AAA Louisville

Record this Week: 4-2.

Overall: 76-54, 9.5 up on Toledo.

8/20: Indianapolis (PIT) popped Pedro Viola (5.83, 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 ER, 3 BB) in the seventh to blow open a close game and win easily, 8-3. Matt Klinker looked decent (L 1-2, 3.22, 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 88 pitches, 54 strikes) but was outdueled by Indians starter Daniel McCutchen (13-6, 3.36, 7 IP, 2 ER). Rehabbin’ Scott Rolen was 2-for-3 with a RBI. Juan Francisco played both LF (!?) and 3B and had two more hits (.435, 3B, RBI).

8/21: BATS’ BATS! Eighteen hits and fifteen runs from the Louisville lineup bury the Indians, 15-6. CF Chris Heisey (3-for-5, 3 R, homer #7, .279) and RF Darnell McDonald (3-for-6, 2 R, homer #9, .324) led the attack. SS Chris Valaika also had three hits (.219, 2 R, 2B, RBI). Francisco (2-for-6, 2 R) and C Corky Miller (2-for-4, 2 R) each had two RBI. 1B Wes Bankston drove in three. From the starting lineup, only Rolen (0-for-3, R) didn’t get a hit. Sam Lecure wasn’t at his best (4.38, 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K) but Enerio Del Rosario picked him up for the win (1-0, 1.20, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K).

8/22: Travis Wood permitted exactly one hit over seven innings- it might have been a two-run homer by Indy’s Jose Tabata, but the Bats got enough runs to get Travis the duke. Wood is now 4-1 after the 4-2 Louisville win (2.87, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 93 pitches, 68 strikes). Logan Ondrusek bounced back from giving up two runs the day before to get save #7 (2.70, 1 IP, 1 K). C Chris Denove was 3-for-4 with two runs scored (.341) and Valaika was 2-for-4 with a solo homer (#6, .223). Todd Frazier played second in his AAA debut and went 0-for-3 with a walk. And an error.

8/23: Toledo (DET) hosting the Bats. They win the series opener, 6-3, bouncing back after Louisville scored three in the top of the seventh to get three in their own half plus two insurance runs in the eighth. Matt Maloney pitched great for six, but the first three men to face him in the seventh reached and eventually scored (L 9-9, 3.08, 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 94 pitches, 58 strikes). Frazier’s first IL hit was a two-run homer. Valaika continued his hot streak with two hits and a run scored (.227). Francisco was 2-for-4 to stay over .400 at .405.

8/24: Lefty Ben Jukich came roaring back after a couple of poor outings with seven shutout frames (W 8-6, 4.32, 7 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 9 K, 105 pitches, 60 strikes) in a 5-0 whitewash. Del Rosario added two more scoreless to lower his AAA ERA to 1.06 (1 H, 2 BB, 1 K). Frazier doubled twice, scored twice, drove one in, stole a base, and walked twice. Bankston was 2-for-2 with two walks (.259). 2B Eric Eymann, struggling to hit in this league, connected for a solo homer (#1, .183). Francisco was just 1-for-4 but that single plated two runs.

8/25: Louisville scored a run in the seventh and then two in the eighth to lead 3-0, then held on to withstand a Toledo rally in the bottom of the eighth to win it, 3-2. Klinker threw 6.2 shutout innings (W 2-2, 2.48, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 96 pitches, 62 strikes). Logan Ondrusek permitted one inherited runner to score but otherwise slammed the door to get save #8 (2.35, 2 IP, 1 H). Frazier hit another two-run bomb for those key eighth-inning runs. Heisey had a single and triple in three trips (.275, steal #6). New signee Lew Ford played LF and was 0-for-3 with a walk, run scored, and outfield assist.

8/26: Rained out.

Moves & Notes: (8/20) 3B Scott Rolen became Rehabbin’ Scott Rolen. RHS Micah Owings ended his stint. (8/22) 2B-OF Todd Frazier promoted from Carolina. (8/23) Rolen ends his rehab stint. (8/25) OF Darnell McDonald and C Corky Miller called up by Cincinnati to replace the injured Chris Dickerson and Ryan Hanigan. OF Lew Ford, who played in the big leagues with Minnesota for parts of five seasons, was signed as a free agent and activated. Ford, 33, was last seen in 2008 with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League. C Korey Feiner was promoted from Carolina.

