Texas League update
Published on June 4, 2007 under Texas League (TL1) News Release
NORTH NOTES
Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) 21-33, forth place, North Division
May 29... In an 11-7 loss to Corpus Christi, Travs' reliever Aaron Pullin was tagged with the decision when he gave up four runs on two hits and a walk, while retiring just one batter in the eighth inning. On offence, Adam Morrissey went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a double and Curtis Pride doubled twice and chipped in two RBIs for the Travs. May 30... The Travs' fell 1-0to Corpus Christi in 11 innings. In only his second start in Double A, Amalio Diaz threw nine shutout innings, getting 19 outs on ground balls, including two double plays. Throwing only 94 pitches, Diaz never threw more than six pitches during an at bat, allowed five hits and recorded no strikeouts, without issuing a walk. Interestingly the game took just 2:27 to complete. May 31... Nick Green took the 5-4 loss to Corpus Christi. Green allowed five runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings. Sean Morrissey led off the ballgame with his fourth home run of the season, giving Arkansas its only lead of the ballgame. In the seventh inning, Freddy Sandoval hit a solo homer, and Michael Collins ripped a two-run blast in the eighth. June 1... Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run over six innings, as Arkansas edged San Antonio, 3-1. Gonzalez scattered five hits, while fanning five. Chris Saenz and Aaron Pullin each tossed a scoreless frame, before Jose Arrendondo breezed through the ninth for his ninth save. The Travs' plated two runs in the second inning on an RBI single by Aaron Peel and a run-scoring groundout from Michael Collins. Sean Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double for Arkansas. June 2... Nick Adenhart tossed five strong innings to lead Arkansas to a 3-2 win over San Antonio. Adenhart yielded two runs on four hits, while striking out six, for his first win since April 19. Bill Edwards and Aaron Pullin combined for three innings of shutout relief before Jose Arredondo tossed a perfect ninth for his 10th save of the season. On offense, Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run triple, then scored on Greg Porter's groundout. NOTE: Sandoval Is AFCU Player Of Month For May The Arkansas Travelers announce that 3B Freddy Sandoval has been named the Arkansas Federal Credit Union Player of the Month for May. Sandoval, an eighth round draft choice of the Angels out of San Diego in 2004, led the club with a .337 batting average and .425 on-base percentage during May. He also hit two home runs, drove in ten and scored 13 runs during the season's second month.
Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals) 25-27, second place, North Division
May 28... Juan Lucena hit a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning to lead Springfield over San Antonio, 5-4. Lucena also chipped in an RBI groundout in the second for the Cards, while Colby Rasmus hit two solo shots, one in the first and the other in the ninth. Rasmus now has nine dingers on the year, third in the Texas League. Cardinals reliever Matthew Scherer got the win after throwing a perfect 10th frame. May 29... Colby Rasmus had a career-high seven RBIs as Springfield beat San Antonio, 12-10. He went 3-for-5, with all three hits going for extra bases. Joe Mather and Jarrett Hoffpauir provided Rasmus with some help, with Mather going 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two walks and three runs scored and Hoffpauir delivering a two-run double. Michael Cooper got the win in releif. Chris Perez earned his 12th save by striking out the side in the ninth. June 2... Juan Richardson drove in four runs as Springfield snapped Corpus Christi's 10-game winning streak with a 10-6 victory. In the first inning, Richardson cranked a two-run homer, his seventh of the season. In the third, he belted a two-run double, giving him his second four-RBI game this season. Sean Danielson went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Bryan Anderson and Tyler Greene stroked solo shots in the seventh for the Cards. All starting nine for the Cards collected at least one base hit in the game. Winning pitcher Jaime Garcia allowed two unearned runs on five hits over six innings to lower his ERA to 3.18. June 3... Springfield fell to Corpus Christi 15-3 in the first game of the doubleheader. Cardinals starter Kevin Ool surrendered 10 runs on 11 hits in four innings. Jose Garcia allowed five runs on five hits, with five strikeouts in two innings. Juan Richardson, Mark Shorey and Michael Ferris each drove in a run for Springfield. In the second game of the twinbill, Juan Richardson launched a walk-off three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning as Springfield edged Corpus Christi, 6-4. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Cardinals trailing, 4-3, Colby Rasmus ripped his Texas League-leading 22nd double of the season. In the fifth inning, Mather cracked his league-leading 14th homer, a two-run shot. Reliever Jason Motte earned the win after giving up a hit and fanning one in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Tulsa Drillers (Colorado Rockies) 29-26, first place, North Division
May 29...Drillers reliever Jentry Beckstead took the loss to Midland, 7-5, as he surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out in the seventh. Starter Ching Lung Lo gave up one run on five hits, fanning four over 5 2/3 frames. Tommy Duenas and Chris Frey drove in two runs apiece and Corey Wimberly plated the other run for the Drillers. May 30... Joe Gaetti and Duke Sardinha smacked home runs to lead Tulsa past Midland, 5-3. Gaetti hit his seventh homer with two on and two out in the first inning, giving the Drillers a 3-1 lead. Sardinha cracked his fourth roundtripper, a solo shot, in the seventh to cap the scoring for Tulsa. Drillers reliever Juan Morillo allowed two hits, while fanning two over 1 2/3 scoreless frames for the win. Steven Register worked around one hit in a scoreless ninth to record his Texas League-leading 19th save. May 31... Samuel Deduno tossed 7 1/3 solid innings to lead the Drillers past Midland, 4-3. Deduno allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out four, for his first win of the season. Judd Songster retired the final four batters of the game for his first save of the season. June 2... Tulsa lost the first game of the doubleheader to Frisco, 1-0. Starter Mike Esposito went the distance in his first start for Tulsa, yielding a run on seven hits in seven innings. It was his third career complete game and first since April 12, 2004. Rick Guarno and Christian Colonel had the only hits for the Drillers. In the second game, reliever Steven Register took the 4-3 loss to Frisco. Register surrendered two runs on three hits in the seventh, taking his first loss of the year. Starter Matt Daley yielded two hits and struck out five over four scoreless frames. Chris Frey, Joe Gaetti and Jordan Czarniecki all homered for the Drillers. June 3... Matt Macri and Rick Guarno had RBI singles to cap a five-run eighth inning, as the Drillers rallied past Frisco, 7-5. Chris Frey led off the decisive inning with a double to left field. Aaron Rifkin walked and Matt Miller followed with an RBI double. After Duke Sardinha walked to load the bases, Macri hit an RBI single, and one batter latter, Guarno smacked an RBI single to put the Drillers in front. Macri went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, his third of the season. Reliever Judd Songster picked up the win. Steven Register worked around a one out double in the ninth to notch his Minor League-leading 20th save.
Wichita Wranglers (Kansas City Royals) 22-34, third place, North Division
May 29... Mike Stodolka hit a grand slam and Onil Joseph and Chris Lubanski also homered as Wichita edged Frisco, 7-5. Adam Donachie reached base three straight times and Jake Blalock added two hits in his Wranglers' debut, as Wichita snapped a seven-game losing streak. In his season debut, Kansas City reliever Leo Nunez, who is working his way back from a fractured wrist suffered in Spring Training, got the start for the Wranglers and went one inning, fanning one. Luke Hochevar relieved Nunez and tossed 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out eight and allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits without walking a batter. Jarrod Plummer worked around two hits in 1 1/3 innings to earn his fifth save. May 30... Wichita starter Carlos Rosa suffered the loss to Frisco, 5-2. Rosa surrendered four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking one. Jace Brewer and Irving Falu had RBI singles in the third and eighth respectively for the Wranglers. Falu finished with two hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. June 2... Reliever Greg Atencio took the loss to Midland, 5-2. Atencio gave up three runs on four hits in the ninth. The Wranglers tied the game in the seventh when Frisco's Jeff Eure forced in Irving Falu with a bases-loaded walk. Michael Gaffney went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Mike Stodolka walked four times in five trips to the plate. June 3... Danny Tamayo took the loss to Midland, 4-2, as he gave up three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. Wranglers starter Luke Hochevar allowed one run on four hits, while striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. Jake Blalock and Damaso Espino each drove in a run for Wichita. The Wranglers have lost five straight.
