Texas League update
Published on September 2, 2008 under Texas League (TL1) News Release
NORTH NOTES
Arkansas Travelers
(Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
26-44, Fourth Place, North Division
62-78 Overall Record
August 25...With a 6-5 loss, Arkansas dropped their third straight game to Springfield. Trailing 5-0 after three innings, the Travelers fought back with five unanswered runs to tie the game. In the fourth inning, Corey Smith belted a two-run homer (24) to left-center, putting the Travelers on the scoreboard for the first time. Prior to the game, Smith rejoined the club after playing seven games for Triple-A Salt Lake. During the fifth inning, Mark Trumbo drilled a two-run single, cutting the Cardinals' lead to 5-4. Capping the comeback efforts, Brian Stavisky launched a solo home run (16) in the seventh, tying the contest at 5-5. The Travelers two through four hitters in the lineup, Ryan Leahy, Stavisky and Smith, all had two hits as they combined to go 6-for-12 at the plate. The Travelers outhit the Cardinals 10 to 6. Arkansas placed outfielder Adam Greenberg (hamstring) on the disabled list.
August 26...In 10 innings, Arkansas lost to Northwest Arkansas 4-3. During the sixth inning, Corey Smith hammered a solo home run, tying the game at 2-2. With 25 round-trippers, Smith trails league-leader Kila Kaaihue (26) by one home run. The game would remain tied until the 10th inning when the Naturals scored two runs to take a 4-2 lead. However, the Travelers would not go away quietly. In the bottom of the 10th, Ben Johnson stroked a RBI single, bringing the Travelers within one run. When the Travelers made their final out, they had left runners stranded on first and third. Not factoring in the decision, starter David Austen pitched 7.2 solid innings, yielding two runs, seven hits and a walk. The Angels have selected Chris Pettit, Mark Trumbo, Tim Duff, Barret Browning and Ryan Aldridge as Arizona Fall League participants. They will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
August 27...In a 3-0 loss to Northwest Arkansas, Travelers starter Robert Mosebach pitched seven strong innings, yielding three runs, six hits and a walk. Adam Morrissey went 2-for-2, with a double. It was Morrissey's sixth multiple-hit performance in his last eight games.
August 28...Arkansas, who managed just four hits, dropped their sixth straight game, an 8-2 loss to in-state rival Northwest Arkansas. Starting pitcher Dan Denham fanned four over five scoreless innings, while yielding five hits and three walks. Corey Smith belted his 26th home run, tying Northwest Arkansas' Kila Kaaihue for the league lead. Brian Stavisky went 2-for-3, with a double and run scored, accounting for half the Travs' hits.
August 29...For the second day in a row, Arkansas could only manage four hits, losing to Northwest Arkansas 8-2. With two-outs in the bottom of the seventh, Adam Morrissey singled to left, breaking up the Naturals' bid for a no-hitter. Morrissey broke up the shutout with two gone in the ninth when he hit a two-run homer to left.
August 30...In a 2-1 loss to Springfield, Adam Morrissey homered (9) for the second straight game. Morrissey's seventh inning, solo shot was his fourth home run in a span of eight games. Travelers pitchers Daniel Davidson, Fernando Rodriguez, Doug Brandt and Barret Browning combined to hold the Cards to two runs on eight hits and two walks. As a group, they fanned 11 Cardinals in nine innings of work.
August 31...Arkansas snapped an eight-game losing streak by defeating Springfield 5-3. Adam Morrissey and Mark Trumbo both had two hits and a pair of RBIs. Morrissey's fifth inning RBI single marked the 1,000th hit of the Australian's 10-year minor league career. In the first, Trumbo stroked a two-run triple, helping the Travelers to an early 3-0 lead. Shortstop Wilberto Ortiz went 2-for-5, with a RBI double and two runs scored. Starting pitcher David Austen improved his record to 2-3 despite allowing 11 hits in six innings. Francisco Rodriguez, who followed Austen, fired two perfect innings of relief. Rodriguez has now pitched 13.1 straight scoreless innings, lowering his ERA from 4.65 to 3.82 during that span. Rafael Rodriguez secured his 11th save by striking out a pair during a scoreless ninth.
September 1...Arkansas played their shortest game of the year at Dickey-Stephens Park, beating Springfield 3-2 in 1:46. The record for the shortest Travelers game occurred during the season finale of 2002, when Shreveport won 1-0 in 1:38. Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Travelers took the lead with a three-run rally. Coby Smith's two-RBI single was the go-ahead hit that sealed the victory. Starter Robert Mosebach pitched seven strong innings, surrendering two runs, six hits and no walks. Infielder Adam Morrissey and catcher Tim Duff were promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake. Backstop Brian Walker was assigned to Arkansas from high Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Left-hander Daniel Davidson (1-0, 2.93 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill in the first game of the North Division postseason series against Northwest Arkansas. Right-hander Dan Denham will pitch game two.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
(Kansas City Royals)
42-28, First Place, North Division
75-65 Overall Record
August 25...Spearheaded by Cory Aldridge's team record seven RBIs, Northwest Arkansas thrashed Tulsa 14-1. During a 3-for-5 night, Aldridge belted a pair of three-run home runs (6,7), stroked a RBI double and scored three times. In the seventh, Aldridge launched his second three-run homer to right, giving the Naturals a 14-0 advantage. The Naturals' scoring barrage began in the first when Mario Lisson cracked a three-run dinger (13). Lisson finished at 3-for-4, with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Hitting in front of Aldridge in the number-two slot, Marc Maddox went 4-for-6, with four runs scored and two doubles. Jose Duarte ripped a two-run triple and scored twice. Catcher Kiel Thibault was the only Naturals player that did not contribute to the Naturals' 17-hit assault. Given a plethora of run support, Blake Wood cruised to his fifth win, firing six shutout innings. The right-hander held the Drillers to just two hits and a pair of walks, while fanning six. With the win, the Naturals (37-26) are still tied with Springfield for first-place in the second-half standings. Kila Kaaihue was named Texas League Player of the Year. Despite his late-July promotion to Triple-A Omaha, Kaaihue still leads the Texas League with 26 home runs, a .463 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage.
August 26...In the top of the 10th, Juan Richardson's two-run homer propelled Northwest Arkansas to a 4-3 victory over Arkansas. Richardson's 15th home run unknotted a 2-2 tie, landing just fair of the right-field foul pole. During the sixth, Cory Aldridge drilled a two-run homer to right (8), scoring Richardson from first. It was Aldridge's third dinger in two games. Starter Rowdy Hardy surrendered one run and four hits over five solid innings. The Naturals took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 10th, but the Travelers stayed alive by rallying for one run. With two outs and runners on first and third, Tim Hamulack extinguished the fire by inducing a foul pop out to end the game. Hamulack notched his sixth save. With six games left, the Naturals (38-26) lead the Cardinals (37-27) by one game in the second-half standings. Brian McFall, Daniel Cortes, Chris Hayes, Chris Nicoll and Hardy have been chosen to participate in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Rafters.
August 27...Northwest Arkansas blanked Arkansas 3-0. Winner Julio Pimentel (7-12) stymied the Travelers over 7.1 innings, limiting them to five hits and two walks. Notching his second save, Gilbert de la Vara held the Travelers hitless over the final 1.2 innings. Jose Duarte went deep for a solo home run (10) in the third.
August 28...Northwest Arkansas downed Arkansas 8-2, marking their sixth consecutive victory. Trailing 2-0 after six innings, the Naturals took control of the game after erupting for eight unanswered runs during the seventh and eighth innings. Juan Richardson spearheaded the Naturals' comeback with five RBIs. In the seventh, Richardson launched a three-run homer into the bullpen in deep right-center, putting the Naturals ahead at 3-2. During a five-run eighth, Richardson belted a two-out, two-run triple off the center-field fence. Cory Aldridge, who led the Naturals with three hits, singled home Richardson from third. Irving Falu went 2-for-4, with a pair of RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Jose Duarte pounded two hits, scored twice and stole his 28th base of the year. Matt Peterson earned his third save after hurling three no-hit innings of relief.
August 29...With an 8-2 one-sided victory over Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas' magic number for clinching the second-half title dropped to one. Winner Daniel Cortes (10-4) fired six no-hit innings, while issuing only two walks. The 21-year-old was efficient, throwing 52 of his 79 pitches for strikes. Cortes, who struck out three, was removed after the sixth due to an organizational pitch count mandate. The Naturals no-hit the Travelers for 6.2 innings until reliever Paul Mildren surrendered a single. The Naturals two through five hitters, Marc Maddox, Irving Falu, Juan Richardson and Cory Aldridge, combined to go 10-for-17 at the plate. Aldridge went 3-for-3, with a home run and four RBIs. As part of a five-run third, Aldridge drilled a two-run homer (9) and Brian McFall shortly followed with a two-RBI double. McFall finished with a pair of two-baggers. Maddox went 2-for-5, with a double and three runs scored. The Naturals completed a four-game sweep of their in-state rivals. The Naturals also won the Arkansas Diamond Series against the Travelers with an 18-14 record. The Naturals placed reliever Chris Nicoll (shoulder) on the disabled list. In 19 appearances, Nicoll had a 4-1 record, with a 3.09 ERA, three saves and had fanned 55 batters in 43.2 innings. Greg Atencio was reassigned to the club from Triple-A Omaha.
August 30...Northwest Arkansas clinched the North Division second-half title with a 7-3 victory over Tulsa. Following a 1:48 rain delay, the Naturals overcame a 2-0 deficit, scoring seven runs in a span of four innings beginning in the fifth. The offensive explosion was led by Cory Aldridge, Mario Lisson and Brian McFall, the club's five, six and seven hitters, who all homered. In the fifth, the Naturals tied the game at two-all after Lisson and McFall went deep with solo home runs. One inning later, Lisson knocked in Aldridge with a RBI single. After stealing second, Lisson scored when McFall singled him home. In the eighth, Aldridge socked a two-run homer, his fifth in six games. Lisson followed with a double and eventually scored to cap the Naturals' seven-run day. Lisson finished at 3-for-4, with three runs scored. Juan Richardson hammered two hits and scored twice. Starting pitcher Blake Wood only surrendered one hit through three scoreless innings, but was pulled after the lengthy rain delay. Wood, Gilbert de la Vara, Tim Hamulack and Chris Hayes combined to three-hit the Drillers over nine innings. The Naturals will meet first-half winner Arkansas in the first round of the North Division playoffs. The Naturals' 44-24 home record this season is the best mark in Double-A baseball.
August 31...The Naturals' record eight-game winning streak came to an end with a 9-5 loss to Tulsa. Irving Falu went 4-for-5, with a pair of runs scored. Cory Aldridge singled home a run, his 17th RBI in seven games. The red hot slugger also walked three times. Matt Peterson hurled 3.1 shutout innings of relief. The Naturals erupted for three runs in the first, but could only manage two runs the rest of the way.
September 1...The Naturals were limited to five hits in a 5-3 loss to Tulsa. Marc Maddox led the Naturals with two hits. Cory Aldridge knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly. The 29-year-old has 18 RBIs in his last eight games. Reliever Kyle Crist compiled four strikeouts over two scoreless stanzas. Daniel Cortes will start game one of the North Division postseason series with Arkansas. Cortes will be followed by Blake Wood, Rowdy Hardy, and Julio Pimentel in the rotation.
Springfield Cardinals
(St. Louis Cardinals)
40-30, Second Place, North Division
76-64 Overall Record
August 25...Springfield edged Arkansas 6-5. With the game tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitter Brandon Yarbrough reached base on an error, which allowed Andrew Brown to score the game-winning run from third. Brown began the eighth-inning rally by drawing a two-out walk. In the bottom of the first, Brown pulled a three-run homer (12) to left field, helping Springfield to an early 3-0 advantage. Two innings later, Brett Wallace ripped a two-run double, extending the Cards' lead to 5-0. Through his first six Double-A games, Wallace had driven in eight runs. Winning pitcher Luke Gregerson (7-6) fired two perfect innings, with four strikeouts. Following the win, Springfield (37-26) remained in a first place tie with Northwest Arkansas in the second-half standings. Infielder Jose Martinez will miss the remainder of the 2008 season with a broken bone in his left foot. Martinez injured his foot making a bad slide in the Redbirds' August 21 game against Northwest Arkansas.
August 26...With a 4-2 loss to Tulsa, Springfield (37-27) fell a game out of first-place behind second-half leader Northwest Arkansas (38-26). Center fielder Jim Rapoport went 3-for-3, with a walk and a run scored. Daniel Descalso went 2-for-4, with a triple, a RBI and a run scored. Descalso went 8-for-17 (.471) in his first four Double-A ballgames. Brett Wallace ripped a RBI double. Wallace has hit safely in all seven of his games with Springfield. The Cardinals activated Allen Craig (back) from the disabled list. After missing nine games, Craig doubled in his first game back. Springfield also released left-handed reliever Zack Zuercher. The St. Louis Cardinals announced Justin Fiske, Brad Furnish, Adam Ottavino and Wallace would participate in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaros. Former Springfield players Tyler Greene, Shane Robinson and Steven Hill were also assigned to the Saguaros.
August 27...Shortstop Donovan Solano's three-run homer capped a four-run sixth, boosting Springfield to a 5-3 victory over Tulsa. In six innings, winner Justin Fiske (4-0) yielded one run, five hits and a walk, while fanning five. In his second rehab appearance with Springfield, St. Louis reliever Josh Kinney struck out two, needing just seven pitches to complete a scoreless inning of work. Fernando Salas picked up his league-best 25th save after hurling 1.2 perfect innings. In the top of the third, Drillers' Josh Hall popped up a ball to the left-side of the infield, where Fiske, Solano and third baseman Brett Wallace assembled. First baseman Andrew Brown called all off three as he closed in on the pop-up. Brown misread the pop up, it bounced off the top of his head and landed in Fiske's glove for the out. With a fourth-inning single, Wallace has hit safely in all eight games since joining Springfield. Daniel Descalso singled in the first, and now has at least one hit in each of his five games since being promoted from the Florida State League.
