(3-5, T3rd–PCL American South)
Game Notes:
Another Astros’ affiliate faces off against a much ballyhoo’d Rangers pitching prospect. This time it’s Edinson Volquez, and after struggling just a tad in the 1st inning he settles down for 6 innings of fine work as his Oklahoma Redhawks edge the Express by a 3-2 count.
Again, it’s the top of the RR order that does the damage (what little there was to speak of, anyway). All 7 hits came from the #1, #2 and #4 spots in the order.
Leadoff hitter RF Charlton Jimerson goes 3-4 and hits a solo shot (#3) in the 6th off Volquez.
CF Mike Rodriguez, hitting in the 2-hole, picks up multiple hits for the 3rd game in a row with a 2-4 night (including a 2-bagger).
Cleanup hitter 1B Royce Huffman tries to break out of his early season funk with a couple of singles and a walk.
2B Brooks Conrad had a 3-whiff night.
Starter Jared Gothreaux’s line (4 IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 1 W 1 K) doesn’t look impressive, but he actually pitched well until breaking down in the 4th. All 3 runs came in that inning on 4 hits as he continues to work his way back from the elbow surgery.
Brandon Puffer and Dave Borkowski shut the Redhawks down after Goat’s exit with 4 hitless/scoreless frames.
Other News and Notes:
(1) If you missed today’s updated transactions page, RHP Chris Baker was acquired from the Rangers and assigned to RR. He fills the roster vacancy that occurred when Carlos Hernandez was put on the DL. Baker is a former 29th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1999 who had been on the Redhawks’ roster this season, pitching in one game (2 scoreless innings).
(4-3, 2nd–Texas League South)
Game Notes:
Those feelings of deja vu surface all over again as the Hooks are held hitless for the first 4 frames and memories of yesterday’s Salem game come quickly to mind. But CC ekes out enough offense over the next 4 innings to take the narrow 2-1 win over Frisco.
Hunter Pence broke up the no-hitter by leading off the 5th with a double. He eventually scored on a wild pitch. The exact same scenario occurred in the bottom of the 9th as Pence scores the winning run.
C J.R. House now has a 7-game hitting streak as a result of a 7th inning single.
Matt Albers is muy sharp (7 IP 4 H 1 R 0 ER 1 W 8 K) for the second straight start.
Paul Estrada goes two fine innings in relief with plenty of KKKK’s.
House is 1 for 2 on the night in throwing out baserunners.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Pence has played CF the last 2 days in lieu of the injured Josh Anderson. (2) Albers picked off a runner in the 7th, his second in as many games. (3) OF Jorge Cortes remains hitless on the year (0-15). (4) The CC Caller says that LHP Josh Muecke has resumed throwing, but quotes manager Dave Clark as saying there is no estimate as to when he may return.
(3-4, 3rd–Carolina League Southern)
Game Notes:
After a total of 2 hits the last couple of games, the Avalanche finally got a bit of offense Thursday but it wasn’t nearly enough as they fall 7-4 to the Frederick Keys. Salem out-hit their hosts 9-7, but lost the HR battle 1-3.
1B Neil Sellers had a single, double and a walk for the good guys.
DH Scott Robinson doubled and hit a deep fly (#1).
4 of the 5 runs given up by starter Chad Reineke in his 5 innings of work came via the home run ball (2 of ’em in this case).
Another gopher ball was served up by reliever Ryan Thompson in the 8th inning.
Lou Santangelo again tosses out a would-be base-stealer at 2nd base (the only attempt by Frederick in the game).
Other News and Notes:
(1) After 3 straight wins to start the season, Salem is now on a 4-game losing streak. (2) The HR by Robinson was the first by a Salem player this season. The club has banged out 16 doubles.
(6-2, T1st–SAL Northern)
Game Notes:
Nothing particularly legendary for Lexington as they get paddled 13-4 by Hickory.
CF Josh Flores and LF Mitch Einertson hit solo shots (#2 for both on the season).
C J.R. Towles was 1-3 with an RBI single.
SS Tommy Manzella’s offensive futility continued, as he goes 0-2 in the game and is now 1-21 for the year.
3B Koby Clemens was hitless as his BA falls to .150.
The hitters didn’t help their cause by hitting into 3 GIDPs (courtesy of Einertson, Manzella and RF Eli Iorg).
Two gopher balls accounted for half the runs surrendered by starter Doug Arguello (4 IP 6 H 6 R 6 ER 2 W 6 K).
Reliever Scott Sarver struggles again after coming out of extended ST, this time blowing up for 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk in just 1.1 IP.
2B Eric King commits his 3rd error of the year.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Your teammates are knocking out 16 hits and scoring 13 runs. Everybody else in the lineup has at least one hit, and seven of your compadres have multi-hit games. And what are you doing? Striking out five times! A tip of the platinum sombrero to Hickory DH Brandon Reddinger.