SOUTH NOTES
Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros) 24-32, fourth place, South Division
May 29... Drew Sutton hit an RBI single and Ray Sadler smacked a three-run double in the eighth inning to send Corpus Christi over Arkansas, 11-7. Sutton went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Noochie Varner chipped in a solo homer, his second of the season. In the sixth inning, Neil Sellers hit a solo homer, his fifth, for the Hooks. Francisco Caraballo plated runs with a single in the fourth inning and a triple in the sixth inning. Reliever Ryan Thompson allowed two hits over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, with four strikeouts, for the win. May 30... Chance Douglass tossed nine scoreless frames against Arkansas for the second time in six days as Corpus Christi pulled out a 1-0 victory, in 11-innings. Douglass, who tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Travelers last Thursday, yielded only four hits again, while striking out seven without issuing a walk. Douglass has allowed just two earned runs over 32 innings in his last four starts. The Hooks finally broke through in the 11th as Drew Sutton led off with a walk against Kevin Lynch. Osvaldo Fernando laid down a sacrifice before Noochie Varner delivered the game-winning double to center field. Brian Gordon picked up the win for Corpus Christi after allowing a hit and a walk with one strikeout over two innings. May 31... Troy Patton pitched seven strong innings to lead the Hooks to their 10th straight win, as Corpus Christi edged Arkansas, 5-4. Patton, whose 2.43 ERA ranks fourth in the Texas League, allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five, to earn the win, and give the Hooks the franchise record-tying win. Closer Kyle Middleton struck out the side in the ninth and notched his sixth save of the season. Jeff Mackor and Neil Sellers hit two-run home runs to lead the Hooks offense. June 2... The Hooks had their 10-game winning streak snapped, as they fell to Springfield, 10-6. Losing pitcher Felipe Paulino gave up seven runs on eight hits in four frames. In the seventh, Neil Sellers hit a two-run double and Beau Torbert went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for the Hooks. June 3... Noochie Varner homered and drove in five runs, as visiting Corpus Christi routed Springfield 15-3 in the first game of the doubleheader. Varner smacked a run-scoring double in the first inning before launching a grand slam in the Hooks' six-run second. The 26-year-old outfielder leads Corpus Christi and is second in the Texas League with 34 RBIs. In the second inning, Jonny Ash belted a solo homer, his second of the year. Todd Self went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs and Drew Sutton added three doubles and three runs scored. The Hooks finished the seven-inning affair with 18 hits, including 11 for extra bases. Starter Jimmy Barthmaier earned the win allowing up a run on five hits, while striking out five in five frames. In the second game of the doubleheder, reliever Kyle Middleton suffered the loss to Springfield, 6-4. Middleton surrendered three runs on two hits in the seventh, while retiring two batters. Hooks starter Ronnie Martinez allowed three runs on five hits while fanning five in five innings. In the second inning, Ray Sadler smacked a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. Corpus Christi rallied for two runs in the sixth behind Drew Sutton's fifth homer of the season.
Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers) 35-19, second place, South Division
May 29... Eric Hurley suffered his first loss in 10 starts this year, falling to Wichita 7-5. Hurley allowed seven runs on six hits in five innings. Raising his ERA from 1.83 to 2.61. He hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous nine starts. Jim Fasano went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, his fifth, while German Duran ripped his 11th blast of the year. May 30... Doug Mathis pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings as he defeated Wichita, 5-2. Mathis allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out five. Jesse Ingram fanned one over 1 2/3 hitless innings to notch his 11th save. Brandon Boggs ripped a two-run homer in the fifth and Travis Metcalf delivered an RBI single two batters later to give the RoughRiders a 4-1 lead. Steven Murphy had three hits and drove in a run, while Anthony Webster went 0-for-4 to snap his 12-game hitting streak. May 31... Salomon Manriquez and Kevin Richardson homered to power Frisco to an 8-3 win over Wichita. In the fourth inning, Manriquez smacked a two-run homer, his eighth, to give the RoughRiders a 4-2 lead. Richardson, who singled and scored on Manriquez's homer, led off the fifth with a drive over the center-field wall for his eighth homer. Richardson and Anthony Webster both went 3-for-5 for the 'Riders, who pounded 15 hits and won for their fourth game in five days. Edinson Volquez allowed three runs on seven hits, while fanning six over 5 2/3 innings for his third win. June 2... In the first game of the doubleheader, Luis Mendoza remained unbeaten by tossing a two-hit 1-0 win over Tulsa. Mendoza walked one and struck out three in his third career complete game and first this season. The 23-year-old right-hander has posted wins in each of his last three appearances. The 'Riders snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh, when Steve Murphy led off with a double, moved up on Ben Harrison's groundout and came home on German Duran's single up the middle. In the second game, Anthony Webster's RBI double in the top of the seventh inning lifted Frisco to a 4-3 victory over the Drillers. The RoughRiders trailed 3-0 in the nightcap before rallying for four runs over the final two innings. Webster began the comeback with a run-scoring groundout in the sixth. German Duran doubled and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Juan Morillo later in the frame to cut the deficit to 3-2. Duran stroked a two-out RBI single in the seventh before scoring on Webster's double to center field. Daniel Herrera picked up the win in relief, after allowing one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Jesse Ingram tossed a perfect seventh inning for his 12th save of the year. Starter Armando Galarraga gave up three runs on six hits over 4 1/3 frames. June 3... RoughRiders reliever Paul Kometani took the 7-5 loss to Tulsa. Kometani allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits, retiring only two batters in the eighth inning. Starter Eric Hurley allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, while fanning six. Adam Fox went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Brandon Boggs added a solo homer, his fourth of the season.
Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics) 34-17, first place, South Division
May 29... Brant Colamarino and Vasili Spanos combined for six hits and five RBIs as Midland rallied past Tulsa, 7-5. With the RockHounds trailing, 3-1 in the seventh inning, Colamarino delivered a two-run double. Spanos followed with a two-run single to plate the go-ahead runs. Spanos also hit an RBI double in a two-run ninth. Brian Snyder and Richie Robnett each chipped in an RBI for Midland. RockHounds starter Ben Fritz gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings to earn his fifth win of the season. Travis Foley registered his second save, despite giving up two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 frames. May 30... The RockHounds lost to Tulsa, 5-3, as starter Ryan Webb surrendered four runs on three hits and four walks, in six innings. Richie Robnett belted a two-run homer, in the eighth for Midland. It was his fifth of the season. Myron Leslie went 3-for-3 with a run scored. May 31... Starter Mike Madsen took the loss to Tulsa, 4-3. Madsen allowed four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He saw his ERA climbed from 1.75 to 2.45. The RockHounds got on the board in the fourth on Vasili Spanos' RBI double to right. In the seventh, Luke Appert hit a two-run homer, his first of the season. June 1... Landon Powell delivered a two-run single during a four-run 13th inning, as Midland outlasted Wichita, 6-3. Powell also hit a solo homer in the fifth, his fourth of the year, finishing the game 2-for-6 with three RBI's. June 2... Landon Powell singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, as Midland rallied to beat Wichita, 5-2. Powell's line drive to right drove in Myron Leslie, who opened the decisive frame with the first of three straight singles. Luke Appert singled in another run before Gregorio Petit capped the scoring with an RBI groundout. Leslie went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for the 'Hounds, while Petit was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Reliever Dan Denham picked up the win after retiring all four batters he faced. Steven Sharpe walked one and struck out one in the ninth for his ninth save of the season. June 3... Ben Fritz pitched 6 2/3 solid innings, as Midland edged Wichita, 4-2. Fritz scattered six hits, while striking out five to win his third straight start and lower his ERA to 3.50. Mario Ramos worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings for his first save of the season. Jeff Baisley hit an RBI groundout in the sixth inning and a run-scoring triple in the seventh In the seventh inning, Richie Robnett smacked a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. Gregorio Petit had two hits and scored twice for the RockHounds.
