Portland "Rained" out, 6-3

New Britain 6 at Portland 3

W: J. Rainville (4-5, 6.61); L: K. Johnson (3-2, 3.40); SV: B. Julianel (8)
HR: POR: A. Bates (4).

Jay Rainville is back, ladies and gentleman! For the second straight outing Rainville dominated, this time limiting the Portland Sea Dogs to 2 hits and 3 walks over six innings while fanning 3.

Meanwhile, Luke Hughes led the New Britain Rock Cats offense going 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, 2 runs and 2 RBIs.

The Cats would get on the board first, in the bottom of the 3rd. With 2 outs on the board, Steve Tolleson, Matt Moses and Hughes all hit singles which plated Tolleson.

Hughes would walk in the top of the sixth, and move to second on a wild pitch by Kris Johnson. An Erik Lis ground ball single saw Hughes to 3rd, and he'd come hom on a David Winfree double.

The top of the 7th would be a big inning for New Britain, as Jeff Christy doubled and Tolleson singled. Moses walked to load the bags. A fly ball single by Hughes plated Christy and Tolleson, and Lis sacrificed in Moses. Winfree would ground out, moving Hughes to 3rd. and Trevor Plouffe would be intentionally walked. Dustin Martin's fly ball single to right brought in Hughes to give the Cats a 6-0 lead.

Southpaw Kyle Aselton replaced Rainville on the mound for the bottom of the 7th. Ryan Khoury doubled off him, a line drive to left. Mickey Hall took a walk. Iggy Suarez's line drive plated Khoury, while Jeff Corsaletti's single brought in Hall.

Zach Ward replaced Asleton for the bottom of the 8th, allowing a home run to Aaron Bates, his 4th of the season. That would be it for the Dogs though, as the Cats got themselves a big win, right when they needed it.

Tolleson and Lis were both 2-for-4 in the contest, Tolleson with a walk and 2 runs and Lis with a run scored.

Ben Julianel worked the 9th inning to pick up the save, his 8th of the season.

More Cats and Dogs on Monday at Hadlock Field, with the first pitch going out at 1:00 PM.

Boxscore
Log
Rock Cats
Sea Dogs

---

I told Jeff Manship I wasn't taking any more pictures of him and he said "Never? Not ever?"

"Well, I was looking through the photos from last year," I explained, "and it's all Jeff Manship-Jay Rainville, Jeff-Manship-Jay Rainville, Jeff Manship-Jay Rainville. I mean, did we have anyone else in the pitching rotation?"

"Zach Ward," he laughed, "but he only pitched three innings a game."

"Errol Simonitsch," I offer.

"SIMONitsch," he corrects. Evidently one of those words with various pronunciations.

"Simo," I settle on.

"Yeah, Simo," he agrees. "And Waldrop."

"Oh yeah, Whining Wally," I said. "I forgot about him."

"Whining Wally?"

"Yeah, when he came back down all he did was complain about everything. He was on the whinny side to start, but they taught him AA level complaining in New Britain."

He was, he was being a real sissy pants.

Beloit Snappers sweep double header

Burlington 0 at Beloit 8

W: M. Tarsi (2-6, 6.09); L: D. Duffy (0-2, 9.39)
HR: None.

While the New Britain Rock Cats struggled to get two hits together for Anthony Swarzak, Mike Tarsi got more than enough run support from the Beloit Snappers. Not that he really needed it.

The lefty only allowed 2 hits over six innings, during which time he fanned 8, for a blanking of the Burlington Bees.

Joe Benson took a walk in the 1st and Chris Parmelee got plunked by a pitch to follow him onto the bases. Jair Fernandez's fly ball single would score Benson to put to the Snappers on the board early.

A Ben Revere double and a Benson Sac-bunt turning into another run in the bottom of the 3rd when second baseman Kyle Martin opted to go home with Garrett Olson's grounder, but he was not fast enough to prevent Revere from scoring.

Ozzie Lewis and Ramon Santana both singled in the bottom of the 4th, and Chris Cates sac-bunt moved the pair. Revere singled to bring in the pair. Benson would then single, moving Revere to 3rd. Garrett Olson's pop out would plate Revere, giving Beloit a five run lead.

Chris Chavez would finally replace Bees starter Danny Duffy, who'd given up 5 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk while fanning 7 over 4 innings. With one out on the board in the bottom of the 5th, Steve Singleton would be hit by a pitch. Lewis would triple him in, then crossed the plate on Santana's double. Following a Chris Cates fly out, Revere singled to drive in Santana.

Revere finished up 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and 3 RBIs, Benson was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run; Lewis and Santana were both 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and a RBI each.

Brad Tippett closed out the contest, allowing a single to Wilson Tucker in the top of the 7th.

