Texas League update

April 23, 2007 - Texas League (TL1) News Release

NORTH NOTES

Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

7-9, t-first place, North Division

April 16...Arkansas opened up Monday morning with a 10:30am Businessman's Special / Kids Day at Dickey-Stephens Field which drew a loud and boisterous 7,706 fans. The Trav's struggled with the bats, losing to Midland 15-1. Arkansas plated their lone run in the third inning as Greg Porter walked to lead off the frame and eventually scored on Aaron Peel's groundout. Nick Green (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine runs on eight hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings. Kyle Edens and Aaron Pullin combined to allow six runs over the next four innings before Miguel Gonzalez tossed 1 2/3 shutout frames.

April 19... At Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Nick Adenhart and two relievers combined on a six-hitter to lead Arkansas to a 5-0 win over struggling Wichita. Adenhart (3-0) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out seven over seven innings. The right-hander, who has allowed one earned run in three starts, lowered his ERA to 0.49. Bill Edwards and Rich Thompson each pitched a hitless frame as the Travelers posted their second shutout of the season. Greg Porter helped Adenhart to a 1-0 lead when he led off the third inning with his first homer of the season. Freddy Sandoval led off the fifth with a walk, stole second base, moved up on a groundout and scored on a balk to make it 2-0. Sandoval delivered an RBI double with one out in the ninth and stole third before Bobby Wilson slugged his second homer to cap the scoring. The game was delayed in the second when home plate umpire Dixon Stureman said that Adenhart needed to cover a bright logo on his mitt. Tape was put over the logo and then colored to match the glove.

April 20... Sean Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, leading visiting Arkansas to a 7-2 victory over Wichita. The Travelers never looked back after scoring three runs in the first inning. Aaron Peel lined an RBI double and scored two batters later on Rodriguez's single and an error by right fielder Jorge Padilla. Freddy Sandoval capped the inning with an RBI single. Adam Morrissey bounced back from getting hit by a pitch in the second inning with a solo homer in the fourth and drew a bases-loaded walk in a three-run eighth.

April 21... Adam Morrissey's two-run double sparked a key rally as Arkansas pulled away for a 6-2 victory over visiting Wichita. The Travelers broke things open in the fourth when Greg Porter hit a one-out RBI single and Cody Fuller drew a two-out walk ahead of Morrisey's two-base hit. Arkansas took an early lead in the second on Bobby Wilson's solo homer, his third of the season. An inning later, Morrissey singled with one out and scored on a base hit by Aaron Peel to break a 1-1 tie. Morrissey was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Wilson went 2-for-4 and also drove in a pair of runs. Winning pitcher Nick Green (1-1) tossed six innings and allowed just two runs on four hits. Miguel Gonzalez threw two scoreless frames and Jose Arredondo followed with a shutout inning.

April 22... Arkansas starter Daniel Davidson (0-3) was charged with four runs -- one earned -- on eight hits, with four strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings for a 7-3 loss to Wichita. Sean Rodriguez slugged two homers for the Travelers, a two-run blast in the opening frame and a solo shot in the third.

Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)

5-8, fourth place, North Division

April 16... Jaime Garcia (1-1) took the loss against Frisco 7-4 after yielding two runs on three hits over five frames. While Garcia stuck out five in his innings of work, he also walked five batters. The loss was the Cardinals third straight home loss. Jarrett Hoffpauir went 3-for-5 and Juan Lucena added a pair of hits for the Cardinals. Hoffpauir's 3-for-5 raised his avg. to .304. Springfield left 15 runners on base (TL record is 20 in nine inning game).

April 19... Colby Rasmus smashed a two-run homer and Eric Haberer tossed five strong innings as visiting Springfield routed Tulsa, 13-1. Rasmus capped a four-run fourth inning with a shot over the center-field wall. He also singled twice and scored two runs, boosting his batting average to .238. Juan Richardson, Joe Mather, Jarrett Hoffpauir and Michael Ferris each added two hits, while every member of the Cardinals starting lineup collected at least one RBI. Springfield starter Haberer (1-0) yielded one run on four hits while striking out one and walking four. The 24-year-old left-hander went 7-10 with a 4.44 ERA in 160 innings between Class A Advanced Palm Beach and Springfield last year. Springfield snapped a four-game losing streak.

