The Baby Birds went 1-4 on Thursday as Peoria was the only winner. Things got heated in the Peoria game as Jacob Wilson was hit in the head in the 9th and Thomas Lee retaliated by throwing behind a Clinton player in the bottom of the 9th. The benches cleared and there were a couple of ejections. Wilson was able to walk off on his own power and was tweeting after the game. Thursday’s action saw rough starts by Mitchell Boggs and Tim Cooney. David Popkins continues to excel, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
Here are the results from Thursday’s action:
New Orleans 7, Memphis (35-33) 0
After a strong offensive effort on Wednesday, the Memphis Redbirds struggled for only 4 hits on Thursday. Brock Peterson had 2 of the 4 hits including a double, he also walked. The other 2 hits were singles from Greg Garcia and Adron Chambers. Oscar Taveras had the day off for the Redbirds.
Mitchell Boggs started and struggled for 2 innings. Boggs allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits and issued 2 walks while striking out 2. Nick Additon was the piggy back starter and allowed 1 run over 4 innings with 6 strikeouts. Jorge Rondon pitched a scoreless inning and Marc Rzepczynski pitched 2 scoreless innings while striking out 3.
Player of the Game: Brock Peterson
Springfield (31-33) 1, NW Arkansas 8
The Springfield offense struggled in game one of the double-header. James Ramsey led the way for the Cardinals with 2 hits, including a triple, and a run scored. The lone RBI went to Ruben Gotay. The remaining Springfield hits came from Mike O’Neill, Chris Swauger, and Jake Lemmerman.
Tim Cooney was roughed up for the first time at the Double-A level. He allowed 7 earned runs on 11 hits over 3 and 2/3 innings. Travis Miller relieved Cooney and did not allow an earned run in 2 and 1/3 innings.
Player of the Game: James Ramsey
Springfield (31-34) 2, NW Arkansas 3
In game two, the Springfield offense was able to muster 10 hits but only scored 2 runs. Mike O’Neill, Ruben Gotay, and Vance Albitz each had 2 hits. Chris Swauger and Jake Lemmerman had the 2 RBI’s and O’Neill and Cody Stanley scored the 2 runs.
Jonathan Cornelius started game two and allowed 3 earned runs in 4 and 1/3 innings. Heath Wyatt relieved Cornelius and did not allow a run in 1 and 2/3 innings.
Player of the Game: Mike O’Neill
Dunedin 13, Palm Beach (28-37) 5
Three Beach Birds had 2 hits on Thursday as Stephen Piscotty, David Popkins, and Nick Longmire each were 2-for-4. Piscotty and Longmire scored a run while Popkins drove one in. The only Cardinal starter to not record a hit was catcher Juan Castillo. Ronny Gil had a double and 2 RBI’s.
The pitching staff struggled as starter Jay Voss and relievers Iden Nazario and Danny Miranda each allowed multiple earned runs. Voss allowed 6 in and inning and 2/3, Nazario allowed 4 in and inning and 2/3 and Miranda allowed 3 in 1 inning. Jacob Booden pitched 1 and 1/3 scoreless innings, while Brady Amadek didn’t allow a run in an inning and 1/3 and Zach Petrick did not allow a run over the last 2 innings.
Player of the Game: David Popkins
Peoria (35-29) 4, Clinton 0
The Chiefs shut out the LumberKings in a game that turned testy late. Jacob Wilson was hit in the head by a pitch in the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Thomas Lee threw behind a Clinton hitter and was ejected along with the Peoria manager Donn Bilardello. In the game, Ildemaro Vargas and Patrick Wisdom each had 2 hits, and Wisdom had 2 RBI’s. Jacob Wilson and Breyvic Valera each had an RBI as well.
Kyle Helisek threw 6 shutout innings only allowing 5 hits and striking out 8. Joe Donofrio pitched 2 scoreless innings. Thomas Lee hit his only batter before being ejected, and Robert Stock closed out the ninth with a scoreless inning and 2 strikeouts.
