- So much for a high scoring DSL playoff game: Anthony Fernandez pitched 6 strong innings for the DSLMs, striking out 8 while allowing only 2 runs, but Edward Concepcion of the DSL Gigantes threw 6 strong innings of his own, albeit with more help from the defense, as he only struck out 3 while walking 3 and allowing only an unearned run to outduel Fernandez and the DSLMs bullpen despite a fine effort against a good offense. Unspectacular but useful Gigantes reliever Franklin Noel (24 app, 2.28 ERA, 51.1 IP, 22/50 BB/K*) threw three perfect innings in relief to lock up the 2-1 win and take one of the two needed wins to knock out the DSLMs.
* - Remember, DSL pitchers get a big strike zone, so don't read much into the high K rate. Key on the walk rates, and abnormally high or low K rates.
As has been the case these entire playoffs, the lineup left their hitting at the Santo Domingo North complex, finishing with only 3 hits, getting their only run on a Hector Mercedes sac fly, and even that was set up by a Gigantes error. Once Los Gigantes popped in two runs in the 2nd off Fernandez, it may as well been 2 goals in a soccer match. The DSLMs just didn't have enough hitting to sustain a rally, let alone get more than the gift run they got.
- Unlike the DSLMs, the Pulaski Mariners' playoff run came to a quick end. One day after a 7-4 defeat, the Elizabthton Twins blanked the PMs 7-0 in Elizabethton to sweep the three game series. Like Nick Czyz, Brooks Mohr got bombed out of the gate, and in his case did not finish the 2nd inning. Stephen Penney did a fine job with 4.2 shutout innings of relief, but with Liz Twins starter Daniel Osterbrock dealing, striking out 11 PMs over 7 innings, this game was as good as over before the 3rd, and the final 7 innings took on the aura of a formality.
Congratulations to the Pulaski Mariners for a fine first season in the App League. The Liz Twins just had more offense, came out mashing from the get-go and put both games out of reach before the PMs knew what hit them (pun obviously intended on account of look who's writing this). But that doesn't detract from fielding a new team at a new level in a new league and outplaying most of the league.
- Despite only one base hit and no free passes, Gavin Dickey stole FOUR bases for High Desert against Rancho Cucamonga yesterday.
1. Dickey grounds to short with one out in the 2nd and gets on after PJ Phillips muffs it. Dickey then steals 2nd base.
2. Dickey then stole 3rd base. He later scored on a Carlos Triunfel sac fly.
3. Dickey grounds to 3rd with two outs in the 3rd, but 3B Larry Infante throws YIKES AND AWAY to put him on. Dickey follows up by stealing 2nd. Unfortunately, the Human Temp Agency, Kevin Reynolds, responded by grounding to 3rd, and Infante did not screw up the throw this time. Inning over.
4. Dickey grounds to 2nd with two outs in the 8th, and beats it out to get on. Dickey then swipes 2nd base... but once again, Reynolds came up empty, striking out to end the frame.
Steals by Gavin Dickey for High Desert coming into last night's game: 5
Steals by Gavin Dickey last night: 4
Stats below the jump.
DSL PLAYOFFS: SECOND PLACE IS THE FIRST LOSER
Game 2: DSL Giants 2, DSL Mariners 1
Gigantes lead series 1-0
Anthony Fernandez: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, walk, 8 K, 2 wild pitches
Ambioris Hidalgo: one out, walk, wild pitch, hit batter
Nelson Germocen: 1.2 IP, walk, K
Hector Mercedes: 0-2, sac fly RBI, K
rest of DSLMs lineup: 3-21, 3 walks, 5 K
Rk-AZL: Royals 3, Mariners 2
AZLMs: 12-16... AZL Royals: 8-20
(League: 264/345/375... 4.34 ERA)
Brandon Maurer: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K (5 GS +3, 3.09 ERA, 23.1 IP, 1 HR, 8/25 BB/K)
Randy Castillo: 3 IP, 3 H, (2 R) 1 ER, walk, 2 K (12 app, 4.81 ERA, 24.1 IP, 1 HR, 10/14 BB/K)
Colin Buckborough: 1 IP, 1 H, walk (15 app, 6.53 ERA, 30.1 IP, 1 HR, 23/23 BB/K)
