TL1 Texas League

Texas League Update

Published on August 11, 2008 under Texas League (TL1) News Release


NORTH NOTES

Arkansas Travelers

(Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

19-30, Fourth Place, North Division

August 4...Arkansas defeated Northwest Arkansas 6-2, evening the season series between the in-state rivals at 14-14. Corey Smith clubbed a pair of home runs in the win, increasing his season total to 19. In the sixth, Smith cracked a two-run homer that bounced off the left field scoreboard. Catcher Flint Wipke also went deep with a two-run homer in the eighth. All three Arkansas relievers shared the surname of Rodriguez. Fernando Rodriguez, Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Rodriguez combined to one-hit the Naturals over five innings, while issuing no walks. Starting pitcher Anthony Ortega was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake. In 22 starts with the Travelers, Ortega went 9-7 and compiled a 3.73 ERA over 135 innings of work.

August 6...In an 11-1 loss to Corpus Christi, third baseman Corey Smith went 2-for-4 and stroked his career-high 20th home run of the season. Smith has homered in three straight games, hitting four big flies during that span. Starter Robert Mosebach (9-10) drew the loss despite allowing only two runs in six innings. The Travelers reassigned catcher Anel De Los Santos to the Angels of the Arizona League and sent outfielder Cody Fuller to high Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Infielder Adam Morrissey was assigned to Arkansas for the third time this year after he hit .444 during a short, nine at-bat stint with Triple-A Salt Lake. The Travelers released outfielder Aaron Peel. The Los Angeles Angels signed pitcher Yosandy Ibanez from the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League and sent him to Arkansas. Ibanez, who defected from Cuba in 2004, pitched in the San Francisco Giants organization during the 2007 season.

August 7...Arkansas clouted five home runs en route to a 9-7 triumph over Corpus Christi. Corey Smith went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three runs scored. Smith now ranks second in the Texas League with 22 round-trippers. The 26-year-old has now homered in four consecutive games and has six total dingers in those four contests. Coby Smith, Brian Stavisky and Mark Trumbo also swatted long balls for the Travelers. In the top of the ninth, Stavisky unknotted a 7-7 tie with a two-run homer into the Hooks' bullpen in left-center, giving the Travs a 9-7 advantage. During a 2-for-4 evening, Trumbo launched a three-run homer (4) in the second. Second baseman Nate Sutton led the Travelers with four hits. Winning pitcher Fernando Rodriguez (7-10) tossed a perfect eighth before giving way to Rafael Rodriguez, who notched his fifth save with a flawless ninth.

August 8...Arkansas squeaked past Corpus Christi 3-2. Brian Stavisky's sixth-inning, solo home run (14) to right was the difference in the game. Stavisky, who was 2-for-4, homered for the second straight night. In the fourth, Corey Smith doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Starting pitcher Amalio Diaz upped his record to 3-2 after limiting the Hooks to two runs in five-plus innings. Travelers relievers Fernando Rodriguez, Barret Browning and Rafael Rodriguez combined to hold the Hooks to one-hit over the final four innings. During the sixth, Fernando Rodriguez got out of a no-out, bases loaded jam by getting the Hooks to pop into three straight foul outs to first baseman Mark Trumbo. The Travelers made four transactions involving catchers before the game. Backstops Ben Johnson and Tim Duff were reassigned to Arkansas from Triple-A Salt Lake. The Travelers sent Flint Wipke and Brian Walker high Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Johnson had previously hit .263 with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs in 86 games with the Travelers. The Travelers also received right-handed pitcher David Austen from Salt Lake.

August 9...Spearheaded by the bats of Mark Trumbo and Brian Stavisky, Arkansas beat San Antonio 4-2. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Stavisky swatted a two-run double to left, giving the Travelers a 3-2 advantage. In the ninth, Trumbo launched a solo home run deep to left-center, his 31st long fly in the minors this season. During the top of the fifth, Trumbo hammered a RBI double to right-center, breaking a scoreless tie. Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Rodriguez collectively threw 3.2 innings of shutout relief, securing the Travelers' third straight win.

August 10... In a 6-2 loss to San Antonio, Wil Ortiz went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI single. During a 2-for-4 evening, Brian Stavisky singled in a run and stole his 11th base of the season.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

(Kansas City Royals)

31-18, First Place, North Division

August 4...In a 6-2 loss to Arkansas, Irving Falu went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer (5).

August 6...Northwest Arkansas topped Midland 9-4, picking up their 15th win in their last 16 home games. The Naturals (28-17), who boast the best second-half record in the Texas League, snapped the RockHounds' 11-game winning streak. Winning pitcher Julio Pimentel (5-10) surrendered two earned runs, six hits and no walks, while fanning eight RockHounds. Juan Richardson had four RBIs, spearheading the Naturals' offense. Richardson socked a three-run double in the eighth. Second baseman Marc Maddox singled in a run, walked twice and scored three runs. Jose Duarte, Adam Donachie and Ovandy Suero all contributed with two hits. The Nautrals activated catcher Kiel Thibault from the disabled list and deactivated reliever Jarrod Plummer.

August 7...In a 5-1 loss to Midland, reliever Tim Hamulack struck out the side during a perfect eighth. Matt Peterson followed Hamulack with a perfect inning of his own, striking out a pair. Peterson, who missed three months with a torn muscle near his armpit, made his first appearance for the Naturals since April 14.

August 8...Northwest Arkansas sailed to a 9-1 victory over Midland. Winning pitcher Daniel Cortes (8-4) pitched masterfully, limiting the RockHounds to one run on six hits and a walk. The 21-year-old struck out eight. He has fanned 90 batters in 94.2 innings this season. In relief of Cortes, Chris Nicoll struck out seven in three scoreless innings, earning his second save. Jose Duarte went 3-for-4 with a home run (9), a double and two runs scored. Juan Richardson cracked a pair of doubles (29) and scored twice. In the second inning, Casey Aldridge belted a two-run homer, giving the Naturals an early 2-0 lead. Ed Lucas, who was 2-for-4, capped the Naturals nine-run evening by ripping a two-run double in the eighth.

August 9...Northwest Arkansas shutout Frisco 4-0 in a rain-shortened game that was called with two outs in the top of the sixth. Winning pitcher Blake Wood (4-6) was credited with a complete game shutout as he held the RoughRiders to two hits through 5.2 innings. Wood struck out five and picked up his first victory since July 13. Marc Maddox went 2-for-3, with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored. In the fifth, Irving Falu drove in two with a single to right.

August 10...Northwest Arkansas blanked Frisco for the second straight game, winning 2-0 behind a pitching gem from starting pitcher Rowdy Hardy. With the victory, the Naturals have won 18 of their last 21 home games and are also 8-0 on Sundays at Arvest Ballpark this season. In seven innings, Hardy (6-9) struck out five, while holding the RoughRiders to five hits and a walk. During his hottest stretch, Hardy retired 15 of 17 hitters. Irving Falu and Ed Lucas both had three hits for the Naturals. The Naturals faced Texas Rangers hurler Kevin Millwood, the sixth big leaguer they have met on rehab assignment this season. Left-handed pitcher Paul Mildren was promoted to the club from high Single-A Wilmington of the Carolina League.

Springfield Cardinals

(St. Louis Cardinals)

26-23, Second Place, North Division

August 4...Down 5-4 in the bottom of the 13th, Matt Pagnozzi ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, lifting Springfield to a 6-5 victory over Tulsa. Pagnozzi finished the game at 2-for-5 with three RBIs. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Allen Craig tied the game 4-4 with a three-run homer to left. Starting pitcher Kyle Mura limited the Drillers to one run on seven hits and two walks over six innings. Mura lowered his ERA to 2.01. The 23-year-old has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any of his seven outings with Springfield. Right fielder Mark Shorey and center fielder Jim Rapoport both recorded outfield assists, throwing out runners attempting to score. Middle infielder Donovan Solano was promoted to Springfield from high Single-A Palm Beach. In 402 at-bats with Palm Beach, the 20-year-old Solano hit .286 with one home run and 31 RBIs. The Cardinals also released right-hander Scott Vander Weg.

August 6... Springfield edged San Antonio 1-0. Winning pitcher Justin Fiske (2-0) allowed seven hits and two walks in 5.1 scoreless innings, while tallying five strikeouts. Cardinals relievers Luke Gregerson, Luis Perdomo and Fernando Salas combined to one-hit the Missions over the final 3.2 innings, preserving the Cardinals' victory. Salas fanned two in a perfect ninth, earning his league leading 22nd save. The Redbirds scored their only run when Mark Shorey brought home Jim Rapoport with a RBI triple in the third. First baseman Brandon Buckman was called up from high Single-A Palm Beach. Buckman and Donovan Solano both singled in their first Double-A at-bats in the second inning. The Cardinals released left-handed pitcher Adam Daniels.

August 7...Springfield edged San Antonio 8-7 to win their third straight game. With the victory, Springfield (26-20) is two games behind first-place Northwest Arkansas in the second-half standings. Spearheading the 13-hit assault, Mark Shorey went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and three RBIs. During a 2-for-3 night, Allen Craig clubbed his 21st home run of the year, scored a pair of runs and drew two walks. Participating in his second Double-A game, Donovan Solano went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. The Cardinals fought back from two deficits of 4-2 and 7-6. Tied at 7-7 in the top of the eigth, the Redbirds took the lead when Jim Rapoport plated Isa Garcia with a RBI groundout. Winning pitcher Marco Gonzalez hurled 1.2 perfect innings of relief, improving his record to a flawless 6-0. Fernando Salas saved his 23rd game after striking out two in the ninth.

August 8... Luke Gregerson surrendered four runs in the bottom of the ninth, as Springfield fell 4-3 to San Antonio.Through the first eight innings, Cardinals hurlers Jess Todd and Luis Perdomo had combined on a one-hit shutout. Todd went seven innings, yielding only one hit and two walks. Todd retired the last 11 batters he faced. Perdomo fanned a pair of batters in the eighth, while giving up no hits or walks. Mark Shorey, who had victimized the Missions the entire series, singled in a run during the first inning. Brandon Buckman, who was 2-for-4, cracked his first Double-A home run in the top of the ninth, extending Springfield's advantage to 3-0.

August 9...Springfield could only muster six hits in a 4-1 loss at Corpus Christi. Over six innings of work, losing pitcher Adam Ottavino (2-7) allowed two runs, eight hits and a walk, while compiling four strikeouts. Allen Craig brought home the Cardinals only run with a two-out, RBI double in the seventh.

August 10...Leaving 14 men on-base and hitting just 2-for-11 with men in scoring position had a lot to do with the Cardinals 7-3 loss to Corpus Christi. Mark Shorey cracked a ninth inning, solo home run (11). Shorey, Brandon Buckman, and Jose Martinez, the Cardinals' four through six hitters, all contributed with two hits. Right-handed pitcher Jess Todd was promoted to Triple-A Memphis of the Pacific Coast League. Todd went 4-5, with a 2.97 earned run average, (second in TL) and recorded 81 strikeouts in 103 innings.

Tulsa Drillers

(Colorado Rockies)

22-27, North Division, Third Place

August 4... In 13 innings, Tulsa fell to Springfield 6-5. The Drillers came up short despite outhitting the Cardinals 16-11. The Drillers' five through eight hitters, Jeff Dragicevich, Daniel Carte, Neil Wilson and Eddie Cornejo, combined to go 12-for-24 at the plate. In the top of the 13th, Wilson broke a 4-4 tie with a go-ahead solo home run to left, giving Tulsa a 5-4 lead their bullpen would relinquish. In his addition to his homer, Wilson went 4-for-6, with a double and two runs scored. Tied at 1-1 in the top of the eighth, the Drillers scored three runs off RBI singles by Carte, Cornejo and Tony Blanco, giving them a 4-1 advantage. Carte went 3-for-6, with a homer (10), two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Starter Brandon Hynick hurled seven fine innings, yielding one run, three hits and no walks.

August 6...The Drillers lost 10-3 to Frisco, in large part because they went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Daniel Carte went 2-for-4, cracking a two-run double in the fifth. Center fielder Corey Wimberly stole a pair of bases (58) and scored twice. The Drillers received starting pitcher Keith Weiser from high Single-A Modesto, where he went 7-10 with a 3.05 ERA in 22 starts. The left-hander struggled in his first Double-A appearance, giving up six runs in seven innings. Catcher Neil Wilson has gone 10-for-26, with a pair of home runs, since his return from the disabled list for a fractured left finger.

August 7...In a 5-1 loss to Frisco, the Drillers were held to four hits, none for extra-bases. Catcher Brian Esposito went 2-for-3 and scored the team's only run. Corey Wimberly, the league's top stolen base leader (58), left the game after injuring himself after sliding head first into third base during an unsuccessful steal attempt.

August 8...The Drillers pummeled Frisco 13-2. In the eighth inning, Tulsa exploded with eight runs as they sent 11 batters to the plate. Justin Nelson led off the eighth with a single and scored. Later in the inning, Nelson batted a second time and he capped the scoring with a three-run homer (15) to right. The Drillers hammered 13 hits, led by a three hit performance from Eric Young, Jr. Young drove in a pair of runs, scored three times and stole his 36th base of the season. The Drillers' five through seven hitters, Daniel Carte, Nelson and Jeff Dragicevich, all tallied two hits. Winner Chaz Roe (4-3) fanned eight 'Riders in 6.1 innings, while yielding only one run and four hits.