August 28...Springfield suffered a crushing 11-4 defeat to Tulsa. The loss dropped the Cardinals two games behind first-place Northwest Arkansas with four games remaining. Left fielder Allen Craig went 2-for-3, with a solo home run (22), a double and two RBIs. During a 2-for-4 night, Brett Wallace drove in a pair of runs. In his first nine games with Springfield, Wallace has knocked in 11 runs and hit safely in every contest. Daniel Descalso went 2-for-3, with a double and two runs scored. Descalso is batting .458 and has recorded a hit in all six games played with Springfield.
August 29...Jim Rapoport's 13th inning RBI single lifted Springfield to a 6-5 victory over Tulsa. The extra-innings triumph saved the Cardinals from elimination in the second-half division race. The Cards (39-28) trail Northwest Arkansas (41-26) by two games with three contests remaining. Down 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 12th, the Cardinals put together a two-run rally, which extended the marathon to the 13th. After a Matt Pagnozzi single and a Daryl Jones double, Daniel Descalso and Casey Rowlett brought both home with sacrifice flies, tying the score at five-all. Rapoport went 3-for-6, with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. In the seventh, Rapoport's run-scoring groundout tied the game at 3-3, which stayed knotted until the 12th. Shortstop Donovan Solano matched Rapoport with three hits. Catcher Brandon Yarbrough stroked a two-RBI triple in the second. Making his third rehab appearance, Josh Kinney pitched a scoreless seventh, while allowing his first hit with Springfield. The Cardinals drew 9,372 fans to Hammons Field, a season-high. It marked the Cardinals' eighth consecutive sellout, and 37th of the season.
August 30...Despite a 2-1 win over Arkansas, Springfield was eliminated from playoff contention as Northwest Arkansas clinched the second-half title with a 7-3 win. With two games remaining, the Cardinals (40-28) can still tie the Naturals (42-26) for first, but do not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Winning hurler Adam Ottavino (3-7) finished the season on a high note by allowing one run, four hits and a walk through seven innings of work. Josh Dew followed with two hitless innings to nail down his second save. Brett Wallace went 2-for-3, with a double and a run scored. The Cardinals' 2008 first round pick is batting .390 in 11 games with Springfield.
August 31...Isa Garcia clubbed a pair of doubles as Springfield fell 5-3 to Tulsa. The Cardinals racked up 12 hits, but could only manage three runs. Allen Craig's fifth inning, RBI single capped the Cardinals' three-run fifth. Craig leads the Cardinals with 85 RBIs. Garcia, Craig, Brett Wallace, Mark Shorey and Brandon Buckman all enjoyed two-hit games for Springfield.
September 1... Springfield dropped their season finale to Arkansas 3-2. The 1:46 affair was the shortest game in Springfield history. At 76-64, the Cardinals finished the season with the best overall record in the North Division. The Cardinals' 76 wins established a franchise record. In 6.2 shutout innings, Justin Fiske walked none, while yielding six hits. An eighth-inning comeback by the Travelers spoiled Fiske's shot for a victory. In his fourth rehab stint, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Josh Kinney got touched up for three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Jim Rapoport led the Redbirds with three hits.
Tulsa Drillers
(Colorado Rockies)
29-41, Third Place, South Division
58-82 Overall Record
August 25...In a 14-1 loss to Northwest Arkansas, Corey Wimberly and Gary Cates both went 2-for-4, with a double. Jeff Kindel's eighth inning, RBI single accounted for the Drillers' only run. Dexter Fowler and Casey Weathers, who were members of the bronze medal U.S. Olympic team, were honored in a pregame ceremony. Fowler and Weathers rejoined the Drillers after leaving the club July 28 to prepare for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
August 26...Tulsa snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Springfield 4-2. Brandon Hynick handcuffed the Cardinals over seven shutout innings, limiting them to just three hits and a walk. Hynick earned his 10th win, tying him with three others for second most victories in the league. In the month of August, Hynick went 3-0, with a 1.56 ERA in five starts. In 34.2 August innings, Hynick held opponents to only 22 hits and seven walks, while surrendering no home runs. Ryan Mattheus struck out three in 1.1 innings, picking up his 16th save. Tony Blanco and Justin Nelson both hit solo home runs. Blanco (23) and Justin Nelson (18) are the team's two most prolific home run hitters this season. The Drillers activated Dexter Fowler and Casey Weathers off the reserve list. Tulsa placed outfielder Daniel Carte on the disabled list. Reliever Eduardo Valdez was promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Valdez went 4-4, with two saves, posting a 4.12 ERA in 46 appearances for Tulsa. Drillers players Eric Young, Jr., Chris Nelson, Chaz Roe, Weathers and Mattheus were assigned to the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, which begins play in October.
August 27...In a 5-3 loss to Springfield, Casey Weathers tossed a scoreless eighth inning, his first appearance since the Olympics. Eric Young, Jr., Dexter Fowler and Chris Nelson, the Drillers one through three hitters, each hit a double and scored a run. Nelson and Young led the Drillers with two hits.
August 28...Tulsa clobbered Springfield 11-4. Justin Nelson went 3-for-6, with a home run (19), a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored. Since July 1, Justin Nelson has hit .297, with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. In the third, Justin Nelson staked the Drillers to a 2-1 lead by delivering a two-out, two-run triple. Leading 4-3 after five innings, the Drillers broke open the game with a five-run sixth inning. With two outs and nobody on-base, Chris Nelson and Jeff Kindel singled to keep the inning alive. Justin Nelson followed with a run-scoring single, giving the Drillers a 5-3 advantage. After a Corey Wimberly walk to load the bases, catcher Rick Guarno socked a grand slam (5), boosting Tulsa to a 9-3 lead. Kindel hammered two hits, a pair of RBIs and scored twice. Keith Weiser (1-2) earned his first Double-A victory, holding the Cardinals to three runs on nine hits through seven solid innings.
August 29...In 13 innings, Tulsa fell to Springfield 6-5. Tied at 3-3 in the top of the 12th, Eric Young, Jr. ripped a go-ahead, two-run double, handing the Drillers a temporary 5-3 advantage. For the second straight game, Justin Nelson went 3-for-6 at the dish. The right fielder launched a two-run homer in the fourth, his 20th of the season. Starter Chaz Roe gave the Drillers an admirable effort, allowing three runs, five hits and one walk through eight innings of work.
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August 30...In a 7-3 loss to Northwest Arkansas, Alan Johnson compiled five strikeouts in five innings, while yielding two runs, four hits and two walks. The 25-year-old right-hander did not factor in the decision. Corey Wimberly contributed with a run-scoring double.
August 31...Tulsa exploded for 16 hits, sailing to a 9-5 win over Northwest Arkansas. Seven different Drillers players enjoyed multiple-hit performances. The Drillers did all their damage in two innings, scoring three runs in the first and six runs in the fourth. Dexter Fowler led the Drillers with three hits and scored twice. Jeff Kindel went 2-for-4, with a double, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. During Tulsa's six-run fourth, Chris Nelson socked a triple with the bases loaded.
September 1...In a 5-3 win over Tulsa, Dexter Fowler went 3-for-5, with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Fowler's ninth triple tied Frisco's Steven Murphy for the league lead. Following the game, the Colorado Rockies promoted Fowler to the big leagues. Shortstop Chris Nelson went 3-for-5, with a pair of RBIs. Texas League stolen base champion Corey Wimberly swiped his 59th bag of the season. In six innings, winning pitcher Josh Hall (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits. Ryan Mattheus recorded his 17th save after tossing a scoreless ninth.
SOUTH NOTES
Corpus Christi Hooks
(Houston Astros)
25-45, Fourth Place, South Division
55-85 Overall Record
August 25...During a 21-3 loss to San Antonio, Lou Santangelo homered (8) and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. The Hooks established franchise records for most runs allowed, most hits surrendered (28) and for the largest margin of defeat.
August 26...Backed by a pair of three-run innings, Corpus Christi squeaked by Frisco 6-5. Ole Sheldon stroked a first inning, three-run homer (13), giving the Hooks a 3-0 lead. Over his last three games, Sheldon has three home runs and nine RBIs. In sixth inning, Drew Sutton launched a two-run homer, his 19th of the season. Sutton's long-fly highlighted the Hooks' three-run sixth, which gave them a 6-2 advantage. Sutton went 2-for-4, with two runs scored. With his second run, Sutton scored for the 98th time this year, surpassing Hunter Pence (97 in 2006) for the Hooks single-season record. By driving in two runs, Sutton also passed Mark Saccomanno to become the Hooks' all-time leader with 115 RBIs. Saccomanno set the previous mark of 114 RBIs between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Brian Bogusevic went 2-for-5, with a RBI, marking his fourth straight contest with multiple-hits. Southpaw Chris Blazek earned his second save after allowing one run in three innings. The Astros announced Hooks players Bud Norris, Sergio Perez, Brad James, Blazek, Sutton and Bogusevic would all participate in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Former Hooks third baseman Chris Johnson was also assigned to Scottsdale.
August 27... Corpus Christi lost to Frisco 9-8 in heart breaking fashion. The Hooks led 8-2 through seven innings, but their bullpen squandered the lead by allowing Frisco to score six runs in the eighth, then the game-winner in the ninth. For the ninth time this season, the Hooks brought a lead into the eighth inning and could not hang onto it. The RoughRiders' comeback spoiled an admirable performance by Hooks starter Polin Trinidad. Over seven innings, Trinidad scattered two runs, six hits and two walks, while striking out six. The left-hander has posted a 2.81 ERA in his last five starts. Brian Bogusevic doubled, drove in a pair of runs and recorded his fifth straight multiple-hit game. Postseason All-Star Drew Sutton went 2-for-3, with a double, two walks, two runs and a RBI. Sutton set a Hooks' single-season record with his 37th double of the season, which also leads the Texas League. With two runs each, Sutton, Jonny Ash, Eli Iorg and Rob Cosby accounted for all eight of the Hooks' runs.
August 28...A five-run eighth inning propelled Corpus Christi to a 6-4 victory over Frisco. During the five-run frame, Billy Hart ripped a two-run triple and Lou Santangelo cracked a two-RBI single. Santanagelo finished at 2-for-4, with three RBIs. Mitch Einertson and Jarred Ball both had two hits, a double and a stolen base. In six innings of work, starting pitcher Chance Douglass gave up two runs on eight hits.
August 29...Behind a brilliant outing from starter Andy Van Hekken, Corpus Christi blanked Frisco 4-0. Van Hekken improved his record to 6-3 after limiting the 'Riders to only five hits and a walk in eight innings of work. The left-hander struck out six, while lowering his ERA to 3.19. Van Hekken retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced. Mitch Einertson socked an eighth inning homer, his 11th of the year. Brian Bogusevic and Lou Santangelo both contributed with run-scoring doubles. With the shutout, the Hooks took three-of-four from the RoughRiders, who own the best record (83-54) in the circuit this year.
August 30...Squandering an early 5-0 lead, Corpus Christi lost a 9-7 slugfest to San Antonio. It was the fourth time the Hooks had blown a lead of five runs or more in less than two weeks. The Hooks hammered 14 hits as seven of their starters recorded multiple-hits. Drew Sutton went 2-for-4, with a double and three RBIs. In the top of the sixth, Sutton's two-run double to extend the Hooks' advantage to 7-2. Sutton also played in his 258th game as a Hook, surpassing Josh Anderson (257) for the most in franchise history. Ole Sheldon swatted a RBI double and scored twice. Brian Bogusevic went 2-for-4, with a double. The former pitcher recorded his sixth multiple-hit game in his last seven contests. In the month of August, Bogusevic has gone 37-for-90 (.411) at the plate. The Hooks bullpen blew their 20th save, equaling their number of saves converted (20) this season.
August 31...In the first game of a doubleheader, Corpus Christi got shutout 3-0 by San Antonio. Hooks starter Sergio Perez (2-3) took the loss despite allowing only one run and one hit through four innings. Corpus Christi fell 6-4 in the second game, during which Drew Sutton became the first player in Hooks history to have both 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season. In the third, Sutton crushed a two-run homer to right, his 20th round-tripper of the season. Two innings later, Sutton singled, then took off on the first pitch and swiped second for his 20th stolen base of the season. Sutton finished at 3-for-4, with three RBIs. This season Sutton has established eight single-season or career Hooks records. Brad James (back), who last pitched on July 7, was activated from the disabled list. Making an abbreviated start, James tossed two scoreless innings. The Hooks placed left-hander Andy Van Hekken on the reserve list to make room for James.
September 1...Corpus Christi topped San Antonio 4-1, dispatching their opponents in one hour and 57 minutes. The tidy affair established a Hooks new franchise record for the shortest game ever, eclipsing the old mark by one minute. On June 18 of 2005, the Hooks blanked Frisco 4-0 in 1:58. Winning pitcher Polin Trinidad (6-5) handcuffed the Missions over eight innings, surrendering one run, two hits and no walks. The southpaw struck out a season-high nine batters. Mitch Einertson went 4-for-4, with a RBI double. Drew Sutton doubled and scored. Sutton finishes 2008 campaign as the Texas League leader in hits (165), runs (102) and doubles (39).
Frisco RoughRiders
(Texas Rangers)
41-29, T-First Place, South Division
84-56 Overall Record
August 25...Frisco lost to Midland 6-5, despite outhitting the RockHounds 15 to 6. Five run-scoring singles from Dustin Majewski, John Whittleman, Chad Tracy, Steven Murphy and Adam Fox helped the RoughRiders race to an early 5-0 lead after three innings. Tracy led the 'Riders with three hits. Since his promotion from Single-A, Tracy is batting .338 in his first 65 at-bats with Frisco. Whittleman, who was 2-for-5, has multiple hits in three of his first four Double-A games. Elvis Andrus, Jose Vallejo, Julio Borbon and Tracy all stole bases for Frisco. Scott Little was named the Texas League Manager of the Year.