April 20... Mitchell Boggs and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, as visiting Springfield blanked Tulsa 7-0. Boggs (1-2) allowed all three hits, while striking out five and walking four in 5 1/3 innings. Hugo Castellanos tossed 1 2/3 hitless innings before Kevin Ool and Christopher Perez each pitched a hitless frame. Jarrett Hoffpauir belted a two-run homer in the second, while Joe Mather and Bryan Anderson had back-to-back blasts in the sixth. Mather and Juan Richardson both finished with two hits and two runs scored.

April 21... Joe Mather and Jarrett Hoffpauir each had two hits and a RBI for Springfield in their 7-4 loss to Tulsa.

April 22... Joe Mather slugged two home runs and Colby Rasmus broke a tie with a two-run double in the 8th inning, as visiting Springfield defeated Tulsa, 4-2. Mather went 2-for-4 and clubbed his sixth and seventh home runs of the year -- both solo shots -- in the second and seventh innings. The 24-year-old first baseman, who had his fourth straight multi-hit game, is batting .380 and leads the Minor Leagues in homers. With the score 2-2 in the eighth, Sean Danielson walked and Jon Jay was hit by a pitch, giving the Cardinals two base runners. Rasmus then doubled to center, scoring both runners. Hugo Castellanos (1-1) picked up the win, despite allowing a run on two hits and two walks in one inning. Starter Jaime Garcia allowed a run on two hits and a walk, while striking out seven over his six innings on the hill. Christopher Perez fanned the side in the ninth for his second save.

Tulsa Drillers (Colorado Rockies)

7-9, t-first place, North Division

April 16...Rick Guarno hit a one-out, two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift visiting Tulsa over Corpus Christi, 8-7. Guarno's long ball (his first in Double-A) was the sixth of the night in a game that featured four lead changes, nine pitchers and 29 hits. Zack Parker (1-0) allowed a run on three hits, a walk and two strikeouts over two innings to notch the win. Steven Register recorded his third save, despite giving up a homer to Tim Raines Jr. in the 10th. The Drillers took their first lead in the fourth when Christian Colonel followed consecutive singles from Jordan Czarniecki and Joe Gaetti with a three-run home run. Tulsa added another run in the fourth and two more in the eighth on homers from Aaron Rifkin and Duke Sardinha.

April 17... Jonathan Herrera's RBI single capped a two-run seventh-inning rally that gave visiting Tulsa a 4-3 win over Corpus Christi. After Jordan Czarniecki's RBI single tied the game, Herrera, who went 4-for-4, drove in Tomas Duenas with the eventual winning run. The Drillers got four innings from starter Franklin Morales, who allowed three runs on seven hits, four walks, while he struck out four. Four relievers went the rest of the way, with Jarrett Grube (1-0) getting the win with two shutout innings. Juan Morillo and Adam Bright each tossed a scoreless inning and Steven Register notched his fourth save with a scoreless ninth. Matt Miller got Tulsa on the board in the first with a two-run double, driving in Herrera and Chris Frey, who had consecutive bunt singles to open the game.

April 19... Drillers starter Ryan Mattheus surrendered six runs on 10 hits in a 13-1 loss to Springfield. Joe Gaetti slapped a run-scoring single in the fifth, while Tim Olson and Duke Sardinha chipped in two hits apiece for Tulsa.

April 21... Jonathan Asahina scored the go-ahead run and tossed six solid innings, as Tulsa defeated visiting Springfield 7-4. Tulsa snapped a 3-3 tie in the fourth when Asahina singled with one out, took third on Jonathan Herrera's double and came home on a groundout by Chris Frey. Tulsa tacked on a run in the fifth on Aaron Rifkin's second homer of the season and another in the sixth on Frey's RBI single. In the game, Herrera went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Asahina (2-0), who also had an RBI single in the second, allowed four runs on seven hits, three walks and one strikeout. Steven Register struck out the side in the ninth to nail down his fifth save.

April 22... Tulsa's Greg Reynolds, who went seven innings for the third time in four starts, allowed two runs on four hits and a walk, while fanning six in a 4-2 loss to Springfield. Aaron Rifkin slugged his third home run of the year for the Drillers, a solo shot to center in the seventh. Matt Miller connected for his first home run of the year in the fourth.

