Tri Cities’ David Flores had a memorable All Star outing as he had the game winning double in the 9th plating fellow Valley Cat B. J. Shuck and another All Star for the win. Flores was the MVP and teammate Phillip Remmell was the MOP (Most Outstanding Pitcher).
“It’s unbelievable. Just to be in the game to start with was special and then playing here in front of a packed house made it even more special,” Flores said. “I was hoping to just make my plays and maybe get a knock or two. It worked out better than I could have expected.”
The ValleyCats return to action tonight.
Round Rock lost a rain shortened game to Nashville on Tuesday night and were almost mercy ruled on Wednesday. (I know there is no mercy rule in minor league ball but in honor of the Olympics, thought I would throw that in.)
Corpus Christi suffered a bullpen meltdown on Tuesday. The loss set the franchise record for losses. They Hooks carried a 7 run lead into the 8th and Paul Estrada (5 runs allowed) and Sammy Gervacio (didn’t retire any of the 7 hitters he faced in the 9th) blew it up. Gervacio was promoted to Round Rock after the game.
“Between (pitching coach Stan Boroski), myself and everybody, we’ve been on top of him about trusting his stuff and throwing fastballs,” Pujols said. “He got the double play.
“But you can’t be (constantly behind) in the count and the next thing you know, it’s 3-2. But it’s something that’s been preached every day. It’s up to him to do his job now. I don’t think there’s any new stuff that we can talk to him about that we haven’t talked to him about. It’s up to him now to do it.”
Wednesday, Bud Norris struggled with his control and the Hooks losing trend continued.
Salem was slammed on Tuesday. Cory Bass was hit early and often in taking the loss.
“I left the ball up,” Bass said. “I wasn’t getting in the bottom of the zone like I have been. I let ’em get too comfortable in the box.
“It’s on me.”
Jim Pankovits says the bullpen is worn out.
“Our bullpen has been abused this year,” Avalanche manager Jim Pankovits said. “Our relievers have thrown far and away the most innings in the league. Dominguez and Diaz, they’re worn out by now.”
Diaz leads the Carolina League with 52 appearances, with Dominguez (48), released reliever Josh Appell (44) and Bryan Hallberg (42) also making the league’s top five. Those numbers point to the inability of Salem’s starters to consistently get deep into games, requiring more relievers to work more often.
Wednesday, they rallied but came up short.
Lexington’s Craig Corrado drove in the only two runs in Tuesday’s 8-2 defeat. Then he turned around on Wednesday and drove in the winning run. Brandon Barnes continues to bounce back from his .098 April, that earned him a mid May demotion to Extended Spring Training. Barnes had two hits Wednesday and is hitting .324 in his last 10 and .297 since the All Star break.
Greeneville had the most dominate pitching performance of the season Tuesday as Jordan Lyles faced only 16 batters in 5 innings of work. He allowed a lead off single and had only one base runner after that. That base runner reached on an error and was erased with a double play. He K’d 8 and induced 7 ground ball outs. The lead off hit was the only one surrendered by the Greeneville staff for the night. Greeneville on the other hand, pounded out 15 hits and 10 runs. Renzo Tello went 3 for 4 with a triple and Nathan Metroka went 3 for 5 with a homer. Kody Hinze also had a round tripper.
Wednesday, they went for the sweep of Pulaski but couldn’t pull it off. Pulaski scored twice in the 9th to win 4-3. Nathan Metroka continues his hot streak, going 2 for 3 with a double and a triple.