Dogs sink Rafters, 3-1

Surprise 1 at Phoenix 3

W: N. Blackburn (1-0, 5.40); L: B. Jukich (0-1, 8.10); SV: F. Hernandez (2)
HR: PDD: N. Reimold (2).

Former Miracle pitcher Nick Blackburn picked up the win as the Phoenix Desert Dogs downed the Surpise Rafters, 3-1.

Phoenix took at early lead in the game, when Cliff Pennington (Oakland) walked then advanced to second on a balk by Rafter's starter Ben Jukrich (Cincinnati). Jeff Baisley (Oakland) plated Pennington with line drive to put the Dogs on the board in the bottom of the first.

The Dogs extended their lead in the second, when Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) homered off the former Sarasota Reds starter. Jukirch would work 3.2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1.

Blackburn, who was a FSL All-star in 2005, worked 3 innings, allowing 1 hit and walking 1 while striking out 4.

He would be replaced in the 4th by Amos Day (Chi White Sox). The Rafters took advantage of the pitching change with Kila Kaaihue (Kansas City) singling to start the inning, followed by Texas' John Mayberry. With 2 outs, Chris Gimenez (Cleveland) would then single out to left to bring Kaaihue in, giving the Rafters their lone run in the game.

Phoenix picked up their insurance run in the 8th, Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled his way onto base. He'd be replaced by pinch runner Blake Davis (Baltimore), who then stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on a wild pitch by Darren O'Day (LA Angels). Baisley's sac-fly would push him over the plate.

Minnesota's Matt Macri was 0-for-3 at the plate with 1 walk.

Fort Myers' Eddie Morlan pitched 1.1 inings of relief, allowing 3 hits, but no runs, nor did he strike out anyone.

Aside from Jukrich, former Sara-Reds Chris Tatum (c) and Chris Dickerson (of) are also on the Rafters as are Reds prospects Sam Lecure (p), Tyler Pelland (p), Pedro Viola (p), and Adam Rosales (1b).

The Dogs take on the Scottsdale Scorpions on Saturday at 7:05 PM MST.

Boxscore
Log
wrap

Macri leads Pheonix over Javalinas. 7-5

Phoenix 7 at Peoria Javalinas 5

W: J. Chavez (1-1, 3.60); L: M. Rivera (0-1, 10.38); SV: B. McCrory (4)
HR: PDD: M. Macri (2), N. Reimold (1).

Twins prospect Matt Macri was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, including a home run in the top of the 6th, to help lead the Phoenix Desert Dogs over the Peoria Javelinas 7-5 Thursday afternoon.

Phoenix took an early lead when Cliff Pennington (Oakland) walked, moved to 3rd on Ryan Sweeney's (Chi Sox) single, and crossed the plate when Macri reached on a throwing error by Brandon Hicks (Atlanda). A wild pitch by Garrett Mock (Washington) saw Sweeney home to give the Dogs 2.

The Javelina's answered back when Atlanta's Jordon Schafer singled, stole 2nd then came home on a line drive by former Tampa Yankee Juan Miranda.

Peoria took the lead in the 2nd when they tallied 3 runs, including Matt Tulasosopo's (Seattle) marker that came on a throwing error by Twins prospect Drew Butera.

Macri's yard-ball single tied the score up in the 6th.

Butera drew a walk in the 7th, then came home on Pennington's double, along with Jeff Fiorentino (Baltimore), who had also walked his way onto base.

They added 2 more in the 8th after Macri singled his way onto base, then came home on Norlan Reimold's (Baltimore) home run. Butera would double in the inning, but it was for naught as Fiorentino would pop out to retire the side.

Butera finished up the game 1-for-3 with 1 run and 1 walk, while former Mircle shortstop Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-4 at the plate.

Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) took the win for the Desert Dogs, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 in 1 innings worth of work. Seattle's Mumba Rivera suffered the loss, while Atlanta's Sung Ki Jung was charged with the blown save for the Javelinas.

The Desert Dogs take on the Surprise Rafters at home Friday at 12:35 MST.

Boxscore
Log
Recap

Phoenix turns big 5th inning to win

Trevor Plouffe

Peo Javelinas 3 at Phoenix 6

W: J. Arrieta (1-0, 0.00); L: C. Lo (0-1, 19.64); SV: F. Hernandez (1)
HR: PDD: J. Baisley (2).

