Columbus Catfish game notes

Published on July 9, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbus Catfish News Release


Tonight in Asheville: The Columbus Catfish (34-49 overall, 6-8 2nd half, T-6th SAL-Southern, 2.0 GB) play the second game of a four-game series with the Class A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Asheville Tourists (45-39 Overall, 7-8 2nd Half, 5th in the SAL-Southern, 2.5 GB of first). The Tourists hit four HR to beat the Catfish in the first game of the series last night 9-3. Tonight at McCormick Field in Asheville, the Catfish send RHP Brandon Weeden to the mound against LHP Jake Postlewait for Asheville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Yesterday: McComick Field in Asheville has a reputation as a hitter's paradise and the Asheville Tourists provided proof last night, beating the Catfish 9-3 while hitting four HR in the victory. The Catfish scored just three runs, two on solo round-trippers. Asheville hit home runs in the second, third, and two long balls in the fourth inning to win the series opener and even up the season series between the two teams at two games apiece. RHP Jarod Plummer pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief for the Catfish and RF Ryan Carter hit a solo HR and drove home two in the loss for Columbus (34-49 Overall, 6-8 2nd Half). Asheville 2B Jose Valdez finished 3-5 with a 2B, HR, and 3 RBI in the win for the Tourists (45-39, 7-8 2nd Half).

Vs. Asheville: The Catfish and Tourists are tied at two games apiece in the season series with the Tourists, with whom they play just seven times in 2005. Asheville won Friday 9-3 in the first game of the second series between the teams. The Tourists shut out the Catfish on Friday, June 3rd by a 5-0 final. Three Tourists pitchers limited Columbus to just four hits. In Game Two, Catfish RF Ryan Russ went 3-4 with a RBI triple and a two-run HR to lead the catfish offensively in a 4-1 victory. The series finale also went to Columbus when LF Brandon Carter delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Catfish a wild 11-10 victory in the Fish's longest game of the season at three hours forty-four minutes.

Denker Delivers: 2B Travis Denker was the Catfish's lone position player at the All-Star Game and has started the post-All-Star period aflame. Denker has reached base in 17 of his last 24 plate appearances on eight singles, five walks, one HBP, and 2 HR. Denker leads the SAL in BB with 60 this season, hitting .289 with 14 HR and 47 RBI, a .495 SLG and .411 OBP. He leads the team in each of the categories except RBI in which he trails 3B Blake DeWitt.

The Tourists: The Asheville Tourists have been affiliated with the Colorado Rockies since 1994. The Rockies Class A Affiliate finished the first half of play with a 38-31 record, good for 3rd place in the SAL-Southern Division. In the second half, Manager Joe Mikulik's club is off to a 678 start. Asheville has the second best team batting average in the SAL at .275 and has hit 87 HR (3rd SAL). OF Matt Miller is one of the league's best offensively, leading the SAL with 114 hits while hitting .343 with 17 HR and 63 RBI. The Tourists pitching staff is last in the SAL with a 4.76 team ERA.

Home Sweet Home: Overall, the Catfish are 13-29 on the road in 2005, while they sport a 21-20 record at Golden Park. Columbus has won just two of eleven road series this season after falling to the Hickory Crawdads this week. The Fish have hit the ball better at home, posting a .283 home batting average with an average of 5.10 runs per game while hitting just .239 on the road and averaging just 3.91 runs per game. The 12 runs on 17 hits for the Fish on Tuesday against Hickory were both road season highs. Columbus has hit 30 of 56 HR at home this season. The Fish will play the next 7 games on the road and 15 of the next 23 away from home.

Hitting Notes: The Catfish have a team batting average of .261 (6th in the SAL) and are now T-11th in the SAL in runs with 373. The Catfish have hit 56 HR, T-9th in the SAL. 2B Travis Denker leads the Catfish with a .289 batting average, 14 HR, and a .411 OBP. 3B Blake DeWitt has the team lead in RBI with 50. CF Jamie Hoffmann was hitting .308 with 99 hits in 79 games before his recent promotion from the Catfish to High A Vero Beach.

Pitching Notes: The Catfish team ERA stands now at 3.91 after 83 games (7th SAL). The Catfish did have the league's highest ERA as recently as May 2nd. RHP Chris Malone and RHP Blake Johnson both lead the pitching staff with 7-3 records. RHP Albenis Castillo has pitched well out of the bullpen lately and leads the team in saves with four.

Team Defense: The Catfish have committed 102 errors in 83 games this season. The Catfis made two errors yesterday in the 9-3 loss to Asheville.

June Boom: The month of June was the first for month over .500 for Columbus (13-11). The Catfish hit .282 during the month with a team ERA of 4.24. CF Jamie Hoffmann led the South Atlantic League in June with 38 hits and was second in the league with a .384 average. 2B Travis Denker was second in the SAL with 23 RBI during June. The Catfish hit 20 HR as a team (2nd in the SAL), eight of which came on June 16th against Rome. RHP Blake Johnson led the pitching staff with three wins and a 2.05 ERA.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 9, 2005


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