So this BA rundown of the best and worst minor league offenses reveals that the Dayton Dragons have drawn the fewest walks of any team in organized full-season minor-league baseball. Fourth worst are the Lynchburg Hillcats and tenth worst the Louisville Bats. The Carolina Mudcats? 80th of 120 teams.
AAA Louisville Bats
Record this week: 2-5
Overall: 36-44, last place, 9.5 games behind Columbus (CLE).
6/24: So the Tigers demote Rick Porcello to AAA to get him sorted out (he was 4-7 with a 6.14 ERA after going 14-9, 3.96 as a 20-year-old rookie in 2009). How’s he get better? Why, he one-hits the Bats for eight innings! Toledo cruised, 6-1. 3B Juan Francisco led off the fifth with a double and scored on a throwing error for the lone Bat run. Ben Jukich took the defeat (L 2-4, 4.66, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR). Good relief work from Enerio Del Rosario (3.14, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K), Jared Burton (4.30, 1 IP, 1 K) and Phil Valiquette (7.71, 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB).
6/25: Louisville takes their revenge on Norfolk (BAL) starter Troy Patton, socking him for a pair of homers (CF Chris Burke’s fifth, RF Wladimir Balentien’s 11th) among six runs over five innings. The Bats finished with 14 hits in a 7-0 shutout. C Wilkin Castillo was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI (.278). SS Chris Valaika doubled twice and drove in two (.302). LF Todd Frazier singled and doubled and scored twice (.217). Travis Wood dominated in what would turn out to be his (for now) AAA swan song (W 5-6, 3.12, 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 103 pitches/68 strikes).
6/26: The Tides nipped the Bats in 13 innings, 4-3, when a Valiquette (L 0-1, 7.36, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K) wild pitch scored Adam Donachie with the winning run. Phil had come on to get the final two outs of the 12th and strand two runners, but Donachie led off the 13th with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and third on a groundout. 5.1 good ‘pen innings before the fateful run, though, from Aroldis Chapman (4.06, 1 IP, 2 K); Carlos Fisher (2.37, 2 IP); Bill Bray (0.00, 1 IP, 2 K) and Burton (3.94, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K). Starter Matt Maloney worked six (3.60, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 98 pitches/68 strikes). DH Danny Dorn hit homer #5 and Frazier #10 (a two-run shot). CF Gary Matthews Jr.’s Reds system debut? 0-for-6 with five strikeouts. Ow.
6/27: Norfolk grabs a 2-1 lead in the series with an 8-3 decision. Rough start for Chad Reineke (L4-6, 3.23, 5 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). Frazier did homer again (#11) and both Dorn and RF Mike Griffin were 2-for-4 (.301 and .319, respectively). Matthews rebounded from a terrible first game by lashing three hits and scoring a run.
6/28: Three more hits from Mr. Matthews (including a solo homer) and three other bombs- Frazier’s 12th (three straight games), SS Zach Cozart’s 9th, and Castillo’s 7th- highlight a series-splitting 7-2 victory. Jesus Delgado, rewarded with a start after a steady 3.28 ERA in relief to date, worked five innings for the win (W 1-1, 3.32, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR). Valiquette turned in a scoreless sixth (5.79), Burton the seventh (3.71, 1 IP, 1 H) and Fisher dominated the final two (2.14, 3 K).
6/29: Edinson Volquez made his second AAA rehab start- and it went well (6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 90 pitches/55 strikes). Rick Sweet then had the luxury of turning to Aroldis Chapman in a 3-2 game, but Chapman struggled badly with his control (BS #1, L 5-6, 4.35, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 2 HB). Durham (TB) got a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth to grab a lead they’d never reliquinish. They win it, 7-5. Cozart was 3-for-4 with homer #10 and two runs scored (.256) and Balentien, Francisco, and Dorn each had a pair of hits.
6/30: The Bats fall again to the Bulls, 5-4 in ten innings. Jared Burton, who’d done well his previous few outings, walked in the winning run with the bases loaded (L 1-2, 4.08, 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Durham had previously tied the score in the eighth at the expense of Del Rosario (3.31, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) before Fisher buzzsawed the bad guys in the ninth (2.05, 1 IP, 2 K). 1B Yonder Alonso seems to finally be heating up- he had three singles in five trips (.238) to end a brutal June (.226/.256/.322) with seven hits over four games. Francisco slammed homer #5 off Bulls starter Jeremy Hellickson and Matthews kept it going with a single and triple in five at-bats (.346).
Transactions and notes: 6/24: C Ryan Hanigan activated for rehab purposes. 6/25: OF Gary Matthews Jr. signed and activated. OF Danny Dorn activated from the DL. 6/26: OF Chris Burke released. 6/27: LHR Bill Bray called up by Cincinnati. 6/28: RHS Sam Lecure sent down from Cincinnati. 6/30: LHR Danny Ray Herrera sent down from Cincinnati. LHS Travis Wood called up by the Reds.
Eyewitness account of Aroldis Chapman’s relief appearance on 6/29.
Atlanta signed OF Josh Anderson, let go by the Reds in spring training. Boston added RHR Robert Manuel to its 40-man and recalled him from Pawtucket. He got sent back a few days later, of course. Oakland released LHP Jesus Sanchez and DL’d RHR Marcus McBeth. Philadelphia bought the contract of C Dane Sardinha, then watched him slug a pair of homers a week into his “cover for the injured Carlos Ruiz” stint. They also released RHS Josh Fogg. Toronto designated 3B Edwin Encarnacion for assignment, then outrighted him to AAA (!!!). Colorado released LHP Damian Moss. Minnesota dug up INF D’Angelo Jimenez out of the Mexican League. They also outrighted INF Brendan Harris to AAA. Texas released 1B Wes Bankston.
AA Carolina Mudcats
Record this week: 4-3.
Overall: 4-5 (second half).
6/24: Scott Carroll fired a complete-game six-hitter, but lost to Tennessee 2-1 on a pair of solo homers. Carroll is now 1-3 with a 2.22 ERA (8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 92 pitches/57 strikes). 2B Eric Eymann singled in CF Dave Sappelt for the only Mudcat run in the first.
6/25: Carolina was apparently saving its offensive outburst for this contest, unleashing an 11-run assault spread over six different innings. The Smokies did get three off Brad Boxberger in his Southern League debut in the eighth, but by then the game was largely over. Final score was 11-4. Tom Cochran worked five for the win (W 4-3, 2.53, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). SS Kris Negron drove in four runs with a solo homer (#6) and double (.237, steal #22). Sappelt was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, homer #4, a triple, and three RBI (.333).
6/26: Carolina scored two in the third and three in the fourth to grab a 6-3 lead, but the Smokies rallied for four over their final three at-bats off the Mudcat bullpen to steal a 7-6 win. Jerry Gil took the loss (L 3-3, 5.15, BS #3, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 HR). Jeremy Horst also struggled (3.09, 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). Starter Matt Fairel worked five (6.83, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 91 pitches/53 strikes). He did slam a two-run homer, which was impressive. Sappelt drove in three more with a two-run blast (#5) and RBI single (.337). C Devin Mesoraco doubled and scored a run in three trips, but was ejected (along with Mudcat manager David Bell) in the seventh for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire.
6/27: Ace Matt Klinker played stopper in a 10-3 win as the Mudcats managed two of five. Klinker allowed just four hits over seven (W 5-4, 1.75, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 99 pitches/68 strikes). Mesoraco was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a double (.269) and LF Sean Henry added three hits and two RBI (.306). Sappelt was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two walks (.340). 3B Mike Costanzo hit a solo homer, #5.
6/28: Back home in Zebulon to face the Jacksonville Suns (FLA), but they put the screws to the struggling Travis Webb (L 2-6, 6.05, 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 84 pitches/55 strikes) and took game one 8-3. Boxberger walked three and allowed a run in the sixth without permitting a hit. C Brandon Yarbrough hit a solo homer (#3) and Costanzo (.256) and RF Denis Phipps (.236) each had two hits.