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Log
Snappers



Burlington 1 at Beloit 3

W: S. Hirschfeld (4-0, 0.90); L: J. Abreu (1-3, 5.06)
HR: None.

The Burlington Bees were a bit more offensively minded against Mike McCardell in the night cap, but the Beloit Snappers still batted their way to a win.

Ben Revere opened up the second game with a fly ball single, then stole 2nd. Garrett Olson then singled to plate the speedster, putting the Snappers on the board in the bottom of the first.

Walks to Olson, Chris Parmelee and Mark Dolenc loaded the bases in the 2nd. Steve Singleton would hit a sac fly to drive in Olson, and Dan Lehmann's fly ball to right scored Parmelee, adding two more to the total.

McCardell would issue a walk to Adrian Ortiz in the top of the 4th. Wilson Tucker singled to move him to second, while David Lough's fly out to center pushed him to 3rd. Mike Moustakas ground out, but Ortiz would cross the plate.

Steve Hirschfield entered the game at that point, getting the final out. McCardell would part with a hit and a walk for the one earned run, while fanning 5 over 3.2. Hirshfield gave up 3 hits and fanned 2 over the final 3.2 innings.

Revere was 2-for-4 with 1 run, while Olson was 1-for-1 with three walks, a run and a run scored.

More Bees in Beloit on Sunday starting at 2:00 PM central. The series concludes on Monday with another 2 PM game.

Boxscore
Log
Snappers
Snappers
Hawk Eye

Wings, Cats both fail

New Britain 1 at Portland 4

W: M. Bowden (4-3, 2.47); L: A. Swarzak (2-2, 4.29); SV: D. Bard (1)
HR: None.

Anthony Swarzak surrendered three runs, earned, in the sixth inning to give the Portland Sea Dogs a win Friday night.

The New Britain Rock Cats could only manage two hits in the contest, with Dustin Martin recording one and Toby Gardenhire the other.

Steve Tolleson reached on a fielding error to start out the contest. He then stole 2nd base and moved to 3rd on a throwing error by catcher John Otness. Brock Peterson hit into a ground out that brought Tolleson home, but that was about the extent of the Rock Cat's offense.

Martin would single in the top of the 2nd off starter Michael Bowden. Gardenhire took a single off Daniel Bard in the top of the 8th.

Zach Daeges singled in the bottom of the sixth and Aaron Bates would get plunked by a pitch to follow him onto the basepaths. Bubba Bell (seriously, that's his name) singled to load the bags and Sandy Madero would double off Swarzak to drive in two. Otness would sacrifice in Bell.

Tony Granadilo singled in the bottom of the third and came home on Jeff Coursaletti's triple.

The currently de-clawed Cats will try to find some offense to back up Jay Rainville (3-5, 7.53) as the two teams rematch at 1:00 PM Sunday.

Boxscore
Log
Rock Cats
Sea Dogs
courant
Portland Press
Lip Service




Rochester 1 at Pawtucket 9

W: D. Pauley (6-2, 3.09); L: J. DePaula (1-1, 4.44)
HR: None.

The Rochester Red Wings managed 7 hits Saturday, but could only put one run on the board, settling for a 9-1 thumping at the hands of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Brandon Moss and Keith Ginter both singled for the Red Sox affiliate in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Chad Spann would ground into a force out, but it brought Moss home, and the Pawsox took the early lead.

Garrett Jones got on base on a walk in the top of the 4th, moved to 3rd on a Jose Morales line drive, and was sacrificed in by Serio Santos, tying up the game.

Kevin Mulvey worked five innings for the Red Wings, allowing just the one run on six hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. The problems would start with former Miracle Julio DePaula in the sixth.

Chris Cartier greeted DePaula with a single, and Moss then doubled. Ginter got plunked by a pitch, which load up the bags. DePaula then walked Spann, which forced in a run. Former Twins farmhand Gil Velazques singled to drive in Moss. DePaula would finally get an out, striking out Jon Van Every. Jeff Bailey then walked to force in another run before Carmen Cali was brought into the game. George Kottaras would ground into a double play to end the inning, but the Pawsox were not done.

Joe Thurston walked in the bottom of the 7th then moved to second on Chris Carter's single. Moss would pop out, but a wild pitch by Cali moved Thurston to 3rd and Carter to 2nd. Ginter was then intentionally walked with Heath Totten coming in to replace Cali. Spann's sacrifice brought in Thurson for the second out, and Valazquez lined out to finish off the 7th.

With one out on the board in the 8th, Jeff Bailey and George Kottaras took back-to-back walks. Thurston's double drove in Bailey. Carter was then issued an intentional walk, Moss would ground into a force out, but Kottaras scored on the play. Spann's line drive to center brought in Thurston and Moss, to finish off the Pawsox pounding.

Darnell McDonald and former Miracle Jose Morales were both 2-for-4 in the contest. Morales had a pair of strike outs as well.

The series wraps up Sunday with a 6:05 contest. Brian Duensing (2-4, 3.81) will get the start for the Red Wings. He will be facing Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz will make a rehab start in the game.

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Red Wings
Pawsox
D&C
Extra Bases
Projo


Fans across the country will once again have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite players to be selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game. This year’s contest will be held at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky on July 16 at 7:05 p.m. EDT and will match selected outstanding players from the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Fan balloting will be held from June 5-27 and will account for one-third of the total vote along with ballots cast by members of the media and each club’s field manager, coaches, and general manager (Press Release).

Late inning fireworks finish off Miracle

Palm Beach 6 at Fort Myers 3

W: D. Bilardello (1-0, 0.00); L: J. Lugo (1-2, 6.00); SV: J. Dew (3)
HR: PBC: T. Cruz (4).

Jose Lugo has been having a bit of an odd season with the Fort Myers Miracle. Some games he's been lights out and some games he's been...well...

This was on of those other games.

James Rapopart greeted Lugo on the mound with ground ball single. Donovan Solano bunt into a force out. Either way, there was a man on base when Tony Cruz put one of the right center field wall for his 4th home run of the season.

The two points would be the turning point in a game that had been pretty even up to that point.

Alex Burnett generally throws in the upper 80's but can touch 91. He's got a fairly good change up that he uses to advantage. In the top of the 2nd inning, he allowed singles to Andrew Brown and Daryl Jones, before the change up got Luke Gorsett to ground into a double play. Daniel Descalso and A.J. Van Slyke both drew walks to load the bags. Nick Derba then doubled to clear the bases and give the Cards a three run lead.

Yangervis Solarte ground out to start the 3rd inning, but Yancarlos Ortiz singled his way onto base. Brian Dinkelman would get hit by a pitch, and Juan Portes' line drive to right filled up the bases. Slugger Danny Valencia would be called out on strikes, but Whit Robbins took a walk to force in a run. Edward Ovalle would be the hero this time, singling out to left to bring in Dinkelman and Portes and tie up the game.

And the game would stay tied through the next four innings. Valencia, who'd gotten on base on a force out, got all the way to 3rd in the bottom of the 5th, but Ovalle ground into a force out, leaving him stranded. A pair of singles to Wilson Ramos and Danny Berg where wasted in the bottom of the 6th when Ortiz ground into a double play.

Meanwhile, Burnett allowed only a double in the fifth.

In the top of the 9th, Rapaport drew walk from Lugo, then stole 2nd. Solano then doubled him into give the Cardinals yet another run.

Three straight ground outs in the 9th would end it for the Miracle.

Portes was 2-for-4 with 1 run on the game, the only player with a multi-hit game. The Miracle took 9 strikes outs from three different Palm Beach pitchers over the course of the contest with starter Shaun Garceau fanning 5 over six innings.

Alex Burnett would pick up only two strike outs, but with the exception of a couple mistakes in the third inning, pitched a smart game, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks for 3 earned runs over seven innings for a quality start.

Wear your whites tomorrow on White Out Sunday as lefty Tyler Robertson (2-2, 3.04) puts the team in pinstripes and pits them against the Cardinals' Brad Furnish (3-2, 3.35). Game time is 1:05 PM. You might want to bring a white towel as well, to protect your back end from the red-hot stadium seats.

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Miracle
News Press
FMNP: Valencia
NDN
Future Redbirds (Friday)

Notes: Tyler's fondness for the pinstripes as to do with the fact that the blue uniform doesn't fit him right and when he goes into his wind up everything comes untucked. We saw some of that Saturday night with Alex as well.

Props to Gary Sharp has been doing a really great job with the public address announcing. I was watching him Friday night during the pre-game ceremonies and not only was he down on the field with the wireless getting everything taken care of, he was walking up and down and reading from a script as well. Some of the PA announcer we've had in the past couldn't walk and talk at the same time.

Kudos also to the "new" Miss A-Miracle. Yes, we miss Mike, but the new Missy is every energetic and does a great job entertaining the crowd.

Danny Santiesteban was pulled from the game Friday night and benched for not knowing how many outs there were. This is a change from last year, when the players evidently faced no discipline for forgetting to tag up. Meanwhile, we here at MiracleFans.com agree that the scoreboard is a disaster and you can't rely on it most of the time, but we do know how to count to three.

Tyler, Manny and Cole tried the Gatorama ribs tonight. Tyler said it was good gator. Manny said they were so hot his mouth was on fire for a couple innings. Gatorama ribs are available over on the party deck above the right field berm.

Two winners split a $400+ launch-a-ball jackpot following the game.

