Portland won 8-4
After making three starts with the Double-A BayBears at the beginning of the
year Michael Bumstead got promoted to Portland, and moved into the bullpen.
Now back in the starting rotation Bumstead pitched just well enough to win
Thursday, going five innings and giving up four runs on a pair of two run
homers. While his pitching just got him the 'W' he certainly helped
himself with the bat. The Beavers four run third inning was capped off by
a two RBI Bumstead double.
While Bumstead's bat was nice, everybody got in on the fun Thursday,
literally. Every starter notched at least one hit, three different Beavers
had multi-hit games, and Nashville pitchers gave up eight extra base hits in the
game.
Right fielder Ben Johnson continued his power surge by going 3-4 with a walk,
a double and two solo home runs. In the last four games Johnson has hit
four homers and collected six RBI, at least one in each game. Five of his
seven homers on the year have come in the last seven games.
Left fielder Adam Hyzdu was 3-4 on the day, collecting a pair of doubles,
scoring a run and driving in two, though his batting average in Portland is
still just .187, he's been selective, drawing 13 walks in 17 games.
Reliever Jack Cassell pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game.
Though his consecutive scoreless appearances streak was halted at 10 on
Wednesday he has still allowed only one earned run in his last twelve
appearances.
Mobile won 6-3 in 10 innings
Though he didn't collect the win Michael Thompson looked good on Thursday
giving up only three runs on seven hits in seven innings. Thompson has
gone at least seven innings in six of his 10 starts this season.
Since it is probably the most thankless job a player can have, we like to
point out any time a middle reliever gets a win, and Thursday Natanael Mateo
picked up the 'W' with a scoreless eighth inning.
For center fielder Kennard Jones it was a mixed bag of a day. Two hits
is always nice, three strikeouts isn't as pleasing, but the bases clearing
double down the left field line Jones smoked in the top of the 10th inning
probably tilted the day in Jones' favor. That game winning hit should help
Jones, and the Mobile coaches, forget that his three K's Thursday give him 12 in
his last six games.
Catcher Nick Trzesniak started the season hot, but hadn't seen his average
over .300 since the last day in April. With hits in seven of his last
eight games coming into Thursday night is seemed that Trzesniak was rounding
back into form, and Thursday confirmed it, as he went 4-5 with a double, two
runs scored, and two stolen bases. Trzesniak has stolen three of his four
bases on the season in the last two games.
Lake Elsinore was off Thursday
Fort Wayne won 6-5
Fabian Jimenez's struggled continued, as he failed to make it out of the
fourth inning for the third time in his last five starts, but the bats, and
solid bullpen work, bailed him out.
Jimenez gave up seven hits and three walks in 3.2 innings, surrendering only
three runs (two earned) before leaving. Reliever Vern Sterry collected the
win with 3.1 innings of work that featured three strikeouts, one walk, and only
one hit, though that hit was a two run homer. It is only the second homer
Sterry has allowed in 28 innings pitched this year.
Center fielder Yordany Ramirez collected two double and two RBI in his four
trips to the dish, while second baseman Sean Kazmar has his second straight
three hit game, and drove in two as well.
Matt Varner collected his Midwest League leading 14th save of the year with a
perfect ninth inning. In May Varner has given up only one earned run, has
converted seven of his eight save chances, and opponents are hitting just .167
off him.