White Sox game notes
August 5, 2006 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
COMEBACK THWARTED: The White Sox rebounded from a 6-1 deficit against Helena last night at Centene Stadium thanks in large part to a pair of John Shelby two run homers to tie it up at 6-6 after six innings of play only to see the Brewers score four in the seventh for a 10-6 victory. Sox defense and relief pitching were again shoddy in determining the game's outcome as Great Falls committed four errors with reliever Ryan Rote struggling in the top of the seventh inning after the Sox had tied it by walking three and allowing a hit to incur the loss. The setback spoiled Shelby's first multi-homer professional game and a second three home run outing by the Sox in the last three games as Mike Grace slammed a solo shot in the game's second inning. The loss was the club's 7th in the last 8 games overall and has them 1-5 six games into the Pioneer League's second half, leaving the Sox 3 games out entering tonight's series finale with Helena.
CASSEL FOR SECONDS: 22 year old RHP Justin Cassel will make his second start of the season tonight. He brings a 2-1 record and sparkling 2.00 earned run average into the evening. His first start, replacing recently promoted Kyle McCulloch, came last Sunday (July 30) at Missoula and saw him work five innings in which he surrendered two earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four. He didn't factor in the decision as the Sox ultimately lost to the Osprey 11-4. Cassel had gone four consecutive relief appearances without yielding an earned run before his initial start of the campaign. Justin's a Northridge, California native who pitched at UC-Irvine collegiately posting a 7-9 record this past spring with a 3.43 ERA. He was a 7th round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the June amateur draft.
HOW THE SOX STACK UP: The White Sox drilled three more homers last night against Helena bringing their season total to a Pioneer League high 41. Great Falls is currently third in the league in hitting (.273) and total hits (410). The Sox are fifth in runs scored (231). On the hill, Great Falls ranks 6th of the league's 8 teams with a 4.53 earned run average, while allowing the 6th highest hit total (414). Sox pitching has walked more batters than any team in the league (194). Defensively, Great Falls has committed a league high 99 errors while posting a league low fielding percentage (.945).
ON THE LEADER BOARD: White Sox first baseman/DH Chris Carter is setting the pace league wide in homers (12), doubles (14), slugging percentage (.649), and extra-base hits (26). Carter sits second in RBI (37), is tied for fourth in runs scored (29) and hits (50) and is seventh in hitting (.325). OF Archie Gilbert is tied for fourth in the Pioneer League in stolen bases (12). OF Lee Cruz shares second in triples (3). On the mound, LHP Logan Williamson is currently ninth in ERA (3.10). RHP Ramon Sanchez is tied for the league lead in victories (5) and is second in innings pitched (48.2).
TRENDING: In the last 8 games the White Sox have been outscored 63-37, going 1-7. White Sox pitching has allowed double-digits in runs in 4 of the last 6 games. INF Franklin Bautista is batting .444 (4-9) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in his last 4 games played. 1B/DH Chris Carter has 2 HR and 6 RBI in his last 4 games. He's batting .347 (25-72) with 10 doubles, 2 homers, 12 RBI and 20 strike-outs in his last 19 games. OF/DH Tyler Reves is hitting .125 (4-32) with 3 RBI over his last 9 games. SS John Shelby has slammed 4 HR and driven in 6 runs in his last 3 games. He's hitting .391 (9-23) with 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs scored over his last 6 games. Shelby's batting .338 (24-71) over his last 20 games. OF Lee Cruz currently has a 5 game hitting streak in which he's batting .350 (7-20) with 1 HR and 2 RBI. OF Santo Garcia is hitless in his last 2 games (0-8) with 3 strike-outs. OF Archie Gilbert is hitting .454 (5-11) with 3 runs scored and 2 stolen bases since returning from an 8 game absence due to a right hand contusion 4 games ago. DH Joseph Hunter stole 6 bases in the season's first 8 games and has swiped 2 in his last 14 games played. Hunter's hitting .428 (9-21) with 2 HR and 5 RBI over his last 5 games played. OF Christian Marrero is batting .280 (21-75) with 1 HR, 7 doubles and 10 RBI over the last 23 games. INF Mike Grace is hitting .176 (3-17) with 1 HR and 8 strike-outs last last 5 games. Utility man Matt Sharp is hitting .133 (2-15) with 4 runs scored his last 10 games. C Reymundo Tavares is batting .105 (4-38) with 1 HR his last 11 games. INF Tim Lawrence is hitting .305 (18-59) with 15 runs scored and 7 doubles over his last 16 games. INF Scott Madsen saw his 4 game hitting streak end last night. He's batting .450 (9-20) with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 6 runs scored over his last 5 games. C Kris Welker is hitting .118 (2-17) with 1 HR, 1 double and 5 strike-outs his last 4 games.
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Pioneer League Stories from August 5, 2006
- White Sox game notes - Great Falls Voyagers
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