Just got back from my vacation up in Mammoth where I had a great time fishing. Now that I'm back, I first wanted to catch up on some of the minor league transactions that have happened in the past week. In AAA, JD Closser was released while the "old" Justin Miller was re-signed and sent to Albuquerque. In AA, Josh Walter and Javy Solano were promoted from HiA, while Wilkin De La Rosa was released. In HiA, Logan Bawcom was promoted from the Loons and 26th round pick Freddie Cabrera became the second 2011 draftee to make it to a full season league. He was beat by 2011 5th round pick Scott McGough who was assigned to the Loons earlier this week.
Minor League Player of the Day – Jon Michael Redding - 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 14 K's, 0 Walks. This award had to go to Redding because of his outstanding strikeout numbers on Saturday night. Redding had K'd 9 batters a couple of times this season, but he had never reached double digit punchouts until tonight. His ERA is down to 3.35 which is very impressive for the California League and ranks 5th for qualifying pitchers.
AAA Game 1 – The Isotopes finished their suspended game in style with a pair of 13th inning homers to pull out a 8 - 4 win over the Nashville Sounds (Brewers). Russ Mitchell started the inning with a solo blast, then Jay Gibbons hit a two-run bomb later in the inning. David Pfeiffer finished off the victory by getting the final 3 outs of the game.
AAA Game 2 – Dana Eveland tossed another good game as the Isotopes beat the Sounds 3 - 2 for their second win of the day. Eveland allowed just 3 hits and 1 run over 7 innings, then the aforementioned Justin Miller got the last out to pick up the save. At the plate Trayvon Robinson went 2 for 4 and cranked out his 22nd homer of the year, but Jerry Sands continued his mini-slump with another 0 for 4 game. He's been hitless in his 14 post All Star Break at bats. Corey Smith had the other big hit with his 7th AAA jack of the season.
AA – The Lookouts put up a 5 spot in the 5th, and that's all they needed as Chattanooga beat the BayBears (Dbacks) 5 to 2. Will Savage collected the win with 6.1 strong innings (5 hits, 2 runs), then Josh Wall picked up his first save with a scoreless 9th. Griff Erickson extended his hit streak to 6 games in a big way by going 2 for 4 with a homer, and Alfredo Silverio also took one deep. Hector Gimenez had the team's only other multi-hit game as he singled and doubled.
HiA – The Quakes defeated the Modesto Nuts (Rockies) 7 to 3 on Saturday behind a franchise record 14 punchouts from starter Jon Michael Redding. Redding also allowed just 4 hits and 2 runs over 7 innings and did not walk a batter. JMR has been solid all season, but the 14 K's are definitely a surprise. Relievers Robert Romero and Carlos Frias struck out 4 more batters in the final 2 innings to give Rancho 18 K's for the night. On offense Tony Delmonico went 2 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBI's to lead the home team, while Angelo Songco also hit one out (his 17th) and scored 3 runs.
LoA – Eight different Loon batters collected hits on Saturday as Great Lakes defeated the Kane County Cougars (Royals) 9 to 3. Blake Dean had the big night as he went 2 for 4 with a double, a homer, and 4 RBI's, and Leon Landry had 3 hits and a stolen base to his credit. Starter Angel Sanchez didn't have his best stuff and was a bit wild with 4 walks, but came away with the win as he allowed just 2 runs over 5 innings. New Loon reliever Scott McGough made his first appearance in a full season league a memorable one as he struck out all 3 batters he faced to close out the game.
Rookie Ogden – Raptor starter Gustavo Gomez was dealing on Saturday, but he didn't get enough help from his offense or his bullpen as Ogden lost to the Mustangs (Reds) 5 to 4. Gomez struck out 9 batters in 5 innings while allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, but reliever Carlos De Aza gave up 3 runs and then Steven Matre coughed up a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th. The Raptor offense was relatively quiet as Joc Pederson's double was the only extra-base hit of the night, although he also singled and collected a couple of RBI's. The middle infield combination of Charlie Mirabal and Alexis Aguilar both had a couple of hits each.
Rookie Arizona – Off day
DSL – The Dominican Dodger pitching combined on a one-hitter as the Dodgers beat the Yankees 6 to 0. Samuel Taveras, who was actually making just his 2nd start of his career, allowed the one hit as he tossed 7 outstanding innings. The 6'5" Taveras walked 2 and struck out 3, but the bad news is that he is already 21 years old. Ricardo De La Rosa threw the final 2 innings and gave up just 1 walk. Not much offense to speak of in this game, although Greg Pena did double and drive in 2 runs.
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA) - Continuation of suspended game
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)
Great Lakes Loons Box Score (LoA)
Ogden Raptors Box Score (Rookie)