Here is the summary of the weekend games on the farm.
Round Rock
Friday, the Express had some roster changes with Niekro & Diaz being given their releases. However, the Express pulled through with a 6-3 victory over Las Vegas.
“Everybody beared down today and we got a few key hits,” said (Josh) Paul. Saccomanno “is swinging a great bat right now and coming through in the clutch.”
Saturday in the park, Round Rock couldn’t make it back from a early hole. They lost 5-3.
“It’s one of those games where we just didn’t get the right hit,” said Express hitting coach Ron Jackson, who for the second straight day filled in for Express manager Dave Clark.
Clark is out-of-town for his daughter’s graduation and is expected back on Monday.
Sunday, the not getting the right hit continued for the Express as they lost in 10 innings 3-0.
“It’s just one of those things that we’ve been having some problems with all season,” Jackson said.
“I don’t know why … we work on it every day. We’ve just got to keep working and hopefully just one day it will kick in.”
Runelvys Hernandez had his second straight strong start. He has not allowed a run in his last two starts (12 innings).
Corpus Christi
Friday, the Hooks pulled ahead in the 9th and held on in the bottom half for an 8-7 win.
Closer Sammy Gervacio then pitched his second shutout inning to pick up his first win, but it came in nerve-racking fashion. With the bases loaded, Mitch Einertson made a leaping catch at the right-field wall to retire Brian Snyder for the final out.
Richard Paz was moved up to Round Rock and Wlad Sutil joined the Hooks from Salem.
Saturday, Corpus Christi literally threw away a victory by allowing two runs in the 9th off two throwing errors.
Oyervidez then got leadoff hitter Seth Johnston to hit a chopper to third baseman Chris Johnson, whose throw to first instead went into the stands to put a runner on second.
“I rushed the throw and just threw it away,” Johnson said. “Everything was fine — the guy wasn’t even a good runner. I airmailed it. I don’t know, it happens.”
The error was Johnson’s 10th of the year and seventh throwing error.
“I’m starting to be concerned a little bit because he’s starting to throw too many away,” Pujols said. “I talked to him a little bit (Friday) about it, and he made another bad throw. It seems like his throws keep going up. It’s something we’re going to have to start working on with him.”
Sunday, errors and walks lead to another late loss for the Hooks.
“One thing that I noticed is some of the guys have been walking more people than earlier in the season,” Pujols said. “I was getting used to that because we were doing so well. Through the course of the season, you go through periods like that. But I think we’re going to get back on track.”
Salem
Friday night, Casey Hudspeth first pitch went over the fence. His night got longer, though not because of poor pitching. Hudspeth bounced back and pitched 8 strong innings in the Avs 6-2 victory.
He threw just 69 through the first seven innings and finished with 88. Only once all night did he throw even three balls to a batter. He was locating his fastball, Hudspeth said, and also his curveball was in better control than it has been.
Picking on runners
There was a nice piece at Roanoke.com on Saturday about the pick off moves of Qualben and Trinidad. They Av’s have picked off 15 runners so far this year, six by Qualben and four by Trinidad.
“It’s deception,” Qualben said, although he admitted that he doesn’t have a slide-step move like Trinidad’s because he doesn’t have a slide-step move to the plate so, well, it wouldn’t be very sneaky, would it?
Qualben said he will use one move early in the game and another later so he doesn’t tip his hand.
Even when a pitcher doesn’t get a pickoff, the moves still work, Qualben explained, because an unsure runner will take a shorter lead and will be less able to steal or go all the way to third base on a single.
Saturday, base running mistakes helped lead to an 8-4 loss. Here is an example of their base running challenges.
In the fourth, Koby Clemens hit a one-out double. Jhon Florentino followed with a grounder to the left side of the infield and Clemens was tossed out easily.
In the seventh, Clemens led off with a double, then stayed put when Florentino again grounded out to the left side of the infield and remained anchored there when Ryan Reed lifted a fly ball to center.
It wasn’t until Conception Rodriguez overran the ball and it dropped in for a double that Clemens moved up to third. He stayed there when Cesar Quintero struck out.
Ryan Reed was released from the Avs roster and Nick Moresi was added from Lexington.
Sunday, the Avs were snowed under 10-6, and it could have been worse as Myrtle Beach tagged Salem pitching for 16 hits, seven for extra bases.
Lexington
Carlos Ladeuth was excellent for 4 innings on Friday. Unfortunately, he went back out for the 5th.
With the bases loaded, Ladeuth uncorked a wild pitch. After the ball was retrieved, Ladeuth threw it away and two more runs scored.
Saturday, Lexington climbed to double digit wins with a 7-1 trashing of Lakewood. Colin Delome was the hero with a two out bases clearing triple.
Jeff Icenogle came off the DL and pitched tonight. He pitched two innings allowing only one hit, a walk and striking out one. Having not played since mid April, Max Sapp was placed in the DL.
Sunday, 11 was a very unlucky number on Sunday. That is how many Legends struck out and also how many runs Lakewood scored.