Texas League News
June 14, 2004 - Texas League (TL1) News Release
With the 2004 Texas League being played in Midland on June 21, the staff of the RockHounds will handle the West Division stars. Midland manager Webster Garrison will be assisted during the mid-season event by hitting coach Brian McArn and pitching coach Jim Coffman. Veteran trainer Brian "Doc" Thorson will tend to the medical needs of the West Division stars.
League rules state that the staff of the other division in first place two weeks prior to the game will guide the visiting all star squad. For the first time since the rule was instituted a number of years ago, two clubs were tied on that date. As a result, Wichita manager Frank White and Tulsa manager Tom Runnells will act as co-managers for the East Division stars. Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin will assist White and Runnells, while Charles Leddon of the Wichita Wranglers will be the East Division All Star trainer. It is the second season in a row that Leddon has worked during all star break, He was with Wichita last year when the Wranglers hosted the 2003 TL all star game.
Umpires for the game will be Paul Chandler, Joe Stegner and Todd Waters. The 2004 season is the first in the Texas League for Chandler and Waters, though Chandler has been in Double A in the Eastern League prior to his assignment. Stegner finished the 2004 season in the Texas League after Peter Durfee was promoted to Triple A in August of year.
Wichita starter Junior Herndon was selected to join the East Division all star squad on June 8 after Eric Cyr of the Arkansas Travelers was promoted to Triple A. Six days later, Herndon's team mate, outfielder Dee Brown was promoted to the Kansas City Royals, opening a spot of the East all star squad for Frisco's Wil Smith.
The news might turn out to be bitter sweet for Herndon as he had left the game versus Midland on June 7 during the seventh inning after feeling some discomfort in his elbow. The Wranglers are optimistic that Herndon would be ready to pitch by the time the game is played.
TEXAS LEAGUE NOTES
On June 7th, the Travelers allowed a total of three runs combined in the ninth and 10th innings as they lost 5-4 to Round Rock. In the game, SS Alberto Callaspo was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Starter Ervin Santana tossed seven innings, allowing three hits, two runs and striking out seven, but did not factor in the decision...On June 9th, the Travelers committed five errors, leading to seven unearned runs and a 7-5 loss to San Antonio. In the game, Rudy Gomez was 4-for-4 with two doubles...On June 10th, the Travelers swept San Antonio in a doubleheader 12-5 and 11-8 thanks to unbelievable performances from DH Nick Gorneault and 3B Dallas McPherson. The No. 3 and 4 hitters combined to go 12-for-14 with 12 runs, 14 RBI and six home runs. Gorneault was 6-for-7 with two home runs, one in each game, and six RBI. McPherson was even better going 6-for-7 with four home runs--two in each game--six runs and eight RBI. McPherson's fourth home run was the most impressive, a moon shot to center field that cleared the 55-foot fence and bounced onto Interstate 630. 1B Mike Eylward had impressive games as well with three hits and three RBI in the first game and two hits, a home run and two RBI in the second game...On June 11th, the Travelers lost 4-2 to San Antonio. 3B Dallas McPherson hit his Texas League leading 17th home run and his fifth in three games to tie the score 2-2 in the sixth. The Missions then scored runs in the eighth and ninth to win the game...On June 12th, the Travelers allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and lost 10-7 to Round Rock. The Express outburst came moments after the Travs tied the game up with four runs in the top of the eighth. 3B Dallas McPherson had another fine night at the plate going 2-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI. McPherson has hit six home runs in the Travelers past four games. Over his past 23 games he has blasted 14 home runs with 42 RBI...On June 13th, the Travs ended a two game skid with a 7-3 win over Round Rock. Arkansas scored three times in the first and sixth innings and was aided by three Express errors. Offensively, DH Jeff Mathis was 2-for-4 with a home run and seven of the nine Travs batters recorded at least one hit. P Rich Fischer won his third game after tossing four innings of two-hit relief.
The Diablos ran into a buzz saw on June 7th as they were held to seven hits in a 6-1 loss to Tulsa. Drillers P Jeff Francis, who leads the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA, struck out 10 Diablo batters in route to his ninth win of the season...On June 8th, the Diablos trailed Wichita 6-1 entering the sixth inning, but stormed back to win 7-6. A ninth-inning RBI double from SS Sergio Santos gave the Diablos the win. 2B Steve Garrabrants scored the winning run for the Diablos, barely crossing the plate in front of a throw from Wichita's LF Cory Aldridge. RF Josh Kroeger, C Chris Snyder and LF Jay Garthwaite each hit a home run for the Diablos. Every Diablos batter had at least one hit in the 14-hit attack. P Aric LeClair picked up his first win of the season after tossing 2.1 innings of relief, allowing only one hit, no runs and striking out four...On June 9th, the Diablos put on a hitting clinic in their 13-7 victory over Wichita. Eight of the nine Diablo batters had at least one hit, with seven having at least two hits in the 20 hit attack. Seven of the nine Diablo batters also recorded a run. SS Sergio Santos had a huge night for El Paso as he hit two home runs, one of which was a grand slam in the seventh inning, and brought in seven runs. The Diablos Doc Brooks, who came to the team late last month, also had an outstanding night. The outfielder who was 0-for-9 in his career with the Diablos, went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI. The 20-hits marked the third time this homestand that they have collected 15 or more hits. P Beltran Perez picked up his first win in relief, allowing a run on three hits in four innings of work...On June 10th, RF Josh Kroeger clobbered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning,a two-run blast off the scoreboard in right center, that turned an 8-7 deficit into a 9-8 Diablos win over Wichita. All the El Paso hitters had at least one hit, with the first six in the lineup recording at least two hits. P Aric LeClair tossed one inning of shutout relief in the ninth and picked up his second win in three days. With the win El Paso improved to 4-1 while wearing its special "throwback" yellow jersey, a replica of the uniform worn by the 1979 Diablos...On June 11th, the Diablos won their second series of the season when they beat Wichita 10-8. CF Marland Williams had an outstanding performance, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and a home run. The outfielder is on an eight-game hitting streak and is third in the Texas League in stolen bases with 18. Other notables included 1B Jesus Cota who was 2-for-4 with a home run and double, C Chris Snyder who was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI and LF Doc Brooks who was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Former El Paso Community College standout Rodrigo Aguirre, who made his minor league debut on June 10th, also had a solid performance in the game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and run. Aguirre was scheduled to play only two games with the Diablos before heading to Yakima, Wash., to play in the Northwast league. P Pete Sikaras picked up his eighth save after tossing two innings and surrendering just one hit and no runs while striking out three...Normally when a starting pitcher holds the opposition to three hits over seven innings while striking out seven he gets the win. That wasn't the case for P William Juarez or the Diablos on June 12th, as they ran into Tulsa's Jeff Francis and lost 3-0. The Diablos managed just three hits off of the Texas Leagues best pitcher, and ruined a fine effort by Juarez, who was saddled with the loss. It was the second time in six days the Diablos had been beaten by Francis...After allowing a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of June 13th's game against Tulsa, the Diablos scored four runs in the 12th inning and held on to win 8-7. C Chris Snyder went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and LF Doc Brooks had a triple and three RBI. P Sergio Lizarraga didn't factor into the decision, but pitched six innings allowing five hits, three runs and striking out an incredible 11 batters. In the extra-inning victory four El Paso pitchers combined to strike out 17 Tulsa batters.
The RoughRiders pounded the San Antonio Missions 11-4 on June 7th. In the 15-hit attack, Frisco's two through five hitters (2B Jason Bourgeois, 1B Jason Botts, RF Will Smith, DH Edgar Gonzalez and C Jeff Smith) in 20 at-bats, combined for 10 runs, 12 hits, four doubles, one triple, one homerun and eight RBI. The offensive production was more than enough for P Kelvin Jimenez who picked up his first win of the season despite allowing eight hits and four runs. The home run came off the bat of Botts who at the time led the Texas League with 14...On June 9th, DH Kevin Mench hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth, powering the RoughRiders to a 7-6 victory over Round Rock. Mench was in his first rehab start after straining an oblique muscle with the Texas Rangers. A five-run fourth inning also paved the way for Frisco. In that inning, LF Tydus Meadows and CF Patrick Boyd hit back-to-back home runs. P Billy Sylvester was credited with the win, even though he blew the his first save in seven tries...On June 10th, the RoughRiders swept a doubleheader from Round Rock winning 6-2 and 4-3. In the first game, RF Will Smith had two home runs and drove in five runs. P Steven Rowe recorded his first save of the season in relief of starter Kameron Loe who picked up his third win. The second win of the day came in dramatic fashion as Rick Asadoorian hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, scoring the tying and winning runs. Also adding to the offense was 2B Jason Bourgeois who went 4-for-4 with a triple. P Kris Keller earned his first win of the season after tossing a perfect seventh inning...The RoughRiders ended their eight game homestand on June 11th with a 3-2 loss to Round Rock. 3B Edgar Gonzalez and C Jeff Smith had two hits apiece in the loss. The RoughRiders went 6-2 in their homestand...On June 12th, two RBI doubles by SS Drew Meyer and LF Tydus Meadows was all the offense needed by the RoughRiders in a 2-1 win over San Antonio. Pitchers Kelvin Jimenez and Billy Sylvester combined to hold the Missions to just four hits and one run, while striking out four batters. Jimenez tossed seven innings and picked up his second win of the season. Sylvester was credited with his eighth save, after nearly tossing two perfect innings in relief...On June 13th the RoughRiders were held to five hits in a 6-3 loss to San Antonio. CF Patrick Boyd had two RBI in the losing effort.
The RockHounds were held to just four hits in a 5-2 loss to Wichita on June 7th. RF Brian Sellier provided most of the offense with a triple and RBI. In dropping three-of-four to the Wranglers, the RockHounds lost a series for the first time since May 17th. They had won four straight series since then...On June 8th, the RockHounds beat Tulsa 2-1 despite being held to four hits. 2B Mark Kiger supplied three of those safeties and scored both Midland runs on a 3-for-4 night which included a home run and double. Pitchers Ben Fritz and Marcus Gwyn combined to toss nine innings, where they allowed six hits, one run and struck out seven. Gwyn was credited with the win, his second of the season...The Hounds were left with a shorthanded lineup June 8th, with all available position players starting. That was caused by injuries to OF Matt Allegra and 1B Brant Colamarino, who are nursing knee injuries. Allegra strained his knee on June 6th while Colamarino was injured on the seventh when he banged his knee against the stadium railing while going after a foul ball...The RockHounds lost to Tulsa 9-2 on June 9th. The game was a tight 1-1 contest until the sixth inning when the Drillers scored seven runs...The RockHounds defeated Tulsa 10-8 on June 10, thanks to the efforts of LF Jon Weber, who broke an 0-for-8 slump with an inside-the-park home run, two walks and three RBI. RF Brian Sellier also contributed to the win with a home run. Oddly, every Midland batter recorded one-and only one-hit. Relief P Marcus Gwyn picked up his second save after tossing two innings, allowing three hits, one run and striking out three...On June 10th, the RockHounds got some bench help with the promotion of infielder Jesse Acosta from Class A Kane County of the Midwest League...On June 11th, the RockHounds held Tulsa to just five hits in a 2-1 win. P Brad Weis picked up his fourth win of the season after tossing 7.1 innings and allowing five hits, one run and striking out four. Relievers Shane Bazzell and Marcus Gwyn combined to no-hit the Drillers over the remaining 1.2 innings, striking out four in the process. 1B Steve Jackson provided some of the offense with a home run in the seventh inning, which ended up being the winning run...The RockHounds blew a 5-2 lead on June 12th, allowing four runs in the eighth inning in a 6-5 loss to Wichita. In the game, 3B Francis Gomez went 4-for-5 with an RBI and DH John Baker recorded three RBI in the losing effort...On June 13th, the RockHounds scored four runs in the seventh--all with two outs--to defeat Wichita 5-2. Offensively, LF Jon Weber went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and 3B Francis Gomez continued his torrid hitting by going 2-for-3 with a home run. Starter Ben Fritz won his sixth game of the season, after tossing seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs...Outfielder Brian Sellier has now hit in 14-of-his-last-15 games and has reached base in 22-of-23.
On June 7th, the Express scored a total of three runs in the ninth and 10th innings as they came back to defeat Arkansas 5-4. Travelers' P Cam Esslinger's two-out balk forced in the tying run in the ninth inning, while RF Mike Hill hit a two-run double in the 10th to bring in the winning runs. Starting P Ezequiel Astacio did not factor in the decision despite having a fine outing, tossing 7.1 innings, allowing four hits and three runs...On June 9th, the Express gave up a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lose to Frisco 7-6. The home run came off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench who is with the RoughRiders on rehab for a strained oblique muscle. The loss spoiled efforts by SS Tommy Whiteman and C Dax Norris who each contributed a home run and two RBI...On June 10th, the Express were swept in a doubleheader by the Frisco RoughRiders 6-2 and 4-3. For the second straight night, the Express failed in their bid to lock down the first-half championship in the Texas League's Western Division. In the first game, CF Charlton Jimerson hit a two-run home run, while SS Tommy Whiteman had two hits and 1B Todd Self had three. In the second game, RF Mike Hill had three hits in the losing effort...On June 11th, the Express clinched the West Division title with 3-2 victory over Frisco. Starter Wandy Rodriquez won his seventh game of the season after tossing seven innings, allowing eight hits, two runs and striking out six. P Mike Burns pitched the final two innings and allowed only one hit, no runs and struck out two batters. CF Charlton Jimerson's broken bat single in the seventh inning scored the winning run. DH Ivanon Coffie brought in the other two runs as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and double...On June 12th, seven of the Express's nine batters had at least one hit as Round Rock beat Arkansas 10-7. Round Rocks two through five hitters (LF Mike Rodriquez, SS Tommy Whiteman, 1B Todd Self and RF Mike Hill) each had a double and combined for seven hits and seven RBI, while C Hector Gimenez went 4-for-5 with three runs, a triple and RBI. Starter Ezequiel Astacio got another no decision, his second of the week, despite tossing seven innings, allowing just two hits and three runs, while striking out seven. P Santiago Ramirez picked up his 20th save of the season after allowing one hit in one inning of work...The Express committed three errors in a 7-3 loss to Arkansas on June 13th. DH Jon Topolski was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in the loss.
On June 7th, the Missions lost to Frisco 11-4. After three innings the game was knotted at four apiece, thanks to C Brian Moon who had two RBI and RF Christian Guerrero who had a home run. The Missions couldn't contain the Frisco bats, however, as the RoughRiders went on to score seven unanswered runs...Missions pitcher Troy Cate, who left his start in the second inning on June 6th, was placed on the disabled list with a pulled left groin...On June 9th, LF Vince Faison hit a two-run bloop single in the 10th inning as the Missions beat the Arkansas Travelers 7-5. Offensively, 3B Greg Dobbs also chipped in with two hits and two RBI. The Missions were aided by sloppy play from Arkansas who committed five errors. The Missions seven runs were all unearned. Reliever Jared Thomas got his first victory and Rick Guttormson pitched the 10th inning for his fifth save...On June 10th, the Missions were swept in a doubleheader by Arkansas 12-5 and 11-8. In the first game, RF Shin-soo Choo and 1B John Lindsey each had a home run and two RBI. In the second game, DH Ryan Christianson had two double and two RBI...On June 11th, the Missions used a gutty performance from three pitchers to beat Arkansas 4-2. In his first start for San Antonio, P Phil Devey gave up one run and matched a career high in strike outs with nine in 5.2 innings of work. Devey was a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and got as far as Triple-A Las Vegas in the Dodgers system. He was released and signed by the Cincinnati Reds last year, but finished the season in the independent Atlantic League. Reliever Tim Rall tossed two innings and picked up his third win after allowing two hits and no runs. P Rick Guttormson then notched his sixth save of the season after shutting down the Travelers in the final 1.1 innings of the game. On offense, CF Shin-soo Choo knocked in two of the Missions runs and 1B John Lindsey and SS Eddie Menchaca had three hits apiece......RHP Renee Cortez was placed on the disabled list on June 11th...In their June 12th, 2-1 loss to Frisco the Missions wasted strong pitching performances from TA Fulmer and Jared Thomas. Fulmer pitched seven innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out three. Thomas then allowed three hits and one run in two innings of relief. The Missions bats were held to just four hits in the loss...LF Shin-soo Choo set the tone for San Antonio's 6-3 victory over Frisco on June 13th, with two grabs at the left-field wall and two singles that turned into two runs. Choo perfectly timed his jump and robbed Frisco's Ian Kinsler of a home run in the top of the first. In the fifth, Choo robbed Kinsler yet again, running down what would have been a run-scoring double. 2B Hunter Brown broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a towering home run to left-center field. P Chris Key earned the victory after tossing five innings, allowing three hits and three runs...On June 13th, RHP Chris Buglovsky rejoined the Missions pitching staff from the disabled list after missing a month of action.
On June 7th, the Drillers overmatched El Paso 6-1 thanks to another fine outing by P Jeff Francis, who collected his ninth win of the season. Francis leads the Texas League in wins, strikeouts and ERA. In the eight innings he pitched, Francis struck out 10 batters, bringing his season strikeout total to 101. On offense, CF Tony Miller recorded four hits, RF Shawn Garrett had two hits and two RBI and 3B Corey Slavik had a two-run double...On June 8th P Justin Hampson tossed eight innings, allowed four hits, two runs and struck out four batters and lost 2-1 to Midland. The Drillers bats couldn't support the fine start from Hampson as they managed to scratch just a single run on six hits...On June 9th, the Drillers scored seven runs in the sixth inning off two Midland errors and a grand slam by 3B Adonis Harrison in rout to a 9-2 win. DH Shawn Garrett also contributed with two runs and three hits. Starter Mike Esposito tossed seven innings, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out seven batters to win his third game of the season...Before the game on the June 9th, P Tim Bausher was added to the Drillers roster and P Travis Anderson was released...The Drillers dropped a close 10-8 decision to Midland on June 10th. SS Danny Sandoval and C Dan Conway each recorded three hits in the losing effort...On June 11th, the Drillers dropped another close came to the RockHounds losing 2-1. The Drillers were held to just five hits in the loss. Starter Zach McClellan tossed four innings allowing two hits and no runs, while striking out five, but did not factor in the decision. P Tim Bausher was saddled with the loss despite striking out seven batters in four innings of work...On June 12th, three outstanding pitching performances led the Drillers to a 3-0 win over El Paso. P Jeff Francis won his 10th game of the season, after tossing 6.1 innings and allowing three hits, no runs and striking out 11 batters. He is the first Drillers pitcher (since 1977) to win 10 straight decisions in a season. The last Tulsa pitcher to win more games without a loss to open a season was the Tulsa Oilers' Ted Thiem (12-0) in 1960. Relievers Sean Green and Ryan Speier then combined to throw 2.2 innings of perfect baseball. The duo surrendered no hits, no walks and no runs. Closing out the shutout, Speier picked up his league leading 21st save. 1B Ryan Shealy's two-run homer in the first inning and RF Shawn Garrett's eighth-inning sacrifice fly provided the offense for Tulsa...Colorado Rockies all-star outfielder Preston Wilson began his rehab stint and contributed to Tulsa's victory. Wilson started in center field and played six innings, drew a two-out walk in the first inning and scored on Shealy's team high 10th homer...On June 13th, the Drillers played their longest game of the season by time (3:55) and innings in a 8-7 loss to El Paso. Tulsa tied it 4-4 in the ninth on 2B Jayson Nix's second solo homer of the game. The bullpen then allowed four runs in the top of the 12th inning. Tulsa made it interesting by scoring three runs in the bottom of the 12th, but the comeback fell a run short. Nix finished the game 3-for-5 with two homers, two RBI and three runs. Rockies outfielder Preston Wilson went 1-for-4 before leaving the game as scheduled after eight innings. Wilson collected his first Drillers RBI with a one-out single in the first inning...The Drillers learned they will be adding three-time National League batting champion Larry Walker to their lineup on June 15th.