Ex-Reds Notes: Boston signed OF Brad Correll, 28, out of the independent Northern League. Correll originally the Reds’ 29th-round pick in 2002 out of Limestone College (NC), spent 2002-2004 in the Reds system before heading to Philadelphia in the ’04 deadline deal that sent Todd Jones to the Phillies and Josh Hancock and Anderson Machado to the Reds. Correll has also played in the Florida, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City systems as well as parts of 2007 and 2008 in indy ball.

Oakland purchased the contract of journeyman RHP Brett Tomko. Washington DL’d LHP Dave Williams, who hasn’t thrown a pro pitch in 2009. He was last seen making seven starts in 2008 with Yokohama of the Japanese Central League.

AA Carolina

Record this Week: 2-5.

Overall: 21-39 (second half).

8/20: Lefty Camilo Vazquez guns for minor-league free agency with his best outing of the year (W 4-4, 5.33, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K) and Carolina popped the Suns, 5-1. Phil Valiquette got the last two outs for save #2 (2.93). 2B Todd Frazier hit homer #14 and double #40 and drove in three (.293) and CF Sean Henry was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and homer #10 (.264).

8/21: Jacksonville returns the favor, 5-1. Alex Smit started and didn’t look as good as last time (L 3-3, 4.06, 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR).

8/22: Luis Montano was left in just a little too long (L 0-5, 7.53, 6.1 IP, 12 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) as Tennessee (CHC) broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the seventh that would prove decisive. Joe Krebs followed with 2.2 scoreless (0.51, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K) but the Mudcats couldn’t get a runner past second base in the final three innings.

8/23: A late rally falls juuuuust short. Carolina got two in the eighth on a Zack Cozart grounder and a Shaun Cumberland double, but Logan Parker was cut down on a fielder’s choice trying to score from third on Henry’s grounder. Kris Negron then struck out to end the game, a 3-2 Smokies victory. Life continues to be a highway for Tom Cochran (L 4-6, 3.18, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). Scoreless work in relief by Ruben Medina, Ramon Geronimo, and Valiquette.

8/24: The Mudcats scored five in the bottom of the first to lead by two, but Tennessee smoked Jerry Gil (L 2-3, 9.39, 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HR) and Zach Ward (17.74, 2.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) for eight in the second inning. Carolina scored four more in the sixth to cut it to 14-9, but that’s as close as it was after that as the Smokies win the 16-9 slugfest. Chris Kelly (1 IP, 3 ER), Geronimo (2 IP, 2 ER) and Greg Atencio (2 IP, 1 ER) all failed to keep Tennessee off the scoreboard in relief. Cozart did bust a slump with two doubles and a single in four trips (.265, 2 R) and Cumberland, Henry, and Parker each had two RBI. Parker got his with homer #6. Yonder Alonso returned to active duty by doubling in four trips, drawing a walk, and scoring two runs (.246).

8/25: Negron, the recent acquisition from Boston, isn’t known for his power- but he slammed two homers and drove in four to lead the Mudcats past Tennessee, 7-6. Carolina came close to blowing leads of 5-0 and 7-4. Negron, playing second and batting leadoff, finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored (.250 in AA). 3B Jose Castro was also 3-for-4 (.271). C Jake Long was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a RBI, and a walk (.200). Vazquez again got the win (W 5-4, 5.29, 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Valiquette the save (#3, 2.76, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K).

8/26: Alex Smit pitched great (3.57, 7 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 98 pitches, 56 strikes) but the Smokies got two in the top of 9 off Greg Atencio (L 1-1, 2.79, 2 IP, 2 ER) to win it, 2-1.

Moves & Notes: (8/22) UT Kris Negron promoted from Sarasota to replace the promoted Todd Frazier. (8/24) 1B Yonder Alonso moved up from Sarasota. INF Jake Kahauleilo was placed on the 7-day DL. (8/25) C Jake Long moved back up from Sarasota.

High-A Sarasota

Record this Week: 2-4.

Overall: 22-37 (second half).

8/20: St. Lucie (NYM) hit Matt Fairel (L 1-3, 5.08, 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and both of his relievers hard in a 10-4 rout. LF Jeremy Reed did go 2-for-4 with a single and triple (.234). RF Denis Phipps did the same with a double, single, and run scored (.251). Teenage Australian lefty Nathan Driessen threw three innings of relief and held his own, allowing three hits and two runs,

8/21: Kris Negron, in his last game before being promoted to Double-A, served as a catalyst (2-for-3, BB, 2 R, RBI, 3 SB) in the Reds’ 8-5 triumph. CF Dave Sappelt continued to hit well, going 3-for-5 with three RBI (.303). Jeremy Horst Browninged his way to the win (W 6-12, 3.40, 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR). Mace Thurman got save #7 (1.22, 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K).

8/22: Sarasota rallied for four in the bottom of the ninth, the final three coming on 2B Alex Buchholz’ bases-clearing double, to steal a 5-4 win! Buchholz finished 3-for-5 with four RBI total (.239). Aguido Gonzalez got the win in relief (W 1-0, 3.65, 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) of starter Travis Webb (4.28, 5.2 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K).

8/23: It’s rapidly going off the rails for Lance Janke, who started strong after his midseason promotion but has now struggled in his last few starts. He was knocked out in the fifth inning (L 0-3, 4.91, 4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 1 HR) of St. Lucie’s 9-4 win. Sappelt did hit homer #4 and go 2-for-4 (.300).

8/24: Off.

8/25: Sarasota blew a 3-0 lead, scored in the eighth to tie the game at 4, then lost in 10 anyway to Palm Beach (STL), 5-4. Curtis Partch did well (6.04, 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). Pedro Villareal took the defeat (L 0-2, 4.67, 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER). Sappelt (2-for-5, 2B, R) and 3B Neftali Soto (2-for-5, 2 R) led the offense.

8/26: Sappelt tripled in Soto to tie the game at 2 in the top of the ninth, but lefty Steve Otterness served up a game-losing homer in the bottom of the inning (L 2-2, 3.82, 1 IP, 1 ER). Fairel looked much better (4.58, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). Buchholz (.238) and Soto (.246, R, RBI) were each 2-for-4.

Moves & Notes: (8/20 LHP Nathan Driessen added from GCL for temp duty. (8/22) 1B Yonder Alonso added from his GCL rehab. UT Kris Negron moved up to Carolina. Driessen back to GCL. (8/24) Alonso to Carolina. (8/25) C Jake Long to Carolina. C Chris McMurray added from Billings.

Low-A Dayton

Record this Week: 3-4.

Overall: 26-32 (second half)

8/20: 1B Humberto Sosa slashed a game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to top off a four-run rally as Dayton stole it from West Michigan (DET), 5-4. CF Josh Fellhauer had led off the inning with a double; he then scored on a throwing error on the end of the play. 2B Cody Puckett singled and stole second, RF Byron Wiley walked, and 3B Carlos Mendez singled to bring home the second run. Tony Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt to set the stage for Mr. Sosa’s heroics. Sosa drove in three overall (.263). Starter Ezequiel Infante turned in six solid innings (2.70, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). Donnie Joseph threw a 1-2-3 ninth, whiffing two, for the win (2-0, 2.40).

8/21: The Dragons win again behind Jordan Hotchkiss (W 3-4, 2.88, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) and Puckett’s 18th homer (.267, 2 RBI) by a score of 5-3. C Kevin Coddington was 2-for-4 with a RBI (.287) and LF Alexis Oliveras stayed over .300 (.311, 2-for-3, R, steal #5).

8/22: Three straight wins! Dayton scored seven in the first three and hung on, 7-5. Oliveras drove in four with a pair of doubles and the DH Brown was 3-for-4 with two runs scored (.239). Mark Serrano got the win (2-0, 1.88, 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). Joseph got the last four for save #3 (2.20).

8/23: The Whitecaps snapped the streak with a 3-0 shutout. Justin Walker started and lost (0-1, 2.40, 4 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). Shea Snowden followed with four innings of one-hit relief (5.12, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). Wiley (.275) and Brown (.245) each were 2-for-4.

8/24: South Bend (ARI) scored six in the seventh to wipe out a 2-1 Dragons lead and win easy, 7-3. JC Sulbaran returned to effectiveness (L 3-5, 5.20, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR) but Scott Gaffney had a rough time of it (3.83, 0.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER). Oliveras kept it going (2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, .330) and Sosa raised his average to .265 with a single and double.

8/25: Joseph blew this one, serving up a game-losing two-run double in the bottom of the ninth. Silver Hawks steal it, 4-3. Joseph suffered his first pro loss (2-1, 3.24, 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER). Starter Infante went five (2.81, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and Chase Ware turned in three scoreless (4.64, 1 H, 1 K). 2B Kevyn Feiner hit his first homer of the year and Mendez continued to hover around .300 with a pair of hits (.295, 2-for-3, RBI, BB). Oliveras? Yep (.337, 2-for-4, 2B, R).

8/26: Three straight for the Silver Hawks, 3-1. Hotchkiss pitched well again (L 3-5, 2.77, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) but didn’t get the support this time around.

