to the pack. - courtesy of MILB.COM