Stars of the Day: AAA: Zach Jackson / Ryan Spilborghs, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Jake Brigham, Joe Ortiz / Engel Beltre
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter / Jared Hoying
Lo-A: Jerad Eickhoff, Shawn Blackwell / Hanser Alberto, Zach Cone
AAA: at Round Rock 1, Memphis 5 (10) Record: 14-16, -4.0
Up 1-0, Tanner Scheppers was brought on in the 8th with two out and runners at 1st and 2nd. Scheppers allowed a game-tying single before recording the third out. He was pulled after seven pitches. Sean Green loaded the bases in the 9th before escaping, and in the 10th he gave up four runs (although two scored after his departure). Starter Zach Jackson (4.11 ERA) pitched 6.1 scoreless innings.
Round Rock couldn't generate much offense against Shelby Miller, 2009's 19th-overall pick. Miller was linked to Texas, who instead pulled the trigger on Matt Purke, who didn't sign. newcomer Ryan Spilborghs singled twice and walked. 2B Yangervis Solarte walked twice and doubled.
Round Rock DL'ed Greg Miclat to make room for Spillborghs.
AA: at Frisco 3, Midland 2 Record: 19-10, +2.0
Engel Beltre (.259/.296/.491) hit a solo homer (his fifth) and singled home the go-ahead run in the 7th. His teammates had four hits.
Jake Brigham (3.11 ERA) walked none for the first time this season, struck out five, and allowed a run on a solo homer plus three other hits in six innings. Brigham had endured control lapses throughout his career, but so far this season he's avoided them. He's walked one of every fifteen batters faced, the best rate of his career. Joe Ortiz retired five in order, two via strikeout for his third save.
High-A: Myrtle Beach 3, at Lynchburg 4 Record: 15-13, -2.0
Lynchburg's Nick Ahmed scored the winning run in the 9th when Myrtle Beach couldn't convert a one-out double play. LF Jared Hoying (.324/.400/.493) was 3-4 and has eight hits in his last three games. Nick Tepesch (3.62 ERA) allowed three runs in five innings on nine hits and no walks. He struck out three. Joe Van Meter (1.50 ERA) tossed a scoreless 6th and 7th.
Low-A: Hickory 6, at Kannapolis 0 Record: 17-11, -3.0
Jerad Eickhoff (2.94 ERA) surpassed all prior efforts with seven scoreless innings in which he struck out seven, walked one and allowed five hits. Eickhoff had pitched as well, if not as long, on the first Saturday of the season, followed by several outings of various quality.
Saturday saw the full-season debut of Shawn Blackwell, drafted in the 24th round of 2009 (but paid like a 4th rounder). The 6'5" righty spent all of 2010-2011 in the complex league, where he'd pitched pretty well. Blackwell fanned three and allowed a hit over the final two innings.
Zach Cone (.233/.273/.437), singled and cranked a three-run homer, his fifth of the year. Per Kannapolis announcer Josh Feldman, three of Cone's shots have come at the expense of Intimidators pitcher Blair Walters. Between homers, Cone batted .128/.143/.170 with 18 strikeouts in 11 games.
3B Hanser Alberto (.340/.381/.456) delivered a walk and two doubles. A month and a day into the season, Alberto has matched last year's nine extra-base hits. This isn't some four-week surge; Alberto can hit. Last year was a disappointment. Contributing a double and single were SS Luis Sardinas and 2B Rougned Odor.
Five Years Ago Yesterday Texas recalled reliever Wes Littleton and DL'ed starter Kevin Millwood with a strained hamstring. Scott Feldman allowed five consecutive hits and a sac fly to begin his post-option debut in Oklahoma. Nevertheless, homers by Marlon Byrd, Jason Botts and Kevin Mahar resulted in victory. Bear Bay pitched seven scoreless innings in a rare Cal League shutout. Clinton's Omar Poveda allowed two runs in six innings. Five years later, Poveda is still seeking an extended stay in AAA. Aside from a spot start while still with Texas in 2009, he's spent his last three healthy seasons in AA.
Today's Starters AAA: Michael Kirkman
AA: Tim Murphy
Hi-A: Kyle Hendricks
Lo-A: Santo Perez
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Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas
