=== Daily Dugout Chatter - Thursday, July 15th === (Games from Wednesday, July 14th)
From The My Sportsbook
TIGERS MAUL CARDINALS
Chris Maples and Scott Moore led the charge in an 11-run seventh inning that broke open a 4-1 lead as the Lakeland Tigers crushed the Palm Beach Cardinals 15-1 Wednesday night. Maples started the scoring in the seventh with a two-run single and Moore followed him with another two-run single. Maples went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored while Moore finished 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBI, and two runs scored. Joel Zumaya (6-6) picked up the win with six solid innings on the hill for Lakeland. Zumaya gave up one earned run on two hits, walked one, and fanned six batters. Buddy Blair (6-7) was tagged with the loss after he allowed four earned runs in five innings. He gave up eight hits, walked two, and struck out two. Alex Trezza chipped in a 2-for-3 effort, including a triple, and knocked in three runs for the Tigers. Mike McCoy led the aenemic Palm Beach offense as he went 1-for-2 with a double and scored their only run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.
LUMBERKINGS CASH IN
Brandon Cashman roped a pinch-hit, three-run triple in the top of the seventh inning that tied the game as the Clinton LumberKings scored eight times in the final frame to shock the Burlington Bees 9-5 in Midwest League action Wednesday. Cashman came in as the designated hitter and finished the game 1- for-1 with the clutch triple and three RBI. Joldy Watts (5-1) earned the win with 1 2/3rd scoreless innings of work. Watts surrendered just one walk and fanned two batters in his outing. Nate Moore (1-1) was rocked for seven earned runs in just 1 1/3rd innings to take the loss. He allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out three batters. Emerson Frostad and Kevin Richardson both homered in the decisive seventh inning for Clinton. Frostad went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and one run scored while Richardson finished 2-for-3 with his ninth homer, one RBI, and scored two runs.
THE WRIGHT WAY
Matt Wright hurled six innings of scoreless baseball and three relievers combined to give up just one hit as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans edged the Lynchburg Hillcats 3-1 in Carolina League action Wednesday. Wright (4-4) allowed just three hits, walked one, and struck out six batters in his outing. Glenn Tucker recorded the final two outs to earn his 12th save. Nicholas Gravelle (3-7) took the loss after he gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits in six innings. He walked two and fanned five. Carlos Duran knocked in two runs with a second inning single and finished the day 1-for-3. Gregor Blanco chipped in an insurance run in the fourth with an RBI double. Blanco went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Brad Eldred accounted for the lone Lynchburg run as he belted a seventh inning, solo home run, his 19th.
SPINNIN' THE PILL
Anibal Sanchez and Scott Shoemaker combined to toss a four-hit, shutout as the Lowell Spinners ousted the Vermont Expos 1-0 in a thrilling New York-Penn League game Wednesday night. Sanchez threw the first five innings and gave up just two hits, walked two, and struck out nine batters. Sanchez did not figure in the decision as he was pulled with the game in a scoreless tie. Shoemaker (2-0) hurled the final two innings and gave up two hits to pick up the win. He walked one and fanned four in his outing. Chris Goodman (1-2) pitched all six innings for Vermont but took the loss after he gave up the lone earned run on five hits. Goodman walked three batters and struck out one. Chuck Jeroloman turned out to be the hero for Lowell as he roped a triple to leadoff the sixth inning and came around to score on Salvador Paniagua's sacrifice fly. Lowell earned the doubleheader sweep with the win.
TEXAS-SIZED VICTORY
Ryan Shealy drove in five runs and three Tulsa pitchers combined on a one- hitter as the Drillers hammered the Wichita Wranglers, 11-1, in a Texas League East Division game Wednesday night. With the win, Tulsa improved to 11-10 in the second half of the Texas League season while Wichita fell to 15-6, but remained in first place by four games. Shealy was one of three Drillers to hit home runs as Jayson Nix and Adonis Harrison each went yard in the victory. The run support benefited winning pitcher Gerrit Simpson (4-2). He allowed one run on one hit in 5 1/3rd innings. Emmanuel Ramirez worked 2/3rds of an inning and Sean Green earned the save with three scoreless innings of relief. Losing pitcher Thad Markray (0-1) was touched for five runs on seven hits in four innings. Tulsa and Wichita are scheduled to play again Thursday.
PUT SOME SALAMI ON IT, PLEASE
Ervin Alcantara crushed a grand slam and knocked in six runs and three other Lexington batters drove in two runs apiece to power the Legends past the Hagerstown Suns 14-8 in South Atlantic League action. Alcantara finished 3- for-6, including a double to accompany his 11th homer, and scored one run to lead Lexington. Jonathan Beltre (4-2) picked up the win in relief after he threw three perfect innings. Beltre struck out three batters in his three innings of work. Juan Serrato (5-5) took the loss after he gave up eight runs, three earned, in 4 1/3rd innings of work. He allowed nine hits, walked three batters, and struck out one. Osvaldo Fernando, Beau Hearod, and Scott Robinson each knocked in two runs for the Legends. Fernando and Hearod combined for five hits, including three doubles, and five runs scored. Jesse Schmidt and Jonathan Armitage both drove in two runs for the Suns.