Fray Martinez: 1 IP, walk, K (7 GS +7, 6.37 ERA, 53.2 IP, 5 HR, 29/46 BB/K)
Alfredo Mateo: 2-4, triple, RBI, K (239/321/362)
Randy Molina: 1-3, triple, R, walk (248/321/326)
rest of AZLMs lineup: 4-28, 10 K
APPALACHIAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 2: Elizabethton 7, Pulaski 0
Liz Twins win Appalachian League Championship 2-0
Brooks Mohr: 11 IP, 6 H, 6 ER (HR), walk, 2 K, wild pitch
Stephen Penney: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 K, hit batter
Brandon Pullen: 1 IP, walk, K
Philip Roy: one out, 1 ER, 3 walks, K
Blake Nation: two outs, wild pitch, hit batter
Mario Martinez: 2-4
Juan Fuentes: 2-4, K
Jose Rivero: 1-4, double, K
Jonathan Arias: 3-4, double
A-: Salem-Keizer 8, Everett 1
EVE: 30-41... S-K: 39-32
(League: 257/345/375... 4.21 ERA)
Doug Salinas: 4.1 IP, 10 H, (6 R) 5 ER, 2 walks, 3 K (21 app, 5 GS, 5.53 ERA, 57 IP, 5 HR, 29/55 BB/K)
Christian Staehely: 2.2 IP, 4 H, (2 R) 1 ER, walk, 2 K, 2 wild pitches (18 app, 5.23 ERA, 32.2 IP, 1 HR, 21/27 BB/K)
Mark Pettis: 2 IP, walk, 3 K (19 app, 2.89 ERA, 28 IP, 23/28 BB/K)
Tyson Gillies: 0-1, 4 walks, K (318/434/441)
Welington Dotel: 2-4, double (284/338/432)
Manny Pimentel: 3-4 (218/328/289)
A: Wisconsin 6, Quad Cities 2
WIS: 24-43... QC: 33-34
(League: 252/322/371... 3.68 ERA)
Juan Ramirez: 6.2 IP, 4 H, (2 R) 1 ER, walk, 7 K, balk (22 GS +3, 4.14 ERA, 124 IP, 9 HR, 38/113 BB/K)
Joe Kantakevich: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K, wild pitch (24 app, 5.66 ERA, 41.1 IP, 4 HR, 14/24 BB/K)
Jose Escalona: 1 IP, K (35 app, 3.80 ERA, 47.1 IP, 6 HR, 21/50 BB/K)
Daniel Carroll: 0-3, sac fly RBI, walk, 2 K, SB #28 (238/315/317)
Maximo Mendez: 0-, 4 K: The Golden Sombrero (235/319/334)
Joe Dunigan: 2-5, 2 R, 2 K (238/299/422)
Alex Liddi: 2-4, R, RBI, K, SB #17 (240/309/357)
Alex Meneses: 1-2, R, walk, K (233/335/276)
Israel Nuñez: 2-4, 2 RBI (229/282/286)
A+: High Desert 8, Rancho Cucamonga 6
Mavs: 24-43... Quakes: 36-31
(League: 273/340/413... 4.52 ERA)
Justin Souza: 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER (2 HR), walk, 5 K, wild pitch (12 app, 5 GS, 4.31 ERA, 39.2 IP, 5 HR, 13/39 BB/K)
Anthony Varvaro: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, walk, 2 K (24 GS +5, 7.18 ERA, 121.2 IP, 22 HR, 82/112 BB/K)
Steven Richard: 1 IP, 2 K, hit batter (31 app, 4.61 ERA, 41 IP, 9 HR, 14/30 BB/K)
Carlos Triunfel: 1-3, R, sac fly RBI (286/337/404)
Ronnie Prettyman: 2-4, 3 run HR, 3 R, K (304/347/488)
Travis Scott: 2-3, double, R, walk, K (271/343/457)
Chris Minaker: 0-3, sac fly RBI, K (289/317/418)
Fernando Encarnacion: 1-4, solo HR (233/261/372)
AA: West Tenn 4, Mississippi 0
WTN: 29-37... MIS: 41-26
(League: 264/342/400... 4.20 ERA)
Tracy Thorpe: 5.1 IP, 5 H, walk, 7 K, wild pitch, hit batter (7 GS, 3.67 ERA, 34.1 IP, 3 HR, 15/32 BB/K)
Jason Kershner: 1.2 IP, 2 K (10 app, 6.43 ERA, 14 IP, 7/10 BB/K)
Doug FISTER: 1 IP, 2 K (23 GS +8, 5.43 ERA, 134.1 IP, 12 HR, 45/104 BB/K)
Shawn Kelley: 1 IP, walk, K (29 app, 2.11 ERA, 42.2 IP, 2 HR, 17/44 BB/K)
Brent Johnson: 1-5, RBI (283/374/438)
Matt Mangini: 2-4, double, R, 3 RBI (203/249/250)
rest of DIAMOND JAXX lineup: 2-21, 6 walks, 4 K
AAA: Tacoma 11, Portland 2
TAC: 77-64... POR: 70-71
(League: 277/348/444... 4.86 ERA)
Travis Chick: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER (HR), 4 walks, 3 K, wild pitch (5 GS, 1.91 ERA, 33 IP, 3 HR, 14/29 BB/K)
Justin Thomas: 2 IP, walk, 3 K (7 app, 3.71 ERA, 17 IP, 2 HR, 9/21 BB/K)
Prentice Redman: 1-5, double, R, 2 RBI, K (304/384/565)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 3-5, double, 3 R, RBI (277/360/452)
Shawn Garrett: 3-5, double, 2 run HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K (306/350/455)
Victor Diaz: 0-4, sac fly RBI, 2 K (280/366/523)
Craig Wilson: 2-4, double, solo HR, 3 RBI, K (280/390/549)
Luis Valbuena: 2-4, 2 doubles, R, K (301/381/373)
Kevin Howard: 1-2, solo HR, 2 R, 2 walks, K (271/369/475)