Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/20

Stars of the Day
AAA: Jake Brigham, Arlett Mavare / Jim Adduci, Aaron Cunningham, Alex Buchholz
AA: Kevin Pucetas / Brett Nicholas
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck, Cody Kendall, Alexander Claudio / Jordan Akins, Ryan Rua.

AAA: at Round Rock 4, Reno (ARI) 0
Record: 23-21, -2.5

Round Rock's roster has taken on an end-of-season look, when some otherwise unlikely additions cover for recalled players on the 40.  The latest is RHP Nick McBride, who's posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings for high-A Myrtle Beach.  He's not the 2013 version of Neil Ramirez, who skipped Frisco two years ago; he's in Round Rock to cover a hole for a little while.  (No offense to McBride, who has pitched well despite a very low strikeout rate.)

As for the game, a curious quartet combined to four-hit Reno.  Jake Brigham spread six runners around 3.2 innings and struck out two.  Arlett Mavare, who threw an inning on Sunday afternoon, tossed 3.1 hitless frames with three strikeouts.  Nate Robertson (1.2 IP) and Yoshi Tateyama (0.1 IP) handled the rest.  The bad news is Brigham was hit on the lower leg by a comebacker and  had to be carted off.

RF Jim Adduci (.260/.352/.433) hit his fifth homer and walked, while 3B Alex Buchholz clubbed his first.  LF Aaron Cunningham doubled and singled.

AA: at Frisco 4, San Antonio (SDG) 3
Record: 24-20, -1.0

By his own admission, Colby Lewis isn't ready for Major League hitters.  In 2.1 innings, Lewis allowed a solo homer, double and two other hits leading to two runs.  He struck out three.  Lewis threw 47 pitches, none of which exceeded 87 on the stadium gun.

Kevin Pucetas stranded two Lewis runners, gave up a run of his own and struck out six in 4.2 innings of relief.  Rehabbing Kyle McClellan allowed a hit and fanned one in a scoreless 8th, and Justin Miller worked a 1-2-3 9th.

1B/LF Barrett Serrato is in Frisco for the time being.  Serrato was Texas's 30th rounder last summer and batted .182/.337/.234 for short-season Spokane.  Like OF Hirotoshi Onaka in Round Rock, Serrato is in Frisco just in case.

Frisco won 8-4 on Sunday.  I'd reversed the score.

High-A: off

Low-A: at Hickory 5, Greenville (BOS) 2
Record: 24-19, -2.5

CF Jordan Akins hit his fourth homer and 2B Ryan Rua (.234/.355/.560) tallied his 11th homer and first triple.  Jorge Alfaro (.230/.250/.355) also tripled for the first time, was hit by a pitch and threw out one of two runners.

The Drive tallied nine hits off Connor Sadzeck (2.55 ERA) in six innings but none with runners in scoring position.  Sadzeck unleashed two wild pitches but walked zero and struck out five.  The damage was limited to two runs, one unearned.  His rapid improvement in control has been remarkable.  Last year, Sadzeck walked or hit an unnerving 21% of his opponents (59 free passes of some variety in just 62 innings).  This year: 5%, far below the league average.  Cody Kendall produced a hitless 7th and 8th, and Alexander Claudio (1.57 ERA) fanned the side in the 9th.

Greenville is 4-18 on the road.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
A slow day with two teams off.  Clinton's Derek Holland gave up two runs in six innings, walking none and striking out three.

Today's Starters
AAA: Martin Perez
AA: off
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/19

Stars of the Day
AAA: Ryan Feierabend / Mike Bianucci, Chris McGuiness
AA: Alejandro Selen, Guilder Rodriguez
Hi-A: Luke Jackson
Lo-A: CJ Edwards, Luis Parra, Keone Kela, Ryan Bores, Alexander Claudio / Lewis Brinson, Joey Gallo

AAA: at Round Rock 1, Colorado Springs (COL) 3
Record: 22-21, -3.5

Just-activated DH Mike Bianucci doubled and walked.  Bianucci batted .277/.331/.463 with 15 homers in 89 games for Round Rock last year and achieved 30 homers twice in five seasons.  He turns 27 next month.  Also joining Round Rock is RHP Arlett Mavare, promoted from Frisco.  Mavare briefly resided in Round Rock last year as an end-of-season placeholder but made no appearances.  This time, he pitched on his first day with the club and allowed two runs in the 10th.

Chris McGuiness (.328/.442/.547 in May) was 2-4 with a double.  Starter Ryan Feierabend (4.24 ERA) gave up a single run in seven innings.

I'm looking forward to Josh Lindblom's start.  On twitter, I called him "two-pitch pitcher, really,"  while the eminently trustworthy Jason Cole concurrently tweeted that he had "four usable pitches."  Cole also elicited an encouraging review of Lindblom's arsenal from Express pitching coach Brad Holman.  I've seen Lindblom in person three times but not since April 26th.  His change was located pretty well but usually flat, and his curve was all over the place (but, sometimes, in the right place).  His fastball and slider are solid.  Given the events of last night, Texas needs at least five innings from him.

Here's video of Lindblom I shot last month.

In other news, Jurickson Profar is a Texas Ranger.

AA: at Frisco 4, San Antonio (SDG) 8
Record: 23-20, -2.0

Neil Ramirez surrendered three runs on a solo homer and five other hits and three walks.  Ramirez (3.19 ERA) needed 92 pitches to complete five innings.  With five strikeouts, Ramirez owns the organization lead at 60 and ranks sixth in the minor leagues.  Phil Klein (2.19 ERA) also walked three in his four innings but struck out four and allowed one run.  DH Alejandro Selen doubled and hit his second homer, and 3B Guilder Rodriguez was 3-4 with a double.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 1, at Wilmington (KC) 2
Record: 27-16, +5.5

Luke Jackson (2.61 ERA) gave up a solo homer and two other hits in five innings.  Jackson allowed both Wilmington runs, walked three and struck out six.  The Pelicans were held to six singles and Chris Grayson's triple.  Rougned Odor (0-4, 3 strikeouts) stole his 12th base.