August 26...Frisco dropped the first game of their seven-day homestand, losing 6-5 to Corpus Christi. Elvis Andrus and Chad Tracy led the RoughRiders with two hits. Dustin Majewski belted a seventh inning, solo home run (9), bringing the 'Riders to within one run of the Hooks at 6-5. The RoughRiders activated catcher Emerson Frostad, following his Olympic stint with the Canadian National team. Frostad singled and scored in his return. In spite of the loss, Frisco (39-25) remained in first place with a one-game lead over Midland (38-26) in the second-half standings. Julio Borbon, John Whittleman, John Bannister, Andrew Laughter, Beau Jones and Tracy have been chosen to participate in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Rafters this offseason.
August 27...In the bottom of the ninth, Dustin Majewski broke an 8-8 tie by launching a walk-off home run, lifting Frisco to a 9-8 victory over Corpus Christi. Majewski's opposite field blast marked the 14th time this season the RoughRiders had won in their final at-bat. After seven innings, the 'Riders trailed the Hooks 8-2, but tied the game with a six-run rally in the eighth. Steven Murphy's two-run double and Elvis Andrus' two-RBI single highlighted the RoughRiders' six-run comeback. Andrus' clutch hit tied the game and also extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Murphy went 2-for-3, with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Murphy's 87 RBIs are the fourth best total in the league, tying him with Tulsa's Matt Miller. Julio Borbon led the RoughRiders with three hits. Borbon has hit safely in 16 consecutive games. The comeback victory vaulted Frisco (39-24) two games ahead of second-place Midland (38-25) in the second-half standings.
August 28...In a 6-4 loss to Corpus Christi, starting pitcher Derek Holland hurled six innings, yielding no earned runs, four hits and two walks. The left-hander fanned seven, giving him 29 strikeouts in 26 innings Frisco. Not factoring in the decision, Holland lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.69. Julio Borbon went 3-for-5, with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base (16). Despite the loss, Frisco (40-26) held onto their two-game first place lead on Midland (38-28) in the second-half standings.
August 29...During a 4-0 loss to Corpus Christi, Julio Borbon extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a sixth-inning single. Borbon's streak is the longest by a RoughRiders player this season. The Hooks spoiled a solid outing by starter Neftali Feliz. In five innings, Feliz yielded one earned run, six hits and two walks, while striking out six. In a losing effort, Feliz (4-3) lowered his ERA to 2.98.
August 30...Frisco dropped the first of a three-game series with Midland by the score of 5-2. Julio Borbon doubled in the seventh, which extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Elvis Andrus stole two bases and scored twice. Andrus' 53 stolen bases are the second best total in the Texas League this season. Dustin Majewski (8) and Jose Vallejo (15) also swiped bases for Frisco. Vallejo led the 'Riders with two hits. Midland's late-inning comeback spoiled a fine outing by 'Riders starter Zach Parker, who held his opponents to one run, four hits and two walks through six innings of work.
August 31...Chad Tracy went 3-for-4, with a two-run homer as Frisco fell 3-2 to Midland. The RoughRiders hammered 11 hits, but only Tracy's dinger went for extra-bases. Tracy also stole his second base of the season. Julio Borbon and Elvis Andrus both had two hits at the top of the RoughRiders lineup. Borbon has hit safely in 20 consecutive games, which is a franchise record. Borbon picked up his 17th steal in his 59th game with Frisco. The RockHounds (41-28) knocked the RoughRiders (40-29) out of first place. However, the RoughRiders can clinch the second-half title with a victory over Midland on September 1.
September 1...With a 5-4 victory over Midland, Frisco (41-29) clinched the second-half South Division title. The RoughRiders became the first South Division to win both the first and second halves since Midland achieved the feat in 2005. Tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth, the RoughRiders took the lead when John Whittleman scored from third on a wild pitch. Before the wild pitch, Whittleman, Manuel Pina and Julio Borbon drew three straight walks to load the bases. In the top of the ninth, with runners on second and third, Brandon Puffer struck out Jon Zeringue, ending Midland's pennant chase. Puffer, the winning pitcher, fired 2.1 scoreless innings of relief as he finished the year with a flawless 8-0 record. In the bottom of the first, the RoughRiders pounced on the RockHounds early with a four-run inning. Emerson Frostad doubled home two runs and Chad Tracy followed with a two-RBI single. With a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, Borbon extended his franchise record hitting streak to 21 games. Not factoring in the decision, starting pitcher Jared Hyatt fanned seven in six stellar innings, allowing no earned runs, one hit and two walks. Hyatt finished on fire, retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. Prior to the win, Frisco had lost four straight and had dropped six of their last seven contests. The RoughRiders finished with the best overall record in the Texas League at 84-56.
Midland RockHounds
(Oakland Athletics)
41-29, T-First Place, South Division
75-65 Overall Record
August 25...With his team trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Jesus Guzman cracked a two-out, two-run double to right-center, propelling Midland to a 6-5 victory over Frisco. Reassigned to Midland prior to the game, Guzman made a triumphant return with four RBIs. The RockHounds had trailed the RoughRiders 5-0 through five innings, but fought back with six unanswered runs in the final four frames. In the bottom of the sixth, Todd Donovan swatted a RBI triple, which started the club's six-run comeback. Shortstop Adrian Cardenas scored three of his team's six runs. Reliever Jared Lansford hurled two scoreless innings, improving his record to 3-0. With the comeback win, Midland (38-25) moved one game back of first-place Frisco (39-24) in the second-half standings. Midland set a single-season attendance record after drawing 2,890 fans to the game. Through August 25, the RockHounds had attracted 278,464 fans to Citibank Ballpark, breaking the previous record of 276,380 that was established in 2002. Vincent Mazzaro was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year. Promoted to Triple-A Sacramento on August 2, Mazzaro's 12 victories and 1.90 ERA still rank first in the Texas League.
August 26...In a 4-2 loss to San Antonio, Midland managed only two hits, both of them home runs by Jesus Guzman and Jon Zeringue. Guzman led off the fourth with his 14th round-tripper of the year, while Zeringue clubbed his 22nd dinger with two-outs in the seventh. Due to a Frisco loss, Midland did not lose ground in the second-half standings, remaining one game out of first with a 38-26 record. Sean Doolittle, Adrian Cardenas, Andrew Carignan and Andrew Bailey will represent the Oakland Athletics in the Arizona Fall League, playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
August 27... Despite outhitting San Antonio13 to 10, Midland got drubbed 10-3 by the Missions. Jesus Guzman, who doubled and scored, led the 'Hounds with three hits. Sean Doolittle went 2-for-4, with a pair of RBIs. Center fielder Todd Donovan tallied two hits, stole his 37th base and scored.