6/29: A three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth erased a 3-1 deficit and gave Carolina the 4-3 lead! On came the conflagratory Jerry Gil for the ninth. He walked the first man he faced, but quickly got two forceouts and a strikeout to notch save #2 (5.02) and close out the win. Lee Tabor had pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for the win (W 2-0, 3.38). Carroll lasted just five innings this time, but struck out six and cut his ERA to 2.17 (4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 89 pitches/54 strikes). Costanzo went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI (.271). A Henry RBI double and sacrifice flies from Mesoraco and Eymann got the crucial runs.
6/30: Tom Cochran craftied a two-hitter for seven innings (W 5-3, 2.32, 2 BB, 4 K, 109 pitches/68 strikes) and Federico Baez finished up (save #1, 7.04, 1 BB, 2 K) a 6-0 shutout. Costanzo pounded three more hits, including homer #6 (.286, 2 R). Mesoraco also homered, #6, and scored two runs (.280).
Transactions and notes: 6/24: RHR Brad Boxberger promoted from Lynchburg; he’ll pitch out of the bullpen. 6/25: RHS Scott Carroll temporarily inactivated. LHR Daryl Harang was released when he declined an assignment to Lynchburg. 6/29: Carroll reactivated.
Six Mudcats (INFs Jake Kahauleilo and Mike Costanzo, OFs Sean Henry and Dave Sappelt, RHS Matt Klinker, and LHS Tom Cochran) were named SL All-Stars, surprisingly enough- although Kahauleilo is hurt and Klinker is in Louisville.
Arizona released RHR and former Reds draft pick Abe Woody. Woody was a 31st-round pick by the Reds in 2005 out of Baylor.
High-A Lynchburg Hillcats
Record this week: 5-2.
Overall: 5-2 (second half).
6/24: Kinston (CLE) nipped the Hillcats, 2-1, as Lynchburg stranded nine runners. Jordan Hotchkiss got his first loss of 2010 (L 4-1, 1.97, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K). Sean Watson retired five and hit one (3.24, 2 K) and Donnie Joseph continued his Xbox-line season- 33 appearances, a 0.88 ERA, 41 IP, 20 H, 4 ER, 12 BB, and 70 K- with a 1-2-3 eighth (1.35, 2 K). DH Kyle Day doubled in RF Josh Fellhauer (2-for-4, .264, steal #6) for the only Hillcat run.
6/25: Lynchburg backed five decent innings from James Avery (W 3-2, 4.01, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) with sixteen hits, routing the Indians 9-1. SS Brodie Greene, the fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M who’s in his first handful of pro games, went 4-for-5 with a double, walk, and run scored (.313). Fellhauer added three more hits (.270, RBI, BB) and 1B Neftali Soto drove in two with two hits (.258). It could have been much worse- Lynchburg stranded 14 runners. Jeff Jeffords worked two scoreless (5.26, 1 H, 2 K) and Justin Freeman (4.32, 1 IP, 2 K) and Drew Bowman (6.27, 1 IP, 1 H) finished up.
6/26: Mark Serrano did bounce back somewhat from an ugly previous outing (W 3-5, 4.46, 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR), although it took three relievers and Kyle Day’s fourth-inning grand slam homer (#4) to cinch the 5-3 win. Chase Ware’s High-A debut went well (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K). Freeman came on to strand two and work 1.2 perfect innings (4.11). Joseph got save #5 (1.26, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K). OF Felix Perez’ US pro debut saw him go 1-for-4 with a run scored.
6/27: Myrtle Beach (ATL) wins a 11-8 slugfest, scoring six in the final three innings. Lance Janke started and lost (L 3-5, 6.00, 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). Both Watson and Bowman struggled badly with control- each walked three in an inning-plus. Fellhauer hit a solo homer in the ninth (#5). Perez lashed a pair of doubles, scored one, stole one (third, no less) and drove one in. Day went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored (.240).