San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres) 27-29, third place, South Division
May 28... San Antonio dropped a 10-inning, 5-4 decision to Springfield, with relief pitcher Neil Jamison taking the loss. Jamison allowed two runs on three hits over the final 1 1/3 innings. Chase Headley went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored, with Peter Ciofrone added a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth for the Missions. May 29... In relief, Jon Searles suffered the loss to Springfield, 12-10, after surrendering four runs on four hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Nick Hundley enjoyed a career night, collecting six RBI's, while going 2-for-5 with a homer, double and two runs scored. The 23-year-old catcher launched a three-run blast in the third, then plated three more with a bases-loaded double in the fourth. May 30... The Missions pulled out a 6-3 victory over Springfield as Will Venable hit for the cycle. Venable became the first Missions player to hit for the cycle since 2002. The San Antonio right fielder actually was hoping for his second triple of the game in the ninth inning. He stopped at second when Springfield center fielder Sean Danielson got the ball back to the infield quickly. Venable grounded out in his first at-bat to lead off the game, then the hits kept on coming. He singled with one out in the third and tripled to lead off the sixth, but was left stranded. Venable gave San Antonio a 4-3 lead with a three-run dinger that highlighted a four-run seventh inning. The homer, a line drive that was ripped over the right-field fence, was his first of the season. Venable needed a double when he came up to lead off the ninth and ripped a drive to right-center field off reliever Kevin Ool for his eighth two-bagger of the season. He later scored on a two-run single by Peter Ciofrone, who was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Dirk Hayhurst, Adrian Burnside, Jon Ellis and Paul Abraham each pitched an in relief and were perfect, retiring all the batters they faced. Hayhurst picked up the win. June 1... The Missions lost to Arkansas, 3-1. Starter Cesar Ramos pitched well, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits, while fanning three in seven innings. In the second inning, Nick Hundley hit his sixth homer of the season, the only run for the Missions. June 2... Josh Geer and the Missions fell 3-2 to Arkansas. Geer allowed all three runs in the first inning. It was the first time opponents had scored off him in the first inning all year long. It was his first loss in seven starts since April 26. Peter Ciofrone and Drew Macias each drew bases-loaded walks in the first inning for the Missions only runs of the game. June 3... Chase Headley went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored to lead San Antonio past Arkansas, 6-5. In the first inning Headley belted a two-run homer, his ninth, tripled and scored in the third and doubled and scored in the fifth. The 23-year-old third baseman finished a single shy of the cycle. Shawn Wooten delivered an RBI single in the second and lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the Missions. Starter Michael Ekstrom allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits in five innings to earn the win. Paul Abraham worked a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Springfield Cardinals' outfielder Colby Rasmus has been named the Topps Texas League Player of the Month for May,Texas League President Tom Kayser announced today.
The 20-year old out of Phenix City, Alabama, had an outstanding month of May, hitting .340 with a league-high eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 29 games. Rasmus also set a 2007 team-high with a 12-game hitting streak, hitting safely in 16 of his first 17 May games. He's the first Springfield Cardinals' player to be named Topps Texas League Player of the Month in franchise history.
The huge month for Rasmus keeps him at the top or near the top of the leaderboard in a number of different categories. He leads the circuit in RBIs (36), doubles (22) and extra-base hits (33). He's also seventh in hitting (.300), third in home runs (10) and second in slugging percentage (.584).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colby Rasmus - Springfield
6 G, 20 AB, 9 H (.450), 7 R, 4 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI
The Cardinals won four out of six games last week behind the red-hot bat of Colby Rasmus. In the two losses, Rasmus went a combined 0-for-5, whereas in the four wins, he went a remarkable 9-for-15, with six of the hits being for extra-bases. The torrid Rasmus collected 10 RBI's for the week. On May 29th against the Missions, he knocked in seven RBI's in five at-bats. Rasmus went 3-for-5 with two 2B's and a three-run homerun. The day before he had clubbed a pair of home runs as he led the Cardinals to a 5-4, 10-inning win over San Antonio. His second dinger of the game came with two out in the ninth to knot the score 4-4. So far this season, Rasmus' leads the Texas League in RBI's with 36, and doubles with 22. Rasmus is second in the league in total bases with 111, holds a .584 slugging percentage and a .978 OPS (On-base percentage plus slugging percentage). He's third in the league with 10 homeruns and sixth in the league with a .394 on-base percentage. Rasmus was selected in the first round (28th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Russell City High School in Phenix City, AL.
CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Amalio Diaz - Arkansas 1 G, 9 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 0 K
Chance Douglass - Corpus Christi 1G, 9 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K
Amalio Diaz and Chance Douglass earned co-pitcher of the week honors after dueling each other on May 30th in Corpus Christi. Both starters threw nine innings of shutout baseball, with neither pitcher issuing a walk or figuring in the decision. This is the second time the two righties have faced each other in the past week.
In only his second start in Double A, Diaz got 19 outs on ground balls, including two double plays. Throwing only 94 pitches, Diaz, who never threw more than six pitches to any opposing batter, allowed just five hits. Diaz has a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings pitched for Arkansas since his promotion form the California League. All 15 innings have come against Douglass. He allowed two earned runs, on nine hits in six innings of work on the 24th of May, taking the 3-0 loss. Before he was promoted from Rancho Cucamonga, the Venezuelan had a 6.27 ERA in 37 1/3 innings pitched, making four starts and five relief appearances for the Quakes.
Chance Douglass tossed nine scoreless frames for the second time in six days as Corpus Christi pulled out a 1-0 victory in 11-innings. Douglass, who tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Travelers on May 24th, again yielded just four hits, while striking out seven without issuing a walk. Douglass has allowed just two earned runs over 32 innings in his last four starts, dropping his ERA .59 points to 3.07
ALUMNI REPORT
ARKANSAS TRAVELERS
Pawtucket Red Sox IF Joe McEwing ('95-'98) has hit .368 in his last nine games with a home run, five RBIs and six runs scored. ... Salt Lake Bees OF Tommy Murphy ('04-'05) batted .318 (7-for-22) over a five-game span.
CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS
Round Rock Express OF Tim Raines Jr. ('07) had a .385 average (10-for-26) over an eight-game stretch. ... West Tenn Diamond Jaxx OF Charlton Jimerson, ('05) a former Major Leaguer, hit three home runs against Tennessee, including a walk-off blast in the ninth inning. He drove in all of the Diamond Jaxx's runs while going 4-for-5 with solo homers in the first and third and a two-run double in the sixth. The 27-year-old had only two hits in his previous 17 at-bats and his only other three-homer game came last May for Round Rock against Albuquerque in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.
FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS
Oklahoma RedHawks DH Jason Botts ('03-04, '06) batted .382 (13-for-34) with six RBIs over his last 10 games. ... Oklahoma RedHawks OF Kevin Mahar ('06-'07) had just two hits in 23 at-bats (.087) over six games since returning from a stint with the Rangers. ... Portland Beavers 1B Vince Sinisi ('05-'06) hit .364 (8-for-22) with two homers and seven RBIs in his last five games.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS
Richmond Braves 1B Graham Koonce ('02) has hit just .200 in his last nine games, he has produced a homer and eight RBIs. ... Colorado Springs Sky Sox SS Omar Quintanilla ('04) owned a .484 average (15-for-31) and nine runs scored over a nine-game span. ... Sacramento River Cats 1B Daric Barton ('05) batted .344 (11-for-32) with seven runs scored in his last nine games. ... Sacramento River Cats RHP Shane Komine ('03-05) had a 2.92 ERA and struck out 13 batters over 12 1/3 innings in his last two starts.
SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS
Buffalo Bisons OF Shin-Soo Choo ('04) has batted .467 in his last seven contests with six RBIs and six runs. ... Fresno Grizzlies 3B Justin Leone ('03) batted .571 (8-for-14) with three RBIs and three runs scored in his last four games. ... West Tenn Diamond Jaxx SS-3B Erick Monzon ('06) had a 3-for-3 game with a homer and five RBIs.
SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS
Memphis Redbirds OF Nick Stavinoha ('06) batted .390 (16-for-41) with six RBIs over his last 10 games. ... Memphis Redbirds OF Rick Ankiel ('05) had three home runs and six RBIs while batting .350 (7-for-20) in a five-game span.
TULSA DRILLERS
Syracuse Chiefs OF Chad Mottola ('98) has batted .300 in his last 10 contests with four homers, nine RBIs and eight runs. ... Colorado Springs Sky Sox 1B Joe Koshansky ('06) hit .412 (14-for-34) with eight RBIs in his last 10 games, including eight hits in his last 17 at-bats (.471).
WICHITA WRANGLERS
Albuquerque Isotopes RHP Nate Field ('01, '03) earned two victories in his last five appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 4 1/3 shutout innings. ... Omaha Royals 1B Craig Brazell ('07) had a .136 average (3-for-22) in his last five games and didn't hit a home run.
OTHER TEXAS LEAGUE ALUMNI
Round Rock Express SS Eric Bruntlett (Round Rock '01-'02) batted .424 (14-for-33) with six runs scored over his last eight games. ... Pawtucket Red Sox Syracuse Chiefs 1B Kevin Barker (El Paso '97-'98) has hit just .206 in his last 10 contests he has produced nine RBIs and scored 10 runs. THIS WEEK IN TEXAS LEAGUE HISTORY
June 4, 1960 -- Austin's Dave Roberts hit two home runs, good for five RBI's and Ray Dabek added two solo home runs, yet their efforts could not prevent a 12-11 loss at Amarillo. Amazingly, Austin started Denny LeMaster went the distance, taking the complete game loss. He went the whole way for the Senators despite allowing 13 hits and issuing nine walks. Lemaster, behind 11-1 after two innings, actually pitched effectively over his final six innings of work, allowing just one more run. Amarillo right hander Jerry Neal was pounded nearly as badly as Lemaster. He gave up 13 hits and 11 runs over seven innings, yet was credited with the win.
June 5, 1996 -- San Antonio won their 10th straight game when they beat El Paso 12-1. Eric Weaver pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits. The Missions put the game away, batting around in the first inning, scoring five times.
June 6, 1975 -- Julio Gonzalez banged six consecutive singles to help lead Midland to a 16-7 win over El Paso. Wayne Tyrone chipped in with two homers and six RBI's for the Cubs. Gonzalez knocked in four runs with his six hits.
June 7, 1929 -- San Antonio right fielder Leo Casey had two home runs in the Bears' 10-run first inning, helping propel the club to a 23-3 mauling of Waco. Casey opened and closed the scoring in the big inning. He started the landslide with a three-run homer, then capped the scoring in the first with a solo shot.
June 8, 1947 -- Houston had what they thought was a triple play taken away from them, when umpire Fred Sigler ruled that a trapped sacrifice bunt attempt that began the play, was, in fact, a foul ball. However, the Buff's got it right on the next pitch, when Fort Worth batter Elmer "Red" Durrett lined into a legitimate triple killing.
June 9, 1940 -- In front of nearly 8,000 fans, a crowd reduced by foul weather, Dizzy Dean made his debut for the Tulsa Oilers. Though Dean limited Fort Worth to just six hits, his mates needed to score four times over the final three innings to pull out a 5-4 win.
June 10, 1956 -- San Antonio swept a double header from Shreveport 1-4 and 5-4. In the opener, third baseman Brooks Robinson was a perfect 5-for-5 for the Missions, stroking a pair of singles, a double and two home runs, all of which drove in four runs. San Antonio's Stan Holmig added a pair of homers and five RBI' in the one-sided first game victory.
June 11, 1912 -- Houston's Roscoe "Cy" Watson tossed a 5-0, no-hit win over Fort Worth. It is the Panthers second no-hit loss in just 12 days. On May 31, Fort Worth lost 2-1, gathering no hits versus Beaumont's Grover Brant over a then league record 12 innings. The luckless loser in both contests was Fort Worth's "Pol" Perritt.
Texas League Stories from June 4, 2007
- Texas League update - TL1
- Amalio Diaz Co-Pitcher of the Week - Arkansas Travelers
- Rasmus Wins Multiple League Awards - Springfield Cardinals
- First Place Hounds in for Four - Midland RockHounds
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