Low-A (1): Hickory 4, at Delmarva (BAL) 1 (7 innings)
Low-A (2): Hickory 1, at Delmarva (BAL) 0 (7 innings)
Record: 23-19, -2.5

Luis Parra (3 IP), Keone Kela (1), Ryan Bores (2) and Alexander Claudio (1) combined on a seven-inning no-hitter in the back end of Sunday's doubleheader.  The 21-year-old lefty Parra was making his first full-season appearance after four summers split between the complex league and the Dominican Republic.  He walked one and struck out three.  It's Hickory's second no-hitter as a Texas affiliate, the first occurring in 2009 by Martin Perez, Tyler Tufts and Fabio Castillo.  Joey Gallo (2-3) singled and scored following a Nomar Mazara single and Jordan Akins groundout.

Hickory one-hit the Shorebirds across 14 innings courtesy of CJ Edwards' complete-game one-hitter.  Edwards (2.05 ERA) walked two and struck out seven.  There's no rush, but Edwards and Myrtle Beach seem to be a nice pairing.  Though relatively new to professional baseball, he's perhaps older than you'd think, having turned 21 last September.

Gallo (.224/.327/.537) hit his 12th homer and doubled in the opener.  Lewis Brinson (.231/.289/.451) hit a three-run bomb, his 10th. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Tommy Hunter had a sparkling AA debut, permitting only one run in seven innings with no walks and four strikeouts.  Max Ramirez and Chris Davis hit solo homers, numbers 9 and 11, respectively.  Oklahoma's Nelson Cruz homered twice (#12 and 13) and walked twice, and Taylor Teagarden hit his first AAA homer.

Today's Starters
AAA: Jake Brigham
AA: Colby Lewis
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/18

Stars of the Day
AAA: Scott Richmond, Neal Cotts / Jurickson Profar, Alex Buchholz
AA: Ryan Rodebaugh / Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: Nick Martinez / Kellin Deglan, Trever Adams

AAA: at Round Rock 6, Colorado Springs (COL) 5
Record: 22-20, -2.5

Jurickson Profar (.278/.370/.438) homered twice in one game for first time professionally: in the 3rd off Drew Carpenter and in the 7th off Manny Corpas, Colorado's closer many a year ago.  The latter one broke a 5-5 tie.  Profar also singled. 

Neal Cotts fanned two in a spotless 9th.  He only struck out one of two lefties faced, so his strikeout rate against them fell to 69%.  Newcomer Scott Richmond gave up a run in four innings with two hits, two walks and four strikeouts.  Alex Buchholz doubled twice.

SP Brad Mills was DL'ed.

AA: at Frisco 6, San Antonio (SDG) 9
Record: 22-20, -2.0

CF Jared Hoying departed with an apparent hamstring injury after a double.  DH Teodoro Martinez (.275/.320/.418) was 2-3 with a walk and his fourth homer.

In two-thirds of an inning, Wilmer Font (1.93 ERA) gave up three hits and three runs, season highs for both.  Starter Tyler Tufts (4.81 ERA was touched for six runs in three frames.  Ryan Rodebaugh (2.88 ERA) walked and struck out three in three scoreless and hitless innings.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 4, at Wilmington (KC) 5
Record: 27-15, +6.5

Myrtle Beach lost a 4-3 lead on a two-run homer by Kenny Swab off Nick McBride, who pitched the 6th.  Nick Martinez (2.82 ERA) surrendered three runs (two earned) in five innings on five hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

Catcher Kellin Deglan (.210/.316/.500) hit his eighth homer and walked.  DH Trever Adams (.264/.328/.428) drew three walks.

Low-A: Hickory at Delmarva (BAL) rained out

Two today.  Hickory also DL'ed RHP Kelvin Vasquez in Friday's flurry of transactions.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Opening a doubleheader, Frisco's Matt Harrison threw 120 pitches, an extraordinarily high number for a pitcher at that level.  He also walked six, his most as a professional.  The result: the first "complete-game" (seven-inning) no-hitter in Frisco history.  Frisco was one-hit in the second game.  Clinton's Neftali Feliz’s scoreless streak ended at 23.2 innings, but he allowed just a run in six innings.  Mitch Moreland (.292/.324/.472) cranked his 3rd homer.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend
AA: Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Luke Jackson
Lo-A: Ryan Bores / CJ Edwards

Stars of the Day
AAA: Ross Wolf, Neal Cotts / Jurickson Profar, Chris McGuiness, Alex Buchholz
AA: Carlos Pimentel, Ben Rowen, Justin Miller / Offense
Hi-A: Alec Asher, Randol Rojas / Drew Robinson, Rougned Odor, Royce Bolinger
Lo-A: Tyler Smith / Ryan Rua, Nomar Mazara

AAA: at Round Rock 7, Colorado Springs (COL) 4
Record: 21-20, -3.5

Jurickson Profar (.264/.360/.386) was 3-4 with a double, Chris McGuiness (.267/.393/.504) homered for the sixth time and walked, and Engel Beltre produced a double, sac fly and sac bunt.  DH Alex Buchholz was 3-4.

Neal Cotts (0.82 ERA) fanned two lefties and a righty in a 1-2-3 9th.  Lefties are hitless with three walks and 21 strikeouts in 30 plate appearances against him.  This is unprecedented, as his Major League splits are ordinary and he performed better against righties last year in Round Rock.  Starter Ross Wolf (1.85 ERA) gave up three runs in seven innings.

AA: at Frisco 12, San Antonio (SDG) 1
Record: 22-19, -2.0

Carlos Pimentel (2.93 ERA) pitched well yet again, allowing a run on three hits and a walk in six innings while striking out six.  As a full-time starter for Frisco in 2011, Pimentel walked at least three batters in half of his appearances.  This year, he's done so only one in eight starts. 

Righty Justin Miller pitched in anger for the first time since 2011's Arizona Fall League, producing a spotless 7th with one strikeout.  Miller underwent Tommy John surgery last April. 

Kyle McClellan also made his season debut, working around a walk and single in the 6th.  McClellan was a dark horse candidate for the Texas staff in spring training until suffering a strained rib muscle.

RF Jared Hoying (.237/.299/.428) homered for the fifth time and first time in nearly a month.  He also walked.  Zach Zaneski was 2-4 with his second homer and a walk.  After a terrible start,  DH Chih-Hsien Chiang is now hitting well enough for me to spell his name from memory.  Chiang homered twice, his third and fourth of the season.  2B Odubel Herrera doubled and singled, and 1B Brett Nicholas doubled and walked.  3B Alejandro Selen was 3-4 with a triple.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 12, at Wilmington (KC) 0
Record: 27-14, +7.5

Another night, another 12 runs for Myrtle Beach.  Drew Robinson (.304/.333/.464 in May) and Rougned Odor (.339/.412/.508 in May) were 3-5 with doubles, while Royce Bolinger (.357/.373/.554 in May) went 2-5 and hit a three-run homer (his fourth) in the 1st.

21-year-old Alec Asher continues to impress, shutting down the Blue Rocks for six innings on five hits, no walks and five strikeouts.  Since a rough first start, Asher has posted  a 1.67 ERA with nine walks and 39 strikeouts in 43 innings.  Randol Rojas pitched a perfect 8th and 9th with one strikeout.

Low-A: Hickory 2, at Delmarva (BAL) 5
Record: 21-19, -4.0

RF Nomar Mazara (.212/.275/.358) doubled, singled and walked.  Ryan Rua (.233/.352/.5412) was 2-3 with his 10th homer, one of only 16 minor leaguers with that many.  Hickory struck out 18 times, tying a season high.  For the first time, Lewis Brinson donned the platinum visor (not an official term like golden sombrero) after his fifth strikeout.

Tyler Smith (3.89 ERA) held the Shorebirds to an unearned run in five innings on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.  Delmarva touched Joe Burns (6.75 ERA) for four runs in the 7th.  Burns struck out four in two innings.

Fresh off the DL, Jose Valdespina struck out two in a scoreless 9th.  Hickory also activated RHP Keone Kela, out since the second game of the season with arm trouble.  RHP Josh McElwee was sent back to Arizona, and RHP Coby Cowgill was released.  Last year's 23rd rounder, Cowgill posted a 3.09 ERA despite more walks than strikeouts in 32 innings among Hickory and both short-season squads.  He's already been picked up by the Padres.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas promoted Tommy Hunter to AA.  When affiliated with Bakersfield at the high-A level, Texas tended to minimize the time its better pitchers spent there.  Bakersfield was (is) one of the worst facilities in professional baseball in a very offense-oriented league.  Neftali Feliz and Martin Perez skipped it altogether.  Derek Holland made five starts at the level, and Blake Beavan, Joe Wieland and Robbie Ross were there for about half a season.  Hunter lasted less than two months.  In fitting tribute to his departure, Bakersfield lost 11-10 at Lancaster, not an uncommon score for that location.  Now under new ownership, Bakersfield announced plans for a new stadium last November. 

Today's Starters
AAA: TBA
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Nick Martinez
Lo-A: Kelvin Vasquez

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/16

The Houston Astros announced Reid Ryan as team president.  Per various reports, Astros owner Jim Crane has also reached an agreement to purchase the Corpus Christi Hooks from Ryan-Sanders Baseball, pending shareholder approval.  So, Crane's brashly expressed desire to buy a minor-league team two months ago has come to fruition almost immediately. 

Round Rock Express ownership remains unchanged.  Per the Express, "The transition announced today will have no effect on the player development relationship between the Express and Texas Rangers. The working agreement between Triple-A Round Rock and its Major League parent club continues through the 2018 season."

Stars of the Day
AAA: Johan Yan / Aaron Cunningham
AA: Arlett Mavare / Odubel Herrera, Jared Hoying Chih-Hsien Chiang
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff / Luis Sardinas, Royce Bolinger, Kevin Torres, Trever Adams
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner / Lewis Brinson, Nick Vickerson, Nick Urbanus, Luis Marte

AAA: at Round Rock 3, Colorado Springs (COL) 5
Record: 20-20, -4.5

The rehabbing Martin Perez completed five innings on just 65 pitches and struck out five.  Highlights included Tommy Manzella swinging through three straight changeups and Tyler Colvin gawking at a slider-curve-fastball combo for another three-pitch K.  Perez's fastball ranged from 90-96 MPH, mostly 93-94, plus an 81-86 change, high-70s curve and low-80s slider.  As is usually the case at this level, his change was the most effective, but his fastball was sharper than what I saw in most of his 2012 outings.

Unfortunately, Perez's second inning was a mess: a walk and HBP to open the frame followed eventually by three hits (two firmly struck, one a bloop) that plated four runs.  Perez threw harder but lost enough command to create trouble.  Jurickson Profar prevented further damage with a diving catch of a liner and the wherewithal to spot and gun down a runner heading home on a deflected grounder up the middle. 

Perez finished with seven hits and those four runs allowed.  For the most part, he looked very good.  Rotation-worthy, let's say.  The problem is, at the Major League level, it's also the kind of performance that has the bullpen warming in the 2nd inning and steam billowing from Ron Washington's ears.

Lisalverto Bonilla (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) unleashed plenty of devastating changeups and a pitch that Lars Davis cranked over the right-center fence.  Johan Yan's arsenal featured plenty of hard sink; he struck out three in 2.2 scoreless innings marred by a single walk.

Round Rock was helpless early against lefty Drew Pomeranz's hard fastball and singular curve, which doesn't look like much out of his hand but often develops a weird, left-leaning fade as it reaches the plate.  Profar (.250/.350/.368) singled and walked, as did CF Engel Beltre (.277/.326/.343).  DH Aaron Cunningham doubled twice. 

Video of Perez and Bonilla.

AA: at Frisco 5, Midland (OAK) 4
Record: 21-19, -2.0

Chih-Hsien Chiang's infield single plated 2B Odubel Herrera to win the game with two out in the 9th.  Chiang also doubled twice, and Herrera (.252/.269/.323) was 4-5 with two doubles and a triple.  Never the most patient fellow, Herrera has only four walks this season and has 117 straight appearances without one.   RF Jared Hoying tripled and walked.  Following a terrific April, Hoying has slumped badly in May (.143/.183/.196). 

Richard Bleier (4.50 ERA) gave up two runs in four innings, and Arlett Mavare struck out three across a scoreless  5th and 6th.

RHP Randy Henry was placed on the DL with an ulnar nerve injury.  Henry had pitched very well, often in long relief of the struggling Cody Buckel, and had held opponents to a .179/.225/.262 line in 24.1 innings. 

High-A: Myrtle Beach 12, at Winston-Salem (CHA) 3
Record: 26-14, +7.5

Once the doormat of the league, offensively speaking, Myrtle Beach has averaged 6.2 runs per game in May, albeit with a vanilla line of .265/.322/.388.  Yesterday, the Pelicans cranked out 18 hits including a second consecutive four-hit game from Luis Sardinas (.307/.361/.387), who missed the cycle by a homer and stole his 12th base.  He's one of only seven hitters in the league batting over .300.

2B Rougned Odor, pulled mid-game the night before, contributed a single and double.  RF Royce Bolinger was 2-4 with a walk and his fifth steal, and DH Trever Adams and 1B Kevin Torres had three hits.

Jerad Eickhoff (4.36 ERA) didn't pitch to the score, holding the Dash to a run on four hits, a walk and three strikeouts in six innings.

Low-A: Hickory 6, at Delmarva (BAL) 8
Record: 21-18, -3.0

Lewis Brinson (.238/.299/.456) led off the game with his ninth homer and later walked.  SS Luis Marte (.250/.281/.319) was 2-3 with a walk, and DH Nick Urbanus had three singles.  LF Nick Vickerson is making the most of Nick Williams' protracted absence, going 4-4 with a walk to improve to .387/.472/.645 in eight games.  This is Vickerson's first action in full-season ball after two summers in Spokane, where he didn't hit much.  Hickory committed four errors and hit into five double plays.

Sam Stafford (10.20 ERA) allowed five runs on six hits and a walked before being pulled with two out in the 1st.  Opponents are reaching at a .513 clip.  He can't be long for the rotation at this rate, if only to get someone more assured of chewing through a few innings.  In his 2013 debut, Andrew Faulkner stranded two Stafford runners and got Hickory through the 5th with one unearned run allowed and four strikeouts.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
John Mayberry started at first base for the first time as a professional. The switch didn’t affect his bat, as he singled and hit a solo homer, his eighth of the season.  I'd forgotten he'd played there as a Ranger.  Mayberry made only four starts at the position in 2008 and has 29 in the Majors.  Eric Hurley was roughed up, and he and manager Bobby Jones were ejected after the 5th inning.  Clinton's Blake Beavan (4.50 ERA) gave up homers in each of the first three innings. Six runs scored against Beavan, who didn’t walk or strike out anyone. The bullpen trio of Ryan Tatusko, Fabio Castillo and Hector Nelo shut out the Kernels over the last seven innings. 

Today's Starters
AAA: Randy Wolf
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Tyler Smith

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/15

Stars of the Day
AA: Phil Klein, Ben Rowen / Teodoro Martinez, Guilder Rodriguez
Hi-A: Victor Payano / Luis Sardinas, Rougned Odor, Kellin Deglan
Lo-A: Ryan Bores / Nick Vickerson, Joey Gallo, Ryan Rua, David Lyon

AAA: off

Various reports have Reid Ryan replacing George Postolos as president of the Astros.  Ryan is the current president/CEO of Ryan Sanders Baseball, which owns the Express and Corpus Christi Hooks. 

Roy Oswalt won't pitch for Colorado Springs during its series in Round Rock.  He's still at extended spring training.  I suspect he'd still get a warm reception at the Diamond despite 2012.

AA: at Frisco 4, Midland (OAK) 8
Record: 20-19, -3.0

Kevin Pucetas was hammered (3.1 IP, 8 R) but three relievers combined for 5.2 scoreless innings.  Phil Klein (1.93 ERA) struck out three across two frames, Ben Rowen (0.96 ERA) tossed 2.2 innings with one strikeouts, and Wilmer Font fanned two and walked one in the 9th.

LF Teodoro Martinez (.263/.306/.388) had a career day: 4-4 with his second and third homers of the year.  Guilder Rodriguez walked twice and singled.

If you're the type who delves into the stats, note that pitch-by-pitch data haven't been recorded correctly the past two days.  For example, the gameday data lists every walk as a four-pitch at-bat and almost every ball in play as a one-pitch at-bat.  That's why Rowen allegedly retired eight batters on just 15 pitches yesterday.  Any person (like me) or site that compiles and analyzes AA data is dealing with bogus information.  Irritating.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 9, at Winston-Salem (CHA) 2
Record: 25-14, +6.5

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure I've never reported two base-clearing triples in the same inning.  Luis Sardinas and Kellin Deglan did just that as part of a nine-run 3rd.  Sardinas (.290/.350/.352), who turns 20 today, also had three singles.  Rougned Odor (.293/.364/.489) was 2-2 with a hit-by-pitch.

Lefty Victor Payano (3.83 ERA) yielded a run in 6.2 innings on three hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Low-A: at Hickory 8, West Virginia (PIT) 7 (10 innings)
Record: 21-17, -2.0

Hickory squandered a three-run lead in the 9th and surrendered another run in the 10th but scored twice in the bottom half to win.  Errors factored in all the scoring.  With Joey Gallo on second and Ryan Rua at first in the 10th, Jordan Akins hit what could have been a game-ending double-play grounder, but pitcher Kyle Hanes threw the ball away.  Gallo scored, and catcher David Lyon singled home Rua for the victory. 

Gallo (.216/.325/.530) was 0-3 with two strikeouts midway through the game but added his 11th homer and seventh double.  Lyon (.196/.293/.314) also homered for the first time.  Also going deep were Rua (#9) and LF Nick Vickerson (#1).  Rua (.228/.344/.528) added three walks.

Hickory is on pace for 225 homers and 1,488 strikeouts, both of which would obliterate existing league records.  The august New York Times wrote of Hickory and baseball's increasing strikeout rate yesterday.

Connor Sadzeck (2.70 ERA) struck out four and walked one in five innings; he allowed three runs on five hits.  Opponents are hitting .226/.273/.314 against him.  Ryan Bores (3.77 ERA) fanned one in 2.2 scoreless innings.

