White Sox game notes
July 25, 2006 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
SOX SLIP TO THIRD: The White Sox, by virtue of last night's 6-5 11 inning loss to Missoula, have slipped to third place in the Pioneer League's Northern Division standings with four games remaining in the season's first half. The Sox are third after incurring their third consecutive one-run setback. Great Falls was beaten in Idaho Falls 11-10 Saturday night, fell 5-4 to the Chukars on Sunday evening and dropped last night's series opener with the Osprey 6-5. The Sox are currently one-half game behind Missoula for second with two games to be played between the two division rivals the next two nights. A gutsy eighth inning comeback proved for not last night as the White Sox scored three runs in the eighth inning to force extra innings, only to see Missoula's Daniel Perales bang an opposite field RBI double to left off of losing pitcher Steve Spurgeon in the top of the eleventh inning for the game winner. The White Sox committed three costly errors in the game, accounting for two unearned runs.
FIRST ROUNDER TO THE RESCUE?: Tonight 2006 Chicago White Sox first round draft pick Kyle McCulloch will get the start on the mound looking to vault the Sox back in front of the Osprey in the division standings. McCulloch is seeking his first win of the season in this his fifth start. He was brilliant in his last outing shutting out the Rockies in Casper July 20 through six innings of work. He walked just one, striking out six receiving no decision in a 1-0 Great Falls eleven inning loss. The Houston, Texas native is 0-1 on the season with a sparkling 2.08 ERA. He was a stand- out RHP at the University of Texas, compiling an 8-5 record this spring with a 3.61 earned run average.
LEAGUE LEADERS: White Sox first baseman Chris Carter continues to set a blistering pace at the plate posting Pioneer League leading highs in homers (10), RBI (30), slugging percentage (.685), doubles (13) and extra-base hits (23). Carter is second in the league in hits (42) and runs (25). LF Lee Cruz is currently tied for fourth in the league in doubles with 14. RHP Ramon Sanchez is tied for the league lead in wins (5) and home runs allowed (6) while sitting alone in first for innings pitched (39.1).
HOW THE SOX STACK UP: Great Falls leads the Pioneer League in homers as a team (29), while sitting third in hitting (.277), fourth in runs (182) and second in hits (323). On the mound, Sox pitchers have a collective 4.26 earned run average, good for fourth. The White Sox are last in the league in fielding percentage (.943), while leading the league in errors (79).
TRENDING: The White Sox have lost three consecutive games by one run. Four of the teams last five setbacks have come by a single tally as well. Over the last three games, the Great Falls bullpen has allowed 13 runs and 22 hits in 10.1 innings pitched. INF Franklin Bautista is hitting .375 (3-8, 2 RBI) in the last 3 games. 1B Chris Carter has gone a season-long 8 games without a home run. Carter is hitting .404 (17-42) over the past 10 games with 9 doubles, 6 RBI and 10 strike-outs. DH Tyler Reves has 5 HR and 11 RBI over the past 12 games. He's hitting .625 (5-8) with 3 RBI his past 2 games. SS John Shelby has a modest 3 game hitting streak in which he's hitting .273 (3-11) with 2 runs scored. He's hitting .333 (14-42) over his last 11 games with 7 RBI. LF Lee Cruz is batting .159 (7-44) with 8 RBI over his last 11 games. He has 8 extra-base hits in his last 28 games. OF Santo Garcia is batting .188 (3-16) with 2 doubles his last 7 games. OF Archie Gilbert is hitting .217 (5-23) with 4 RBI and 7 stolen bases over his past 6 games. OF/DH Joseph Hunter stole 6 bases his first 8 games this season. He's swiped 2 bags his last 12 games. Hunter is hitting .500 (6-12) with 2 HR and 4 RBI his last 3 games. OF Christian Marrero is batting .311 (14-45) with 4 doubles and 4 RBI over his last 13 games. 3B Mike Grace has a 10 game hitting streak in which he's batting .371 (13-35) with 1 HR, 3 doubles and 6 RBI. Utility man Matt Sharp is hitting .125 (1-8) with 3 runs scored over his last 6 games. C Reymundo Tavares is hitting .105 (2-19) with 3 RBI over his last 6 games. INF Tim Lawrence is batting .342 (13-38) with 10 runs scored, 5 doubles and 3 RBI over the past 11 games.
HEAD TO HEAD: The White Sox and Osprey have split the first 6 head to head encounters this season, each winning 2 of 3 in the others home park. Tonight is the second of a three game series.
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Pioneer League Stories from July 25, 2006
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- White Sox game notes - Great Falls Voyagers
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