August 9...In a 10-5 loss to Midland, Tulsa hammered 13 hits and five doubles. Eric Young, Jr., Chris Nelson, Jeff Kindel, Justin Nelson and Eddie Cornejo all had multiple hits for the Drillers. Kindel doubled twice and knocked in a pair of runs. Chris Nelson ripped a two-run double in the sixth. With two stolen bases, Young, Jr. has 38 thefts this season, the fourth most in the league.

August 10...In the bottom of the 10th, Neil Wilson launched a walk-off homer to left, propelling Tulsa to a 2-1 win over Midland. Wilson's leadoff home run brought an end to an extra-innings affair that lasted only two hours and 34 minutes. Starting pitcher Brandon Hynick struck out eight RockHounds in eight brilliant innings, but did not factor in the decision. The 23-year-old yielded one run, four hits and no walks. Jeff Kindel went 2-for-4 with a double. Kindel now ranks fourth in the Texas League with 125 hits. Corey Wimberly (finger) missed his third straight game. Wimberly is listed as day-to-day and not expected to go on the disabled list.

SOUTH NOTES

Corpus Christi Hooks

(Houston Astros)

17-31, Fourth Place, South Division

August 4... With a 4-3 loss to Midland, Corpus Christi dropped their fifth straight game. The RockHounds spoiled a fine outing by Casey Hudspeth, who one-hit them over six innings. Hudspeth struck out five, while surrendering no earned runs. Right fielder Brian Bogusevic drove in two runs and has nine RBIs in eight games since rejoining the team as a position player. The Hooks placed reliever Ryan McKeller on the disabled list. Right-hander Chance Douglass, who posted a 3.24 ERA in six appearances with Triple-A Round Rock, was assigned to the Hooks for the third time this year.

August 6...Corpus Christi clobbered Arkansas 11-1. Every Hooks batter had at least one hit, RBI and run scored except Eli Iorg, who was shutout in all three areas. Leading 2-1 through six innings, the Hooks blew the game open with two runs in the seventh and seven runs in the eighth. Brian Bogusevic brought home both of the Hooks' runs in the seventh with a two-out, two-run triple. In the eighth, Mitch Einertson crushed a two-run homer over the left-field beam, capping the Hooks' seven-run inning. Drew Sutton went 3-for-5 with a two-RBI double. Sutton's 32 doubles are tied for first in the Texas League with Frisco's Steven Murphy. Winning pitcher Polin Trinidad (5-5) stymied the Travelers over seven innings, holding them to one run, four hits and two walks. The Dominican southpaw fanned seven.

August 7...In a 9-7 loss to Arkansas, Eli Iorg went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a stolen base (17). Drew Sutton launched a solo home run (15) and drove in another run by drawing a walk with the bases loaded. Continuing his torrid week of hitting, Brian Bogusevic went 2-for-5, with a RBI, a pair of runs scored and a stolen base. The Hooks have scored 20 runs and tallied 25 hits in their first two games of the three-game series versus Arkansas.

August 8...Corpus Christi fell to Arkansas 3-2, dropping their 24th one-run game of the season, a Texas League high. In seven innings, losing pitcher Andy Van Hekken (4-3) allowed three runs on eight hits and no walks.

August 9...In the Hooks' 4-1 victory over Springfield, pitchers Bud Norris, Bo Hall and Jose Oyervidez combined on a six-hitter, with eight strikeouts. Hall (1-0) was rewarded with his first win of the season. Oyervidez picked up his first save after pitching two perfect innings. Drew Sutton belted his 16th home run, a solo blast in the sixth. The Hooks got two-hit performances from Sutton, Wladimir Sutil, Mitch Einertson and Lou Santangelo.

August 10...The Hooks beat Springfield 7-3, winning consecutive games for the first time in a span of 22 games dating back to July 16-17. Mitch Einertson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run (9), two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Brian Bogusevic pounded three hits, singled in a run and stole his third base. Catcher Lou Santangelo clubbed a two-run homer in the sixth, giving the Hooks a comfortable 6-2 lead. Winning pitcher Casey Hudspeth (2-3) worked his way out of three jams with little damage. In five innings, Hudspeth allowed only run to score despite giving up four hits and six walks.

Frisco RoughRiders

(Texas Rangers)

29-20, First Place, South Division

August 4... With an 8-6 victory, Frisco completed a four-game sweep of San Antonio. During a four-run fourth inning, Craig Gentry launched a three-run homer (4) to left. Gentry scored twice and stole his 16th base of the season. Julio Borbon belted a solo home run in the third. Gentry, Elvis Andrus, Steven Murphy, Dustin Majewski and Thomas Berkery all had two hits. Murphy swiped a pair of bases, giving him 14 thefts this season. Jose Vallejo was the only RoughRiders player that didn't record a hit in the game. J.B. Diaz fired three hitless innings of relief, earning his first Double-A win.

August 6...Frisco pummeled Tulsa 10-3. All nine of the RoughRiders starters scored a run in the rout. The RoughRiders' two through four batters, Jose Vallejo, Elvis Andrus and Steven Murphy, all contributed with a home run and two hits. During a four-run ninth, Vallejo swatted a three-run homer and Andrus followed with a solo blast. First baseman Thomas Berkery went 3-for-4 with a two-RBI double and a run scoring single. Winning pitcher Trey Hodges (8-7) picked up first win since July 8 after yielding two runs in five solid innings.

August 7...Anchored by a brilliant start from Zach Parker, Frisco strolled to a 5-1 victory over Tulsa. Firing six shutout innings Parker, who pitched for the Drillers from 2004-07, improved to 3-1. The 26-year-old left-hander yielded only three hits and one walk, while fanning six. Frisco outhit Tulsa 13-4. Julio Borbon, Jose Vallejo, Steven Murphy, Craig Gentry and Manuel Pina all had multiple-hits for the RoughRiders. Vallejo finished at 3-for-5 with a RBI double.

August 8...In Frisco's 13-2 loss to Tulsa, first baseman Chad Tracy homered in his first Double-A game. Tracy also drove in the RoughRiders' other run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Prior to the game, Tracy was called up from high Single-A Bakersfield, where he hit .286 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs in 106 games. Outfielder Craig Gentry was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma. In 76 games with the RoughRiders, Gentry hit .276 with 16 stolen bases.

August 9...Held to two hits, Frisco was blanked 4-0 by Northwest Arkansas, in a rain-shortened game that was called with two outs in the top of the sixth. Elvis Andrus stole his 45th base of the season, which ranks second in the league.

August 10...In a 2-0 loss to Northwest Arkansas, Texas Rangers starter Kevin Millwood made a rehabilitation start and performed well. In four innings, Millwood yielded one earned run, five hits and two walks, while striking out six. Millwood is making his return from a strained right groin.

Midland RockHounds

(Oakland Athletics)

28-21, Second Place, South Division

August 4...Thanks to a three-run, eighth inning rally, Midland surged to their 11th straight victory, edging Corpus Christi 4-3. With the score tied at three-all in bottom of the eighth, Jon Zeringue drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left. Leading off the eighth, Javier Herrera ripped a double down the left-field line, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Two batters later, Aaron Cunningham extended his hit streak to 13 games with a single. Steven Sharpe (1-0) got the win after throwing two perfect innings of relief. Closer Andrew Carignan picked up his 19th save, hurling a flawless ninth. The RockHounds are 20-8 against the Hooks this season.

August 6...Midland lost 9-4 at Northwest Arkansas, snapping the RockHounds' 11-game winning streak. Red hot Tommy Everidge went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Javier Herrera belted a solo home run in the first, giving Midland an early 1-0 lead they would hold for three and half innings. After stealing two bases, Todd Donovan has 32 thefts on the season, which ranks fifth on the Texas League leader board. Second baseman Adrian Cardenas was promoted from high Single-A Stockton. Cardenas, 20, was acquired by the Oakland Athletics in the July four-player deal that sent Joe Blanton to Philadelphia. Cardenas, who was rated as the Phillies' number-two prospect by Baseball America, hit .309 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 259 at-bats for high Single-A Clearwater this season. Cardenas batted .278, with a homer, in 15 games with Stockton. Infielder Frank Martinez, who hit .260 in 14 games, was reassigned to Stockton.

August 7...Midland beat Northwest Arkansas 5-1, marking their 12th victory in their last 13 games. Starter Josh Outman (1-0), who threw five shutout innings, picked up his first Texas League victory. The left-hander handcuffed the Naturals' lineup by limiting them to only two hits, while issuing no walks. Backstop Anthony Recker went deep for his eighth home run of the season. Javier Herrera and Tommy Everidge led the 'Hounds with two hits each. Herrera doubled and scored twice. With a RBI single in the second, Adrian Cardenas picked up his first hit as a RockHound.

August 8...In a 9-1 loss to Frisco, Tommy Everidge cracked his 21st home run of the year. With his fourth inning solo blast, Everidge reached the century mark with 100 RBIs this season, which ranks first in the Texas League. Myron Leslie and Adrian Cardenas, the eighth and ninth hitters, both went 2-for-4.

