Bus Leagues Express: September 11

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Greensboro beats Asheville at their own game in series opening win: Asheville’s McCormick Field has long been a hitter’s paradise in the South Atlantic League, and it allows the Tourists to sit among the league leaders in home runs annually. They led the SAL with 127 home runs this season, but it was Greensboro’s pair of home runs that powered their 6-3 win at Asheville. Asheville starter Ben Alsup stumbled for the second straight postseason start after closing the regular season with four scoreless starts in his last five. Alsup allowed a pair of home runs to Matt Smith and Josh Adams, and those accounted for three of his four runs allowed. The Tourists got plenty of baserunners against Andrew Heaney, but they could only get three runs across against him. Asheville will host one more game before the best-of-five series shifts to Greensboro.

Perez pitches Lancaster one game within finals: After a low scoring series against Lake Elsinore to advance to play High Desert, Lancaster started playing some classic Cal League games. The JetHawks and Mavericks combined for 34 runs as they split the first two games of the series, and they were back at it again in Monday’s 10-5 Lancaster win. Although they fell behind 2-0 pretty early, Lancaster settled in and came back, largely due to a four run 5th. They hit three consecutive extra base hits in taking their 5-2 lead, and while they were building a lead, Lancaster’s Tyson Perez recovered to throw a quality start. He allowed just two runs in six innings, and the bullpen did just enough to hang onto the lead. High Desert is now on the ropes down 2-1 in a best-of-five series after winning the first and second half titles in the South division.

De La Rosa rehabs to keep Modesto alive: Jorge De La Rosa hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 24th, 2011, and his rehab appearances have been spotty too. He made his 7th minor league appearance of the season Monday night in Modesto’s blowout 12-1 win over Bakersfield to cut the Blaze’s series lead to 2-1. De La Rosa allowed just one run in 3.2 innings while striking out five, and the Nuts offense provided more than enough early offense. They hit three home runs in the 1st inning on their way to a 6-0 lead after two, and Cal League Pitcher of the Year Christian Bergman struck out five in five scoreless innings of outstanding relief. In the 8th, Modesto piled on six more runs. Joey Wong and Timothy Smalling each had two extra base hit games with two RBI.

Home runs send Fort Wayne to finals: The TinCaps may have been last in the Midwest League in homers in the regular season, but it was their power that carried them to the Midwest League Championship Monday. Three home runs against the Lake County staff contributed to their 13-6 win that sets up a meeting with Wisconsin to determine the league’s champion. Each starter lasted just 2.2 innings while being charged with four runs, and Fort Wayne’s bullpen was up to the task of providing long relief. Five relievers combined to allow two runs in 6.1 innings as the TinCaps extended their lead over a battered Captains bullpen. Yeison Asencio, coming off a very good regular season, was 3/5 with one of Fort Wayne’s homers, four runs driven in and three scored himself. The Midwest League best-of-five championship begins tomorrow.

Cyclones sputter as Hudson Valley advances: The semi-final series between Brooklyn and Hudson Valley was always going to come down to pitching, and it was Brooklyn’s staff that blinked first in their elimination game loss. Three Renegades pitchers combined to shut out Brooklyn 2-0 in the decisive game three that sends Hudson Valley to the finals. Taylor Guerrieri threw four scoreless innings, but surprisingly he walked five batters, equaling the total walks he had in the regular season. Brandon Henderson relieved him and absolutely dominated, striking out six in 4.1 innings, facing the minimum. While Hudson Valley scored a pair of 1st inning runs on a Richie Shaffer triple and wild pitch, Brooklyn only collected one hit.

Late Auburn meltdown sends Tri-City to finals: The top two teams in the New York Penn League have reached the finals after Tri-City bludgeoned Auburn’s bullpen in their 16-7 win. Auburn starter Nicholas Lee was chased after recording only one out while walking four of the six batters he faced. After breaking a 5-5 tie in the top of the 7th, the ValleyCats went to work on Auburn’s bullpen. With two runs already crossing the plate in the inning, Jamie Wierzbicki cleared the bases with a double to extend Tri-City’s lead to 10-6. They weren’t finished. An inning later, they scored six more runs with only three hits in the inning and went on to their 16-7 victory. They’ll take on Hudson Valley in a best-of-three championship starting today.

On tap today

MiLB.TV schedule

MiLB playoffs continue

Seven league championships begin