6/28: The Pelicans scored three in the top of the seventh to pull within one of Lynchburg, but Donnie Joseph came on to strand a man at third in the eighth and then work out of a two-on, nobody-out jam in the ninth to earn save #6 (1.13, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K)- a 9-8 victory. Curt Partch struggled badly, but managed six innings (W 3-5, 4.11, 10 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). Soto hit a sixth-inning grand slam (#10, .261, 2 R) and 2B Cody Puckett (#10) and Greene (#10 added solo shots. Day continued his recent torrid streak by going 3-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and RBI (.253). C Kevin Coddington was 3-for-4 (.290, RBI).
6/29: Lynchburg takes two of three, whipping MB 5-1 behind Hotchkiss (W 5-1, 1.76, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) and RF Efrain Contreras’ three-run homer (#3, also a RBI double and two runs scored, .253). Ware struck out four en route to two perfect innings and Watson finished up (3.38, 1 IP, 1 K).
6/30: Avery pitches even better, shutting out Wilmington (KC) for six innings (W 4-2, 3.40, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K) in the Hillcats’ third straight win, 4-1. Justin Freeman got save #6 with his best Donnie Joseph impression (3.82, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K). 3B Jose Gualdron re-emerged from the DL with three hits (.298) and Day, despite going 0-for-2, still scored twice and stole two bases (5).
Transactions and notes: 6/24: RHR Chase Ware promoted from Dayton; RH (now R) Brad Boxberger to Carolina. RHR Nick Christiani placed on the 7-day DL. INF Shane Carlson promoted from Dayton. 6/25: SS Miguel Rojas placed on the 7-day DL. OF Felix Perez activated. 6/28: RHR Daniel Guerrero moved over from Billings.
On Mr. Perez.
Low-A Dayton Dragons
Record this week: 1-5.
Overall: 1-5 (second half).
6/24: Off- All-Star break.
6/25: Dayton scored two in the top of the 11th to take a 6-4 lead over Lansing (TOR), but the Lugnuts got three in the bottom of the frame off the freshly-converted reliever Pedro Villareal (BS #1, L 3-5, 3.44, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). A throwing error by 3B Frank Pfister contributed as well. Starter Tim Crabbe walked six but permitted just one hit over five shutout innings (1.25, 6 K). The rest of the bullpen struggled for the most part as well (Blair Carson 2 IP 3 H 2 ER, Jason Braun 1.2 IP 1 H 2 ER) despite nine total strikeouts. Dayton also outhit Lansing twelve to nine- but left men in scoring position in five separate innings. C Mark Fleury, who has struggled in his whole pro career so far with building consistency at the plate, hit a two-run homer (#5, .206). 1B Chris Richburg connected for #9 (.260). LF Cam Satterwhite lashed three doubles, drove in one and scored a pair (.379). CF Ryan LaMarre was 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI, and steal #4 (.278).
6/26: Lugnuts starter Ryan Tepera outdueled JC Sulbaran (L 3-4, 4.97, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) by allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. Lansing takes this one as well, 4-1. RF Josh Garton managed to knock in LaMarre with a ninth-inning single to break the shutout.
6/27: Lansing sweeps, getting a 5-4 victory in the bottom of the 11th when Mike Konstanty (L 0-4, 5.14, 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) walked in the winning run. Cam Satterwhite had hit a grand-slam homer in the top of the ninth (#3) to tie the game at 4. Starter Jake Johnson lasted six (4.26, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K). 2B Henry Rodriguez was 3-for-5 (.275).
6/28: Dayton gets its first win of the second half, outslugging Fort Wayne 15-10. The Dragons erased a 4-0 deficit with eight runs in the fourth, then piled on four in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Justin Walker started and won (2-8, 5.08, 6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR). Junior Martinez couldn’t get a man out (5.34, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB) but Villareal came on to get the long save (#1, 3.54, 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). Rodriguez led the 17-hit attack with a 4-for-5 game (.284, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R). DH Tommy Nurre was 3-for-5 with two RBI (.237) and Satterwhite (#4) and Pfister (#4) each homered. LF Alex Oliveras doubled twice and scored three runs (.243) and LaMarre also crossed the plate three times despite recording only two official at-bats (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .289).