August 9...Midland beat Tulsa 10-5, winning their 12th game in their last 14 contests. The RockHounds' six through nine hitters, Jed Morris, Myron Leslie, Justin Sellers, and Adrian Cardenas, all contributed with two hits. Todd Donovan went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. During a four-run sixth inning, the RockHounds sent 10 batters to the plate. Justin Sellers delivered the big hit in the inning with a two-run single to left. Sellers also doubled and scored two runs. Outfielder Richie Robnett, who played for Midland in 2006 and 2007, joined the team from Triple-A Sacramento. Robnett doubled in his 2008 RockHounds debut.

August 10...In 10-innings, Midland fell to Tulsa 2-1. In the loss, the RockHounds could only muster five hits, none for extra-bases. Tommy Everidge led the 'Hounds offense with a 2-for-4 showing. Making his second Double-A start, Jason Fernandez hurled 6.2 innings, giving up only one run, four hits and a walk. The right-hander struck out six, lowering his ERA to 2.51 in three appearances. Chris Michalak pitched one-third of an inning, making a relief appearance at Drillers Stadium 10 years after he played for Tulsa

San Antonio Missions

(San Diego Padres)

23-25, Third Place, South Division

August 4...San Antonio fell to Frisco 8-6. It was their fifth straight loss. Sean Kazmar pounded three hits and scored twice. Mike Baxter was the lone Missions starter without a hit. Seth Johnston went 2-for-4 with a two-run double. Jose Lobaton walked twice, hit a run scoring double and brought home another run with a sacrifice fly.

August 6...Spoiling an admirable effort by starter Will Inman, San Antonio lost 1-0 to Springfield. Inman struck out seven Cardinals in six innings, while allowing one run on five hits. Inman did not issue a walk for the first time in 24 starts. Inman leads the Texas League with 126 strikeouts. With two hits and two walks, Craig Cooper reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances. Catcher Jose Lobaton went 3-for-4.

August 7...San Antonio dropped their seventh straight game with an 8-7 loss to Springfield. In the first, Kyle Blanks (2-for-5) launched a three-run homer to left-center. Blanks' round-tripper was the Missions' first home run at home since July 19, when Gabe Lopez clubbed a two-run blast against Midland. Drew Macias, Mike Baxter and Sean Kazmar all had multiple-hits. The Missions drew 7,961 fans to the game. It was their largest crowd of the season. Catcher Colt Morton was reassigned to San Antonio from Triple-A Portland. The Missions released backstop David Parrish.

August 8...Held to one-hit through eight innings, San Antonio erupted for four runs in the bottom of the ninth, defeating Springfield 4-3. The Missions' thrilling finish ended a season-high seven-game losing streak. Facing a 3-0 deficit, the Missions loaded the bases with a pair of singles (Mike Baxter, Drew Macias) and a Chad Huffman walk. Two batters later, Sean Kazmar's RBI groundout scored the Missions' first run. Down to their final out, Seth Johnston stroked a two-run double to right-center, tying the game at 3-3. Colt Morton followed with a game-winning RBI single to left, scoring Johnston. The Missions comeback took starter Matt Buschmann off the hook. He had pitched well, yielding just one earned run, two hits and three walks in six innings. Baxter (2-for-4) doubled to right in the third, the Missions only hit during the first eight innings.

August 9...In a 4-2 loss to Arkansas, starting pitcher Steve Garrison went seven innings, allowing one run, two hits and one walk. Garrison struck out five and did not factor in the decision. Sean Kazmar brought home both of the Missions' runs with a two-run triple in the sixth.

August 10...San Antonio surged with four runs in the first en route to a 6-2 victory over Arkansas. During the first, Drew Macias provided the big blow by stroking a two-run double to left. Hitting in the two-hole for the first time this season, Sean Kazmar went 3-for-5. In his last 62 games, Kazmar is batting .315, which has raised his average from .198 to .265. Winning pitcher Philip Barzilla (1-2) fanned five Travelers in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. Infielder Beamer Weems was promoted to San Antonio from short-season Single-A Eugene of the Northwest League. Weems, who was drafted in the eighth round in 2008 out of Baylor, doubled in his first Double-A at-bat. The Missions placed infielder Jon Schemmel (finger) on the disabled list.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Corey Smith - Arkansas

6 G, 22 AB, 9 H, .409 AVG, 5 HR, 6 RBI

7 R, 3 2B, 1 SB, .458 OBP, 1.227 SLG

With three weeks left to play, Corey Smith is making a strong charge at the Texas League home run title. This past week, Smith clobbered five home runs during a three-game stretch, moving him into second on the league leader board with 22 round-trippers this season. During the past week, Smith led the Texas League with five home runs, eight extra-base hits and a 1.227 slugging percentage. The Travelers third baseman also tied for the circuit lead with seven runs scored.

Smith hit safely in five of six games, including five games with extra-base hits. In a span of three games from August 4-to-6, Smith went 7-for-12, with five home runs, a double, six runs scored and six RBIs. During an August 7 game at Corpus Christi, the 26-year-old went 3-for-5, with a pair of home runs, a double and three runs scored, racking up 10 total bases. Three days earlier on August 4, Smith stroked a pair of round-trippers in the Travelers' 6-2 victory over Northwest Arkansas. Smith's second homer pelted the left field scoreboard at Dickey Stephens Park.

Smith also went deep on August 3, just prior to the start of the week. Including that performance, the former first round pick went yard in four straight games, compiling six dingers in all during that stretch.

Through 115 games this year, Smith is hitting .267 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. He was signed by the Angels in the winter after spending the entire 2007 season with Newark of the independent Atlantic League.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Brandon Hynick - Tulsa

2 GS, 0-0, 1.20 ERA, 15 IP, 7 H, 2 R,

2 ER, 0 BB, 11 K

Hynick joins teammates Chaz Roe and Ching-Lung Lo as the third Drillers starter to earn Pitcher of the Week honors this season. In two fine starts over the past week, Hynick compiled a 1.20 ERA, allowing only two runs on seven hits in 15 innings of work. Even more impressive, the 23-year-old did not issue a walk all week long, while leading all Texas League pitchers with 11 strikeouts.

In his first start against Springfield on August 4, Hynick did not factor in the decision despite giving up only one run on three hits in seven innings. During one stretch, the right-hander retired 10 straight Cardinals hitters.

Hynick did not figure in the decision in his second start either, but he played a significant role in Tulsa's 2-1 10-inning victory over Frisco, as he limited the RoughRiders to one run on four hits over eight innings, while striking out eight.

Hynick hasn't given up more than one run in four of his last six and five of his last eight starts. This past week, Hynick said that a mechanical correction in his delivery had a lot to do with his recent success.

Last season the 6"3' right-hander led the California League with 16 wins and a 2.52 ERA.

ALUMNI REPORT

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS

Round Rock OF Nick Gorneault ('03-'04) is batting .360 (9-for-25) in his last eight games...Slat Lake 1B Kendry Morales ('05) has hit .439 (8-for-41) with three homers and 12 RBIs over 10 games...Salt Lake SS Brandon Wood ('06) batted .368 (14-for-38) with six homers and 13 RBIs in a 10-game span...Durham 1B Chris Richard ('97-'99) has hit .412 in his last 10 games with a pair of homers, six RBIs and eight runs scored.

CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS

Round Rock 3B Mark Saccomanno ('05-'06) has eight hits in his last 19 at-bats (.421) over five games....Norfolk OF Tike Redman ('06) has hit .400 in his last eight games with nine runs scored. Richmond OF Josh Anderson ('05-'06) begins this week with a 17-game hit streak, which is tied for the eighth-longest streak in the IL this season. During the streak, Anderson has hit .429 with six doubles, a triple and two homers along with five walks that have resulted in a .463 on-base percentage. On the season, Anderson ranks fifth in the IL with a .310 batting average and has three homers, 31 RBIs and 65 runs in 106 games.

FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS

Nashville OF Laynce Nix ('03-'04) had a .357 average (15-for-42), four home runs, 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored in a 10-game span.

MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS

Oklahoma OF Nelson Cruz ('04) was placed on the seven-day disabled list last week with a strained quadriceps, temporarily putting his chase for the PCL home run title on the shelf and depriving the RedHawks -- and possibly the Rangers -- of one of their hottest hitters. Cruz was batting .344 with 37 home runs in 99 games with the RedHawks and might have been called up after Texas lost OF David Murphy to an injury last week. Entering Saturday, Cruz remained two home runs behind Albuquerque's Dallas McPherson for the PCL lead...Sacramento SS Cliff Pennington ('07-'08) has collected seven hits in his last 15 at-bats (.467) over five games...Durham DH Dan Johnson ('03) has hit .378 in his last nine games with two homers, seven RBIs and 10 runs...Syracuse 2B Kevin Melillo ('05-'06) has batted .323 in his last nine contests with three homers, four RBIs and five runs.

NW ARKANSAS NATURALS

Omaha 1B Kila Kaaihue ('08) hit .394 (13-for-33) with five homers and eight RBIs in nine games.

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

Portland RHP Joshua Geer ('07) has been a constant in the rotation for the Beavers this season, working at least five innings in all but two of his 23 starts this season and completing at least six innings in 18 of them. Geer worked six innings in his latest outing Monday, earning the victory against Round Rock after allowing three runs on seven hits, and improved his league-leading innings total to 143. The 25-year-old, who was 7-7 with a 4.09 ERA, had a streak of 17 consecutive starts with at least five innings from April 14 to July 9...Tacoma 3B Matt Tuiasosopo ('06) sported a .457 average (16-for-35) with four homers and 10 RBIs in a nine-game stretch...Tacoma OF Wladimir Balentien ('06) had a .370 average (10-for-27) with three homers and 11 RBIs over seven games.

TULSA DRILLERS

Colorado Springs 1B Joe Koshansky ('05-'06) has hit five home runs and posted 10 RBIs in his last 10 games, while batting .326 (14-for-43). Koshansky has been one of the Sky Sox's top hitters this season, and one of its hottest lately, batting .345 through his first six games in August. He collected a hit in 10 of his 29 at-bats over the last seven games through Friday; however, he also struck out 14 times in that span, as his total swelled to 131 on the season. Though the 26-year-old has struck out once every 2.81 at-bats, he also leads team with 24 home runs and 93 RBIs entering the weekend. He has always been heavy on strikeouts, averaging 122 over his first four professional seasons -- his season high was 134 with Double-A Tulsa in 2006...Lehigh Valley 1B Andy Tracy ('03) has hit .500 in his last eight games with four homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored.

OTHER TEXAS LEAGUE ALUMNI

Iowa OF Josh Kroeger (El Paso '03-'04) had a .405 average (15-for-37) over a 10-game span...Omaha 1B Mike Stodolka (Wichita '05, '07) has batted .381 (8-for-21) over his last eight games...Sacramento RHP Kirk Saarloos (Round Rock '02) has a 1.13 ERA and has fanned 12 batters over his last 16 innings spanning two starts, though he was 0-1 in that stretch...Charlotte INF Royce Huffman (Round Rock '00-'02) has hit .359 in his last 10 games with a pair of home runs...Indianapolis INF Matt Kata (El Paso '01-'02) has hit .333 in his last 10 games with two homers, five RBIs and three runs...Scanton Wilkes/Barre INF Cody Ransom (Shreveport '99-'00) has batted .242 in his last 10 games, he has produced a pair of homers, eight RBIs and six runs.

This Week in the Texas League History

August 12, 1931...In the resumption of the in-season playoff to determine the league's first half title, Beaumont ace Whitlow Wyatt scattered four hits on the way to a 2-0 win over Houston. The win gave the Exporters their first win in the best-of-five series, having lost their first two decisions to the Buffs. Wyatt, who had been sent to Beaumont by Detroit to condition a sore arm, out-pitched Dizzy Dean who faltered in the ninth inning. With two out in the top of the ninth, Dean allowed an infield single, then consecutive doubles by Paul Easterling and Ray Fritz, which produced the only runs of the game. It was reported that 13,285 fans jammed Buffalo Stadium in Houston, and that as many as 5,000 fans viewed the game from places outside the park. Houston would clinch the first half title the next afternoon with a 5-2 win at Beaumont.

August 13, 1923...After an error by first baseman Clarence Kraft on the opening play of the game and a single by the next hitter, Bill Wano, Fort Worth hurler Lil Stoner, not only shut out Dallas, he did not allow another base runner during the rest of the contest. Stoner, who was backed by a flawless defense after Kraft's dropped throw, pitched the Panthers to a 7-0 win. Dallas starter Snipe Conley, who walked 11 batters, before being yanked in the fourth inning, aided Fort Worth's efforts at the bat.

August 14, 1912...Due to the wreck of the Katy Limited, which blocked the rail line near Dallas, the Dallas club did not arrive in Waco until 6:30 PM, forcing the postponement of the game scheduled for that afternoon.

August 15, 1930...Led by catcher Bernard Tesmer and second baseman Ralph Michaels, who each had four of the 21 hits amassed by Dallas, the Steers pounded Waco 15-6. Tesmer did most of the damage at the plate for Dallas, clubbing a pair of homers and driving in six of his team's runs.

August 16, 1995...Shreveport's Benji Simonton used a double, triple and a home run to drive in six runs, leading the Captains to a 15-3 pasting of Jackson.

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Texas League Stories from August 11, 2008


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