Moves & Notes: None, believe it or not.

Rookie-Pioneer Billings

Record this Week: 2-6.

Overall: 7-14 (second half), 12-26 (first half).

8/20: MAKEUP MADNESS! Casper (COL) won game one 3-2 after scoring two in the bottom of the final inning off Luca Panerati (L 2-6, 6.32, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR). They then took game two, 3-1, as Billings mustered just two hits. Ricky Bowen (L 0-2, 1.17, 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) started this one. Tzu-Kai Chiu (4.38, 4 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Bryan Gardner (7.13, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K) both did nicely in relief.

8/21: MAKEUP MADNESS PART DEUX! Casper wins game one, 5-0. Tim Crabbe (L 0-5, 4.37, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) started. The nightcap saw the Mustangs finally fire back- they win 6-0 behind DH Chris Richburg’s second homer, CF Yorman Rodriguez’ two hits (.245) and good pitching from starter Jake Wiley (4.50, 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K) and Jason Braun (W 1-2, 4.44, 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K).

8/22: Casper makes it four of five by swamping the Ponies, 9-2, in a nine-inning game (for once). Blair Carson (L 1-4, 4.33, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) looked decent but the bullpen was hit hard. Richburg hit homer #3 and Rodriguez #3 (2-for-4, .255) for the runs.

8/23: Five of six- an 8-5 Ghosts win. Again Yorman did well (2-for-5, 2 R, .262). Leo Astorga lost it (L 2-6, 4.75, 6 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). SS DD Gregorius had a triple and single in five (.311, RBI).

8/24: Off.

8/25: Helena (MIL) scored five in the first, watched Billings come back to within one at 9-8, then held on to win 11-8 despite six (!) errors. Oscar Castro (L 1-1, 9.35, 2.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 7 ER) was awful after a good previous outing. Chiu (4.02, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) should be a lock to move to full-season ball in 2010. Gregorius was 3-for-6 (.318, 2 R, RBI) and LF Josh Garton doubled twice, scored twice, and drove one in (.202). Yorman was 0-for-5, but figured out how to drive in two runs anyway (.250).

8/26: Mustangs held on to win, 6-5. C Mark Fleury, still struggling in his pro debut (four errors, 14 PB), slugged two homers (#3 and #4, .204) to pace Billings. Yorman was 2-for-5 (.257). Panerati got the win (3-6, 6.45, 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). Brian Pearl got save #6 (4.15).

Moves & Notes: (8/25) C Chris McMurray to Sarasota; C Trey Manz back from GCL Reds.

Rookie-GCL Reds

Record this Week: 3-3.

Overall: 27-25.

8/20: Rained out or something.

8/21: The Reds rallied for four in the top of the seventh (two on CF Juan Silva’s triple), then Marcos Molina stranded the tying run on second in the bottom of the inning. Reds win, 4-3! Daniel Tuttle went four (2.22, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). Mateo Pizziconi picked up the win (2-1, 2.02, 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) and Molina save #2 (2.40).

8/22: Orioles pound the Reds, 11-0. Tyler Cline had his first really bad pro outing (L 4-1, 2.36, 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB). Mike Henry pitched 4.1 of one-hit relief (3.71, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). 1B Derrick Lowery pitched a scoreless ninth.

8/23: Reds nip the Red Sox, 2-1. SS Billy Hamilton and LF Juan Duran each drove in one Reds run (.223 and .173, respectively). Rehabbin’ Misael DeJesus went three (1 H, 4 K) and Luis Machuca (W 2-1, 2.40, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR) got the duke. Molina: save #3.

8/24: Twins win, 5-1. Rehabbin’ Dallas Buck pitched a scoreless first, but Jake Johnson took the loss after (L 2-2, 2.53, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).

8/25: Off.

8/26: Reds win the day’s regularly scheduled game, 1-0. Daniel Tuttle (W 1-2, 1.84, 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K) got his first pro victory. Molina got save #4 (2.18, 1 BB, 2 K). Silva tripled and scored on Duran’s sacrifice fly for the only run of the game.

The Rays won a game suspended on the 21st, 2-0. Jesus Adames went the distance for the Reds (L 0-1, 4.42, 7 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K).

Moves & Notes: (8/20) LHP Nathan Driessen moved to Sarasota. OF Don Lutz put on the 60-day DL. (8/22) Driessen returned. 1B Yonder Alonso ended his rehab and went to Sarasota. (8/24) RHS Dallas Buck assigned to GCL for rehab. (8/25) C Trey Manz promoted to Billings.