=== Daily Dugout Chatter - Monday, August 2nd === (Games from Sunday, August 1st)
From The My Sportsbook
YOFU SAYS: NO HITS FOR YOU
Charlotte pitcher Tetsu Yofu threw a complete game no-hitter as he dominated the Durham Bulls and led Charlotte Knights to a 5-0 victory in International League action Sunday afternoon. Yofu struck out 10 batters and walked only two. Yofu was in some trouble in the first inning when Brooks Badeaux reached first base on an error by Charlotte first basemen Mike Bell. Two batters later Yofu walked Midre Cummings before getting Jonny Gomes to pop up. Bell atoned for his error by going 4-for-4 with a home run. Bryant Nelson went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI. Ryan Hawkins also had two hits and an RBI for Charlotte. Jim Magrane took the loss (6-4) giving up five earned runs in five innings pitched. The victory improves Charlotte's record to 54-56, currently 6 1/2 games behind Durham in the International League's Southern Division.
WASHINGTON EXPLODES IN FOURTH
Rico Washington belted two home runs and drove in six runs to pace the Mobile Baybears' 10-8 win over the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx on Sunday night. West Tenn jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Geovany Soto and Bobby Brownlie each smacked two-run singles in the inning as West Tenn sent ten batters to the plate. Mobile, however, erupted for 10 runs in the top of the fourth. Washington belted a two run homer and a grand slam in the same inning. Greg Sain added a solo homer in the frame. Clay Hensley (9-7) picked up the win, while Brad Baker notched his 27th save of the year. Jared Blasdell (1-3) absorbed the loss in relief.
WELCOME MR. KAZMIR
Scott Kazmir was sensational in his first start since being traded from the New York Mets organization as the Montgomery Biscuits cooked the Carolina Mudcats, 11-1, in a Southern League game Sunday. Winners of two straight, Montgomery improved to 15-21 in the second half of the Southern League season while Carolina, losers of two consecutive, fell to 14-21. Kazmir surrendered just three hits and struck out eight in five scoreless innings to earn his first victory for Montgomery. Leading the Biscuits offense were Frank Moore, who jacked a sixth-inning grand slam, and Jace Brewer, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Losing pitcher Peter Bauer (5-8) was torched for 10 runs on 11 hits and five walks in six innings. Carolina and Montgomery are scheduled to play again Monday.
SENATORS VOTE ON A COMEBACK
Larry Broadway and Shawn Norris each hit two- run home runs as the Harrisburg Senators rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to beat the Erie SeaWolves, 6-5, in an Eastern League Southern Division game Sunday. With the win, Harrisburg improved to 36-71 while Erie fell to 56-48. Trailing 5-2 heading into the eighth inning, Broadway hit a two-run homer to right field before Norris added the game-winning two-run shot two batters later. The run support made a winner of Daniel Rueckel. He worked three scoreless innings of relief to earn his sixth victory of the season. Losing pitcher Rick Palma (2-8) was touched for three runs on four hits and did not record an out. In the loss, Curtis Granderson went 3-for-3 with two home runs, two walks and two runs scored. Harrisburg and Erie are scheduled to play again Monday.
WHITESIDE UP
Eli Whiteside hit what would prove the game- winning home run in the sixth inning as the Bowie Baysox beat the Altoona Curve, 8-3, in the second game of an Eastern League Southern Division doubleheader Sunday. Altoona took Game One, 6-3. After the doubleheader, Bowie's record was 56-52 while Altoona stood at 63-43. With the score tied 2-2 after five innings, Bowie took the lead for good when Whiteside slammed a two-run shot to left field. Bowie added four runs in the top of the seventh and Altoona score one run in the bottom to set the final score. Brian Forystek (2-3) was the winning pitcher. He gave up two runs on five hits and struck out four in five innings. Walter Young drove in three runs and Matt Walker contributed two RBI for the Baysox. Losing pitcher Bryan Bullington (7-7) was touched for five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3rd innings. Up next, Bowie will travel to New Hampshire while Altoona will open a series at Akron.
FRENCH FUELS COMEBACK
Anton French's lead off home run in the top of the ninth inning helped spark the Syracuse SkyChiefs to a come from behind victory over the Rochester Red Wings 9-7 Sunday afternoon. With the SkyChiefs trailing 7-6 in the ninth, French laced a ball over the right field wall wrapping up a stellar day at the plate finishing 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI's and runs scored. Gabe Gross and Glenn Williams each drove in a run to help cap off the three run inning. Talley Haines was credited with win improving his record to 2-2. Haines pitched one inning of relief allowing a run on two hits, and striking out one. Bob File notched his fifth save. Brent Schoening dropped to 2-7 on the season. Schoening pitched one inning allowing three runs, on four hits, and walked two batters. Jason Kubel had a monster day at the plate in the loss for the Red Wings going 2-for-4 with a pair of homers driving in 6 RBI.
BONDURANTASTIC
Brant Colamarino roped a two-run home run, while Steve Bondurant tossed eight dominant innings of shutout ball to lead the Midland RockHounds to a 4-0 win over the Round Rock Express. Francis Gomez also drove in two runs for the RockHounds, who improved to 18-19. Bondurant improved to 1-0 with the win. He allowed just three hits and struck out eight. Nick Mattioni closed out the ninth to secure the shutout. Jared Gothreaux (7-6) allowed four runs - only one earned - on eight hits in 6 1/3rd innings to absorb the loss. Round Rock fell to 18-20 with the loss. They'll battle Midland again tomorrow.
WALK-OFF JOB
David Kelton's only hit of the day was a big one, as he hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Iowa Cuba a 3-2 victory over the Las Vegas 51s. Las Vegas had tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning on a two-run single off the bat of Cody Ross. Mike Wuertz (1-1) picked up the win, tossing 1 2/3rd scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Roy Smith (0-2) allowed a run (Kelton's homer), on one hit in one inning of work. Bill Selby and Russ Johnson each knocked in a run in the win for Iowa.
DOUBLE J
JJ Furmaniak went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Freddy Guzman scored three times to propel the Portland Beavers to an 11-8 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 11-8. Jose Nieves, Brian Buchanan, and Kerry Robinson also drove in two runs apiece for the Beavers. Buchanan had two doubles and scored twice, while Robinson also crossed the plate twice. Tim Stauffer (4-1) picked up the win, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits in 5 2/3rd innings. Brian Tollberg (6-9) allowed seven runs, four earned, on nine hits in six innings to suffer the loss. Brad Hawpe hit two solo home runs, while Andy Tracy and Erick Almonte each hit a solo shot in the loss for the Sky Sox.
KERNELS POP COUGARS IN A WILD ONE
The Kane County Cougars fell behind early and went fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 16-12 Sunday afternoon in Midwest League action. Luke Appert and Kory Wayment both had three-run homers on a day that saw 28 total runs scored between the two teams. The Kernels jumped on Cougars starting pitcher Michael McGirr, scoring six runs on four hits and three errors in their first at-bat to take a quick 6-0 lead. The Cougars cut the lead in half in their first at-bat when Luke Appert hit his third home run in his last three at bats, a three-run shot over the right-field wall. Both teams would trade runs over the next two innings making it a 7-4 game. Cedar Rapids would put three more on the board in the top of the fourth inning off of reliever Manny Rodriguez on a three-run double from Baltazar Lopez to take a 10-4 lead. Lopez and Blake Balkcom had four hits and five RBI apiece in the win. Trailing 16-8, Kane County scored four runs in their final turn at the plate highlighted by a three-run homer from Kory Wayment to set the final score at 16-12. The two teams combined for 35 hits as both clubs committed four errors.
