Stars of the Day: AAA: Michael Kirkman / Mike Bianucci, Ryan Spilborghs
AA: Chad Bell / Mike Olt, Chris McGuiness
Hi-A: Kyle Hendricks
Lo-A: Santo Perez, Greg Williams / Jordan Akins, Zach Cone, Joe Maloney
AAA: at Round Rock 5, Memphis 1 Record: 15-16, -3.0
A wildly effective Michael Kirkman (6.95 ERA) yielded just one hit (a 4th-inning solo homer) in six innings, walked five and struck out seven. Of 23 batters faced, only ten required the defense to take part. Derek Hankins (2 IP) and Mark Hamburger (1 IP) walked a batter per inning but allowed no runs. All told, Memphis had three hits and eight walks, and they hit into three double plays.
The Express had only seven baserunners, were 1-6 with runners in scoring position, and their last 12 were retired in order. Still, they scored five runs. 1B Mike Bianucci (.272/.318/.476) hit his sixth homer and was hit by a pitch. Ryan Spilborghs doubled twice.
AA: at Frisco 1, Midland 3 Record: 19-11, +1.0
3B Mike Olt was 3-3 with a double and hit-by-pitch. In mid-April, back-to-back hitless nights dropped him to .209/.271/.419. Since then, he's hitting .338/.463/.565 with five homers and 14 walks in 18 games. 1B Chris McGuiness (.248/.309/.455) doubled and hit a solo homer, his sixth.
Jurickson Profar extended his hitting streak to 17, games, during which he's hitting .292/.321/.486. He has exactly one hit in 13 of those games. Profar also has a 26-game streak of reaching safely, which is impressive given that he's played only 28 games.
Reliever Chad Bell (0.93 ERA) tossed 2.2 scoreless innings and struck out five. In his last three outings, he's fanned 13 and allowed one baserunner in 7.2 innings. Starter Tim Murphy (5.04 ERA) gave up three runs in five innings on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
High-A: Myrtle Beach 1, at Lynchburg 4 Record: 15-14, -3.0
Kyle Hendricks allowed only one 1st-inning run but labored enough that Zach Osborne was hurriedly warming to replace him. Hendricks (2.80 ERA) not only survived the inning but threw five more, walking none, striking out three, and spreading around ten hits. He allowed three runs, one earned. Myrtle Beach committed five errors, two each by Odubel Herrera (14) and Christian Villanueva (5). Brett Nicholas and Tomas Telis walked to begin the 9th but advanced no farther.
Low-A: Hickory 5, at Kannapolis 3 Record: 18-11, -3.0
In his longest and arguably strongest start, Santo Perez (4.66 ERA)limited the Intimidators to one earned and two unearned runs on three hits and an HBP in seven innings. Perez walked none and struck out six. In this case, the unearned runs were genuine, as 2B Luis Sardinas committed back-to-back two-out errors with runners on base. Greg Williams fanned three across two perfect innings.
Sardinas drew three walks and stole his ninth base, best on the Crawdads but only 14th in the run-happy Sally League. CF Jordan Akins (.231/.247/.440) homered for the third time in four days. RF Zach Cone (.234/.272/.458) went yard for the second day in a row and sixth time for the season. Catcher Joe Maloney hit his first professional homer. Hickory ranks second in the league with 28 homers and next-to-last with 84 walks. Akins is on pace for five walks and 164 strikeouts. That won't happen. Probably.
Five Years Ago Yesterday The farm system was swept and I was on business in Atlanta, making for a pitifully short recap. The O-Royals scored five off Bruce Chen in 4.1 innings. OF Brandon Boggs singled and walked in his AA debut. Bakersfield reliever Danny Ray Herrera had allowed 13 baserunners in five innings to this point of the season. Clinton's Zach Phillips walked three and struck out ten in four scoreless innings. DH Chad Tracy hit a two-run homer.
Today's Starters AAA: Martin Perez
AA: Justin Grimm
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: Will Lamb
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas
