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AAA: Rochester Red Wings 4, Buffalo Bisons 2
What, you say? More Hurlbut? Well, here ya go. David was crazy effective, going seven innings on just 74 pitches. But the star of the night was RF Daniel Palka. (Who is assuredly a star every night, this photo proclaims.) Palka's 10th-inning, 2-out, 2-run walkoff dong meant Rochester fans got to cheer. Except the ones sad about other things.
AA: Chattanooga Lookouts 2, Montgomery Biscuits 1
Your favorite eyeball-logoed team beat your favorite Southern food staple-logoed team in this close one. 2013 #4 pick Kohl Stewart allowed one in eight full, striking out five. CF Zach "Firm As" Granite had three hits, and LF Travis Harrison did the late-game, two-out hero duties with a lazy 2-RBI single. If you go to the game tonight, you can win free tickets to the SEC Championship footballing game, which in that part of the country is better than Heaven.
High A: Jupiter Hammerheads 4, Ft. Myers Miracle 3
Derek, son of Pudge, Rodriguez had his string of glorious conquests run out due to some fourth-inning bloopers, bleeders, and a misplayed grounder by SS Nick Gordon. Still, ten hits, Derek, you showed little honor in this fight. That error, BTW, is Gordon's 23rd in 103 games. Not so good, that. But he's only 20, so we'll cut him a little slack. And maybe Gordon did it on purpose. His brother, Dee, plays for the Miami Marlins. Hammerheads? Marlins? Gordons like to help out fish teams.
Low A: Cedar Rapids Kernels 3, Burlington Bees 0
Nelson Molina is apparently not related to any of the MLB catchers -- he plays third base, so I should have guessed. Anyhoo, he was perfect at the plate Friday, going 4-4 with a double and two ribbies. Australian native Lachlan Wells had five Ks in 5.2 frames, needing 100 pitches to do it. He recharged after the game with koala burgers.
Here is a terrific profile of Molina by Seth Stohs I just found. Check it out.
Rookie: Elizabethton Twins 5, Burlington Royals
Wait a sec, how many cities are named Burlington? I'm not gonna look it up. I guarantee you there's only one Sauk Centre. Some big-hitting for the baby Twins, with three apiece by SS Ariel Montesino, RF Shane Carrier, and 3B Mitchell Kranson. One of Kranson's was a solo dong. He also apparently moonlights as a catcher, so I like him immediately. Jose Martinez started for Elizabethton and finished four innings, giving up four runs; Alex Robinson pitched the next three and allowed no runs on one hit with four strikeouts. Free Alex!