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TL1 Texas League

Texas League update

August 27, 2007 - Texas League (TL1) News Release


NORTH NOTES

Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) 31-31, second place, North Division (62-70 overall)

August 20... Ben Johnson crushed a three-run homer in the seventh inning, as Arkansas topped San Antonio, 3-2. Freddy Sandoval and Sean Rodriguez started the seventh with back-to-back singles before Johnson connected for his third homer, erasing a 1-0 deficit. Starter Nick Adenhart (9-7) allowed just one run, while striking out seven in six innings. Adenhart, who turns 21 on the 24th, snapped a personal four-game losing streak en route to his first win since July 24. Darren O'Day allowed a hit, with two strikeouts, in the ninth, notching his seventh save of the year. August 22... Arkansas lost in the 10th inning, 6-5 to Wichita, on a walk-off homer. Losing pitcher Bill Edwards gave up the walk-off homer to Wichita's DH Kila Kaaihue. Starter Miguel Gonzalez, who did not figure in the decision, allowed three runs, with five strikeouts in seven-plus frames. The 7-8-9 hitters for the Travs went a combined 9-for-11, with four RBI's in the game. Michael Collins, hitting in the seventh slot went 4-for-4, with three runs scored. nine-hole hitter Brad Coon went 3-for-3, with three RBIs, while eight-hole hitter, Cody Fuller, went 2-for4, with an RBI for the Travelers. August 23... In the opener of doubleheader, Freddy Sandoval went 3-for-5, with a homer and two RBIs, as Arkansas pounded Wichita, 12-4. In the first inning, Sandoval ripped an RBI double, in the third inning belted a leadoff homer, his 11th of the year, before stroking his 32nd two-bagger of the year in the seventh inning. Arkansas entered the game with four homers in the month of August, then they blasted a season high four homers in the game. Along with Sandoval, Sean Rodriguez, Ben Johnson and Michael Collins also went deep in the game. Starter Fernando Rodriguez Jr. (7-3) allowed four runs over seven innings to pick up the win. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Travs fell to the Wranglers 7-2. Despite collecting 10 hits in game two, the Travs were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Losing pitcher Chris Hunter (3-4) surrendered three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 frames. August 24... Travs starter Nick Green (10-7) had a personal five-game winning streak snapped, as Arkansas fell 8-1 to Wichita. Green took the loss, giving up three runs, on four hits, over 6 1/3 frames. He also had a 16 1/3-inning scoreless streak snapped in the second inning. At the dish, Sean Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with his 14th homer in the second inning. August 25... In the opener of doubleheader, Sean Rodriguez went 3-for-3, with a homer, as Arkansas held off Springfield, 5-4. The 22-year-old shortstop is 7-for-15, with three homers, four RBIs and five runs scored in his last four games. Nick Adenhart (10-7) allowed three runs, with six strikeouts, in 5 1/3 frames, winning his second straight start following four consecutive losses. Darren O'Day fanned two batters over 1 2/3 frames, gaining his eighth save of the year. In game two, four Cardinal pitchers tossed a four-hitter, as the Travelers were shutdown 4-0. Reliever Von Stertzbach (1-2) suffered the loss, giving up two runs, on three hits, in the third inning. August 26... Springfield roughed up Arkansas' Robert Mosebach (0-1), handing the Trav's a 16-0 loss. Moseback surrendered seven runs on 11 hits over six frames in his first career Double-A start. Utility man Ryan Leahy pitched the ninth inning and retired the Cardinals in order. At the plate, Ben Johnson, Matt Pali and Coby Smith each had two hits for the Travelers, who trail first-place Springfield by 1 1/2 games in the Texas League's North Division.

Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals) 32-29, first place, North Division (68-60 overall)

August 20... The Cardinals coughed up seven runs in the seventh inning, falling 8-4 to Corpus Christi. Reliever Mike Sillman (1-1) took the loss, surrendering five runs, on two hits, while recording just two outs in the seventh. NOTE: Colby Rasmus will be in the leadoff spot for the rest of the year now that leadoff man Sean Danielson is out with a broken thumb. Rasmus is batting .526 with 10 hits in 19 at-bats out of that spot thus far. August 21... Springfield suffered a 4-3 loss to Tulsa. The Drillers rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the ninth inning, as Rick Guarno deposited a Jason Motte (3-3) slider into the bullpen. The Cards spoiled a strong start by P.J. Walters, who surrendered a run, on six hits, in seven innings. Walters struck out a season-high 10 and did not walk a batter, while lowering his ERA to 2.83. At the plate, Henry Guerrero, who had two of the Cardinals' five hits, tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth with a leadoff homer, his second of the year. Colby Rasmus crushed a two-run shot, his 23rd of the year, to give Springfield a 3-1 lead in the eighth. August 22... Center fielder Colby Rasmus smacked his team-leading 24th home run of the season, as Springfield defeated Tulsa 4-3. Rasmus went 3-for-4 and snapped a 2-2 tie with a dinger off Tulsa starter Jon Asahina leading off the fifth inning. In the first inning, Rasmus singled and stole his 18th base of the year, then scored on Amaury Marti's fifth home run of the year. Marti has 14 RBIs in 18 games with Springfield. Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer started and gave up two unearned runs in one-plus innings as part of a rehab assignment for St. Louis. Eric Haberer (12-7) permitted one run over the next 5 2/3 frames, earning his team-leading 12th win. Mike Sillman worked around a walk in the ninth to pick up his first save for the Cardinals. August 23... Cory Rauschenberger tossed six solid innings, as Springfield defeated Tulsa, 8-2. Rauschenberger (9-8) limited the Drillers to one run, on three hits, while matching a season high with seven strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander improved to 3-2, with a 3.08 ERA in nine home starts. The Cards held a 3-1 lead, when Mark Hamilton started the seventh with his fourth homer of the year. Later in the inning, Cody Haerther smashed a two-run shot, his third, as Springfield batted around and scored five runs in the frame. NOTE: Juan Richardson is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left leg. Richardson hit 18 homers, 22 doubles and drove in 78 runs for the Cards this year. August 25... In the opener of the doubleheader, Springfield fell 5-4 to Arkansas. Losing pitcher Mitchell Boggs (10-7) gave up five runs on 11 hits in five innings. At the plate for the Cards, Mark Hamilton drove in two runs and Amaury Marti scored twice. In game two, Adam Daniels and three relievers combined on a four-hitter, as Springfield blanked Arkansas, 4-0. Daniels yielded two hits, with four strikeouts over four innings but remained winless since July 21. Kyle McClellan (2-0) got the victory after pitching around a hit in the fifth. At the plate for the Cards, Cody Haerther crushed a two-run shot, while Colby Rasmus went 3-for-4, with his Texas League-leading 25th homer and three runs scored. Rasmus is 21-for-43 with five homers, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored during a 10-game hitting streak. August 26... Mark Hamilton homered and drove in five runs, as Springfield dominated Arkansas, 16-0. In the third inning, Hamilton ripped a two-run single and in the seventh, a two-run homer, his fifth of the season. Every Cardinal batter had at least one hit and scored at least one run. Colby Rasmus went 3-for-6 with a first inning, leadoff homer, his 26th of the year, while Rico Washington went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Cody Haerther and Bryan Anderson each collected two hits and two RBIs, while Amaury Marti went 2-for-5, with three runs scored and was the only Card without an RBI. Cardinals starter P.J. Walters (3-3) yielded six hits over seven innings of work, earning the win.

Tulsa Drillers (Colorado Rockies) 28-32, fourth place, North Division (63-67 overall)

August 20... Aaron Rifkin ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning, as Tulsa outlasted Midland, 6-5. After Christian Colonel belted a ninth inning, game-tying, three-run homer, his 14th. Rifkin delivered a two-out single to right field off Midland's reliever Jerry Blevins in the 11th, giving the Drillers their second win in three games. It was Rifkin's second extra inning walk-off of the season. In the eighth, Rifkin also bashed a solo homer, his 14th for Tulsa, which overcame an early 5-0 deficit. Reliever Jarrett Grube (6-3) pitched a hitless 11th inning to pick up the win. NOTE: Before the come from behind win, the Drillers were 0-44 on the season when trailing after eight innings. August 21... Rick Guarno blasted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, as Tulsa rallied for a 4-3 victory over Springfield. With two outs in the ninth and the Drillers trailing 3-1, Jordan Czarniecki doubled in a run before Guarno drove a hanging slider from reliever Jason Motte over the right-field fence. It was his sixth roundtripper in 67 games this season. Starter Ching-Lung Lo gave up three runs, on four hits, in 7 2/3 innings, before Gerardo Casadiego (1-0) got the final out in the eighth for the win. Steven Register notched his Minor League-leading 35th save, allowing just on hit in the ninth inning. August 22... Tulsa collected 13 hits, but stranded 11 runners on base, as they lost 4-3 to Springfield. Jon Asahina (2-4) gave up four runs, on nine hits, in 4 2/3 innings. At the plate for the Drillers, Tommy Duenas went 3-for-4 and smacked a sixth inning solo home run, his sixth of the year. August 23... Springfield broke open a close game with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, defeating Tulsa 8-2. Starter and loser Samuel Deduno (5-8) pitched six innings, surrendering three runs, two earned, on three hits, while fanning eight. August 25... Matt Miller and Jeff Dragicevich homered, powering Tulsa past Wichita 10-6. Miller lifted a two-run shot, his 11th, in the fourth inning, while Dragicevich crushed a solo blast, his fourth, one out later. Miller also delivered an RBI single in the fifth. Tommy Duenas collected three hits, including a two-run single in the seventh. Starter Sean Thompson (8-8) won his fourth straight decision after surrendering six runs on six hits, with a season-high eight strikeouts, in six innings. August 26... In the opener of the doubleheader, Wichita thumped Tulsa 11-2. Starter Ryan Mattheus (9-10) took the loss after being roughed up for 11 runs on 17 hits over 5 1/3 innings. In game two, the Drillers suffered an 8-1 loss to Wichita. Starter Judd Songster (5-5) took the loss after surrendering four runs on three hits over 2 2/3 innings. At the plate, Aaron Rifkin drove in the Drillers' one run with a single in the first inning.

Wichita Wranglers (Kansas City Royals) 29-33, third place, North Division (54-78 overall)

August 20... In a 7-5 victory over Frisco, Wichita's Mike Stodolka went 3-for-5, with three runs scored and two RBIs. Jeff Nettles added two hits and two RBIs for Wichita. Reliever John Foster (1-0) picked up his first Texas League win, despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk in one inning of work. Gabe DeHoyos gave up a run in the ninth, before notching his fourth save of the year. Starter Carlos Rosa yielded two runs on three hits, with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Rosa left the game in the fifth with a possible oblique strain. August 22... Kila Kaaihue's walk-off homer in the 10th inning lifted Wichita over Arkansas 6-5. Kaaihue was robbed by Arkansas' left fielder in the second inning with a leaping catch that prevented a home run. However, Kaaihue redeemed himself by hitting the game winner out of the reach of the left fielder. The Wranglers tied the game in the eighth on Kaaihue's RBI double and Adam Donachie's two-run single. Wichita's Gabe DeHoyos (5-0) picked up the win after allowing two hits over two scoreless innings. August 23... In the first game of the doubleheader, Arkansas pounded Wichita 12-4. Starter Daniel Christensen (3-13) took the "L" after surrendering nine runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings. At the plate, Kila Kaaihue went 2-for-3, with a fourth inning two-run homer, his ninth of the year. In the second game of the doubleheader, Geraldo Valentin delivered a three-run double in the third inning, as Wichita defeated Arkansas, 7-2. Adam Donachie chipped in two doubles, with an RBI and a run scored. Starter Dusty Hughes (5-2) picked up the win after allowing just one run in five innings. It was his fifth straight win. August 24... Jason Shiell and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, as Wichita topped Arkansas, 8-1. Sheill (1-0) allowed just one run in five innings, winning his first game for Wichita since being assigned from Triple-A Omaha on August 17. The 30-year-old right-hander was 1-4, with four saves and a 4.66 ERA in 27 appearances with the Omaha Royals. At the plate for the Wranglers, Jorge Padilla cranked a grand slam in the seventh. Irving Falu went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. August 25... Wichita suffered a 10-6 loss to Tulsa. Starter Michael Connolly (4-6) was charged with nine runs on 13 hits, while fanning five in 6 2/3 frames. At the plate for the Wranglers, Jeff Nettles launched a second inning two-run blast, his eighth of the year, while Geraldo Valentin drove in four runs. NOTE: First baseman Mike Stodolka and pitcher Dusty Hughes were named the Wranglers' players of the year. August 26... In the opener of the doubleheader, Damaso Espino went 3-for-4, with a homer and three RBIs, as host Wichita thumped Tulsa, 11-2. Jeff Nettles was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Onil Joseph went 4-for-4, with one RBI. The one through eight batters all collected two + hits, and all scored at least one run. Jason Cromer (3-7) picked up the win with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. In the second game, Kila Ka'aihue drove in five runs, leading Wichita to an 8-1 win over Tulsa. Ka'aihue, a 23-year-old first baseman, ripped a two-run double in the third inning and connected for a three-run, two-bagger in the fifth. In relief, David Bernat (1-0), who allowed a hit, while striking out four over three scoreless frames, picked up the win.

SOUTH NOTES

Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros) 33-29, third place, South Division (64-68 overall)

August 20... Ray Sadler's grand slam highlighted a seven-run seventh inning, as Corpus Christi powered past Springfield, 8-4. In the second, Michael Johnson hit a solo homer, his 15th for the Hooks. Reliever Samuel Gervacio (2-2) was credited with the win. Starter Felipe Paulino allowed three runs, two earned, while fanning seven in five innings of work. August 21... Corpus Christi fell 8-4 to Midland. Starter Brian Bogusevic (0-1) gave up five runs, on seven hits over 3 2/3 frames, as his ERA ballooned to 10.05. At the plate for the Hooks, Michael Johnson had two RBIs, while Neil Sellers doubled twice and scored twice. August 22... Todd Self drove in three runs and had Corpus Christi's lone extra-base hit in an 11-3 rout of Midland. In the eighth, Self ripped an RBI double and in the ninth, delivered a two-run single, as the Hooks pounded 15 hits. Tommy Manzella and Lou Santangelo each had three hits and scored twice. Starter Miguel Asencio (1-1) picked up his first win since June 29, despite yielding three runs on 11 hits in a season-high 6 1/3 innings. August 23... Corpus Christi blanked Midland 6-0 behind a combined five-hit shutout by Josh Muecke and Tim LaVigne. Muecke (8-5) scattered four hits, struck out four and walked four over eight innings. The 25-year-old left-hander won his fifth straight decision and lowered his ERA to 3.71. LaVigne allowed one hit in the ninth before closing out the game. At the plate, Michael Johnson ripped a sixth inning, two-run homer, his 16th of the year, while Edwin Maysonet delivered a seventh inning solo shot, his fifth of the year. Ray Sadler added three doubles, two RBIs and a run scored for the Hooks. NOTE: Josh Muecke has been outstanding of late, allowing just six runs in his last 36 1/3 innings. August 24... Brad James combined with two relievers on a four-hitter for his first Texas League win, as Corpus Christi blanked Midland 4-0. The 23-year-old right-hander yielded three hits and fanned three over seven innings. He retired 12 straight batters from the end of the third inning into the seventh. Kyle Middleton worked around a hit in the ninth for his 19th save of the year. At the plate, Edwin Maysonet delivered an RBI single in the fourth to extend his scoring streak to nine games, while Michael Johnson singled home an insurance run an inning later, giving him nine RBIs in his last six games. August 25... Three San Antonio pitchers combined to shut out the Hooks 1-0. Starter Felipe Paulino (6-8) had a personal three-game winning streak snapped, surrendering a run on two hits, with eight strikeouts over five innings. At the plate, Drew Sutton, Beau Torbert and Paulino had the hits for Corpus Christi. NOTE: Michael Johnson returned to Wolff Stadium for the first time since the Padres released him August 1. The former Mission has hit .378, with four homers in 14 games with the Hooks. August 26... In the first game of the doubleheader, Lou Santangelo's go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning lifted Corpus Christi past San Antonio, 3-2. Francisco Caraballo doubled home Todd Self to knot the game before Santangelo lifted a fly ball to right, which plated Ray Sadler with the go-ahead run. Reliever Ryan Thompson (4-3) got the win, while Kyle Middleton worked a perfect seventh for his 20th save of the year. In game two, Corpus Christi was shutdown 4-0 by San Antonio. Neil Sellers went 2-for-3, with a double and was the only batter to reach base twice for the Hooks. Starter German Melendez (6-5) yielded an unearned run on two hits in four innings to take the loss. NOTE: The Hooks are three games back of first place San Antonio, with eight games remaining, four of which are against the Missions.

Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers) 34-27, second place, South Division (81-50 overall)

August 20... In a 7-5 loss to Wichita, Frisco's Taylor Teagarden smacked a fourth inning, two-run homer, his third of the year, while in the eighth Casey Benjamin added a solo blast, his ninth of the year. Frisco starter Doug Mathis (9-7) took the loss after he was tagged for five runs in six innings of work. August 21... Starter Luis Mendoza (14-3) suffered the 6-4 loss to San Antonio. It was the 23-year-old right-hander's first loss in 14 home starts this season and his second loss to the first place Missions in '07. At the plate, Emerson Frostad and Brandon Boggs smacked solo homers for the 'Riders. August 22... Frisco was pounded 14-3 by San Antonio. Starter Mike Schlact (3-1) was tagged for eight runs, seven earned, in two-plus innings, taking the loss. At the plate, Steve Murphy had two hits and two RBIs for the 'Riders, who have dropped five straight. August 23... Scott Shoemaker took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, as Frisco defeated San Antonio, 6-4. Shoemaker (5-2) retired 13 batters in a row and 18 of 19 before walking Tim Brown with two outs in the seventh. Chad Huffman followed with a two-run homer to wipe out the no-hit bid and shutout with one swing. Shoemaker, who yielded two runs on one hit and four walks, with a season-high seven strikeouts over seven innings, snapped the 'Riders five-game losing streak. Jesse Ingram preserved the win by converting his 25th save in 26 chances. At the plate, German Duran clubbed his team-leading 22nd homer, a two-run shot, in the fifth, while Chris Davis and Taylor Teagarden added solo blasts for the 'Riders. August 24... In a 9-0 loss to San Antonio, starter Ken Chenard (2-7) took the loss. In his first start since July 8, Chenard allowed one run, on three hits in 3 1/3 frames. The 'Rider offense was shutdown by San Antonio's Josh Geer, who tossed a three-hitter. August 25... Doug Mathis tossed his first career nine-inning, complete game shutout, as Frisco blanked Midland, 4-0. Mathis (10-7), who faced only two batters over the minimum, gave up four hits and matched a career high with 10 strikeouts, without issuing a walk. In his previous three starts, Mathis had given up 11 runs on 21 hits over 16 2/3 innings. Saturday's win was his first since tossing eight shutout frames against Midland on Aug. 1. At the plate for the 'Riders, German Duran stroked a two-run triple and Chris Davis followed with a two-run homer, his 10th of the year. August 26... Luis Mendoza hurled six strong innings for his 15th win, as Frisco blanked Midland, 6-0. Mendoza (15-3) yielded two hits, with five strikeouts, winning for the third time in his last four decisions. He joined San Antonio's Josh Geer as the only 15-game winners in the Texas League. Brennan Garr, Paul Kometani and Jorge Vasquez finished off the RoughRiders' league-leading 14th shutout. At the plate for the 'Riders, Chris Davis went 2-for-4, with his 11th home run and three RBIs. Brandon Boggs also went deep, launching his 17th homer during a four-run first.

Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics) 22-38, fourth place, South Division (63-64 overall)

August 20... Midland ended a six-game road trip, with a frustrating 11 inning, 6-5 defeat at Tulsa. Reliever Jerry Blevins gave up a two-out single in the 11th inning to take the loss. Starter Danny Borrell allowed three hits, while striking out a season-high nine over five scoreless frames. At the plate, Cliff Pennington belted a two-run homer, his second, and Richie Robnett connected for a solo shot, his 18th, for the RockHounds. August 21... Playing in his first game since the death of his father earlier in the month, Vince Faison drove in three runs, as Midland topped Corpus Christi, 8-4. Faison hit RBI singles in the fourth, six and eighth innings for the RockHounds. Myron Leslie went 3-for-4, with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Luke Appert drove in two runs. Starter Bobby Cramer (5-0) remains unbeaten in 10 games with Midland, allowing three runs, two earned, with a season-high seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Despite the solid outing, the 27-year-old left-hander's ERA jumped from 0.79 to 1.12. Reliever Shawn Kohn struck out five of the six batters he faced. Kohn, dominating in his last 11 appearances, pitched 20 2/3 innings and has allowed just two runs on nine hits, for a 0.87 ERA, while fanning 29 batters during the stretch. August 22... Midland suffered an 11-3 loss to Corpus Christi. Starter Ben Fritz (10-11) who lasted just four innings, lost for the eighth time in his last 11 starts, giving up six runs on eight hits, while walking five. At the plate for the 'Hounds, Cliff Pennington went 3-for-5 and scored twice. August 23... Midland was shutdown by Corpus Christi 6-0. In seven innings, loser Kevin Deaton (0-3) surrendered four runs on eight hits, while striking out five. Cliff Pennington and Brant Colamarino each had a double for the RockHounds. In his first game with Midland, Justin Sellers singled in his first at-bat, finishing the game 1-for-3. In 114 games with Single-A Stockton, Sellers hit .274, while batting a red-hot .365 in July. August 24... Midland was shutdown by a combined four-hitter, as they fell 4-0 to Corpus Christi. Starter Trent Peterson (2-5) gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings. At the plate for the 'Hounds, Brant Colamarino singled twice. NOTE: Outfielder Richie Robnett was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento. Robnett batted .269 for the season, leading the team in home runs (18), RBI (78), doubles (39) and runs (74) at the time of his promotion. August 25... Behind a complete game shutout by Frisco's Doug Mathis, Frisco blanked Midland 4-0. Starter Danny Borrell (3-2) surrendered four runs, on four hits, with seven strikeouts over four frames. At the dish for the 'Hounds, Myron Leslie went 2-for-3, Brant Colamarino doubled and Cliff Pennington had the other hit. August 26... The RockHounds scoreless streak extended to 38 innings, as they were blanked 6-0 by Frisco. Starter Bobby Cramer (5-1) surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings, with a career-high nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old left-hander had been 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA in his previous 10 outings, since joining Midland. At the plate for the 'Hounds, Luke Appert had two of their five hits.

San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres) 35-25, First place, South Division (66-64 overall)

August 20... The Missions lost 3-2 to Arkansas, stranding 11 base runners, including seven in scoring position. San Antonio scored their first run when Tim Brown hit a little dribbler that initially had rolled foul down the third-base line, but spun back into fair territory, scoring Matt Antonelli. Losing pitcher Cesar Ramos (11-9) surrendered all three Midland runs. Reliever Dirk Hayhurst fanned three, as faced one over the minimum in his two innings. August 21... Brett Dowdy homered and drove in three runs, powering San Antonio to a 6-4 triumph over Frisco. Dowdy slugged a fourth inning, two-run homer, his third of the year. The 25-year-old left fielder entered the contest in a 2-for-16 funk and had gone 17 games without an RBI for the Missions. In the seventh, Nick Hundley ripped a solo homer, his 20th on the year, while Chase Headley broke out of a mild slump, going 3-for-5, with a run-scoring double. Starter Mike Ekstrom (7-9) allowed two runs, with five strikeouts in five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander improved to 2-2, with a 3.09 ERA in four August starts. Edwin Moreno fanned two in a perfect ninth, earning his sixth save of the year. This was the first time Moreno had been back to Frisco since he was a member of the Texas League Championship RoughRiders in 2004. August 22... Will Venable's four hits paced a season-high 18-hit attack, as the Missions pounded the RoughRiders 14-3. Venable, who was 4-for-6, smacked a first inning two-run shot, his sixth of the year. Two outs later, Colt Morton sent a drive over the left-center field fence for his fifth roundtripper of the year. In the ninth inning, Chad Huffman followed Tim Brown's leadoff double with his fifth homer of the year. Matt Antonelli went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Brown contributed two hits and three runs scored. Wade LeBlanc (5-3) allowed one run, on three hits, while striking out eight over five innings, winning his second straight start. August 23... In a 6-4 loss, San Antonio was shutdown by Frisco and Scott Shoemaker's no-hit bid. Chad Huffman broke up the no-hitter and shutout with a seventh inning two-run homer, his sixth of the season. In the eighth, Will Venable blasted a two-run homer, his seventh of the year. Starter Will Inman (3-2) took the loss after surrendering five runs, in five innings of work. NOTE: Texas League All-Star Peter Ciofrone rejoined the team from Triple-A Portland, replacing Brett Bonvechio who is likely out for the season with a possible herniated disc in his lower back. August 24... In a season filled with them, Josh Geer (15-6) turned in one of his best performances, limiting Frisco to three hits over eight shutout innings, as the Missions coasted to a 9-0 triumph. The 24-year-old right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out three, joining Heath Rollins of the Single-A Columbus Catfish as the Minors' only 16-game winners. Geer also picked up a victory in his lone appearance for Triple-A Portland on July 28. August 25... San Antonio blanked Corpus Christi, 1-0, as Cesar Ramos and three relievers combined on a three-hitter. Ramos (12-9), who won for the eighth time in his last 10 decisions, lowered his ERA to 3.46. Neil Jamison and Paul Abraham allowed just one hit over 1 2/3 frames, before Edwin Moreno fanned two in a perfect ninth, earning his seventh save of the year. At the plate for the Missions, Will Venable drove in the lone run of the game when he singled home Luis Cruz in the fifth. August 26... In the opener of the doubleheader, the Missions fell 3-2 to the Hooks. Pitcher Mike Ekstrom (7-10) took the loss when he tired in the sixth inning, allowing the go-ahead runs. The Missions scored both their runs in the second inning on RBI doubles by Luis Cruz and pitcher Mike Ekstrom. San Antonio had just four hits in the game. In game two, Dirk Hayhurst and two relievers combined on a three-hitter, as San Antonio blanked Corpus Christi, 4-0. Hayhurst (4-1) struck out two and allowed a pair of hits over five innings in his first start following 29 relief appearances. Paul Abraham struck out the side in the seventh to close out the Missions' 11th shutout of the season. At the plate, Will Venable slugged a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his eighth of the year.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Colby Rasmus - Springfield