6/29: Back to the pitcher’s duels so common in the Midwest League. Three TinCap pitchers outdueled Ricky Bowen (L 1-2, 4.76, 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) and Blair Carson (2.01, 3.2 IP, 1 H, 4 K), 2-1. Fleury singled in Satterwhite in the fourth for the only Dragons run. Reports have Bowen, a 44th-round draft pick a year or two back, reaching 95 mph on the radar gun (!!). Cam Satterwhite extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
6/30: Fort Wayne takes the rubber match, 6-5. The Dragons got two in the bottom of the ninth when C Chase Weems singled with the bases loaded, but Nurre struck out, SS Didi Gregorius was walked intentionally and LaMarre lined out. Crabbe started and lost (L 1-1, 2.70, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Kevin Arico’s first pro inning went 1-2-3 and Junior Martinez turned in a scoreless seventh, although Jason Braun gave up a run in the top of the ninth that would prove crucial (3.27, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). Nurre did hit his third homer and Garton was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple (.281). Satterwhite’s hitting streak ended.
Transactions and notes: 6/24: RHR Chase Ware rightfully promoted to Lynchburg. 6/25: RHR Kevin Arico (10th round, 2010) signed and activated. Here’s a story. INF Shane Carlson promoted to Lynchburg. RHS Josh Ravin placed on the 7-day DL. 6/28: 3B Cristobal Rodriguez promoted from the AZL Reds.
Rookie-Pioneer Billings Mustangs
Record this week: 2-5.
Overall: 3-8, last place.
6/24: Starter Clayton Shunick was stuck with a four-spot in the top of the first (some of those unearned due to SS Devin Lohman’s error) and Great Falls never looked back, winning it 6-3. Shunick ended with a decent line (L 0-1, 6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Tyler Cline finished with three scoreless; the 20-year-old is coming off sixty innings of 2.09 ERA ball in the complex leagues in 2009. CF Yorman Rodriguez blasted a double and triple and collected all three Mustangs RBIs (.263). LF Dayne Read was 2-for-4 and scored on each of Rodriguez’ hits.
6/25: Billings fell juuuuust short against Missoula (ARI) getting a single run in the eighth to close the gap to one at 9-8, but stranded a man on third in the eighth and another runner in the ninth. Rodriguez -playing RF this time- and fellow multimillionaire phenom Juan Duran both slammed home runs. Rodriguez finished 2-for-5 with three RBI total. 3B Oliver Santos was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a RBI, and a double (.538). Starter Tanner Robles struggled (2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER) and so did relievers Pat Doyle (3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER) and Blaine Howell (1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, L 0-1).
6/26: Another heartbreakin’ slugfest. Down 10-0 going to the seventh, the Mustangs stampeded for two in the seventh, two in the eighth, and five in the ninth! But after 1B Jonathan Kaskow’s three-run homer cleared the bases in that final frame, the next two men were retired to end the game. Kaskow finished an incredible night at the plate 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, and a walk. Rodriguez was 4-for-5 with two runs scored (.379, RBI). Daniel Tuttle, who like Cline pitched very well in the complex leagues last year (1.67 ERA, 32.1 IP) started and lost (L 1-1, 5.00, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). Rehabbin’ Daniel Guerrero had a rough one (1 IP, 5 ER) although Jesus Adames permitted just one hit over the final three innings.
6/27: Billings salvaged one from this three-game road series, 6-2. Tzu-Kai Chiu threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for the victory (W 1-0, 0.00, 2 H, 1 K). Daniel Corcino, who pitched exclusively in relief for Billings in 2009 (4.91 ERA in 20 G, 30 K and 15 BB in 25.2 IP), started and worked 4.1 (7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Porfirio Martinez got the save with the final two innings. Rodriguez continued to hit like crazy, going 3-for-4 with three more RBI (.424, 14-for-33). CF Jefry Sierra also had three hits (.429, steal #4). 2B Billy Hamilton was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored (.160).
