AAA Louisville

Record this Week: 5-2.

Overall: 72-52, 9.5 up on Toledo.

8/13: Louisville blew a 4-1 lead when Lehigh Valley’s Andy Tracy hit a grand slam off Ben Jukich in a six-run fifth (Jukich: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K), but they came back with three in the sixth (multiple LV errors, a two-run single by 2B Luis Bolivar) to tie the score at 7. The Bats got RF Darnell McDonald to third with one out in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Mike Griffin and 3B Wes Bankston both struck out. A pair of walks and a throwing error on SS Chris Valaika loaded the bases with nobody out against Ramon Ramirez in the bottom of 7- but he got out of it… almost. A strikeout made it one out, but the next man grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring a run. The Bats cut down a runner to end the inning- but the run counted, making it 8-7 IronPigs. In the top of the eighth, though, Louisville came out swinging! Consecutive singles by Valaika, C Corky Miller, LF Danny Dorn, CF Drew Stubbs (a bunt), and Bolivar made it 9-8 with nobody out. McDonald’s sacrifice fly made it 10-8. 1B Kevin Barker greeted a new pitcher with another run-scoring fly ball (11-8). Enerio Del Rosario, money as of late, took over for the bottom of the eighth- and stranded two runners by getting Tracy to ground to second. Dorn (2-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, .264) singled in Miller in the ninth for yet another insurance run. LV loaded the bases against Del Rosario in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate in former Red Jason Ellison- 4-for-5 on the day- to line right back to him to end the game (save #3, 0.90, 2 IP, 4 H, 1 BB). Big Bats win! Bolivar finished with four RBI, McDonald three, and Barker two. Miller was 3-for-5 with four runs scored (.260) and Stubbs scored three runs despite having just the bunt hit in five trips (.272). Valaika continued a recent modest hot streak (seven for his last fourteen) with two hits and two runs scored (.208). Ramirez got the win (6-7, 4.06, 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).

8/14: Matt Klinker made his third AAA starting opportunity COUNT, firing 7.1 two-hit shutout innings as Louisville blanked Toledo (DET), 4-0. The Mud Hens might have the best lineup in the International League- lots of patient hitters and major-league veterans. But Klinker worked efficiently while still missing bats, striking out nine and walking three but still taking just 93 pitches to work those seven-plus. The Lakota West graduate is now 1-1, 2.20 in AAA and 6-5, 3.68 in 18 starts (97 Ks in 95 IP) on the year. Pedro Viola retired five of the final six, striking out three, for save #8 (5.12, 1.2 IP, 1 H). C Chris Denove was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and two RBI (.321) and both Stubbs (2B, RBI, .274) and 3B Eric Eymann (.203, R, 3B) had a pair of hits. Drew also threw out a runner at home plate to preserve the Klinker/Viola shutout.

8/15: Rehabbin’ Micah Owings was a little off on his location (W 1-0, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 K) but three Bats double plays kept Toledo off the scoreboard while he was on the mound. The Mud Hens broke the shutout off Ramon Ramirez (4.09, 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) but Federico Baez (4.68, 1 IP) and Logan Ondrusek (save #5, 0.87, 1 IP, 1 K) took care of the last two innings to preserve a 4-1 Bats win. 1B Wes Bankston was 3-for-4 with his 15th homer (.257). Dorn, DHing this time, was 2-for-4 with two RBI (.263). 3B Juan Francisco’s AAA debut! Check. Francisco singled and doubled in four at-bats, scoring a run and driving one in. And no errors!

8/16: Toledo got its revenge, beating the Bats 7-2 to salvage the final game of the series. Sam Lecure struggled after three straight good starts (L 9-6, 4.24, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). Sean Watson (3.38, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) and Lee Tabor (4.50, 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) both failed to keep the Hens off the scoreboard later in the game. Bankston did go 3-for-4 again, scoring one run and driving one in (.263). Dorn added two more hits and a RBI (.266, 324/.400/.493 post All-Star break in 71 at-bats). Valaika, after losing a five-game hitting streak with an 0-fer the previous game, managed a single and double in four trips (.211).

8/17: Bats took a 5-3 lead after Francisco’s first AAA homer (a two-run shot) and Luis Bolivar’s fifth in the fifth, then made it 7-3 in the seventh when Denove singled in two. They’d need ‘em all, because Indianapolis (PIT) fired back for three in the final two innings. Finally Logan Ondrusek struck out the Indians’ Tagg Bozied with the tying run on second base to close the 7-6 Louisville victory. That was Ondrusek’s sixth AAA save (1.59, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). Travis Wood went six for the win (W 3-1, 2.93, 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 103 pitches, 63 strikes). Enerio Del Rosario struggled a bit in relief (1.54, 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) but Pedro Viola came on to strike out C Hector Gimenez, end the eighth, and strand a runner. Francisco finished 2-for-4 (.364). Valaika doubled twice, drove in two, and scored one (.215).

8/18: The Bats hacked out eight extra-base hits, including three homers, and scored six runs in the first two innings. This one was a rout from the start- Louisville popped Indy, 10-2. Bankston’s three-run homer in the first was his 16th. McDonald doubled twice and added a solo shot in the sixth (#8, 3 R, 3-for-4, 2 RBI, .324). Francisco hit his second AAA bomb in the same frame (.400, 2-for-4, 2B). Dorn added a trio of singles (.273) and Denove was 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI (.324). Matt Maloney worked six for the victory (W 9-8, 2.96, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR).

8/19: The first game of the post-Drew Stubbs era, and Louisville can’t adapt- they fall to Indy, 6-4. Ben Jukich was hit hard (L 7-6, 4.62, 5 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 HR). Francisco hit yet another homer, #3 (#25 on the year) and Dorn got two more hits (.276).

Moves & Notes: (8/14) 1B Kevin Barker’s contract purchased by the Reds to replace the traded Alex Gonzalez. (8/15) 3B Juan Francisco promoted from Carolina. (8/19) OF Drew Stubbs called up by Cincinnati.

Ex-Reds Notes: The Cubs again optioned RHR Jeff Stevens (Reds’ sixth-round pick, 2005) back to AAA. When he’s actually gotten on the field, Stevens has allowed six earned runs in 7.1 innings over seven games for Chicago. He’s got a 2.09 ERA in AAA. Houston sent INF Matt Kata back to AAA after a short stint in the bigs. Toronto called up 1B Randy Ruiz, 31, who’s had a long strange trip through a bunch of organizations after playing in the Reds system from 1999-2002.

AA Carolina

Record this Week: 2-5.

Overall: 19-34 (second half).

8/13: The left side of Tom Cochran’s infield betrayed him in the seventh, as SS Zach Cozart (#20) and 3B Juan Francisco (#36) both made errors to aid Birmingham (CWS) in scoring two unearned, tiebreaking runs. Cochran departed down 4-2 (L 4-5, 3.27, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). RF Stephen Chapman singled in Francisco in the bottom of the seventh to cut it to 4-3, but Phil Valiquette allowed a Barons run in the top of the ninth. Birmingham closer Clevelan Sanchez struck out 2B Todd Frazier, Chapman, and LF Carson Kainer in a row to end it. Francisco (.279), Frazier (.301), Chapman (.247) and Kainer (.255) were each 2-for-4. 1B Logan Parker slammed a two-run homer (#5).

8/14: Zach Ward is still struggling to get people out. He fell to 0-3 with a 23.14 Mudcats ERA after he walked six and gave up six earned runs in 2.1 innings of Carolina’s 11-6 loss. Francisco got two hits in what would turn out to be his final Southern League game- his line (for now) in the SL was .281/.317/.501 in 109 games with 22 homers, 74 RBI, 20 walks, and 91 strikeouts. Parker kept hitting, driving in three runs while going 2-for-3 (.226).

8/15: Camilo Vazquez worked 5.1 solid innings (W 3-4, 5.89, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and Chapman was 3-for-4 (.266, 2 R) to lead a 13-hit Mudcat assault! Carolina wins, 8-1. 3B Jake Kahauleilo, back up to replace Francisco, was 2-for-4 with two RBI from the leadoff slot (.279). Light-hitting C Korey Feiner was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored (.141). Joe Krebs pitched 2.2 hitless innings in relief; he’s now at 13.1 SL innings without an earned run. Greg Atencio struck out the side in the ninth.

8/16: RBI singles by LF Shaun Cumberland and SS Zach Cozart in the seventh snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Mudcats the lead. Phil Valiquette managed to halt the Barons’ ninth-inning comeback at one and lock down a 4-3 victory- his first Southern League save (3.10). Kahauleilo scored three of the four Carolina runs, doubling twice and drawing a walk (.297). Chapman picked up two more hits as well (.276). Alex Smit looked great in his return to Double-A after missing significant time (W 3-2, 3.69, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 98 pitches, 58 strikes).

8/17: Jacksonville (FLA) won this one, 5-2. Luis Montano (L 0-4, 7.66, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR) continues to struggle to make the AA leap. CF Shaun Cumberland hit #3 to account for both Mudcats runs.

8/18: Carolina battled back from an early deficit to tie the Suns at 3 in the sixth, but Jacksonville beat up the hapless Zach Ward (L 0-4, 24.55, 0.1 IP, 2 ER) and won anyway, 6-3. Tom Cochran started and lasted five (3.29, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K). Krebs gave up the first earned run of his AA stint (0.60, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Cozart, who’s slumped in August, had a pair of hits (.260, R) and LF Sean Henry added a pair (.262, RBI).

8/19: Carolina got two in the ninth and the tying run to the plate, but that was as far as it went- they fall yet again, 4-2. Jerry Gil started (L 2-2, 8.27, 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). Ramon Geronimo threw three hitless innings of relief (4.58). Cozart was 2-for-4 (.262, RBI).

Moves & Notes: (8/15) 3B Juan Francisco promoted to Louisville. INF Jake Kahauleilo up from Sarasota. C Jake Long sent to Sarasota, replaced by activated-from-the-DL-yet-again C Korey Feiner.

High-A Sarasota

Record this Week: 2-6.

Overall: 20-33 (second half). The Reds’ overall record puts them (for now) among the seven worst teams in the minor leagues.

8/13: Lance Janke was sailing along through the first several innings of his start against Jupiter (FLA), but he suddenly hit a wall with a 2-0 lead, two outs and nobody on in the fifth. A walk, a stolen base, a RBI single, an error on 3B Jose Gualdron, a two-run double (and another error, on C Jordan Wideman) led to three Hammerheads runs and an early shower for Janke (L 0-1, 0.84, 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Steve Otterness got through the rest of the fifth as well as the sixth (3.20, 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 3 K), but two more Jupiter runs scored against Josh Beal (2.82, 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER). Justin Reed got Dave Sappelt (who’d tripled) in with a grounder in the eighth to cut it to 5-3, but that’s as far as the Reds got. DH Neftali Soto was 2-for-4 (.246).

8/14: Curtis Partch dominated for seven innings (W 1-1, 4.41, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) to get his first High-A victory, 3-1 over Fort Myers (MIN). Mace Thurman went the last two for save #6 (1.28).

8/15: The Miracle turned the tables, getting their own 3-1 win this time. Matt Fairel (3.97, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K) left a tie game but Miracle LF Evan Bigley hit a two-run game-winning homer off Josh Beal (L 1-3, 3.18) in the bottom of the ninth. SS Kris Negron’s Reds system debut saw him go 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He was picked off second base following that walk. Sappelt had two hits and two stolen bases (.282, 16).

8/16: MAKEUP MADNESS is swept by Fort Myers, 6-3 and 4-3. Jeremy Horst (L 5-12, 3.40, 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER) and Justin Freeman (L 2-4, 4.05, BS #3, 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) took the defeats. Pedro Villareal pitched well in that second game (4.57, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). Sappelt had a two-run triple and Soto two hits in game one; Sappelt and LF Jeremy Reed two hits apiece in game two (.288, .231). Negron played shortstop in game one and right field, interestingly enough, in game two.

8/17: Neftali Soto drove in three runs with two doubles and a single (.251), propelling Sarasota past Jupiter 9-2. That’s the most runs the S-Reds have scored in a while. Anyway, Sappelt added two hits, two walks, two runs, and two RBI (.294). Travis Webb worked five (W 7-10, 4.18, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K). Beal handled two (3.04, 2 H, 1 K) and Mark Pawelek the last two (5.32, 1 H, 4 BB, 1 K).

8/18: Jupiter returned the favor, routing the Reds 8-2. Two hits apiece for Sappelt (.299, steal #17), Phipps (.248, RBI), 2B Alex Buchholz (.228, RBI) and Reed (.231, 3B, R). Janke never got off the ground (L 0-2, 3.86, 3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). After his great game the day before, Soto went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two GIDPs. So it goes in the minors sometimes.

8/19: New acquisition Negron hit a homer and Buchholz drove in three runs, but otherwise Sarasota got whooped again, 8-4. Curtis Partch fell apart after a fantastic start the last time out (L 1-2, 6.87, 2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 3 K).

Moves & Notes: INF Kris Negron added to the roster following the Alex Gonzalez trade with Boston. Negron was a seventh-round pick in 2006 out of a California community college. He’s 23, and batted .264/.338/.347 with 20 stolen bases in 111 games for Boston’s High-A Carolina League affiliate in Salem.

Low-A Dayton

Record this Week: 0-6. OW! See ya, playoffs.

Overall: 23-28 (second half)

8/13: You never know what you’ll get with Juan Carlos Sulbaran. In this one we got this first inning:

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West Michigan Top 1st

-Gustavo Nunez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alexis Oliveras.
-Brent Wyatt singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Carlos Mendez. Gustavo Nunez out at 2nd on the throw, third baseman Carlos Mendez to first baseman Humberto Sosa to second baseman Cody Puckett.
-With Ben Guez batting, Brent Wyatt steals (21) 2nd base.
-Ben Guez doubles (24) on a fly ball to center fielder Josh Fellhauer. Brent Wyatt scores.
-Billy Nowlin walks.
-Jordan Lennerton walks. Ben Guez to 3rd. Billy Nowlin to 2nd.
-Mike Gosse reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by third baseman Carlos Mendez. Ben Guez scores. Billy Nowlin to 3rd. Jordan Lennerton to 2nd.
-Avisail Garcia reaches on force attempt, fielding error by third baseman Carlos Mendez. Billy Nowlin scores. Jordan Lennerton to 3rd. Mike Gosse to 2nd.
-Joseph Bowen strikes out swinging.
-Luis Palacios hit by pitch. Jordan Lennerton scores. Mike Gosse to 3rd. Avisail Garcia to 2nd.
-Gustavo Nunez hits a grand slam (2) to right field. Mike Gosse scores. Avisail Garcia scores. Luis Palacios scores.
-Brent Wyatt walks.
-Ben Guez hit by pitch. Brent Wyatt to 2nd.
-Pitcher Change: Shea Snowden replaces J. Sulbaran.
-Billy Nowlin singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alexis Oliveras. Brent Wyatt scores. Ben Guez to 3rd. Billy Nowlin advances to 2nd, on fielding error by left fielder Alexis Oliveras.
-Jordan Lennerton flies out to center fielder Josh Fellhauer.

Snowden took over and put in 5.1 innings of strong relief (5.65, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR) but the game was out of hand by then. Only LF Alexis Oliveras managed multiple hits (2-for-3, .333). Whitecaps win, 14-2.
8/14: Again the Whitecaps win, this time in a 9-7 slugfest. Chase Ware’s first pro start (L 1-1, 6.06, 4 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K) didn’t go well. 2B Kevyn Feiner had a three-run double and RF Byron Wiley hit a two-run homer, #12.

8/15: Fort Wayne (SD) continues to own the Dragons this year, winning this one 7-1. Ezequiel Infante (L 1-1, 2.93, 4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER) took the loss. 21-year-old Dominican right-hander Hector Santana, up from Billings to replace the demoted Oscar Castro, pitched four decent relief innings (3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K). 3B Carlos Mendez homered for the only Dragons run (#5).

8/16: Yep, again. Even with starter Jordan Hotchkiss’ five innings of one-hit shutout ball (2.82, 0 BB, 6 K), the TinCaps smacked Drew Bowman (L 2-7, 4.71, 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB) around and won again, 5-1. Mendez (.299) and C Kevin Coddington (.284, RBI) each had two hits.

8/17: Rain caused the Dragons/Tincaps matchup to be suspended in the fourth with Dayton leading 4-1. Mark Serrano, reigning MWL Pitcher of the Week, started for the Dragons.

8/18: MAKEUP MADNESS! The two teams finished up the suspended game from the night before. Fort Wayne, naturally, routed the Dragons from the pickup point on, turning that 4-1 deficit into a 7-4 win. Mike James took over for Serrano and got mauled (L 1-7, 5.16, 2 IP, 5 ER, 2 HR). CF Alexis Oliveras did go 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple (.306) and Wiley was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored (.281).

Then, the regularly scheduled game. Fort Wayne’s Simon Castro, a 21-year-old Dominican righthander entering with an ERA just under 4 but 133 Ks in 116.2 IP, fired a seven-inning no-hitter and struck out nine Dragons. If he hadn’t hit Kevin Coddington with a pitch, it would have been a perfect game. Juan Carlos Sulbaran got pasted for three homers early but actually did better later on (L 3-4, 5.26, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K).

8/19: Off.

Moves & Notes: (8/18) RHR Scott Gaffney activated from the DL.

July Dragons of the Month, OF Byron Wiley and RHR Jordan Hotchkiss.

RHS Mark Serrano was named the MWL Pitcher of the Week for August 10-16.

Rookie-Pioneer Billings

Record this Week: 2-3.

Overall: 5-8 (second half), 12-26 (first half).

8/13: Luca Panerati headed Back Out There to try and build off the seven-inning complete game he fired in his previous start. He got through two before Idaho Falls (KC) picked up two in the third. The Mustangs fired back with four in the fourth; C Mark Fleury tripled in a run and SS DD Gregorius, 1B Chris Richburg and 2B Cristobal Rodriguez (who had gone 0-for-13 since his promotion) each knocked in runs as well. CF Yorman Rodriguez’ bid for a RBI hit was stymied when Gregorius was thrown out at the plate following his single. In the bottom of the fourth, though, the Chukars pounded the Italian for four more runs (L 2-5, 6.80, 4 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) to take a 6-4 lead. Jamie Walczak turned in four scoreless innings of relief (4.86, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K) but Billings, despite having two on and one out in both the sixth and the seventh, couldn’t push across any more runs. Cristobal finished 3-for-4 and Fleury and Richburg 2-for-4 (.183 and .263, respectively).

8/14: Casper (COL) got all seven of its runs in the first four innings- they win, 7-3. Six of those came off starter Tim Crabbe (L 0-4, 4.20, 2.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER). Tzu-Kai Chiu did okay in long relief (6.48, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). Rodriguez had two more hits (.294) and C Chris McMurray hit homer #3.

8/15: Rained out.

8/16: MAKEUP MADNESS rained out.

8/17: Billings scored six runs in the eighth to blow out a close game and beat Idaho Falls, 12-5. Eight different Mustangs drove in a run- everyone in the starting lineup except for Rodriguez. Eight walks issued by Chukar pitchers sure helped. Efrain Contreras hit a solo homer, his first. Blair Carson got his first PL win (1-3, 4.55, 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). Brian Pearl got save #4 (4.66, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K).

8/18: Revenge for the Chukars- they win, 6-4. Leo Astorga got the loss (L 2-5, 4.61, 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). SS DD Gregorius hit his first professional homer, a two-run shot. C Mark Fleury hit #2, also a two-run shot, in the ninth (.192, 2-for-4).

8/19: Billings beat Idaho Falls, 6-3, behind six one-hit innings from Oscar Castro, just down from Dayton (2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K). Gregorius had a pair of doubles, a run scored, and RBI (.329). Rodriguez was 0-for-4 to drop his average to .259. Brian Pearl got the last out for save #5. The Chukars made two more errors (5) than they had hits (3). That always helps.

Moves & Notes: (8/15) LHS Oscar Castro down from Billings; RHR Hector Santana up to Dayton.

Rookie-GCL Reds

Record this Week: 4-2.

Overall: 24-22.

8/13: The Reds got all four of their runs in the fourth- wiping out a 3-0 deficit and propelling them past the Red Sox, 4-3. Jacob Johnson got the win (W 1-1, 1.74, 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) and Mike Henry (4.43, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K) and Ramon Rodriguez (save #4, 3.10, 2 IP, 2 K) did great work in relief to wrap it up. 1B Derrick Lowery and CF Juan Silva each had a pair of hits (.364 and .267, respectively) and 3B Henry Rodriguez drove in two.

8/14: Twinkies beat the Reds, 6-3. Rehabbin’ Misael DeJesus, in his very first appearance of the year, threw a scoreless first (1 H, 2 BB). Daniel Tuttle then took over and worked three, earning the loss (0-2, 2.66, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). CF Jefry Sierra was 3-for-4 with a run scored and double (.329).

8/15: Off.

8/16: Rained out.

8/17: The Reds finished up a game suspended on 8/12 by whacking the Orioles, 13-7. Jesus Adames got whacked himself (4.83, 5.1 IP, 8 H, 7 ER) but Raul Rodriguez (W 2-3, 3.00, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K) and Marcos Molina (2.88, 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) finished up nicely. SS Billy Hamilton was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, steal #14, and two RBI (.244). The Reds got a total of 14 hits.

Tyler Cline fired five three-hit innings in a 3-1, makeup-shortened victory. Cline is now 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a 16/40 BB/K ratio in 51.2 GCL innings. Not bad for a teenager. Ramon Rodriguez got the save for working the final two (#1, 4.05, 1 K). The Reds only needed three hits- Silva scored two of those three runs and stole three bases to boot (4).

8/18: Red Sox take this one, 3-2, as RF Carter Morrison took a third strike with the tying and winning runs in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth. SS Henry Rodriguez was 3-for-4 (.366). Silva had two hits (.288). Rehabbin’ Misael DeJesus went two this time, and looked a little sharper (1 H, 1 K). Luis Machuca took over for the next four, picking up the loss (L 1-1, 2.70, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR). Rehabbin’ Yonder Alonso gave his comeback another go and played the entire game, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

8/19: Reds beat the Twins, 6-3. Jake Johnson pitched 5.2 two-hit innings (W 2-1, 2.21, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) and Molina got save #1 (2.48, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K). Silva hit his first pro homer (.289, 2 R, steal #5)< C Tucker Barnhart was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI (.217) and the Twinks made five errors that led to five unearned runs. Again Alonso played- but he was 0-for-4.