Lefty Andrew Faulkner has replaced Ryne Slack on the roster.  The 20-year-old Faulkner, Texas's 14th rounder from 2011, threw 94 innings for Hickory last year, posting a 4.31 ERA and 74 strikeouts.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Oklahoma's Nelson Cruz (.345/.480/.707) went 3-6 with a triple and his 12th stolen base.  Jason Botts thumped a two-run homer, and  Taylor Teagarden (.289/.449/.368 in AAA) singled and walked twice.  Frisco's Chris Davis (.340/.384/.607) went 4-4 with three doubles and a walk to lead a 16-9 victory.  Low-A Clinton's Derek Holland struck out six in five innings, and Mitch Moreland walked and singled twice.

Today's Starters
AAA: Martin Perez
AA: Richard Bleier
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: Sam Stafford

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/14

Stars of the Day
AAA: none
AA: Neil Ramirez / Brett Nicholas
Hi-A: Nick McBride
Lo-A: CJ Edwards, Alexander Claudio / Lewis Brinson

AAA: Round Rock 1, at Tucson (SDG) 12
Record: 20-19, -3.5

Tucson pinned nine runs on Jake Brigham (16.71 ERA) in the 2nd on eight hits, a walk, a hit batter and Brigham's own error.  Brigham lasted 1.2 innings and struck out two.  He was pitching on one day of rest (admittedly, just a 14-pitch outing) as the replacement for Colby Lewis, whose rehab has been postponed for a week.

Jurickson Profar (2-4, /250/.349/.371) was the only hitter to reach twice.  Like last year, Round Rock finished its first western road trip 2-6. 

Ex-Ranger Wilfredo Boscan tossed five scoreless innings for the Padres.  He was bumped up recently despite a lackluster showing in AA and has pitched well at the higher level.

Texas signed RHP Scott Richmond, who had been pitching in Korea.  Well, he was in Korea, at least.  I found a story that he'd injured a knee in Spring Training and would be out for a while.  I can't find any English statistics for the league, and my Korean is rough.  In any case, Richmond's a nice story: undrafted, three years in indy ball, signed to the Blue Jays at age 28, Major League debut that very season.  Regarding the Rangers, I'm betting he's bound for the Round Rock rotation.

AA: at Frisco 2, Midland (OAK) 6
Record: 20-18, -2.0

Neil Ramirez fanned 11 and walked none in seven innings.  Ramirez typically ranged from 93-96 MPH and touched 98.  Ramirez (2.93 ERA) allowed three runs on a solo homer and two other hits.  Ramirez once again leads the Texas League and Rangers' system with 55 strikeouts.

Ex-Astro farmhand Jake Goebbert hit a three-run homer off Ryan Rodebaugh (3.27 ERA).  

Brett Nicholas (.295/.356/.591) hit his 10th homer and fifth in seven days.  I haven't written much about Nicholas over the years.  He entered 2013 as a 24-year-old 1B with 17 homers in 242 games.  If he keeps going yard, I'll write more. 

High-A: Myrtle Beach 2, at Winston-Salem (CHA) 5
Record: 24-14, +5.5

Luke Jackson (2.48 ERA) escaped serious damage until the 5th, when two walks, a single and two doubles plated four.  Jackson allowed five runs in five innings on seven hits, four walks and four strikeouts.  Nick McBride (1.23 ERA) pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th and struck out three.

Royce Bolinger (.240/.291/.395) had two of Myrtle Beach's six hits.  Rougned Odor (1-4) stole his 10th base.

RHP Jon Edwards was DL'ed and replaced by RHP Jose Monegro.

Low-A: at Hickory 2, West Virginia (PIT) 1
Record: 20-17, -2.0

CJ Edwards (2.18 ERA) walked a career-high five and needed 100 pitches (give or take) to complete 5.2 innings, but he allowed just a run on six hits and struck out eight.  Jose LeClerc (1.1 IP, 2 SO) and Alexander Claudio (2 IP, 2 SO) permitted no runners.

CF Lewis Brinson (.238/.299/.450) was 2-3 with a double and walk.  He also stole his sixth base and was caught for the second time.

Joey Gallo finally got a day off.  Jorge Alfaro is getting one today. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
A hailstorm knocked out my power, my roof and my car.  In Midland, Frisco's Chris Davis knocked out homer #10, Ben Harrison #6 (and his 2nd in two nights).  Luis Mendoza had to depart 34 pitches into his rehab start because of a blister.  Bakersfield's Tommy Hunter yielded two runs over eight innings, walking none and striking out eight. In nine starts, Hunter had a total of eight walks.

Today's Starters
AAA: off
AA: Kevin Pucetas
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/13

Stars of the Day
AAA: Chris McGuiness, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Tyler Tufts, Arlett Mavare / Brett Nicholas, Chih-Hsien Chiang
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter / Rougned Odor, Trever Adams, Preston Beck
Lo-A: John Kukuruda / Nomar Mazara, Jorge Alfaro, Lewis Brinson

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Tucson (SDG) 6 (10 innings)
Record: 20-18, -2.5

A day after losing a 6-2 lead in the 9th, Round Rock lost on a wild pitch in a dismal 10th.  Lisalverto Bonilla gave up a leadoff triple to Cody Decker, walked ex-Ranger Gregorio Petit, let Petit reach second on defensive indifference and uncorked a game-losing wild pitch.  In the top half, Chris McGuiness was stranded after leading off with one of his two doubles.  Round Rock had erased a three-run deficit in the 9th.  Tying run Greg Miclat scored on consecutive wild pitches by Colt Hynes.

McGuiness also walked.  He's accrued 12 hits and five walks during the first seven games of the trip to hitter-friendly Vegas and Tucson.  Yangervis Solarte was 3-5.  Starter Ryan Feierabend (5.51 ERA) gave up four runs in six innings.

AA: at Frisco 4, Midland 0
Record: 20-17, -2.0

Tyler Tufts (5 IP, 1SO) and three friends combined on a five-hit shutout.  Arlett Mavare (10.29 ERA), who has found AA quite the challenge, struck out three across the 6th and 7th.  Roman Mendez fanned two in a perfect 9th.

Brett Nicholas (.292/.352/.569) homered for the ninth time, already a career best, and doubled.  Chih-Hsien Chiang hit his second homer and singled.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 8, Salem (BOS) 3
Record: 24-13, +6.5, 7-game win streak

2B Rougned Odor (.283/.354/.488) and DH Trever Adams (.257/.312/.429) doubled and singled, while RF Preston Beck (.225/.323/.300) contributed a single and triple.  Luis Sardinas (.279/.344/.331) was 2-5 with his 11th steal.

Nick Martinez (2.72 ERA) struck out two, walked one and allowed six hits leading to three runs in six innings.  Joe Van Meter (2.57 ERA) retired nine straight, four on strikeouts.

Low-A: at Hickory 5, West Virginia (PIT) 9
Record: 19-17, -3.0

In recent history, the most games by a Texas minor-league teenager is Engel Beltre's 130 with Clinton.  (And that 130 includes a few punitive 1st-inning removals.)  Hickory currently has four teens on pace for more, including Joey Gallo, the only Ranger minor leaguer to take the field in every game this season.  The Hickory roster has featured only 11 position players most of the season, limiting opportunities for rest.  I wonder if Hickory will revert to a more typical 12 hitters when 1B Ronald Guzman and OF Nick Williams are activated.  The Crawdads are five games into a run of 40 in 40 days (one day off, one impending doubleheader). 

Perhaps he'd disagree, but Gallo (.209/.322/.504) seems primed for a day off.  After yesterday's 0-4, Gallo is 2-24 with 13 strikeouts in his last seven games.  OF Lewis Brinson (.230/.288/.439) led off the 1st with his eighth homer.  RF Nomar Mazara (.211/.268/.359) was 3-5 with a double, and Jorge Alfaro (.248/.326/.528) posted a most unusual line: 0-1, two walks, two HBPs.

For the third straight game, Hickory's starter imploded in the 3rd.  Kelvin Vasquez (6.49 ERA) lasted 2.1 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on six hits, a walk and a strikeout.  He was admittedly victimized by some seeing-eye hits and bad defense, but Vasquez himself committed two errors.  John Kukuruda's control wasn't sharp (4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 SO) but  he provided some badly needed innings.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Oklahoma's Taylor Teagarden worked behind the plate on three consecutive days for the first time since September 2005. He walked twice and doubled and was up to .215/.342/.333 on the season.  Frisco's Matt Harrison tossed 5.2 strong innings with one run allowed, one walk, and five strikeouts.  Clinton's Neftali Feliz struck out four and walked one in five scoreless innings, while Mitch Moreland doubled and homered (#2), driving in three.

Today's Starters
AAA: TBA (Not Colby Lewis)
AA: Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Luke Jackson
Lo-A: CJ Edwards

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/12

Lefty Martin Perez was optioned to AA Frisco.  Per at least one local report, he'll be in Round Rock soon.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Josh Lindblom / Chris McGuiness, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Carlos Pimentel / Brett Nicholas, Ryan Strausborger
Hi-A: Alec Asher, Francisco Mendoza / Drew Robinson
Lo-A: Joe Burns / Ryan Rua, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Vickerson

AAA: Round Rock 6, at Tucson (SDG) 7
Record: 20-17, -2.5

Up 6-2 in the 9th, Jake Brigham and Cory Burns combined to retire just one batter.  After Brigham allowed a single and walked two, the heretofore 0.00 ERA-holding Burns issued a bases-loaded walk, and a Brandon Allen single scored two more.  Burns then balked in the tying run.  A single, intentional walk and another single completed the meltdown.  Burns' ERA jumped to 1.38 in 13 innings.

Starter Josh Lindblom (2.08 ERA) had no trouble in the desert conditions, throwing 70 of 97 pitches for strikes and allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out two.

Engel Beltre (.288/.335/.353) was 2-5 but ran into outs both times he reached safely, once caught stealing and once attempting to stretch out a triple.  1B Chris McGuiness (.277/.407/.504) doubled and singled, as did Yangervis Solarte (.252/.311/.363).  Playing second base, Jurickson Profar (.244/.350/.374) singled and walked.

AA: Frisco 5, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 2
Record: 19-17, -2.0

Nine strikeouts raised Carlos Pimentel's total to 51, most in the Texas League and the Rangers' minor-league system.  In five innings, Pimentel (3.07 ERA) gave up a two-run homer, one other hit and two walks.  He also allowed a homer, his fifth in 41 innings.  Outside of 2012, Pimentel has always been homer-prone.  His strikeouts and control are without precedent. 

Wilmer Font earned his sixth save and struck out two in the 9th.  1B Brett Nicholas (.286/.348/.540) was 3-4 with a three-run homer, his eighth, and Ryan Strausborger (.182/.250/.339) singled and hit his fourth homer.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 4, Salem (BOS) 3
Record: 23-13, +6.5, 6-game win streak

Despite two homers, Alec Asher (3.10 ERA) gave up just three runs in seven innings, walking two and striking out five.  Francisco Mendoza (7.50 ERA) took care of the 8th and 9th with three strikeouts.  He's pitched capably in three of four outings.

Drew Robinson (.308/.349/.487 in May) tripled and singled, the former plating the tying and go-ahead runs in the 7th.  LF Royce Bolinger and 2B Edwin Garcia singled twice.

In Houston-affiliated high-A Lancaster, Kyle Hallock and Luis Cruz combined on a no-hitter.  Lancaster is among the most hostile parks to pitchers in the US.

Low-A: Hickory 8, at Charleston (NYY) 9
Record: 19-16, -2.0

Hickory's bats awakened after a three-day slumber.  2B Ryan Rua (.220/.326/.508) homered twice, giving him eight on the season, already a career-high.  Unlike most of his teammates, the 23-year-old spent two summers in short-season ball and is older than the league-average hitter by about 18 months.  In the 9th, Jorge Alfaro (.250/.309/.532) clubbed his ninth homer.  RF Nomar Mazara (.195/.256/.341) doubled and singled, and the sparingly used Nick Vickerson doubled twice.

Like Sam Stafford on Saturday, Tyler Smith (4.50 ERA) sailed through only slightly turbulent waters for two innings before running aground in the 3rd.  Five hits and a hit-by-pitch ended his night at 2.2 innings and 67 pitches, and a three-run homer off Coby Cowgill brought home two bequeathed runners.  All told, Smith allowed six runs.  He walked and struck out two.  Joe Burns (2.45 ERA) tossed a couple of scoreless innings.

In the four-game series, Hickory scored ten runs, drew eight walks and struck out 55 times. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Warner Madrigal earned his first AAA save and struck out three.  Taylor Teagarden was steadily catching two of every three games in Oklahoma.  Teagarden had undergone Tommy John surgery in 2006 and caught only sparingly during 2007.  Bakersfield's Marcus Lemon reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and came all the way around to score when no one could retrieve the ball from the bullpen, which is in play.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Nick Martinez
Lo-A: Kelvin Vasquez

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/11

Stars of the Day
AAA: Ross Wolf / Jim Adduci
AA: Ryan Rodebaugh / Tomas Telis
Hi-A: Rougned Odor, Royce Bollinger, Kellin Deglan
Lo-A: Jose LeClerc / Nomar Mazara

AAA: Round Rock 1, at Tucson (SDG) 6
Record: 20-16, -2.5

After 6.2 strong innings from Ross Wolf (1 run, 5 strikeouts), Evan Meek was stuck for five runs while retiring only two batters.  Meek was an All-Star with the Pirates in 2010, partly by fallback, as Pittsburgh was truly terrible, but he was exceptionally potent for a while.  He's striking out plenty of hitters with the Express but has an opposing OBP hovering well over .400.

Jurickson Profar (.244/.348/.378) singled and walked.  OF Jim Adduci (.258/.342/.438) doubled twice.  OF Joey Butler returned to the lineup and contributed a double and walk.  He'd been out with a hamstring injury. 

AA: Frisco 3, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 9
Record: 18-17, -3.0

Martin Perez's second rehab appearance was moved up a day, albeit still on normal rest.  After retiring five batters on just ten pitches, Perez yielded nine hits (including a homer) and two walks (one intentional) to the next 17 batters.  In 3.1 innings and a 57 pitches (short of his 70+ goal), he allowed eight runs.  Well, it is rehab.

Ryan Rodebaugh (2.25 ERA) stranded two Perez runners and fanned five in 2.2 perfect innings. 

Frisco had one walk and no extra-base hits.  Catcher Tomas Telis (.284/.306/.358) led the modest attack with three singles.  The Riders have scored at nearly the league-average rate of 4.2 runs per game despite a .287 OBP and .352 slugging percentage, both worst in the league.

I reversed yesterday's score.  Frisco lost 9-4. 

Northwest Arkansas beat Springfield 5-4 in 20 innings. 

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 9, Salem (BOS) 8
Record: 22-13, +5.5, 5-game win streak

Drew Robinson singled home Jake Skole (who'd walked) for the walk-off victory.  Robinson also singled earlier, as did Skole.  The Pelicans received two-run homers from Rougned Odor (his 4th), Kellin Deglan (7th) and Royce Bolinger (3rd).  SS Luis Sardinas was 2-5 with a double and steal, though he did fail to execute a sac bunt in the 9th. 

Jerad Eickhoff gave up four 1st-inning runs and two solo homers across four more innings.  He walked one and struck out four.  His 4.82 ERA doesn't do him justice.  He's pitched respectably or better in six of his eight starts.  Righty Ryan Harvey gave up an unearned run in two innings and struck out three.  He's bit prone to walk or hit righties but is holding everyone to a .156/.286/.219 line.

Low-A: Hickory 0, at Charleston (NYY) 8
Record: 19-15, -1.5

Second verse, same as the first.  Hickory put eight runners on base and struck out 14 times.  The Crawdads have 20 more homers and 55 more strikeouts than the nearest competitor.  RF Nomar Mazara was 2-4 with a double.

Sam Stafford (7.53 ERA) was decent for two innings but couldn't escape the 3rd, surrendering a single and three consecutive walks, followed by a strikeout on a ball-four-quality pitch and another single.  Stafford struck out two and gave up five runs in 2.1 innings.  Ryan Bores (2.2 IP, 4 H) didn't let any of his own runners score but couldn't strand either of Stafford's.  Jose LeClerc (2 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) had the most success.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas replaced the DL'ed Kevin Millwood with Doug Mathis.  Mathis made his MLB debut that night, pitching a scoreless 10th and getting the decision in a 13-12 victory over Seattle.  Texas had blown a four-run lead in the 9th. 

Oklahoma's Taylor Teagarden (.286/.429/.357 in AAA) tripled for the first time in three years.  Clinton OF Engel Beltre swung at the first pitch he saw to lead off the game and was promptly replaced in the field by Miguel Alonzo.  I referred to Blake Beavan's strange lack of strikeouts in his first three professional starts as a "pretty good Bob Tewksbury impression."  Little did we know…

Today's Starters
AAA: Tyler Smith
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Josh Lindblom

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/10

Stars of the Day
AAA: Neal Cotts, Johan Yan / the offense
AA: Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: Victor Payano / Luis Sardinas, Royce Bolinger
Lo-A: none

AAA: Round Rock 12, at Las Vegas 6
Record: 20-15, -2.5

The Vegas hitting environment is such that I can tweet about Round Rock's 12 runs and be asked, with no irony, "did they win?"  They did.  Round Rock put 26 runners on base, and only DH Alex Buchholz failed to reach safely twice.  LF Aaron Cunningham led with four hits including a double plus his third steal.  2B Greg Miclat was 3-4 with a walk.  After starting the game with a strikeout and double-play grounder, Jurickson Profar contributed a double and single.  CF Engel Beltre reached on two singles and an intentional walk, and 1B Chris McGuiness was 2-4 with a double and two walks.

Neal Cotts (2 IP, 2 H ,3 SO) and Johan Yan (2 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) handled the conditions with aplomb.  Cotts faced only one lefty and struck him out, of course.  Starter Brad Mills (3.71 ERA) gave up the runs in five innings on eight hits and two walks.