Former Miracle shortstop Trevor Plouffe was 2-for-5 Wednesday with a run and 2 RBIs as the Phoenix Desert Dogs overcame the Peoria Javelinas 6-3.

Ryan Mullins worked the start for the Desert Dogs, giving up 2 runs (both earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3.

Corey Wimberly (Colorado) turned a walk into a run in the first inning after moving to 3rd on Dexter Fowler's (Colorado) fly ball single. A sac double-play by Jordon Schafer (Atlanta) sent Wimberly over the plate for the Javelinas early lead.

Peoria turned a second run in the 2nd inning with catcher Devin Ivany (Washington) drawing a walk off the former Mircle starter, moving to 2nd on a ground out and coming across the plate on a Christian Colonel (Colorado) single.

Phoenix used a big 5th inning to do all their damage. After Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen got caught stealing 2nd, Ryan Sweeny (Chicago White Sox) would singled his way onto base. With two out BlaKe Davis (Baltimore) bunted his way onto the bags and Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) walked ot load the bags. A fly ball single by Plouffe scored 2, followed by a Jeff Fiorentino (Baltimore) double that brought in Morgan and moved Plouffe to third. Jeff Baisley (Oakland) then put one over the left field wall to make the final total for the inning 6.

Plouffe doubled in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs, but was left stranded when Fiorentino was called out on strikes.

Baltimore's Jake Arrieta earned the win for Dogs. Twins prospect Matt Macri was 1-for-3 at the plate with 1 walk.

The Javelinas feature several former Tampa Yankees' players including short stop Reegie Corona and pitcher Eric Wordekemper from the 2007 season.

The two teams rematch Thursday at 12:35 MST in Peoria.

Bosxore
Log
Recap

Yankees prospects on the Javelinas: Steve Jackson (p), Kevin Whelan (p), Steveb White (p), Eric Wordekemper (p), Reegie Corona (ss), Juan Miranda (1b), Brett Gardner (of)

Desert Dogs down Saguaros, 3-2

Eddie Morlan

Peo Saguaros 2 at Phoenix 3

W: A. Russell (1-0, 0.00); L: P. Overholt (0-1, 9.64); SV: B. McCrory (3)
HR: None.

Former clearwater pitcher Josh Outman pitched 3 innings of no run baseball Tuesday, allowing 2 hits and striking out 3 for the Peoria Saguaros who fell to the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-2.

Philadephia's Pat Overholt would suffer the loss and the blown save in the 5th inning. Raul Padron (Oakland) started out by hitting a ground-rule double off Overholt, who then struck Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) with a pitch. Drew Butera, who was one of the players acquired by the Twins in trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mets, moved the pair on a sac bunt. Cliff Pennington (Oakland) would ground out before Nyjer Morgan's (Pittsburgh) single to 2nd base pushed the pair over the plate. Blake Davis' (Baltimore) line drive would bring in Morgan before Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) wuld strike out to end the inning.

The Saguaros took the early lead in the 3rd when Xavier Paul (LA Dodgers) and Blake Dewitt (LA Dodgers) both drew a walks off Desert Dogs starter Jack Egbert (Chicago White Sox). Greg Golson's (Philadelphia) single move the pair. Chris Coghlan (Florida) would hit a sac-fly to push Paul over the plate.

The Saguaros tried to rally back in the 9th, when Jeff Larish (Detroit) singled his way onto base and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Baltimore's Bob McCrory. Mike Hollimon's (Detroit) ground out put Larish on third, and he'd come over the plate when McCrory uncorked a second wild pitch. Peoria fell short however, when Paul was called out on strikes to end the inning.

Butera was 0-for2 at the plate while Twins prospect Matt Macri was 1-for-4 but did not figure into the scoring.

Former Miracle pitcher Eduardo Morlan tossed the 7th inning for the Dogs, striking out former Hammerhead catcher Brett Hayes and getting Paul and Dewitt to fly out.

Detroit's Cameron Maybin, whose pair of homers hurt Pheonix on Monday, was 0-for-4 at the plate in the designated hitter role during Tuesday's rematch.

Boxscore
Log
Wrap

Tigers prospects lead Saguaros to 3-2 win

Cameron Maybin batting against the Miracle

Phoenix 2 at Peo Saguaros 3

W: B. Badenhop (1-1, 4.50); L: J. Gray (0-1, 9.00); SV: N. Jamison (2)
HR: PES: C. Maybin 2 (2).

Former Lakeland Tigers ace Burke Badenhop (Detroit) picked up the win for the Peoria Saguaros Monday night, downing the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-2.

Cameron Maybin (Detroit) hit a pair of the over the wall, and recorded all 3 runs for Peoria, to lead the Saguaros attack.

Maybin's first yarder came off former Miracle pitcher Anthony Swarzak in the first inning, a long line drive out to left.

Maybin walked in the 3rd inning, stole 2nd, then came home on Will Venable (San Deigo) double off James Johnson (Baltimore) who took over for Swarzak in the third.

Swarzak's final line would be 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2 innings.

The Dogs managed to tie the game up on 4th, when Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled and Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) tripled him in. A wild pitch by Peoria's Wesley Wright (LA Dodgers) would serve to bring McCutchen over the plate.

Maybin's second homer, this one over the right field fence, came off Jeff Gray (Oakland) in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Former Miracle short stop Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-3 at the plate, getting stranded on first in the top of the 7th.

The two teams rematch Tuesday as the Dogs host the Saguaros for a 12:35 M.S.T. game.

Boxscore
Log
Wrap

Saguaro's prospects by team (FSL affiliated only):

Detroit (Lakeland): Burke Badenhop, Eddie Bonine, Jeff Gerbe, Macay McBride, Mike Holliman, Jeff Larish, Cameron Maybin

Philladelphia (Clearwater): Joe Bisenius, Josh Outman, Pat Overholt, Joe Savery, Tuffy Gosewisch, Mike Constanzo, Greg Golson

Florida (Jupiter): Craig Molldrem, Scott Nestor, Ricky Nolasco, Ross Wolf, Brett Hayes, Chris Coghlan, Jai Miller

Jays lose pitching duel, playoff bid

Adrian Martin

Fort Myers 1 at Dunedin 0

Record 38 - 30

W: J. Manship (8-5, 3.15); L: A. Martin (5-3, 2.56); SV: J. Martinez (1)
HR: FTM: E. Lis (17).

E: Gardenhire (12, throw).

Pitching duels are not as much fun to listen to as they are to watch, but Saturday's game turned out to be a classic. Jeff Manship rebounded from a tough outing in his last start blank the Blue Jays through 5.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 3.

The closest Dunedin got was in the bottom of the 4th, when 2 singles and a force out found Kyle Phillips at 3rd base with only 1 out, but Manship got Brian Jeroloman to strike out and Chris Gutierrez to fly out to get out of the jam.

Adrian Martin was nearly as good, giving up 5 hits and 1 walk with 5 strike out in 7 innings. The sole blemish in his performance came in the top of the fourth when Erik Lis hit is 17th home run of the year, his second in Knology Park, which is slightly (325 feet) smaller than Hammond Stadium.

Danny Powers worked 1.2 innings, striking out 2 and walking 1, while J.P. Martinez finished off the game for the Miracle, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 2.

The Jays threatened in the 9th with Jays having runners at first and second with one out. Miracle 3rd baseman Toby Gardenhire snagged a bouncing ball from Anthony Hatch for a force out at 3rd, but Gardenhire's throw to first went into right field, where it was scooped up by Edward Ovalle and fired back to the plate in time for Korey Feiner to nab Carlo Cota at the plate.

Brandon League and Chris Blackwell finished up for the Jays, neither allowing a Miracle hit, although issuing 1 walk each.

Dunedin's loss, combined with Clearwater's sweep of a double header in Lakeland last night, gave the 2nd Half West Division Championship to the Threshers, who will take on the Reds in the first round of the FSL playoffs which begin on Tuesday.

Fort Myers AAA and AA affiliates in Rochester and New Britain also saw their playoff hopes end last night. The Red Wings lost to the Buffalo Bisons which leads them by a game in the wild card slot and both teams still trail Richmond.

Despite a win by former Miracle Angel Garcia in New Britain, the Rock Cats were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last night. Fort Myers alumni Oswaldo Sosa retired the first nine of ten batters he faced, including the first six-straight, but then got into trouble in the fourth. Sosa exited after the inning, surrendering four runs on three walks and three hits. He struck out five. Garcia (1-0) tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief (2 H, 1 ER, 3 K) to pick up his first Double-A win.