On June 7th an inside-the-park home run and a three-run sixth inning propelled the Wranglers to a 5-2 victory over Midland. In the seventh inning, CF Cory Aldridge ripped a line drive into the gap in right-center and sped for third. Aldridge ran for home after Midland's CF Freddie Bynum struggled to pick up the ball and was safe at the plate, giving him the rare home run. On the mound, starter Junior Herndon won his fifth straight game and seventh of the season after tossing 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits and two runs. During his five-game streak, Herndon has struck out 27 and walked five in 35.1 innings for a 2.55 ERA. P Jorge Vasquez picked up his sixth save after tossing a perfect 1.2 innings of relief...On June 8th, the Wranglers bullpen coughed up a 6-1 lead as Wichita lost 7-6 to El Paso. The loss spoiled the performances of DH Dee Brown who hit a home run, 1B Chad Santos who hit a home run and two doubles and SS Corey Hart who hit a two-run double...Hart rejoined the Wranglers on June 8th, after hitting .304 in eight games with Omaha...On June 9th, the Wranglers were rocked for 20 hits in a 13-7 loss to El Paso. The onslaught spoiled DH Dee Brown and 3B Justin Gemoll's night, as each Wrangler hit a home run...On June 10th, the Wranglers bullpen gave up a walk off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lose to 9-8 to El Paso. A trio of hitters had fine nights in the loss, 2B Ruben Gotay was 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI and LF Dee Brown and RF Jaime Jones each collected three hits...On June 11th, the Wranglers dropped a 10-8 decision to the El Paso Diablos. Great performances came from 2B Ruben Gotay who was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, LF Dee Brown who was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, 3B Justin Gemoll who had a home run and RBI and RF Cory Aldridge who was 3-for-4 with four runs, a home run and double...On June 12th, the Wranglers scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a 6-5 comeback win over Midland. CF Cory Aldridge hit a deep three-run, opposite field homer to tie the score at five, then, four batters later 1B Chad Santos doubled in DH Corey Hart to give the Wranglers the lead. P Shaun Shiery had a shaky start in his 2004 Wichita debut after being called up from Class-A Wilmington earlier this week. Shiery tossed 5.2 innings allowing five hits, five runs (three earned) and four walks, while recording two strikeouts. Relievers Billy Keppinger and Jorge Vasquez tossed the final 3.1 innings and combined to allow just a single hit and no runs. Keppinger was credited with the win and Vasquez picked up his seventh save...On June 13th, the Wranglers not only lost to Midland 5-2 but also lost outfielder Dee Brown as the all-star was called up to the Kansas City Royals. Brown was leading the Wranglers in batting average (.303) and RBI (50) and was tied for the lead in home runs (11) and hits (73). Brandon Berger was also taken from the Wrangler lineup and designated for assignment by the Royals, meaning he will be in limbo for three days and could be taken by another team. At the end of that period, he could be reassigned within the Royals' organization...Royals RHP Kevin Appier will make a second rehab start in Wichita on June 14th...Starter Brian Bass is sidelined for the next few weeks because of a sore shoulder and starter Eric Thompson remains on the disabled list. Omaha's Jimmy Serrano has been added to the roster to give the Wranglers a five-man rotation again. New pitcher Colt Griffin has joined the team from Class-A Wilmington and is slated for short relief, but he's on the disabled list with an injury, for the moment, awaiting clearance to pitch.
TEXAS LEAGUE ALUMNI NOTES (THROUGH JUNE
13)
Jeff Guiel ('02) struggled this past week with Syracuse, hitting safely just once in 17 at-bats. He is now hitting just .214 on the season...Brendan Donnelly ('01) is being sent by the Anaheim Angels to Salt Lake this weekend for a rehab assignment.
Brian Gordon ('02) is having a solid season at Salt Lake hitting .282 in 55 games, with 12 doubles, two triples, 11 homers and 35 RBI...A pair of former Diablos pitchers have identical records in the Mexican League. Through games of June 13th, Narciso Elvira ('90) is 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA with Campeche, while Rafael Roque ('98) is 7-3 with a 3.75 ERA with the Mexico City Tigers...Over the last seven games through June 13th, Nate Murphy ('03) hit .462 with two home runs and five runs scored for Birmingham.
Adrian Gonzalez ('03) has been on fire of late, going 9-for-19 with two home runs and 10 RBI in his last six games for Oklahoma...Also for Oklahoma, Roman Nivar ('03) has just four hits in his last 24 plate appearances (.167).
Adam Morrissey ('03) picked up two hits in June 13th's 9-4 Sacramento victory over division rival Salt Lake...Dan Johnson ('03) was also strong for Sacramento on June 13th going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI...Graham Koonce ('02) is tied for the Sacramento team lead in home runs with 11, through June 13th...Bill Murphy ('03) had a pair of outstanding outings this past week and combined to strike our 17 batters in 12.2 innings of work for the Carolina Mudcats, earning a win and a no-decision...Elvin Nina ('99) has been strong in relief for Jacksonville this season as he is 4-2 with a 2.87 ERA through June 13th. He has gone more than eight innings without surrendering a run.
Catcher John Buck ('02) is pounding PCL pitching, hitting .312 with 10 homers in 56 games for New Orleans...Mike Nannini ('02) was saddled with two losses in two starts this past week for Albuquerque...New Orleans' Royce Huffman ('02) currently holds a seven-game hitting streak. During that span he is 14-for-25 with five runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and five RBI...Also for New Orleans, Carlos Hernandez ('02) lost on June 7th, as he has dropped his last two decisions.
Josue Matos ('03) dropped each of his last two starts, allowing six earned runs and 11 hits for Syracuse...Andy Barkett ('02) had a home run and seven doubles in 28 at-bats, giving him a .500 average for the week...Adam Riggs ('96) picked up three hits on June 13th upping his average to .313. He is second on Salt Lake in Home runs (10) and RBI (33)...A.J. Zapp ('03) has eight hits in his last 20 at-bats and has scored a team-high six runs in his last five games for Tacoma...Travis Blackley ('03) allowed just two runs on six hits in a combined 13 innings of work in two starts for Tacoma. He is now 5-2 with a league-best 2.72 ERA...Tony Mota ('99) paced the Bowie Baysox this past week, going 11-for-27 with seven runs scored and six RBI.
Jason Jones ('02) is just two for his last 15 (.133) for Oklahoma.
Last week Raul Gonzalez ('98) hit a robust .400 with five home runs, seven RBI and 10 runs scored for Buffalo...Carlos Febles ('00) had just three hits and seven strikeouts in 23 at-bats this past week for Pawtucket...Joe Dillon ('01) continues to tear the cover off the ball for Albuquerque, batting .500 over his last six games with six home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored. Dillon belted a pair of home runs on both June 8th and 10th and has homered in six of his last seven games...Shawn Sedlacek ('03) was dominant in his last trip to the mound for the Iowa Cubson June 11th, tossing a three-hit, complete game shutout...Mendy Lopez ('97) found his power stroke with four home runs over the past five games, resulting in six RBI and four runs for Omaha...Over the past seven games for Harrisburg Alejandro Machado ('03) is hitting .355 with one homer, three RBI and four runs...Buddy Carlyle ('03) was unhittable in a pair of starts this past week for Trenton, allowing no earned runs and just seven hits over a combined 14.2 innings of work.
Francis, 23, was born in Vancouver, B.C. and now resides in Sammamish,
Washington. He went to the University of British Columbia and was then
selected by the Colorado Rockies in the first round (ninth overall) of the
2002 draft. He played for Visalia in the California League last season.
McPherson was born in Greensboro, NC in July of 1980. He attended The
Citadel and was then selected by the Anaheim Angels in the second round of
the 2001 draft. This is his fourth season in the minors and second with
the Travelers. In 2003, McPherson was a California League all-star third
baseman and a Baseball America High Class A All-Star.
Texas League Statistics
Texas League Transactions
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2004
- Texas League News - TL1
- Fischer Finds Way, Travs Win 7-3 - Arkansas Travelers
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.
