Balbino Fuenmayor Leads Lugnuts to Victory

The Jays would love for 1B Balbino Fuenmayor to have a breakthrough season, and he took a big step towards that on Monday. It was SS Kevin Nolan who did the initial damage for the Lugnuts, bringing in 2 runs with a double in the 5th inning (making it 3-2). Fuenmayor tied the game in the 8th with his first HR of the year, to deep-right center. He also had 3 singles and a double in the game, making him 5 for 5 and boosting his average to .350 from a lowly .133. What a game for the big Venezuelan.

Other game notes:

• Ryan Tepera had a short outing, lasting 3.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 earned runs. He walked and struck out 2.
• Scott Gracey and Aaron Loup are the ones who came on in relief and really held Loon hitters down over 4.2 innings. Aaron Loup was dominant to say the least, striking out 6 over 2.2 innings and only allowing 2 hits and 1 walk.
• 23 year old Steven Turnbull came in to close the game and only gave up 1 hit for his second save of the year.
• It’s a good thing Fuenmayor was as hit as he was, because  he managed the same number of hits as all other Lugnuts hitters put together (5). Ochinko, Schimpf, and Wilson went 0 for 13 between them, for example.

The Lugnuts are now 2 and 3 on the year and will try to sweep the Loons (LAD affiliate) today.