The Isotopes benefited from some shaky defense from the Round Rock Express Thursday pushing across four unearned runs in the first three innings, proving to be more than enough for Isotopes starter Jon Gray. Gray went 6.2 innings allowing only one unearned run (his fourth straight start allowing three ER or less, after a bumpy start to his season), earning the win and improving to 2-4 on the season. Anthony Renaudo suffered his first loss of the season and is now 3-1.
Jon Gray and Anthony Ranaudo are likely both getting called up this Summer, and they were both high profile draftees in the last five years, so this was an easy call for duel of the day.
Isotopes Catcher Ryan Casteel (Has a 10-game hit streak, and has at least one hit in 16 of his last 18 games this season) drove home a pair of unearned runs in the first inning with a two-out single. In the second inning, Tim Smalling scored on a sac fly (he reached via an error to start the top half of the second). With two outs in the top of the third, Angelys Nina got to second base on a grounder and errant throw by third baseman Ed Lucas, his second error of the game. Smalling followed with a single to left to score him.
The Isotopes scored there fifth and final run in the fifth inning, on a Matt McBride double (eight straight multiple hit games) and Kyle Parker RBI single (nine-game hitting streak). The express got on the board in the home half of the seventh as Ed Lucas scored from second base on a throwing error from third baseman Tim Smalling.
Jon Gray, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
He Features a low to mid 90’s fastball down from his upper 90’s to touching 100 in college, but still a potential plus pitch. His secondaries are a slider with plus potential and a potential above average change. He has fringe average command so despite #2 starter stuff he’s probably more of a #3 going forward. Most of his struggles have been in the first inning this season
Anthony Ranaudo, 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Renaudo features a potential plus fastball and curve, with a fringe average change and command, back end starter or pen arm.
The two teams will play game two of the four-game series Friday night in Round Rock.
John Calvagno
John is a contributor for Legends on Deck. A Red Sox fan and Minor league enthusiast, he's usually writing about minor league baseball on his own blog - Notes from the Sally. John also loves Bruins hockey and Syracuse basketball. John is married with two grown daughters and lives in Asheville, NC. you can find John on Twitter @SALNotes