Beloit, Rochester win; Rock Cats fall to Sea Dogs

Burlington 4 at Beloit 7

W: D. Bromberg (3-2, 4.70); L: S. Runion (0-2, 3.86); SV: S. Steedley (4)
HR: BUR: D. Lough (3). BEL: O. Lewis (3), B. Revere (1).

The Beloit Snappers topped the Burlington Bees 7-4 at home with light hitting Ozzie Lewis cranking his third ball of the year over the fence. Ben Revere also went yard for the Snappers.

David Lough would take David Bromberg deep in the first inning, putting ball over the left field wall to put the Bees on the board.

It was short lived lead however. Ben Revere would ground out to start, but Danny Lehmann reached on a fielding error. Garrett Olson singed out to right and Chris Parmelee took a walk to load the bags. Jair Fernandez's ground ball single would rive in two. Steve Singleton's line drive saw Parmelee across the plate. Ozzie Lewis would sent a ball out to left to score Fernandez. Singleton was taken out at 3rd on the play, and Greg Yersich would fly out to end the inning.

Beloit added to their lead in the bottom of the second, when Revere singled, then moved to 2nd on a throwing error by Bees 2nd baseman Alwin Perez. Olson would then double Revere in.

David Lough would be hit by a pitch to start the top of the 3rd. Mike Moustakas then double to put two men on. Jason Taylor's ground out plated Lough, while Moustakas would score on Jamar Waltons' sac-fly.

Lewis would go yard in the sixth and Revere's first home run in Snappers uniform made it 7-3.

Reliever Matt Williams would allow another Bees run in the top of the 8th, when Moustakas tripled then came home on Wilson Tucker's sacrifice.

Revere, Olson and Lewis were all 2-for-4 on the evening, Revere with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, Olson with 1 run and 1 RBI, and Lewis with a run and 2 RBIs.

The two teams rematch Saturday for double-header starting at 5:00 PM. Michael Tarsi (1-6, 6.84) should be on the mound for the Snappers in the first game. It's also cowgirl night and Fireworks Night #3.

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Log
Snappers
Bees
The Hawk Eye
BDN
Thursday:
Herald
BDN

New Britain 6 at Portland 7

W: M. James (1-1, 2.33); L: R. Mullins (4-3, 3.81); SV: B. Vaughan (5)
HR: NBR: M. Moses (3). POR: B. Bell (6), J. Corsaletti 2 (5), M. Wagner (4), A. Pinckney (3).

Ryan Mullins gave up six runs, all earned, on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 over 4 innings. He gave up 4 home runs to the Portland Sea Dogs, who were quite sorry to see Armando Gabino replace him on the mound.

Steve Tolleson was 2-for-4 on the evening with a walk, a run and 2 RBIs. Walks also aided Matt Moses, who went 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk, 2 runs and 1 RBI. Dustin Martin would be hit by a pitch, going 1-for-3 at the plate, but gaining 2 runs.

Martin would get plunked at the top of the 5th inning, Drew Butera singled to follow him on base and Tolleson pushed Martin over the plate with a line drive single to ceter. Trevor Plouffe would reach on a failed force attempt that drove in Butera. Erik Lis would take a walk, but David Winfree ground into a double play that brought in Tolleson, for a 3-run inning.

The two teams rematch Saturday for a 1 PM game. Anthony Swarzak (2-1, 4.06) should be the starting pitcher for the Cats.

Boxscore
Log
Sea Dogs
NB Herald
Courant
Portland Press Herald

Rochester 6 at Pawtucket 4

W: D. Graves (1-0, 2.40); L: D. Hansack (2-5, 5.55); SV: T. Lahey (6)
HR: ROC: B. Buscher (7).

Danny Graves got a quality start for Rochester, allowing 3 runs, all earned, on 4 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings.

Rochester would by 1 run until the 6th inning. Brian Buscher would take a walk, and Ryan Ruiz would follow that up with a single. A missed catch on a pick off attempt moved the pair. Garrett Jones would ground out, but brought in Buscher. A Jose Morales single then scored Ruiz. Sergio Santos singled his way onto base, and Ryan Joregenson would get plunked by a pitch to load the bags. Tommy Watkins single to center brought in 2 to give the Wings the lead.

Buscher hit his 7th home run of the season in the 4th inning. It was the only hit he'd have for the evening, but he also had 2 walks which lead to a pair of runs. Santos was 3-for-4 with 2 runs, Ruiz was 2-for-4 with 1 run, and Watkins was 2-for-5 in the leadoff spot with 3 RBIs.

The PawSox send David Pauley (5-2, 3.32 ERA) to the hill Saturday against the Red Wings’ Kevin Mulvey (2-6, 4.36). The game starts at 6:05 Eastern Time.

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Red wings
PawSox
D&C
ProJo