AA: Frisco 9, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 4
Record: 18-16, -2.0

Frisco used three pitchers.  Houston's Domingo Santana homered off all of them.  The last came against Roman Mendez, who hadn't given up a run this season.  Mendez did retire four batters, two via strikeout.  Starter Kevin Pucetas (4.04 ERA) allowed five runs in five innings.  Frisco had only four hits including the first homer of the season from LF Teodoro Martinez (.221/.243/.279)

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 5, Salem (BOS) 1
Record: 21-13, +4.5

With seven strikeouts after four no-hit innings, Victory Payano seemed poised to challenge his career-high of 11.  Payano (4.29 ERA) settled for "only" nine but worked seven scoreless innings with two hits and three walks.  He ranks second in the league with 46 Ks and retook the organization lead from Neil Ramirez, who has 44.

The recently potent Pelican offense knocked out 11 hits including two by Royce Bolinger (including a double), 1B Trever Adams and LF Jake Skole.  3B Drew Robinson (.220/.307/.340) reached on a double and walk, and SS Luis Sardinas (.270/.343/.320) walked twice and singled.

Low-A: Hickory 1, at Charleston (NYY) 8
Record: 19-14, -1.0

The Crawdads are talented, athletic, fun to watch.  They're also very young and on the raw side, so on occasion they're going to put all their weaknesses on glorious display at once.  Facing well-regarded Yankees prospect Rafael de Paula (40% strikeout rate) and relievers Dietrich Enns (43%) and Ben Paullus (25%), Hickory struck out 16 times including four by DH Luis Mendez and three from Joey Gallo and Jorge Alfaro.  They committed five errors.  Connor Sadzeck reverted to his much wilder 2012 form in the 1st, allowing six runs on two walks, a hit batter and five hits.

It wasn't a total loss.  Sadzeck (2.35 ERA), very nearly pulled in the 1st, lasted four more innings while permitting just one baserunner and striking out five. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco's Chris Davis (.326/.363/.570) went 4-4 with a double and two RBI.  Elvis Andrus (.271/.309/.307) singled twice, walked, and stole bases #10 and #11.  In Bakersfield, John Whittleman’s4th homer of the season and two walks led the offense.  Marcus Lemon (.300/.424/.443) doubled and tripled in four at-bats. 

Clinton's Derek Holland missed a complete game by one pitch. Up 2-1 with two out in the 9th, he lost a battle with lefty Dylan Johnston, who lofted a fly over the left field fence to tie the game. Holland finished with 8.2 innings, seven hits, two earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts.  Holland had never surpassed six innings previously.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ross Wolf
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: Sam Stafford

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/9

Stars of the Day
AAA: Chris McGuiness, Aaron Cunningham
AA: Neil Ramirez, Wilmer Font / Brett Nicholas, Guilder Rodriguez
Hi-A: Luke Jackson / Jake Skole, Rougned Odor
Lo-A: CJ Edwards, Alexander Claudio

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Las Vegas 6
Record: 19-15, -2.5

Rehabbing Colby Lewis breezed through the 1st on nine pitches, yielding a grounded double that manager Bobby Jones claimed was foul.  His second and final inning was a mess: 32 pitches, two walks, a wild pitch, three hits and three runs.  He did strike out two.  In any case, the point is he's pitching.  He's on schedule for next Tuesday at Tucson.

Round Rock scored everything in the 7th.  Of particular interest was Jurickson Profar's eight-pitch walk with two on and two out.  Batting .234 and 0-3 on the night, Profar hasn't changed his patient approach.  The walk allowed Chris McGuiness to swing with the bases loaded, and McGuiness supplied a triple.  McGuiness (.271/.400/.505) also singled.  LF Aaron Cunningham (.267/.370/.366) doubled twice.

Cory Burns maintained his perfect ERA but did finally allow an inherited runner to score.  He's fanned 18 in 12.2 innings.

AA: Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 4
Record: 18-15, -1.0

Neil Ramirez (2.75 ERA) struck out nine in 6.2 innings and allowed only four hits and one earned run.  He's holding opponents to a line of .155/.290/.241 with a 32% strikeout rate.  He departed after his first walk, after which reliever Phil Klein walked the bases loaded and LF Chih-Hsien Chiang committed a bases-clearing error.  Ramirez had walked at least two, usually more, in all of his prior starts.

Wilmer Font (0.56 ERA) struck out three and allowed two runners in two innings.  1B Brett Nicholas (.287/.357/.539) singled and hit his seventh homer.   Infielder Guilder Rodriguez was 3-4 with a double and his fifth steal.  Chiang hit his first homer and walked.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 12, Lynchburg (ATL) 3
Record: 20-13, +3.5

19-year-old 2B Rougned Odor (.295/.370/.491) was 3-4, with a triple, walk, four runs scored and three driven in.  Like many players experiencing their first full season, Odor ran out of gas after about three months last year.  We'll see how he responds this time.  CF Jake Skole (.181/.295/.223) drew three walks and singled.  Taking the free pass has always been a strong suit for Skole.  When he has to swing the bat, he's hitting .188 and slugging .253 in 108 career high-A games.

Luke Jackson (1.72 ERA) struck out six, walked two and allowed four hit in five scoreless innings.  Aside from a three-run homer, his line was identical to his previous start.

Low-A: Hickory 2, at Charleston (NYY) 1
Record: 19-13, -0.5

Reigning Pitcher of the Month CJ Edwards (2.27 ERA) worked a career-high seven innings on 82 pitches, striking out eight and allowing a run on four hits and a walk.  Edwards has yet to allow a homer in 102.2 professional innings.  Alexander Claudio (1.88 ERA) walked his first batter and balked him to second, after which he retired six straight for his fourth save.

Hickory struck out 14 times and put only eight runners on base.  RF Nomar Mazara (.182/.250/.327) singled twice.  Catcher Jorge Alfaro (.268/.325/.554) singled and drew a walk.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Bakersfield's Tommy Hunter provided another sturdy performance, allowing two runs in seven innings with and five strikeouts.  Julio Borbon doubled twice in four at-bats. During his last nine games, he was batting .436/.511/.641 with eight doubles.  In Oklahoma, a late two-run homer sullied Eric Hurley's line, but he did strike out eight in seven innings. 

Today's Starters
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Kevin Pucetas
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck