Southern League Names Players of the Week
Published on May 16, 2011 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
Hitter of the Week
Justin Greene ¬" Birmingham Barons
Birmingham center fielder Justin Greene opened up his week with a sixth-inning RBI single on May 9 against the Carolina Mudcats. In the second game against Carolina, he doubled on a fly ball in the bottom of the fifth, reached third on a groundout and ran home off a Brandon Short single. In the next inning, he tripled, sending home two teammates and took advantage of a throwing error, scoring himself as well. His two runs and two RBI aided in a 7-6 victory. After a day off, Greene came back to face the Mudcats again May 12, and squeezed out a fly ball to center field to bring home Alden Carrithers and his third homerun of the season. Furthering the assault on Carolina, he singled and brought home Tyler Kuhn in the fourth inning on May 13 and singled in another RBI in the sixth along with an eighth-inning double. Saturday night, he faced the Biscuits and doubled in a busy five-run inning for the Barons, picked up another RBI and doubled in two consecutive at-bats on Sunday. With five doubles, a triple and a homerun in 23 at-bats, Greene led the league in extra-base hits (7) slugging percentage (.870) and OPS (1.304) in a week where the Barons won 6 out of 7 games. Greene was born in Goose Creek, South Carolina and was a two-time Carolina League Player of the Week in 2010 as well as a Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Francis Marion University.
Pitcher of the Week
Joseph O ¬â¢Gara ¬" Jacksonville Suns
After struggling to lower his 7.11 ERA after six starts, Joseph O ¬â¢Gara brought it down significantly after pitching eight innings with one hit and one (unearned) run against the Mobile BayBears on May 12. The Suns won 4-1 over the then-league- leading BayBears and O ¬â¢Gara picked up his second win of the season. The 6 ¬â¢7 ¬Â right-hander started the first inning with a simple three-up, three-down shutdown and continued to strikeout nine total in his eight frames. The one run Mobile managed to pull off was due to a combination of a hit batter, a throwing error and a sacrifice fly. His 0.00 ERA for the game brought his ERA down to 5.67 for the season and swatting down nine batters in a game was a new career best. By refining the delivery of his pitches in this game, O ¬â¢Gara has shown that he can throw for long sets of innings without allowing significant damage. He only allowed one hit and one walk and struck out at least two batters in four out of eight innings. O ¬â¢Gara was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 31st round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Southern League Stories from May 16, 2011
- Matulia Wins It for Biscuits in 11th - Montgomery Biscuits
- Jackson Wins Fourth Straight, Move Into First Place Tie - Jackson Generals
- Roemer Takes No-Hitter to 8th in BayBears Win - Mobile BayBears
- Carolina Breaks up No-Hitter, Falls 6-1 - Carolina Mudcats
- Suns Blank Braves 8-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Montz Leads Suns Past Braves, 8-0 - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Silenced in Chattanooga on Monday Night - Knoxville Smokies
- Lookouts Edge Smokies, 2-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- OF Ha Promoted from High-A Daytona - Knoxville Smokies
- Kelley to Make Rehab Appearance Tonight - Jackson Generals
- Rowdy Hardy to Gwinnett - Mississippi Braves
- Sonny's BBQ Makes Offer for M-Braves Fans - Mississippi Braves
- Southern League Names Players of the Week - SL1
- Guerra Makes Major League Debut - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Duel the Barons Thursday Through Monday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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