August 28...During a 6-4 loss to San Antonio, RockHounds starting pitcher Brett Anderson struck out nine batters in six innings, while issuing just one walk. Anderson, who did not factor in the decision, allowed four runs in his first start since returning from the 2008 Olympics. Catcher Anthony Recker went 2-for-4, with a two-run double. Sean Doolittle led the 'Hounds with three hits. Javier Herrera led off the first inning with a solo home run (8) down the right-field line. To make room for Anderson, Midland placed right-handed pitcher Jason Windsor on the disabled list.
August 29...Midland thumped San Antonio 12-1 on a wet Friday evening. Tommy Everidge went 3-for-5, with a home run (22), two doubles, four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Everidge kicked off the RockHounds' scoring by delivering a RBI double to right-center. Following Everidge's two-bagger, the 'Hounds tacked on three more runs, capping a four-run first. In the second, Everidge connected on a three-run homer to right, highlighting another four-run inning by the 'Hounds. The RockHounds scored four runs again in the sixth. Javier Herrera provided a two-run double, followed by a two-RBI single from Jesus Guzman. Guzman finished at 3-for-6, raising his season average to .368. Justin Sellers was the only RockHounds player that did not contribute to his team's 15-hit attack. Over six solid innings, winning pitcher Ryan Webb (9-8) held the Missions to one run, five hits and two walks, while fanning five. The RockHounds (39-28) moved to within one game of first place Frisco (40-27) in the second-half standings. Midland (73-64) also jumped a half-game ahead of San Antonio (72-64) in the wild-card race.
August 30...Midland combined for four runs in the final two innings to beat Frisco 5-2. With the RockHounds trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Jon Zeringue hammered a two-out, two-run homer (23) to left. Zeringue's blast vaulted the 'Hounds to a 3-2 lead. Javier Herrera tacked on another two-run homer (9) in the ninth, providing closer Andrew Carignan with a three-run cushion. Carignan pitched a hitless ninth to lock down his 23rd save in 24 chances. Herrera finished at 2-for-5, with a double and two runs scored. Starter James Simmons struck out five through six innings, while giving up two runs, six hits and three walks. Simmons ends the season with a 3.51 ERA, which ranks third in the circuit. At 40-27, Midland's comeback victory moved them into a first-place tie with Frisco in the second-half standings. The 'Hounds (74-64) also stayed a half-game ahead of San Antonio (73-64) in the wild card race.
August 31...Outhit by an 11-5 margin, Midland managed a crucial 3-2 victory over Frisco. At 75-64, the RockHounds moved into sole possession of first place, one game ahead of Frisco. Jared Fernandez (1-3) earned his first Double-A victory after surrendering two runs in five innings of work. Giving way to the bullpen, Chris Michalak, Andrew Bailey, Jared Lansford and Andrew Carignan combined on four innings of shutout relief. Carignan notched his 24th save after fanning a pair of 'Riders in the ninth. Javier Herrera's two-out single in the sixth scored Justin Sellers, giving the 'Hounds a 3-0 lead. Herrera and Sellers both led the 'Hounds with two hits. Because Midland does not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Frisco, they must win on September 1 to secure the second-half title. With San Antonio's Sunday night sweep of a doubleheader, Midland was eliminated from the South Division wild card race. Both teams hold identical records at 75-64, but the Missions hold the tiebreaker due to a better head-to-head record (21-11).
September 1...Midland suffered a crushing 5-4 defeat at Frisco, which eliminated them from postseason contention. Trailing 4-0 after the first inning, the RockHounds put together a valiant comeback, tying the game at 4-4 in the seventh. During the third, Richie Robnett capped the two-run inning with a RBI single, cutting Frisco's lead in half at 4-2. The RockHounds tied the game in the seventh when Javier Herrera plated Anthony Recker with a RBI single. After surrendering the lead in the eighth, the RockHounds mounted a rally in the ninth. Jesus Guzman singled and advanced to third when Tommy Everidge doubled to right. With runners on second and third, Jon Zeringue struck out looking, bringing an abrupt end to the RockHounds' fine season. Guzman and Everidge led the RockHounds with two hits. At 41-29, Midland finished the second-half in a first-place tie with Frisco, but lost the division because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Despite sharing an identical record with San Antonio at 75-65, Midland also lost the wild-card berth on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
San Antonio Missions
(San Diego Padres)
36-34, Third Place, South Division
75-65 Overall Record
August 25...San Antonio clobbered Corpus Christi 21-3. Kyle Blanks led the onslaught, going 5-for-6, with a home run (18), two doubles, two runs scored and a whopping nine RBIs. Blanks is the first San Antonio player to record nine RBIs in a game since Charlie Grant accomplished the feat on June 16, 1948. The only other San Antonio player to have as many as nine RBI in a game was Sig Gryska on June 27, 1936. The last player to tally nine RBIs or more in a contest was Midland's Tommy Everidge, who drove in 10 on May 26, 2008. Blanks drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning, singled in a run during the fourth, singled again in the sixth, swatted a two-RBI double in the eighth and finished with a flurry in the ninth, hammering a two-run homer and a three-run double. Over his last 11 games, Blanks has 21 RBIs. Jose Lobaton went 3-for-4, with a pair of home runs (8,9), three RBIs and four runs scored. During a 3-for-6 effort, Josh Alley drove in three and scored twice. Shortstop Jesus Lopez notched three hits and scored three times. All 11 Missions with an official at-bat hit safely, including nine players with multiple-hits. The Missions batted around four times in the rout. They scored 13 runs in the last final two innings, concluding the contest with an eight-run ninth. Winning pitcher Stephen Faris (8-5) pitched seven innings, yielding two runs, five hits and a walk. The Missions' 21 runs are the most scored in the league since Arkansas beat Midland 21-0 on August 16, 2003, in the seven-inning, first game of a double header. The Missions are the second team to score as many as 20 runs in a game in the Texas League this season. On April 17, Springfield defeated Tulsa 20-5. San Antonio also hammered 28 hits, the most in a game by one team since San Antonio gathered 28 at Midland on May 8, 1999, beating the home team 22-8.
August 26...San Antonio held Midland to only two hits in a 4-2 victory. Ernesto Frieri (1-0) won his first Double-A start, striking out six RockHounds over seven innings, while issuing two walks. Frieri allowed only two hits, both of them solo home runs. The 23-year-old Colombian was called up from high Single-A Lake Elsinore to make a spot start for Will Inman (thumb). After Frieri's departure, Gabe DeHoyos and Greg Burke each tossed a perfect inning of relief, putting the wraps on the two-hit gem. The Missions scored all four runs in the first inning. Kyle Blanks, who was 2-for-4, singled home the first run. It was Blanks' 28th RBI in 23 August games. Colt Morton capped the four-run first with a two-out, two-run single. Craig Cooper led the Missions with three hits. The Missions (70-63) are now only one-and-a-half games back of Midland (72-62) in the wild card standings. Chad Huffman, Mike Baxter, Mike Ekstrom, Blanks and Burke were selected to play in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaros.
August 27...San Antonio sailed to a 10-3 victory over Midland. With the win, the Missions (71-63) trail the RockHounds (72-63) by a half-game in the wild-card race. Continuing his torrid tear, Kyle Blanks went 4-for-4, with a double, a RBI and three runs scored. It was the fourth time Blanks had collected four hits in his last 16 games. Over his last four games, Blanks has gone 13-for-17 at the plate. In the top of the second, the Missions went ahead 4-0 by scoring four runs on a walk and four straight hits. Seth Johnston, Mike Baxter, Craig Cooper and Jesus Lopez each knocked in a run in the four-run second. Cooper added a two-run single in the sixth, extending the Missions' lead to 6-1. After Midland cut the lead to 6-3 in the seventh, the Missions put the game away by scoring four runs over the final two innings. Colt Morton clubbed a two-run homer in the eighth, his third of the year. Winning pitcher Mike Ekstrom (11-7) allowed no earned runs in five innings, while giving up eight hits and no walks. Ekstrom's 11 victories are the second most in the league. Mike DeMark surrendered his first two runs in Double-A ball, ending his scoreless inning streak at 21.
August 28...San Antonio pounded 15 hits en route to a 6-4 victory over Midland. In the top of the seventh, Kyle Blanks unknotted a 4-4 tie with a RBI infield single. It was Blanks' 30th RBI in August. All nine Missions hitters recorded at least one hit in the game. Gabe Lopez and Seth Johnston led the Missions with three hits each. Johnston has hit safely in nine consecutive games. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, the Missions scored three runs, highlighted by Brandon Snyder's two-out, two-run double. Missions relievers Jonathan Ellis, Philip Barzilla, Gabe DeHoyos and Greg Burke combined on four shutout innings, holding the 'Hounds to three hits - all singles . The Missions are 21-10 against the RockHounds this season.
August 29...In a 12-1 loss to Midland, Seth Johnston and Josh Alley both went 2-for-4. Johnston extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The loss dropped the Missions (72-64) a half-game back of the RockHounds (73-64) in the wild card standings.
August 30...San Antonio drilled five home runs on their way to a 9-7 comeback victory over Corpus Christi. In the bottom of the eighth, Drew Macias clubbed a go-ahead, two-run homer (11) to center, capping the Missions' comeback from a 5-0 deficit. Kyle Blanks tormented the Hooks once again, going 4-for-5, with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. Over his last six games, Blanks has gone 17-for-28 (.607), with 15 RBIs. In the seventh, Blanks reached 20 home runs with a tape measure solo shot to left, his second of the evening. Two batters later, Brian Snyder cracked a solo home run to left-center, cutting the Hooks' lead to 7-6. Later in the inning, Mike Baxter delivered a game-tying, RBI single. Baxter also connected on a two-run homer (7) in the sixth. Jesus Lopez went 3-for-4, with a triple. The Missions pounded 17 hits. San Antonio scored in every inning between the fourth and eighth frames. Greg Burke earned his 22nd save by pitching a scoreless ninth. The Missions' victory helped them stay within a half-game of Midland in the wild-card race.
August 31...San Antonio kept their wild-card hopes alive by sweeping a doubleheader against Corpus Christi. In game one, the Missions blanked the Hooks 3-0, their league leading 20th shutout of the season. Will Inman looked impressive hurling five shutout innings. Inman, who improved his record to 9-8, held the Hooks to one hit and two walks. Seth Johnston walloped a second inning, solo home run (16) to left. Throwing a scoreless seventh, closer Greg Burke picked up his fourth save in six days. The Missions beat the Hooks in game two by a score of 6-4. In the fifth, the Missions overcame a 3-0 deficit by bursting for six-runs. Jesus Lopez and Gabe Lopez both provided the Missions two-run doubles in the six-run inning. With the pair of victories, San Antonio gained a half-game to tie Midland for the wild-card lead. San Antonio placed Chad Huffman (shoulder) on the disabled list. Huffman last played on August 24. Infielder Lance Zawadzki was promoted from low Single-A Ft. Wayne. In 119 games, Zawadzki hit .278, with 28 steals.
September 1....Despite losing 4-1 to Corpus Christi, San Antonio clinched a playoff berth as the result of Midland's 5-4 loss at Frisco. Although both teams hold identical records at 75-65, San Antonio gets the wild-card nod over Midland as a result of having a better head-to-head record (21-11). Mike Baxter hit a solo home run in the second, accounting for the only Missions run. Starter Mike Ekstrom (11-8) failed in his bid to tie Midland's Vince Mazzaro for most victories by a pitcher. In six innings, Ekstrom gave up two runs, six hits, and a walk, getting handed a tough luck loss. On September 3, the Missions will begin their five-game South Division playoff series at Frisco.
TOPPS PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Kyle Blanks - San Antonio
29 G, 114 AB, 43 H, .377 AVG, 7 HR
33 RBI, 20 R, 70 TB
Blanks put on a MVP-caliber performance in August, the impetus behind San Antonio securing a trip to the postseason.
In the month of August, Blanks led all Texas Leaguers with 33 RBIs and 70 total bases. Blanks' 33 RBIs were nine more than the next closest player. Blanks also tied Midland's Tommy Everidge (July) and Jesus Guzman (April) for most RBIs in a single month in 2008.
By going 43-for-114 (.377), Blanks' season batting average rose from .310 to .325 at the conclusion of August. Entering the month with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs, Blanks' colossal numbers pushed him over the 100 RBI threshold (107) and got him to the prestigious 20 home run plateau.
The San Diego Padres farm hand reached base safely in 27 of his 29 games played.
The Texas League postseason All-Star had two five-hit games, and enjoyed five games with four hits or more.
On August 20, Blanks launched a walkoff, two-run homer, lifting San Antonio to a 12-inning, 14-12 victory over Frisco. The 21-year-old finished at 5-for-7, with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
Four days later, Blanks knocked in nine runs, becoming the first Missions player to accomplish the feat in 60 years.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kyle Blanks- San Antonio
8 G, 33 AB, 17 H, .515 AVG, 3 HR
15 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB, .579 OBP, .879 SLG
Before the week began, San Antonio was sitting two and a half games outside of a playoff berth, and was in dire need of a spark. Blanks rose to the occasion, spearheading the Missions' 6-1 charge to a postseason bid. Over the last week, the 21-year-old led the Texas League with a .515 batting average, 17 hits, a .579 on-base percentage and nine runs scored.
No Player of the Week this season tallied more hits than Blanks' 17 knocks. If it weren't for Cory Aldridge's incredible week, Blanks' 15 RBIs would have tied him with Midland's Tommy Everidge for most by a Player of the Week this season.
Last week Blanks recorded four or more hits in three games. The 6'6" slugger also hit safely in the first six of his eight games played. He also reached base safely in all eight games.
During a 21-3 thrashing of Corpus Christi on August 25, Blanks had one of the all-time greatest performances in San Antonio's storied history. Blanks went 5-for-6, with a home run (18), two doubles, two runs scored and nine RBIs. The first baseman's nine RBIs marked the first time a San Antonio had accomplished the feat since Charlie Grant did the trick on June 16, 1948. Sig Gryska also accomplished the achievement on June 27, 1936.
Two days later, Blanks went a perfect 4-for-4, with three runs scored, helping San Antonio win a crucial 10-3 game over fellow wild card contender Midland. On the following night, Blanks broke a 4-4 tie with a go-ahead RBI single, helping lift the Missions to a 6-4 victory over the RockHounds.
In the month of August, Blanks hit a robust .377, with seven homers and 33 RBIs, which helped him earn the Topps Texas League Player of the Month honors as well.
Cory Aldridge - Northwest Arkansas
7 G, 28 AB, 13 H, .464 AVG, 5 HR,
17 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB .515 OBP, 1.107 SLG
Aldridge enjoyed a monster week to say the least, helping the Naturals go on a 6-0 run en route to the second-half title in the North Division. Over the past week the 29-year-old led the Texas League with five home runs, 17 RBIs, seven extra-base hits and a 1.107 slugging percentage. Aldridge's 17 RBIs were the most by any Player of the Week recipient this season.
Aldridge hit safely in all seven games he played in, which included three games in which he recorded at least three hits. The native of Abilene, TX also recorded at least one RBI in six of seven games.
On August 25, Aldridge was a one-man wrecking crew in the Naturals' 14-1 pasting of Tulsa. The former big leaguer went 3-for-5, with a pair of three-run homers, a double, seven RBIs and three runs scored. Aldridge's seven RBIs established a Northwest Arkansas franchise record.
Over the next six games, Aldridge continued to tear the cover off the ball, going 10-for-23 (.435) at the plate, with three homers and 10 RBIs.
The Naturals posted a Texas League best 42-28 second-half record, in large part to the team's acquisition of Aldridge on July 3. After Texas League Player of the Year Kila Kaaihue was promoted to Triple-A Omaha, Aldridge filled the void, batting .284, with seven home runs, 24 RBIs and a .941 OPS in the month of August.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Blake Wood - Northwest Arkansas
2 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 IP, 3 H,
2 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 K
Wood helped the Naturals win two key games in their run toward the second-half title this past week.
In a 14-1 rout of Tulsa on August 25, Wood dominated the Drillers by throwing six shutout innings en route to his fifth Texas League win. The 23-year-old gave up only two hits and two walks, while striking out six. Following the second inning, Wood no-hit the Drillers over the final four frames, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. The only Drillers batter that reached base after the second was via an error. The victory helped the Naturals keep pace with co-division leader Springfield at 37-26.
Five days later, the Naturals entered their August 30 against Tulsa with their magic number down to one. Getting the start, Wood one-hit the Drillers through three innings of work. A first-inning, ground ball single was the only blemish on Wood's pitching line. A one hour and 48 minute rain delay prevented Wood from taking the mound again after three innings. Nevertheless, Wood set the tone for the rest of the game as teammates Gilbert de la Vara, Tim Hamulack and Chris Hayes combined to hold the Drillers to two hits over the final six innings. With a 7-3 victory, Northwest Arkansas clinched the second-half title.
Wood pitched nine scoreless innings this past week, limiting his opponents to just three hits and two walks. The former Georgia Tech star saved his best for last, posting a 2.93 ERA in six August starts.
Wood previously earned Pitcher of the Week honors during the week of June 2-8, when he fired a three-hit shutout in his second Double-A start.
This Week in Texas League History
This Week, Sept. 2 - 8
September 2, 1931...Galveston first baseman Bill McGee paced a 19-hit attach with five hits in as many times to the late, helping the Buccaneers to an 11-9 win at Fort Worth. McGee, who had three RBI's in the game, drove in Galveston's ninth run with an eighth inning triple. He then scored the game winning run after doubling in the ninth inning.
September 3, 1928...In the opening game of a double header, San Antonio stroked 13 hits, including three doubles by Emmet Mulvy and two more by Ray Grimes, yet still lost to Waco 12-10. The Bears exacted a measure of revenge in the second contest, winning the six inning affair 10-0 as San Antonio starter Herb Agricola held the Cubs to just two hits.
September 4, 1924...Houston scored nine runs in the first two innings, then had to hold on, beating Wichita Falls 11-9. Second baseman Johnny Monroe led the 18-hit Houston attack with a perfect 5-for-5 afternoon. Showing his offensive versatility, Monroe, who also walked once, had a bunt single, two line drive singles, a double and a triple.
September 5, 1946...It was a long, but rewarding day for Dallas. After taking the seven-inning, double header opener from Oklahoma City 10-8, the Rebels then needed 15 innings in the nightcap before coming away with a 4-3 victory. Clint Conatser's two-run triple was the difference maker in the first game. In the closer, Hal Hirshon's two-out single in the 15th drove in Conatser with the winning run, ending the long second contest.
September 6, 1909...Fort Worth starter Reeves McKay took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, yet managed to lose the game to Oklahoma City 2-0. McKay had allowed a single run in the fifth on a walk and a wild pitch, then another in the ninth when the Indians touched him for their only two hits of the game. Thouth the Panthers got eight hits in the game, including doubles, they could not pus across a run against OKC starter Tom Drohan.
September 7, 1958...On the last day of the regular season, San Antonio needed 22 innings to sweep a double header from Fort Worth. In the first game, San Antonio rallied in the ninth inning, tying the game 1-1, then took a 2-1 win in the 15th when Al Baro singled with the bases loaded. The Missions breezed to a 6-3 victory in the seven-inning finale. The long day was stretched even further for players and fans as rain forced a halt to action twice during the afternoon twin-bill.
September 8, 1956...Houston was prevented from clinching first place when Tulsa's Vincente Amor beat them with a masterful 14-inning, 1-0 win. The Cuban native, who limited the Buff's to just seven hits, scored the winning run in the top of the final inning, coming home on a single by Vic Marasco. Amor then retired Houston in their half of the 14th, preserving his masterpiece. With the win, Tulsa clinched fourth place in the TL standings, ensuring a spot in post-season play.
2008 Texas League
Post-Season All Star Team
1B - Kila Ka'aihue, Northwest Arkansas
2B - Drew Sutton, Corpus Christi
3B - Allen Craig, Springfield
SS - Elvis Andrus, Frisco
UT - Eric Young, Jr., Tulsa
C - Ben Johnson, Arkansas
C - Max Ramirez, Frisco
OF - Aaron Cunningham, Midland
OF - Dexter Fowler, Tulsa
OF - Matt Miller, Tulsa
DH - Kyle Blanks, San Antonio
DH - Tommy Everidge, Midland
P - Matt Buschmann, San Antonio
P - Dan Cortes, Northwest Arkansas
P - Will Inman, San Antonio
P - Vince Mazzaro, Midland
P - Fernando Salas, Springfield
P - James Simmons, Midland
P - Jess Todd, Springfield
Manager of the Year
Scott Little, Frisco
Pitcher of the Year
Vince Mazzaro, Midland
Player of the Year
Kila Ka'aihue, Northwest Arkansas
Mike Coolbaugh
Texas League Coach of the Year
Larry Carter, Northwest Arkansas
Texas League Stories from September 2, 2008
- Travs Weekly Report - Arkansas Travelers
- Texas League update - TL1
- Hammons Field Voted Texas League Field of the Year - Springfield Cardinals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