Wichita Wranglers (Kansas City Royals)

7-9, t-first place, North Division

April 16... Kansas City Royals pitcher Scott Elarton made his first rehab start of the season for Wichita against San Antonio. Elarton, a former first round pick by the Astros and a Texas League All-Star in '97, is trying to make it back to the majors after being sidelined with elbow surgery. Elarton took the loss in a 6-1 game, after surrendering three runs -- one earned -- on five hits over three innings. Jorge Padilla went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Wranglers.

April 17... Luke Hochevar scattered two hits and struck out 11 over a career-best 7 2/3 innings as visiting Wichita blanked San Antonio 4-0. Making his third start of the year, Hochevar (1-1) was in control from the outset. He retired the first 10 batters before giving up a one-out single to Juan Ciriaco in the fourth. Peter Ciofrone's two-out double in the sixth was the Missions' only other hit off the former top overall draft pick. The 23-year-old right-hander set down the final six batters he faced before exiting with two outs in the eighth. Although he confessed to not wanting to come out of the game, Hochevar was on an 85-pitch count. Craig Brazell crushed his fifth homer of the season in the eighth to help the Wranglers snap a four-game losing streak. Jorge Padilla, whose .483 batting average was third-best in the Minor Leagues, went 1-for-3.

April 19... Mike Stodolka went 2-for-4 to lead the Wranglers offence, in a 5-0 loss to Arkansas. Wichita starter Billy Buckner (1-2) pitched well as he allowed just two runs on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

April 20... Chris Lubanski laced an inside-the-park home run in the ninth, but it was to little to late, as the Wranglers still fell to Arkansas 7-2. Richard Lewis went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Craig Brazell doubled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games for the Wranglers.

April 21... The Wranglers tied the game in the bottom of the second on Onil Joseph's RBI double. Joseph, who was 3-for-4 and a home run shy of the cycle, tripled in the fifth and scored on Irving Falu's sacrifice fly. Wichita eventually fell to Arkansas 6-2.

April 22... Luke Hochevar tossed seven solid innings and Adam Donachie clubbed a three-run homer as host Wichita topped Arkansas, 7-3. Hochevar (2-1) gave up three runs on six hits, two of which were home runs. The Wranglers took a 6-3 lead with five runs in the sixth. In the big inning Richard Lewis belted an RBI double, Donachie blasted his first homer of the year and Edward Lucas lined an RBI single. Wichita's Jorge Padilla and Chris Lubanski added solo home runs in the win.

SOUTH NOTES

Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros)

6-10, fourth place, South Division

April 17... Corpus Christi starter Troy Patton (1-1) went seven innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, while striking out four without walking a batter, in a 4-3 loss to Tulsa. Corpus Christi has won just three of the 20 first-half games it has played against Tulsa over the last three seasons. The Hooks scored twice in the fourth on Neil Sellers' solo homer and Francisco Caraballo's RBI single.

April 19... On an absolutely gorgeous evening in Frisco, the first game of a four-game series between the Hooks and Frisco RoughRiders was postponed - due to a leaky valve in the irrigation system under the playing surface at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Thursday's pre-game routine was uneventful, as both the RoughRiders and Hooks took batting practice as usual. But immediately after Corpus Christi's batting practice ended at 6:10, managers from both clubs were summoned to an area near second base along with Frisco officials and the head groundskeeper at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Discussions carried on for close to a half-hour, and at around 6:40, tarps were placed on both the mound and the area around home plate.

April 20... Drew Sutton led the Hooks with three hits, including a pair of doubles in an 11-4 loss to Frisco. Neil Sellers, Louis Santangelo and Ray Sadler had two hits apiece, while Noochie Varner knocked in two runs. The Hooks stranded 12 base runners, nine of which were left in scoring position.

April 21... Todd Self had a two-run single in the four-run first for Corpus Christi. It was part of a three-hit night. Jimmy Barthmaier (1-1) saw his ERA jump to 9.26 after he was charged with nine runs on eight hits and one walk, retiring only two batters in the loss 13-6 to Frisco in game 1 of a double header. Game 2... Ronnie Martinez fired a three-hitter as visiting Corpus Christi blanked Frisco, 4-0, to earn a split of Saturday's doubleheader. After watching the RoughRiders roll to a 13-6 win in the opener, Martinez (1-1) took control of the nightcap. He struck out five and walked one en route to his first career shutout. Neil Sellers' two-run double highlighted a three-run first for the Hooks. Francisco Caballo went 2-for-3 with a leadoff homer in the seventh.

