Great Falls White Sox game notes
Published on June 29, 2006 under Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
STREAKING SOX: The White Sox five run ninth inning uprising Sunday in posting a thrilling 9-8 victory over Missoula has served to propel Great Falls to a four game winning streak. The Sox completed a three game road series sweep of Helena last night with an 8-6 triumph over the Brewers. Great Falls took the opener Monday night at Helena's Kindrick-Legion Field 5-3, earned a 5-3 win again on Tuesday night, and were two runs better than the Brewers last night. The Sox never trailed in the series in outscoring Helena 18-12. Great Falls banged out a season high 14 hits last night, scoring seven of it's eight runs in the game's first three innings in building a 7-0 lead. But it took strong relief work from Pat Feehan (one inning of no run, two hit relief) and Tim Sabo (two innings of no run, one hit relief for his second save of the season) to preserve the victory after the Brewers scored six runs in succession. Lee Cruz spearheaded the White Sox offense with three hits and two runs batted in, Chris Carter had a three run first inning double to boost his Pioneer League leading RBI total to 13. The Sox surge has them 6-3 nine games into the season sharing the lead with tonight's opponent Billings atop the Northern Division.
SANTILEZ FOR SECONDS: 19 year old 6-0 190 pound righthander Clevelan Santilez will make his second start of the season tonight for Great Falls. The Venezuelan native worked three innings of two run, three hit baseball in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Missoula suffering the mound setback. He struck out four batters in the game while walking two. He brings an 0-1 record and 6.00 ERA into this one. Santilez started the season at Class A Kannapolis of the South Atlantic League where he worked sixteen times in relief posting an 0-2 record with a 6.85 ERA. Clevelan's a '06 free agent signee of the Chicago White Sox.
GRACE RETURNS: Third baseman/designated hitter Mike Grace is expected to return to action during this four game series with Billings. The 2006 Chicago White Sox 14th round selection out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida strained his left quadriceps while running a ball out in the season's second game at Billings. He's not played since. Grace hit .368 with 12 HR and 69RBI this past college season with the Mocassins. He's a Brandon, Florida native.
TIME FOR SOME HOME COOKIN': The White Sox have impressively handled a rigorous start to this Pioneer League season. Great Falls has played seven of it's first nine games on the road, posting a 5-2 record away from the friendly confines of Centene Stadium. The Sox now settles in for a six game home stand that will feature four with Billings followed by a pair of games with Northern Division rival Helena. The stand will conclude with a spectacular fireworks show Tuesday night, the 4th of July.
HOW THEY STACK UP: The top two hitting teams in the league will be doing battle for the next four games at Centene Stadium. Billings shows the way in the Pioneer League at the plate with a team .291 batting average, while Great Falls sits second in team hitting at .277. The White Sox are fifth in runs scored (50), tied for first in homers (6), currently fourth in hits (85). The Sox offense has averaged 6.7 runs per game in the current four game winning streak. Great Falls pitching is presently fourth in the league with a team 3.76 earned run average while sitting second in hits allowed (78). The White Sox defense committed two more errors last night in it's 8-6 win at Helena, bringing the season total to a Pioneer League high 22. Great Falls is the poorest fielding team in the league at present with a .941 fielding percentage, but has turned a league high 12 double plays.
WHITE SOX GETTING OFFENSIVE: Great Falls first baseman Chris Carter is doing some mashing early this season. The 19 year old Las Vegas, NV native is seventh in the league with a .371 batting average while leading the Pioneer League in homers with 3 and RBI with 13. He's currently second in hits (13), slugging percentage (.667) and extra base hits (5). Carter had what would have been a fourth homerun erased when he passed teammate Lee Cruz between first and second base June 22 at Billings. By rule Chris was denied a two run blast due to the base running miscue and was credited with a one run single. Sox leftfielder and clean-up man Lee Cruz is currently sixth in the Pioneer League with a .367 batting average, while placing third in slugging percentage (.600), second in extra base hits (5) and triples (2). Great Falls centerfielder Joseph Hunter is the league leader in stolen bases with six, while Sox third baseman Christian Acosta sits third in doubles with four.
HEAD TO HEAD: While this four game series between Great Falls and Billings showcases the clubs with the Northern Division's best overall record (both 6-3). By the time the finale is played on Sunday afternoon the two will be midway through their sixteen game regular season series. The Sox and Mustangs split four games to open the campaign at Billings' Cobb Field. Great Falls recovering from a game one 12-2 shallacking June 20 to post 9-6 and 5-3 wins the next two nights before succumbing in the series final game 7-6 June 23. The Mustangs scored two in the eighth inning that night and pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to win. Chris Carter was the White Sox top hitter in that series with a .500 average, 2 HR and 5 RBI, while Lee Cruz hit .438 with 3 doubles, 2 triples and 3 RBI. The series top stick was wielded by Mustangs first baseman Logan Parker who hit .643 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. Billings outfielder Michael McKennon had quick an opening night June 20 drilling a grand slam, two run triple and sacrifice fly for a 7 RBI evening in the Mustangs 12-2 victory.
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