PCL1 Salt Lake Bees

June in review

Published on July 1, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Salt Lake Bees News Release


Salt lake city—The Salt Lake Stingers suffered their second consecutive month with a losing record this season, posting a 12-18 record in June. After starting June at 6-16, the Stingers won six of their last eight games to finish strongly with a 12-18 record, much better than their 7-21 mark in the month of May. The club batted a combined .291 (305-for-1048) in June and the pitching staff posted a 5.28 ERA (254 IP – 149 ER).

TOP PERFORMANCES: Brian Gordon had an excellent month at the plate, batting .321 (34-for-106) while hitting a club-high seven home runs and collecting 23 RBI in June. After batting only .226 in May, Casey Smith bounced back by batting .369 (38-for-103), increasing his batting average 95 points to .321 on the season.

BOOTCHECK DEALING: RHP Chris Bootcheck has been extremely sharp this past month. In six starts, he posted a 2-2 record and 3.24 ERA (41.2 IP – 15 ER) with a team-high 31 strikeouts in June. He has pitched quality starts in four of his last five starts. He had a chance at two more victories, but the bullpen gave up ninth inning leads for Bootcheck in back-to-back starts (6/19 vs. Tucson and 6/24 vs. Las Vegas). Bootcheck currently leads the Stingers' starters with a 4.99 ERA during the campaign.

DALLAS IN SALT LAKE: 3B Dallas McPherson joined the Stingers from double-A Arkansas on June 22 and made his Triple-A debut that night. He went 3-for-3 with his first home run and a double against Las Vegas in his first game in a Stinger uniform. McPherson has been named to represent the USA squad in the Futures Game during the major league All-Star break in Houston this season. He was named Texas League Player of the Week twice this year and represented the East team in the Texas League All-Star Game. McPherson is ranked as Anaheim's third best prospect by Baseball America. The Stingers are 6-2 with McPherson in the lineup so far this season.

FOUR IN TWO GAMES: 3B Dallas McPherson hit two home runs in back-to-back nights at Tucson on 6/27 and 6/28. He hit five home runs in his first 25 Triple-A at bats. Dallas now has 25 on the season including the 20 home runs he hit with Arkansas. McPherson batted .321 (84-for-262) with 69 RBI in 68 games with the Travelers this year.

ROSTER CHANGES: Through June 30, the Stingers have already had 75 transactions this season. The Stingers only had 80 transactions throughout the entire 2003 season. Some of the recent transactions include: LHP Jake Woods was added to the roster from double-A Arkansas on 6/17 when LHP Eric Cyr went on the disabled list with a left forearm strain. RHP Ben Weber went on the disabled list with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist on 6/17. INF Victor Gutierrez was sent from Salt Lake to Arkansas on 6/21 when OF Curtis Pride was activated from the disabled list. LHP Dusty Bergman was activated on 6/21after being designated for assignment after his brief stint with the Angels. OF Derrick Gibson was given his unconditional release on 6/22 to make room for 3B Dallas McPherson. RHPs Matt Hensley and Derrick Turnbow were both optioned from the Angels to Salt Lake as they took the spots of RHPs Dustin Griffith (back to Rancho Cucamonga) and Cameron Esslinger (back to Arkansas). INF Alex Pelaez was activated on 6/27 from the disabled list. RHP Mike Brunet went on the DL with a lower back strain on 6/28 and C Tom Gregorio also went on the disabled list on 6/28 with a strained oblique muscle. C Ryan Budde was transferred from Rancho Cucamonga to Salt Lake to take Gregorio's spot. RHP Bobby Jenks was sent to Salt Lake from Rancho Cucamonga, but he went right back on the disabled list with another stress reaction in his right elbow. The Stingers roster currently stands at 23, one under the league limit of 24.

NO MORE SPLIT SEASONS: Unfortunately for the 2004 Salt Lake Stingers, the Pacific Coast League has discontinued the split season championships. After 72 games, the Stingers were buried in the cellar in the North Division, 14 games behind first-place Tacoma. However, since the midway point of the season, the Stingers are 6-2 as of 6/30, but they are still in fourth place, 13 games behind Tacoma.

LEAGUE LEADERS: A few of the Stingers are among the league leaders as of June 30, 2004. Wil Nieves is tied for second in the PCL with six triples. Nieves had hit only eight triples in his eight-year career before this season. Adam Riggs is tied for third in the league with 57 runs scored. RHP Chris Bootcheck is seventh in the league with 92.0 innings pitched this season. Steve Green is second in the PCL with 50 walks. Mike Brunet is tied for second in the league with eight losses and Jason Middlebrook is third in the PCL with 19 home runs allowed. Salt Lake remains last in the league in team pitching with a 5.67 ERA (692.1 IP – 436 ER).

SEASON-HIGHS: The Stingers set a season-high with 20 hits on 6/27 at Tucson. They pounded out 12 runs on 20 hits (only three extra-base hits) in a 12-1 rout of the Sidewinders. Salt Lake matched a season-high with four home runs in one game on 6/28 at Tucson. For the first time this campaign, the Stingers belted back-to-back-to-back home runs on 6/28. Casey Kotchman, Adam Riggs and Dallas McPherson hit three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning against the Sidewinders.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 1, 2004


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