Tri Cites was the lone affiliate playing tonight. They got shut out 4-0. They had 3 runners reach 1st via one hit, one walk and one error. None of those runners reached second base.
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Tri Cities:
For the last few games of the season, Tri Cities added a few Greeneville players: Fernando Abad, David Denilli, and Reinaldo Pestana.Read More

ust a few highlights before I go trout fishing this morning:

Tri Cities:

Thursday night, they got it handed to them 13-0.  Friday, they paid Lowell back with a 10-0 win. Delome went 3-6.  Saturday, they lost 6-1. Sunday, 4 errors doomed Tri Cities in a 6-3 loss. Brandon Barnes is struggling down the home stretch with 17 Ks in his last 39 at bats.  He got the golden sombrero last night.

Lexington:

Thursday: Greg Buchanan hit a game winning 2 run homer in the 9th to lead Lexington to a 7-5 victory. Friday night, David Qualban picked up his 11th win in a 6-3 win. Saturday, 5-0 lead turns into a 11-5 loss thanks to 5 errors and an ineffective bullpen.  Severino had another strong outing going 5 innings of one hit ball, striking out 6.  Sunday, 5’s weren’t wild for Cespedes as he gave up 5 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-6 loss.  Santo Luis took the loss surrendering a pinch hit grand slam in relief of Cespedes to the first batter he faced coming in.

Lexington wraps up their season this afternoon.  There are a few hot Legends at the end of the season:

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Legends 1B Eric Taylor, driving in six of the Legends’ 11 runs over the last two games, has reached safely in 45 of his last 48 games; has a seven-game hitting streak (12-for-30); and hits in nine of 10 games (14-for-39, seven runs, nine RBI, three homers). … SS Ronnie Ramirez went 3-for-5 and pushed his hitting streak to six games.

But mostly, they are limping to the finish line with multiple injuries:

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The Legends are down to 10 healthy position players. Last night, the lone non-pitcher on the bench was OF Andrew Darnell. 3B Koby Clemens (finger) and OF Jordan Parraz are on the disabled list; C Max Sapp (spine) remains unavailable; OF Drew Holder (shoulder) was out last night and, at best, will be an emergency pinch runner the final two games.

Salem:

Thursday, Sergio Perez scattered 8 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings to only allow 2 runs.  The bullpen pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way.  The offense did just enough against Caroline League pitcher of the year, Rowdy Hardy to pull out a 3-2 win. Bud Norris joined the Avs moving Salamida to the pen.  Friday, the Avs were shut out and couldn’t take advantage of another good start by Polin Trinidad.  He went 6 innings, giving up 7 hits  and one earned run while K-ing 5 in a 4-0 loss.  Saturday, Bud Norris made his pitching debut in Salem a winning one but Salem lost the chance for home field advantage in the play offs. We also learned the secret to why he is called “Bud”.

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He was born David, but earned the “Bud” moniker at an early age. As Norris tells it, he was 3 years old when his family went to a Mexican restaurant. Several members of the party ordered frosty beverages, and, following suit, Norris also ordered a “Bud.”

Norris’ mom objected, telling the nonplussed waitress that her son was clearly too young for such an order, but his dad intervened: “He’s the Bud man.”
Norris on the difference between Salem & Lex:

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“Obviously a lot of [Salem players] are older guys, and they know how to win,” said Norris, who went 2-8 with a 4.75 ERA with the Legends. “In Lexington, we were a young group. I was kind of a leader there. A lot of guys are in their first full season. In Lexington, we had our ups and downs. …

“I was excited to come here to a playoff contender.”
Pankovits on play off race call ups:

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“These are the situations where you can evaluate players the easiest.

“You see what they can do in tight games, in pennant races, making adjustments to new hitters. I thought he handled that real well.”
Sunday, the Avs went down with a 9-0 loss.  They are in the play offs but the batting title is to be battled out today between Billy Hart (.308) and Mitch Einertson (.307).

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“I think it sets a great example,” said Avalanche manager Jim Pankovits. “Obviously it takes some talent, but if you apply yourself, you can almost make it happen. I think that’s what happened with Billy. He had a never-say-die attitude and kind of willed himself to finishing strong.

“Mitch is so young and talented, it was probably a matter of time before he was going to break out.”
Corpus Christi:
Thursday, the Hooks were officially eliminated from the playoffs in a 4-3 loss.

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“We went down with a fight — I’ll say that,” Hooks manager Dave Clark said. “We could’ve easily laid down and got our butts kicked all year (after starting) 13-30. The way these guys pulled together gave us something to play for the last couple weeks of the season and that says a lot about those kids in there.

Friday, Brian Bogusevic ending his season on an up note with his first AA win, a 6-2 decision.

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“It’s a bit of a jump from A-ball to here, and you have to make adjustments. It didn’t happen as I would’ve liked it to, but this is a good way to end the year.”

Saturday, the Hooks lost 5-1.  Sunday, Josh Muecke got run support from a 3 run first and solo shots by Sutton & Self in the 2nd & 8th to cruise to a 5-2 win.

Round Rock:
Thursday, the Express crushed Alburquerque 13-5.  5 Express batters had 2 RBI.  Friday, J. R. Towles got 2 of the 3 express hits in a 3-0 loss. Saturday, Chad Reineke got no decision but pitched 6 good innings before handing it over to the pen.  Quintero hit a game winning RBI single in the 10th for the 4-3 win.  Sunday, New Orleans got last licks on Juan Gutierrez in a 10-2 loss for the Express

Yet more proof that pitching and defense are important to winning games. Round Rock & Lexington both have multi homer games and get blown out because of poor starting pitching.
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Round Rock:

The Express jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first 4 innings and held on for a 7-4 victory. Brandon Backe got the win going 6 innings, giving up 3 runs and striking out 10.

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“I felt really good tonight,” said Backe, who also made one start for Double-A Corpus Christi. “Hopefully, what I’ve done here will help me solidify a spot in Houston.”

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Round Rock:
The Express survived a triple play and a double play with the bases loaded to beat the Isotopes 6-4. Chris Samson got the win in relief of Juan Gutierrez.

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“You get a triple play and then come back, load the bases with no outs and get the double play, you start to go ‘Whoa, what’s going to happen next?’ ” Express manager Jackie Moore said.

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