6/28: Helena (MIL) scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth off Cline (L 0-1, 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER) and James Walczak (BS #1, 0.2 IP, 2 ER), then withstood a two-run comeback by Billings in the top of the ninth to hang on, 8-7. A Juan Duran forceout grounder and wild pitch/throwing error combination on 1B Donald Lutz’ strikeout scored runs #6 and #7, but Santos grounded out with Sierra on third to end the game. Lutz did go 3-for-5 with a double (.321). Hamilton was again 2-for-4, this time with a double, run scored, stolen base, and RBI (.207).
6/29: The Brewers also took game two, 5-3. Shunick started and went four (4.50, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) but it was Daniel Wolford who got the loss in relief (L 0-2, 2 IP, 2 ER, 1 HR). DH Trey Manz homered, his first. Lohman, struggling in the field early on, did go 2-for-3 to raise his average to .292.
6/30: The Mustangs salvage one for the second straight series, nipping Helena 4-3. Billings got 14 hits, but also stranded ten runners. Lutz hit a three-run homer in the seventh to provide the decisive runs (#3, 2-for-5, .333). Hamilton went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk (.242, steal #2, also CS #2). Kaskow was 3-for-3 with a walk (.348). Robles did a little better this time out (4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) although it was Doyle who got the victory in relief (W 1-0, 4.26, 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Martinez got save #2 with two more scoreless innings.
Transactions and notes: 2B Mauricio Pimentel, UT Will Stramp, and OF Ryan Doran were all placed on the restricted list- indicating probable retirement. 6/28: RHR Daniel Guerrero sent to Lynchburg. INF Drew Hayes activated. (I believe he may be a NDFA signee- see below).
Great story to go with the only Reds’ NDFA signee to date (that's been publicized), OF Jeff Taylor Jr. out of Lynchburg College (VA).
Rookie-Arizona League Reds
Record this week: 3-2.
Overall record: 4-4.
6/24: The Reds evened their season record at 2 by beating the Indians in the first pitcher’s duel they’d seen so far, 4-1. Just three hits for the good guys. 19-year-old Dominican righty Jonathan Correa worked five strong for the win (4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). His countryman Jose Marizan worked the sixth, 2009 NDFA righty Ryan Smith the next two, and Canadian lefty Mitchell Clarke (19th round, 2009) the ninth for the save. 2010 draftee Adam Muenster drove in two runs.
6/25: Off.
6/26: Led by Rehabbin’ Daryl Thompson’s nine Ks in five innings (6 H, 3 ER), the Reds whipped the Athletics, 8-3. Dominican Carlos Contreras worked the last four for the long save. SS Junior Arias was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two stolen bases, a two-run homer off phenom Michael Ynoa (in his second US appearance) and a triple. DH Robert Maddox added three RBI and RF Stephen Hunt two more.
6/27: Three straight wins, as the Reds pile up six runs in the bottom of the first- then hang on to beat the Padres, 8-5. Starter Evan Hildenbrandt worked four (5.68, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). Lefty Matthew Leonard worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for the victory and Smith picked up the save. DH Dominic D’Anna was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Arias had two more hits and two more runs scored (.379). Hunt was 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI (.500).
6/28: The Reds committed four errors in falling to the Rangers, 6-2. Kyle Lotzkar, the supplemental first-rounder from 2007, lasted two innings in his second 2010 appearance (4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). Ismael Guillon was impressive, going 4.2 innings in relief without giving up an earned run (3.12, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). D’Anna’s average dropped to .560 with a mere 2-for-4 performance. NDFA 3B Danny Hernandez slammed a two-run homer (2-for-4, .300).
6/29: The Royals take a close one, 6-4. Lefty Derrick Lowery (24th round, 2009) struggled, giving up four earned in two innings of relief to earn the defeat. Correa had another solid start (4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K). 2010 49th-round pick El’Hajj Muhammad worked two scoreless and the Taiwanese righty Po-Cheng Chi was much better in his second US outing (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R). Hernandez was 2-for-4 again, this time with three RBI. Maddox and CF Kurtis Muller were each 2-for-4 (.320 and .242, respectively). Arias committed his fifth error and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk (.297).
6/30: Off.
Transactions and notes: 6/28: INF Cristobal Rodriguez promoted to Dayton.
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