The Miracle and the Blue Jays play their last game of the season at 1:00 Sunday at Knology Park. Kyle Waldrop (6-5, 3.36) will take the start against righty Brandon Magee (9-7, 3.84) for Dunedin.

Boxscore
Log
Wrap
MiLB
Miracle
NDN

Early Winter For Perkins: Twins southpaw Glen Perkins, 24, is done for the season after struggling to rehabilitate a shoulder strain with the Rock Cats. He was 0-2 with an 11.05 ERA in 71/3 innings over three outings. He gave up five home runs among 11 hits. Perkins had a 3.80 ERA in 12 relief appearances with the Twins before injuring the shoulder in May.

Morales in batting race: Former Miracle catcher Jose Morales remains in the thick of things for the International League batting title. Morales entered Saturday just two points behind leader Ben Francisco of Buffalo, who was promoted to the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. Francisco finishes at .318 in 95 games. Rochester's last batting champion was Miracle alumni Jason Kubel, who hit .343 in 2004.

Slowey on top: Last season's ace pitcher Kevin Slowey has clinched the International League's ERA title with a 1.89 mark. That's the lowest by an IL ERA champion since Tidewater's David West finished at 1.80 in 1988. Slowey still has not been recalled by the Minnesota Twins, though he is expected to start Tuesday against Cleveland. Slowey will likely lose his bid for the MSP Award. Tampa's Ian Kennedy is the current leader with a 1.29 ERA.

Tobyism: Toby Gardenhire has played in every game of the current Miracle four game win streak. Makes you wonder where the team would be if he'd actually been in the line up when the team still had a shot at making the playoffs.

How distracting: Outfielder Eli Tintor, from Hibbing, was sent home recently from Class A Beloit for what Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz called "a distraction." He used the same word to describe why Class A Fort Myers third baseman Danny Valencia was benched in recent games. LEN3

Miracle defeat Jays, stretch win streak to 3 games

Errol Simonitsch

Fort Myers 7 at Dunedin 4

Record 37 - 30

W: E. Simonitsch (5-0, 4.17); L: R. Ray (3-3, 4.86)
HR: FTM: J. Portes (12).

If anyone on the Miracle deserves a call up to AAA to end the season, it is without doubt Errol Simonitsch, who seems to have worked past his injury and has pitched quite well over has past several starts.

Simo allowed 6 Jays hits and walked 1 but allowed only 1 run in 7 innings of work while striking out 7. A hit batter and 2 singles allowed Jesus Gonzalez to score to give the Jays their first run of the game and by then, the Miracle had put up a lead that Dunedin found tough to overcome.

A Brian Dinkelman single, a Steve Tolleson walk and a Dustin Martin single combined to get Dinkelman across the plate and the Miracle on the scoreboard in the first.

Dink and Erik Lis would also score runs in the 3rd with the pair hitting singles and then having Martin join them on base after being hit by a pitch. Juan Portes line drive brought the two initial runners in, but a Johnny Woodard strike out and a Dwyane White pop out left 2 men stranded.

If Portes had not made a case for a promotion to AA next season, he certainly did so in the 7th when he homered in Martin to give the Miracle a 5 run lead before Dunedin solved Simonitsch.

Toby Gardenhire singled and stoled second in the eighth inning, coming home on a Tolleson line drive to tack one more on to the visitors lead.

A Martin double off Connor Falkenbach and a Dwayne White single finished off the scoring.

Winston Marquez, a big southpaw who played the entire GCL season as starter, made a late season FSL appearance for the Miracle in the 8th. He allowed only a Kyle Phillips single in that inning, but a Luke Hetherington double greeted him in the 9th as the Jays attempted a rally.

He would walk Brian Jeroloman and Chris Gutierrez single to load the bases before Kevin Boles sent Rob Delaney out to the mound, Hetherington would score on Carlo Cotas' ground out a Jeroloman would be plated by a Anthony Hatch sac-fly. An Eric Nielsen single brought in the last of the inherited runners. A Jacob Butler fly out would strand 2 to end the game.

The two teams meet again tonight with Jay Manship (7-5, 3.41) taking to the mound against Adrian Martin.

The Miracle remain entrenched in fourth place in the division, but the win knocks the Blue Jays down into second place after the Threshers split a pair with the Flying Tigers last night.

Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Miracle
News-Press
NDN