7 G, 31 AB, 13 H (.419), 9 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 5 RBI, .438 OBP, .871 SLUG

Colby Rasmus earned Player of the Week honors for the second week in a row, as he added a new dimension to his game: successful leadoff hitter. After Sean Danielson went down with a broken thumb, manager Pop Warner thought that Rasmus was a natural selection for the leadoff spot. After going 10-for-19 from the top spot the week before, Rasmus took off this week with 13 hits in seven games. Rasmus hit safely in all seven games that he played, collecting three three-hit and three multi-RBI games. The 6'2 center fielder had a .438 on-base and an impressive .871 slugging percentage. During an 11 game hitting streak dating back to Aug. 15, Rasmus is 24-49 (.490), with six home runs, eight RBI's and 14 runs scored, raising his batting average 11 points to .278. Rasmus leads the Texas League in home runs with 25 and runs scored with 87.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Josh Geer - San Antonio

1 G, 1 W, 8 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 3 H, 0 BB, 5 SO

Josh Geer earned his second Pitcher of the Week award after producing his best outing of season. On August 24 against Frisco, Geer led the Missions to a 9-0 win after he tossed eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits to the potent RoughRiders offense. Geer fanned five batters and did not issue a walk en route to his 15th Texas League win. The 6'3 righty has won seven of his last eight games, while lasting at least six innings in his last 11 starts. Geer has a 3.23 ERA on the season, good for second in the Texas League. His 164.1 innings pitched, is also second in the Texas League.

This Week in the Texas League History

August 27, 1988... Shreveport's lead-off hitter Andrew Dixon went 5-for-5, including a triple and a homer, in the Captains 13-7 win at Arkansas. The Captains overcame a 7-4 deficit by scoring nine runs in the top of the seventh inning.

August 28, 1968... Jerry Ruess' third shutout of the season, a two-hit, 2-0 win over Dallas-Fort Worth, clinched at least a tie for Arkansas in the East Division Pennant race.

August 29, 1964... San Antonio's Jess Hickman set a season high for the Missions when he struck out 15, en-route to a 4-0, five-hit win over Fort Worth.

August 30, 1934... San Antonio first baseman George "Buck" Stanton had just one putout in the Missions 4-0 win over Dallas. Odder still, the Missions had just two assists in the contest. One produced Stanton's lone putout, coming when a dropped third strike forced the catcher to toss the ball to first for the out. The other came when a Dallas runner tried to stretch a single into a double and was pegged out at second by a strong throw from the outfield. The other 26 outs came via strikeouts, pop fly balls or fly balls to the outfield.

August 31, 1942... Houston's Paul Dean shut out Tulsa 1-0, allowing the Oilers just two singles. Dean was also credited with the lone RBI in the game. After catcher Chet Wieczorek tripled in the eighth, Dean brought him home with an infield ground out.

September 1, 1950... Fort Worth's Bill McCahan beat Houston 8-0, allowing just one hit to the losers. Bill Hardin's double in the seventh inning was the only hit in the contest for the Buff's. An unusual event in the game occurred in the sixth inning when Fort Worth third baseman Don Hoak ran himself out of a grand slam. Pinch hitting in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and none out, Hoak drove a pitch toward the left field fence and took off for first base. The runner on first, Fred Storck, hesitated, waiting to see if the drive would leave the park. It did, but by then Hoak had passed Storck, getting called out for passing a runner on the base path. Hoak's hit was reduced to a single, but he was credited with three RBI's on the play.

September 2, 1991... Rain played havoc with games at San Antonio and Shreveport. A day after rain caused the Midland game at Wichita to end in a 3-3 tie after five innings, San Antonio scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to eke out a 2-0 win just ahead of the rains that ended the contest before the sixth inning could begin. At Shreveport, the Captains took a 3-0 win from Jackson when rain stopped the game after just four and a half innings.



Texas League Stories from August 27, 2007


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