April 22... Noochie Varner went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as visiting Corpus Christi scored nine runs in the fifth inning and out slugged Frisco, 14-11. The Hooks sent 13 men to the plate in the fifth and capitalized on three Frisco errors. Jonathan Ash, Varner and Tim Raines Jr. delivered run-scoring doubles, while Ray Sadler, Kevin Davidson and Drew Sutton had RBI singles. Neil Sellers hit a two-run double before a throwing error by third baseman Travis Metcalf plated Sadler. Every Hooks starter had at least one hit and scored a run as part of an 18-hit attack. Varner also had an RBI double in the second and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Sutton went 3-for-6 and two RBIs, Sellers had two hits and three RBIs and Davidson finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers)

10-6, t-second place, South Division

April 16... Salomon Manriquez and Travis Metcalf homered during a four-run sixth inning as Frisco powered past Springfield 7-4 at Hammons Field. With the score tied 1-1, Manriquez greeted reliever Cory Rauschenbeger with a solo homer to right. Metcalf followed with a two-run blast to left-center. Casey Benjamin's run-scoring single completed the rally. Steve Murphy's seventh-inning homer capped the scoring for Frisco. In his five innings of work, RoughRiders starter Paul Kometani (1-1) allowed a run on six hits, with five walks and two strikeouts. Michael Bumstead earned his first save of the season with two scoreless innings to close out the win.

April 17... Kevin West, Emerson Frostad and Kevin Richardson hit back-to-back-to-back home runs as Frisco completed a three-game sweep of Springfield with a 5-2 victory. West's fifth-inning dinger was his second of the season. It highlighted his 4-for-4 afternoon. Frostad followed with a shot that cleared the right field fence, a feat immediately duplicated by Richardson. Steven Murphy accounted for Frisco's two other runs, as the left fielder singled and eventually scored on an RBI groundout in both the sixth and eighth frames. Eric Hurley (2-0) turned in a brilliant start for Frisco, allowing a run on two hits over 7 1/3 innings, while striking out six. The 21-year-old right-hander has surrendered only two runs in 18 1/3 innings this season, striking out 16 and walking two.

April 20... Kevin Mahar slugged a three-run home run to power a 15-hit attack, as Frisco rolled past visiting Corpus Christi 11-4. Mahar collected two hits, including a blast to left field in the sixth that helped the RoughRiders to their fifth straight win. Steven Murphy, Emerson Frostad and German Duran each had three hits and drove in two runs for Frisco. The 'Riders scored 10 of its 11 runs with two men out. Starter Armando Galarraga (1-1) scattered 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings but recorded his first win of the season. He gave up three runs, struck out two and walked two.

April 21... Casey Benjamin's bases-loaded double highlighted a nine-run first inning as host Frisco battered Corpus Christi, 13-6, in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Benjamin had two doubles and collected four RBI's in the bottom of the first inning while scoring twice. Eight of the nine starters for Frisco had at least one hit, while German Duran walked twice and scored twice. Starter Luis Mendoza (2-0) pitched six innings, giving up five runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out three to get the win. The RoughRiders have won six straight.

April 22... Kevin Richardson had RBI singles in the first and third and a solo homer, his fourth, in the sixth. Emerson Frostad followed with his third blast to give the RoughRiders a short-lived 11-10 lead. Frisco starter Eric Hurley surrendered nine runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings, receiving the loss in a 14-11 slugfest with Corpus Christi.

Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics)

9-4, first place, South Division

April 16...Richie Robnett drove in five runs and fell a single short of the cycle as visiting Midland routed Arkansas 15-1 on a 10:30 morning game. Robnett launched a three-run homer in the first inning, tripled and scored in the fourth and ripped a two-run double in the eighth. The magnificent day by the 23-year-old raised his average 79 points and more than doubled his RBI total. Every player in Midland's starting lineup reached base safely, which eight collected two hits or more. Danny Putnam went 2-for-5 with a triple, double, three runs scored and an RBI, while Jeffrey Baisley and Jason Perry drove in two runs apiece. The RockHounds were just as dominating on the pitcher's mound. Ben Fritz (1-0) earned the win after allowing just one run on two hits over six innings while striking out six. Mario Ramos, Andy Shipman and Michael Rogers each tossed a scoreless frame in relief.

April 17... Kazuhito Tadano and two relievers combined on an eight-hitter as visiting Midland blanked Arkansas 2-0. Tadano (1-1) allowed four hits, while striking out eight in six innings lowering his ERA to 2.45. Brad Ziegler pitched around two singles in the seventh and Jeffrey Gray surrendered two hits over the final two frames to secure his second save and the RockHounds' first shutout. Vasili Spanos gave Midland a 1-0 lead in the second when he tripled to right field, then came home on Richie Robnett's groundout. In the third, Myron Leslie doubled and scored on Danny Putnam's groundout.

April 19... Jeff Baisley and Jason Perry combined for six RBIs as Midland defeated San Antonio, 10-4 at CitiBank Ballpark. Baisley sparked the RockHounds' four-run first inning with a two-run double to left field. Midland (8-2) added five runs in the sixth, highlighted by Perry's three-run homer and Baisley's RBI single. Perry also walked twice and scored twice. Baisley increased his average to .368, which is tied for third in the Texas League with San Antonio's Will Venable. Midland reliever Michael Rogers (1-0) notched the win with two hitless innings.

April 20... Vasili Spanos' two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, off Missions starter Cesar Ramos, carried Midland to a 2-1 win over San Antonio. Spanos, a 26-year-old first baseman who spent all of last season with the RockHounds, drove in Jeff Baisley with his first round-tripper of the year. Brad Knox was the beneficiary of Spanos' shot, picking up the win, as he tossed seven solid innings. Knox (1-0) allowed a run on four hits and a walk, while striking out four. Fans at Citibank Ballpark might have thought they were seeing Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter and Sal Bando on the field April 20th.

The RockHounds held an Oakland Athletics-themed evening, wearing A's uniforms similar to the team's 1970s era look. The jerseys were all gold except for green lettering and trim, with the A's logo on the right sleeve and a RockHounds logo on the chest. The front office also gave away free A's caps for the occasion.

April 22... Danny Putnam led Midland with five RBI's in a 9-8 loss to the Missions. He launched a three-run dinger off reliever Roger Deago in the sixth inning and later doubled. Jason Perry chipped in four hits and an RBI for the RockHounds. Midland starter Kazuhito Tadano gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings. Tadano struck out seven and walked one.

San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres)

10-6, t-second place, South Division

April 16... Michael Eckstrom tossed 5 1/3 solid innings as San Antonio beat visiting Wichita, 6-1. Eckstrom (1-0) yielded a run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. He retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced for the Missions. Jonathan Searles, Frank Brooks and Jonathan Ellis combined for seven strikeouts while tossing 3 2/3 scoreless frames to close out the contest. Peter Ciofrone went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for San Antonio. Will Venable also had three hits, including an RBI double, and Chase Headley drove in a pair of runs.

April 17... San Antonio starter Sean Thompson (2-1) allowed three unearned runs on four hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings, taking the loss 4-0 to Wichita. Roger Deago yielded one run on three hits over 3 1/3 frames for the Missions. Going into Tuesday's game Will Venable was hitting .400 with 10 hits in his last 17 at-bats. The Missions bullpen has been solid the past 15 innings, holding their opponents to one run on 10 hits, while striking out 15. RHP Jonathan Searles has not allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings of work.

April 19... In a 10-4 loss to Midland, the Missions scored their runs in the fourth, three on a homer by Chase Headley. San Antonio reliever Jonathan Searles (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up four unearned runs on two hits and a walk while recording just two outs.

April 20... Chase Headley finished 2-for-3 with a triple and scored the only run for San Antonio in their loss to Midland 2-1. Headley was driven in when Nick Hundley hit a two-out double to left to put the Missions up by one run over the 'Hounds in the top of the fifth. Missions starter Cesar Ramos had been having a solid outing as he had scattered five hits over the first six scoreless frames. However, he gave up consecutive hits to start the top of the seventh inning. After Midland's Jeff Baisley doubled, Vasili Spanos hit a two-run home run to put his 'Hounds up 2-1, spoiling a fine effort by Ramos.

April 21... Josh Geer pitched six solid innings and Peter Ciofrone had four hits to lead visiting San Antonio past Midland, 3-1. Geer (3-0) allowed one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out six. The 23-year-old right-hander tied Arkansas' Nick Adenhart for the Texas League lead in wins. Paul Abraham, Jonathon Ellis and Neil Jamison combined for three hitless innings, with Jamison recording his league-leading fifth save. Ciofrone went 4-for-5 and came home on Chase Headley's third-inning single to stake San Antonio to a 1-0 lead. Headley chipped in two hits.

April 22... Tim Brown hit a pair of home runs, including one of three San Antonio blasts in the second inning, to carry the Missions to a 9-8 victory over host Midland on Sunday. Brown's second homer was a two-run shot that tied the score 7-7. The shot was part of a four-runs Missions eighth inning. Drew Macias followed with a double and Sean Kazmar later ripped a two-run double for the Missions. Brown, a 24-year-old first baseman, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He hit the second of back-to-back home runs after Chase Headley's one-out shot in the second. Nick Hundley hit the third homer of the frame with two outs to tie the score, 3-3. Hundley finished the game with two hits and three RBIs. San Antonio starter Michael Ekstrom was charged with four runs on eight hits in four innings. Reliever Arturo Lopez (1-0) tossed a scoreless seventh for the win. Neil Jamison gave up a run in the ninth, but still picked up his sixth save.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Drew Sutton, Corpus Christi

6 G, 27 AB 13 H, 3 2B .481 AVG, 5 R, 2 RBI

Hooks infielder Drew Sutton had a extraordinary week at the plate. The switch-hitter saw his batting average rise .100 points, climbing to .333 and his OBS soared from .241 to .368. Sutton scored in five of the six games, had multiple hits in five of six games and hit safely in all six games. Prior to this week's offensive explosion, Sutton had only five base hits, batting .185. After having played his first eight games of the season at third base, the Baylor University product moved all around the infield last week, starting two games at shortstop, one at second base as well as three at third base.

Sutton was drafted in the 15th round in 2004 as a shortstop out of Baylor. Last season with the Salem Avalanche Sutton batted .263 with 15 HR and 48 RBI's

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Luke Hochevar, Wichita

2-0, 2 G, 14.2 IP, 3.27 ERA, 8 H, 0 BB, 18 K

Luke Hochevar had a tremendous week on the mound, winning both games he pitched. In his start on Tuesday at San Antonio, Hochevar tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings while striking out 11 Missions. The former top overall draft pick gave up only two hits and did not issue a walk. He retired the first 10 batters before giving up a one-out single to Juan Ciriaco in the fourth. The 23-year-old right-hander set down the final six batters he faced before exiting with two outs in the eighth. On Sunday at home against Arkansas Hochevar continued his supremacy over the Texas League. Lasting seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits, two of which were home runs. Hochevar showed great command striking out seven and again, not issuing a walk. With two strong outings Hochevar cut his ERA in half from 6.14 to 3.27.

Hochevar, pronounced: HO-chay-vur, made his professional debut last summer with Class A Burlington and joined Wichita for the Texas League playoffs. He got the win in Game 4 of the semifinal series against Tulsa. The former University of Tennessee star won numorious awards during his three years of college, Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year, 1st team College All-American SP, Southeastern Conference All-Star SP, Roger Clemens Award (College Pitcher of the Year).

ALUMNI REPORT

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS

2B Joe McEwing ('95-'98) has batted .333 in his last 10 contests... Veteran C Mike DiFelice ('94-'95, '97) was batting .409 (9-for-22) with five RBIs and six runs scored in his last six games, including a stretch of six hits in 11 at-bats. ... 1B Mike Eylward ('04-'06) has eight hits in his last 20 at-bats over a four-game span, driving in two runs. ...OF Nick Gorneault ('03-'04) was batting .211 (8-for-38) in his last 10 games, though he had collected six RBIs in that span.

CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS

C J.R. House ('06) has batted .368 in his last 10 contests with five RBI and five runs. ... OF Josh Anderson ('05-'06) was batting .458 (11-for-24) with six RBIs over his last five games. ... RHP Juan Gutierrez ('06) was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his last two starts, giving up seven hits and striking out over a 12-inning span. ... RHP Chad Reineke ('06) has lasted a total of five innings in his last two starts, giving up 14 earned runs on 15 hits -- good for a 25.20 ERA -- after throwing five shutout innings in his first start of the year.

FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS

After a 6-5 loss in 11 innings at Mississippi on Saturday, the Barons were 11-5 and tied for first with the Braves in the South Division. Birmingham was 3-2 at home against Montgomery, with Jason Bougeois ('03-'04) supplying walk-off hits twice. ... The Texas Rangers plan for former Major Leaguer Edinson Volquez ('05) was to make five starts at Class A Advanced Bakersfield, regardless of the results, to built his confidence and work on control issues. The plan didn't start very well. He allowed 14 runs in eight innings in his first two starts. But his third start was more what the Rangers were thinking. He pitched six shutout innings against Stockton on April 19, allowing two hits, one walk and struck out eight. Volquez's next-to-last start is Monday at Modesto.

MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS

C John Baker ('03-'04), a late-spring acquisition of the Marlins, has a .500 average (9-for-18) with six RBIs and three runs scored over his last seven games... OF Ryan Ludwick ('01) had a .368 average (14-for-38) with three home runs and seven RBIs over a 10-game span. ... RHP Jason Windsor ('05-'06) yielded nine runs in two-plus innings during a 17-3 loss to Portland on Friday, and is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in his last two starts.

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

OF Kenny Kelly ('01) has hit just .200 in his last seven games and begins the week in a 1-for-11 funk... RHP Brian Falkenborg ('01) has four saves in as many opportunities and hasn't given up an earned run in 6 1/3 innings since suffering a blown save and loss April 5 against Oklahoma... RHP Chan Ho Park ('94) has allowed 16 hits and 11 earned runs over his last two starts, during which he is 1-1 with a 9.90 ERA. ... OF Wladimir Balentien ('06) was batting .438 (7-for-16) with a home run and three RBIs in his last three games. His batting average over his last 10 games was .351 (13-for-37). ... RHP Sean Green ('05) limited opponents to one earned run over six innings in his last three appearances, a stretch that earned him a promotion to the Mariners on Thursday. ... SS Oswaldo Navarro ('06) had just one hit in his last 12 at-bats, and was bating .138 (4-for-29) with one run scored in his last nine games. ... LHP Jason Mackintosh ('06)received a rapid initiation in Triple-A, making his debut with the Rainiers on Friday and tossing five scoreless innings in their 5-1 loss to Fresno. Mackintosh, 26, was an emergency starter taking the place of RHP Cha Seung Baek ('03-'04), who is expected to be promoted to the Mariners in time to start Monday. Mackintosh limited the Grizzlies to two hits but missed out on a decision when the Grizzlies stormed back in the late innings for a 5-1 victory. ... QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "For me, personally, he's my favorite person to catch of all time." - C Jeff Clement, to the Tacoma News Tribune, on Baek, who was 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts with the Rainiers. ... 3B Matt Tuiasosopo ('06) was 3-for-3 with a triple in the series finale against Mississippi, raising his average to .373. . . . OF Michael Wilson ('06) had just two hits in his first 40 at-bats.

SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS

IF Aaron Herr ('05) has hit .306 in his last 10 contests with a homer, five RBIs and six runs... OF Rick Ankiel ('05) entered Saturday with a .204 average (11-for-54) through his first 15 games this season, but his five home runs ranked him in a tie for second place in the league in that category. Ankiel also had 15 RBIs, second-most in the league. The converted pitcher has been hit-or-miss at the plate thus far for the Redbirds -- he had two hits on Thursday against New Orleans, but in six of his 15 games he has had three at-bats or more and gone hitless. He also had just two walks and a .237 on-base percentage... QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "It's still early. I feel good. Hopefully, I'll go out there and keep improving with each experience, each at-bat." -- Ankiel, to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, on his prowess at the plate.

TULSA DRILLERS

3B Ian Stewart ('06) had a .351 average (13-for-37) over his last 10 games, scoring seven runs. ... 1B Joe Koshansky ('06) has collected two home runs and eight RBIs in his last nine games while batting .273 (9-for-33). ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez ('05-'06) owns a 15.09 ERA after his first three starts, having given up seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in his last outing Friday. He walked five in the game. ... Signed by the Athletics during Spring Training, RHP Colby Lewis ('01) has emerged as one of the strongest parts of an already formidable River Cats rotation. The 27-year-old boasts a 1-1 record and 2.40 ERA after his first three starts, having turned in more impressive performances with each successive outing. Lewis did not allow a run over 6 2/3 innings against Portland on Wednesday, scattering three hits, while striking out four. In his previous start, April 13 at Tacoma, he yielded one run over six innings.

WICHITA WRANGLERS

OF Shane Costa ('05-'06) was batting .476 (10-for-21) over his last five games, scoring three runs and driving in two. ... OF Billy Butler ('05-'06) owns a .355 average (11-for-31) in his last 10 games, collecting seven RBIs in that span. ... IF Angel Berroa ('01, '04) had five hits in his last 26 at-bats, good for a .192 average over his last six games. ... After missing six games while battling the flu, 1B Justin Huber ('05) tried to demonstrate he had returned to 100-percent Sunday by stroking a two-run double in the Royals' 9-5 home victory over Albuquerque. It was a big hit for Huber, who had collected hits in each of his first three games before the layoff. But the double was his only hit in his first 12 at-bats since returning to the lineup, and the 24-year-old Australian's batting average dipped to .160 after he went 0-for-3 on Wednesday against Round Rock. ... SS Donnie Murphy ('05-'06) boasted a .407 average (11-for-27) with seven RBIs over his last seven games, including a span of five hits in 13 at-bats.

OTHER TEXAS LEAGUE ALUMNI

RHP Tim Redding ('00-'01)was shelled in an April 16 start against Buffalo, allowing 10 hits and 12 runs in 1 2/3 innings. But he came back with only two days rest to pitch April 19 and was effective, throwing five scoreless innings before leaving in the sixth inning of a 5-4 victory over Durham...RHP Mike Burns ('03-'04) was hit in the right cheek by a hard one-hop grounder April 19 versus Rochester. Burns stayed in the game and finished out the inning before having his cheek examined by a doctor, where he learned he had suffered a fracture to his cheekbone. "(Burns) is a tough kid, I'll tell you that -- A lot tougher than me," PawSox manager Ron Johnson told the Providence Journal...

This Week in the Texas League April 16-22

April 16, 1953 Oklahoma City scored 12 runs in the 1st inning of a game versus Fort Worth. The Indians were not home free, however. They were shut out the rest of the way and just managed to hold on to a 12-9 win.

April 17, 1935 Oklahoma City shortstop Lou Brower walked four consecutive times, singled and stole three bases in a 14-2 thumping of Dallas. Brower capped his active day with a successful theft of home.

April 18, 1958 Corpus Christi pitcher Frank Funk pitched 8.2 innings of two-hit relief, gaining a 12-6 win over San Antonio. After Starter Stan Papai yielded five unearned runs in the first inning, Funk came in and limited the Missions to just one more run and two hits in his Texas League debut.

April 19, 1916 Galveston and San Antonio played to a 4-4 tie in 14 innings. San Antonio starter Harry Stewart went the distance for the home club, striking out 15 enemy batters. Stewart lost the chance for a win in regulation when an error in the ninth inning led to two game-tying runs.

April 20, 1972 Al Dawson allowed just one hit, a second inning double by Gorman Thomas, as he led El Paso to a 1-0 win over San Antonio. The game had been scoreless until the eighth inning when El Paso used a single by Jerry Royster, a two-base error and a sacrifice fly by catcher Dennis Harer to tally the lone run of the contest.

April 21, 1967 Amarillo's Jim Ray fired a two-hit, 6-0 win over Arkansas. Ray also drove in the final two runs of the game with an 8th inning triple.

April 22, 1976 Midland pounded 19 hits, seven of which were home runs, in a 17-12 win over Amarillo. Third baseman Mike Umfleet had two homers for the Cubs, the first a grand slam in the opening inning. Mike Gordon also had a pair of round trippers for the winners.

Texas League Stories from April 23, 2007

Eighth Inning Woes Continue In 4-2 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
RockHounds nip Hooks 4-3 - Corpus Christi Hooks
Cards Fall Monday - Springfield Cardinals
Duenas Drops Travs - Arkansas Travelers
Texas League update - TL1
Hudson Makes Second Start - Wichita Wranglers

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