Important things first: follow Billy Hamilton’s pursuit of 145 stolen bases!

Amazingly, every Reds affiliate except for the AZL squad (3-3) finished with a winning record this week. Pensacola still needs a push over the next couple of weeks to get into the playoffs, while it looks like Billings will join Bakersfield in the postseason. None of the other three are likely to make it this year.

AAA Louisville Bats

Record this week: 4-3.


Overall: 47-72. Last. Now two better than the 45-74 Mud Hens! Nobody else in the IL has less than 53 wins, though.

8/2: Todd Redmond pitched better this time (L 7-8, 3.44, 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) but the just-activated Josh Judy (7.16, 4 H, 4 ER) and Carlos Fisher were smacked around for six runs in Charlotte (CHW, 63-49)’s seventh. Knights cruise, 8-1. CF Denis Phipps was 2-for-4 with homer #8 (.208) and SS Didi Gregorius poked two hits and walked (.310).

8/3: Pedro Villareal allowed only three hits over six innings (L 3-8, 4.01, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K), but his teammates couldn’t get any offense going as Charlotte won again, 3-1. DH Chris Valaika did have a single and double (.241, R, BB) and LF Felix Perez doubled in a run (.289).

8/4: Louisville manages to beat ex-Bat Scott Carroll, getting the tiebreaking run in the seventh to take it 4-3. Phipps hit a two-run homer, #9, and RF Mike Costanzo had homer #8 (2-for-4). Phipps also reminded us of his incredible arm by throwing out the Knights’ Josh Phegley at the plate. Sean Gallagher worked six (4.84, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR) but it was Nick Christiani (W 2-5, 3.36, 2 IP, 2 K) who got the victory by retiring all six he faced. JJ Hoover was automatic for save #9.

8/5: Costanzo (#9), Phipps (#10), and 2B Cody Puckett (#9) all homered as the Bats won 4-2 and salvaged a four-game split with the first-place Knights. Costanzo finished 3-for-4 (.279). Chad Reineke scattered eight hits over seven (W 5-7, 4.35, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). Hoover notched save #10 (1.45).

8/6: Tim Gustafson turned in the Bats’ fourth straight quality start (W 4-3, 4.30, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) as Louisville got its third straight win, 4-2, over Toledo (DET, 44-72). LF Willie Harris had three hits and three RBI, including his first homer of the year (.242). It took five relievers to nail down the win after Gustafson departed, but Jordan Smith (save #12, 5.09) finally got the last two Mud Hens to close it out.

8/7: Todd Redmond didn’t get the start here, instead coming in after Rehabbin’ Nick Masset worked the first inning and two-thirds (1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K), but the righty did allow just four hits over the next 5.2 to grab himself and the Bats a win, 5-3. Redmond evened his overall record at 8-8 (3.36, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K). Hoover got save #11 with a 1-2-3 ninth. Costanzo didn’t make an out, doubling twice and walking twice (.284). DH Neftali Soto got two hits and drove one in (.235). Gregorius was 1-for-4 (3B) to fall to .276 and 3B Henry Rodriguez’ 1-for-4 caused his AAA average to fall to .256. With the win, the Bats moved into a three-game lead over the IL’s worst team (Toledo, in case you missed it earlier).

8/8: Hen revenge. Villareal is chased in the fifth (L 3-9, 4.12, 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) as Toledo wins 8-4. Luggage-toting C Brian Peacock whacked a two-run homer (his first in more than 130 PA this season) and Perez was 2-for-3 with a solo shot (#5, .288, steal #4).

Transactions: 8/2: 39-year-old RHS Brett Tomko released. Tomko had a 3.78 ERA in 12 starts for the Bats but got no run support, losing all six of his decisions. 33 BB and 48 K is a shaky ratio in 66 IP, but perhaps the veteran will keep on. We’ll see. INF Mike Costanzo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville. RHS Pedro Villareal, RHR Josh Judy, and C Brian Peacock activated from the DL. 8/5: RHR Nick Masset up from Dayton to do rehab.

Around the minors: Baltimore called up OF Lew Ford, making his first big-league appearance in like five years. Ford appeared briefly for Louisville a while back. The Orioles also DL’d LHR Pedro Viola, who has had basically nothing but trouble ever since he left the Reds’ organization. The Cubs signed Todd Frazier’s older brother Jeff, released by Detroit. The elder Frazier attended Rutgers as well and played in the Tiger organization from his drafting in the third round in 2004 until after the 2010 season (in which he made the big leagues for nine games). Jeff went to the Washington organization for 2011 but struggled badly and didn’t get a callup. Another name from the past, INF Ray Olmedo, had his contract purchased by the White Sox. Olmedo has been through the Toronto, Washington, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay again, and now the Chicago organizations since leaving the Reds. He’s never hit in the big leagues, but a guy who can play a good shortstop and hit .270 in AAA is useful- and that’s what Ray does. Houston gave up (for now) on RHR Enerio Del Rosario, outrighting him to Round Rock. Milwaukee DL’d LHR Phil Valiquette; the Reds’ seventh-round pick in 2004 has made just eleven appearances in 2012 due to injury. The Yankees outrighted OF Darnell McDonald to Triple-A. San Diego called up RHR Bread Boxberger, as we saw in the recent Padres series. You also saw former Reds’ draft pick Eddy Rodriguez homer in his first major-league at-bat. Seattle released RHP Chris Reitsma; a note on the transactions list said he’s been on the restricted list since April ’08 but hasn’t officially retired. Pittsburgh outrighted UT Drew Sutton to Triple-A; of course, they started the journeyman every day for the better part of a month and batted him leadoff. How is this team winning so many games again? Nothing against Sutton, who can clearly hit major league pitching competently but must be godawful on defense to get discarded so much. And Washington released C Koyie Hill- after the Reds picked him up and put him at Double-A for a while earlier this year, Hill was handed to the Cubs to be a major-league backup for them when Geovany Soto was injured- but he then was let go after appearing in 11 games. The Nationals picked him up and he batted .163 in 31 games for AAA Syracuse.

AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos

This week: 4-3.

Overall: 24-22 second half, two games behind new division leader Jacksonville (MIA). 58-57 overall.

8/2: The Wahoos get a big 6-1 win, as Wirfin Obispo dominated Tennesee (CHC, 19-20) for six innings (W 3-0, 2.47, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K). Obispo also outdueled Smokies starter Jacob Brigham, the righthander just acquired from Texas in the Geovany Soto deal. SS Billy Hamilton was 0-for-3 but drew two walks, scored twice, and swiped bases 14/118 and 15/119. 3B David Vidal hit homer #6 and drove in two (.238) and RF Josh Fellhauer singled and doubled while scoring one and driving one in (.296). CF Bryson Smith continues to rake (2-for-5, 2B, .325/.365/.468 in 26 Double-A games). Wilkin de la Rosa (2.23, 1.1 IP, 2 K) and Justin Freeman (save #12, 2.87, 1.2 IP, 3 K) were perfect in relief.

8/3: The Double-A debut of Chad “Sharky” Rogers went well enough, as Pensacola defeated Huntsville (MIL, 20-20) 8-5. Rogers worked five (7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 87 pitches/50 strikes). Chris Manno got the last two outs for the save (4.23). 3B David Vidal hit a two-run homer (#7) and finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored (.243). LF Bryson Smith entered mid-game as a pinch-hitter and went 2-for-2 with three RBI (.342). SS Billy Hamilton had two hits, a walk, and a run scored while adding three more stolen bases to his total (122).

8/4: The two clubs went to the eleventh inning tied 1-1, and Pensacola broke out for four runs:

Pensacola Top of the 11th
• Pitching Change: Kyle Heckathorn replaces Brandon Kintzler, batting 8th.
• Bryson Smith strikes out swinging.
• David Vidal grounds out sharply, second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt to first baseman Hunter Morris.
• Brodie Greene singles on a line drive to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• With Tucker Barnhart batting, Brodie Greene steals (9) 2nd base.
• Tucker Barnhart singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Prince. Brodie Greene scores.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Andrew Means replaces Brian Pearl.
• Andrew Means homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Tucker Barnhart scores.
• Billy Hamilton singles on a ground ball to third baseman Hainley Statia.
• With Josh Fellhauer batting, throwing error by Kyle Heckathorn on the pickoff attempt, Billy Hamilton to 2nd.
• With Josh Fellhauer batting, throwing error by Kyle Heckathorn on the pickoff attempt, Billy Hamilton scores. Throwing error by center fielder Josh Prince.
• Josh Fellhauer doubles (16) on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Ryan LaMarre pops out to catcher Anderson De La Rosa in foul territory.

Mark Serrano headed out for the bottom of the eleventh… but:

Huntsville Bottom of the 11th
• Pitching Change: Mark Serrano replaces Brian Pearl, batting 9th, replacing Andrew Means.
• Kentrail Davis walks.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Adam Weisenburger replaces Kyle Heckathorn.
• Adam Weisenburger strikes out swinging.
• T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Ryan LaMarre. Kentrail Davis to 3rd.
• Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ryan LaMarre. Kentrail Davis scores. T. Mittelstaedt to 3rd.
• Jean Segura singles on a line drive to shortstop Billy Hamilton. T. Mittelstaedt scores. Josh Prince to 2nd.
• Hunter Morris homers (21) on a fly ball to left center field. Josh Prince scores. Jean Segura scores.

The Stars take it 6-5. Serrano fell to 6-4 and his ERA blew up to 3.97. Starter Tony Cingrani allowed four hits and walked four, but gave up no runs over five innings (1.98, 4 K). 2B Brodie Greene finished with three hits (.228) and Fellhauer doubled twice (.301).

8/5: Stars take this one as well, 7-4. Hamilton got bags 123, 124, and 125 despite going just 1-for-5 (.274). Greene doubled and tripled and drove in a run, while Vidal had two hits and two RBI (.246). Kyle Lotzkar is still fighting it (5.31, 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K), throwing just 34 strikes in 70 pitches. Josh Ravin (1-1) took the relief loss (5.79, 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).

8/6: The Wahoos started out strong, getting three in the visitors’ first, but Huntsville got those back in the second plus a couple more then sat on it the rest of the way, winning 5-3. Daniel Corcino got the defeat (L 7-6, 3.31, 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). Stars starter Johnny Hellweg, one of the three pitchers acquired from the Angels in the Zach Greinke deal, survived seven walks in five innings. Hamilton, incidentally, drew three walks in this game and notched steals 126 and 127 along with CS #27.

8/7: Wirfin Obispo has now allowed just three runs over his last four starts (23 IP), shutting down the Stars for seven (W 4-0, 2.13, 1 BB, 8 K). Pensacola manages to get two of five, 6-1. C Tucker Barnhart had a two-run homer (#1, 2-for-3, 2B, .191) and LF Don Lutz whomped a three-run shot (#3). Hamilton got steal #128 (0-for-5, .253). Greene doubled twice (.235).

8/8: Rogers moved to 2-0 in two Double-A starts, holding first-place Chattanooga (LAD, 26-19) to three hits over six innings of shutout ball (0.82, 2 BB, 6 K, 88 pitches/55 strikes). Drew Hayes retired six straight (3.42, 2 K) and Justin Freeman (2.78, 1 IP, 1 H) finished up the 5-0 whitewash. Three more bags for Slidin’ Billy (131); he started slow but finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Neither hit left the infield; one was a dribbler in front of the plate and the other was back to the mound. Rogers also helped his own cause by belting a line-drive triple to center leading off the fifth; he later scored.

Transactions: 8/2: LHR Wilkin de la Rosa activated from the DL. Also, the Reds released LHR Ryan Kiel, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason but made only a handful of appearances this year due to injury.

A bit on Tony Cingrani.

High-A Bakersfield Blaze

This week: 4-2.

Overall: 20-25 second half. 61-54 overall. Playoff-bound.


8/2: The Blaze overcame a San Jose (SF, 18-21) five-spot in the first, then a 7-5 midgame lead to win it 9-8. Bakersfield played errorless ball while the Giants committed five miscues. A 16-hit attack was led by CF Theo Bowe (.338, 3-for-4, BB, RBI, SB #41 & #42, CS #21), RF Steve Selsky (.340, 3-for-4, 3 R, HR #12) and SS Devin Lohman (.250, 3-for-5, 2B). Tim Crabbe suffered through that ugly first but then shut San Jose out for the next four (3.91, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR). Now is it time to make him a power reliever with that wipeout, best-in-the-system (BA Prospect Guide, 2012) slider? Andrew Brackman got the relief win (1-2, 5.08, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER).

8/3: Tanner Robles got his High-A ERA down to 1.83 with five innings of one-run ball (W 3-2, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K) as Bakersfield beat Modesto (COL, 22-19) 5-1. CF Theo Bowe had three hits and scored three runs (steal #43, .343). Lohman didn’t make an out (.254, 2-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, steals 26 and 27). New Blazer Ryan Wright went 2-for-4 in his Cal League debut. 1B Dominic D’Anna had two hits and two RBI (.251).

8/4: Lohman (.258, 3-for-5) and 3B Travis Mattair (.262, 3-for-4) both had RBI hits in the seventh to break a tie and give the Blaze another win, 5-3. RF Steve Selsky was 3-for-4 (.347). Chris Joyce allowed a run to cause the 3-3 tie but ended up with the win (W 4-4, 5.88, 1 IP). Kyle McMyne got save #5 by recording the last out, stranding two of Justice French’s runners (3.57, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB). Jamie Walczak returned to starting (5.29, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K).

8/5: Modesto salvaged one by getting two off Pat Doyle (L 9-4, 5.69, 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) in the ninth to tie, then the winner in the tenth. Nuts, 6-5. Josh Smith was quality (3.85, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). LF Juan Duran cranked a two-run homer (#10) and added a double (.231). Mattair doubled and tripled.

8/6: Off

8/7: Visalia (ARI, 24-19) got five in the first and then withstood the home team’s five-spot in the ninth to win 10-6. Dan Renken was out after four (L 4-7, 5.09, 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Mattair had three more hits (.269) and drove in two. Bakersfield ended up stranding 13 runners on base.

8/8: Tim Crabbe bounced back from five earned in five innings last time out by holding a no-hitter until the seventh. He ended up done after 6.2 (W 3-0, 3.34, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K) and the Blaze hung on 5-4 despite French serving up three in the eighth. McMyne set down the last three for save #6. Wright smacked three hits, one his first High-A home run.

Transactions: 8/2: RHR Andrew Brackman cleared waivers after his designation for assignment and outrighted to Bakersfield. 8/3: 2B Ryan Wright promoted from Dayton. INF James Ewing placed on the DL.

Low-A Dayton Dragons

This week: 4-3.

Overall: 19-26 second half. Last, still, but only by a game. 49-66 overall.


8/2: Lansing (TOR, 23-15) has been strong all year, and they were strong here too. They come back to win 5-2 after the Dragons led 2-0 until the sixth. Rehabbin’ Nick Masset worked a scoreless first (1 H), then Wes Mugarian looked solid for the next 4.2 (7.20, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K). But Ryan Kemp again had the hard luck, falling to 1-5 (4.61, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) while Dan Jensen had a rough time with his control (5.89, 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K).

8/3: Stalin Gerson got the Dragons a series win (three of four), shutting the Lugnuts out for six innings (W 6-7, 3.95, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K) in a 5-1 win. Carlos Gonzalez allowed one hit over the final three for the long save (3.79, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). DH Juan Perez was 2-for-4 with a pair of steals (22, .257). Both RF Yorman Rodriguez and 1B Sean Buckley drove in two.

8/4: The Dragons stormed back from a 5-0 deficit with two in the eighth and four in the ninth! Carlos Contreras (save #12) then set down Great Lakes (LAD, 18-22) in order in the home ninth to close out the 6-5 win. Perez tripled twice and drove in three while RF Juan Silva hit homer #4. Jake Johnson was knocked out in the fifth (5.32, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 HR). Ryan Kemp worked a scoreless eighth for the win (2-5, 4.53).

8/5: Dayton made it five of six, 11-5. The Loons led 4-1 until the sixth, but the Dragons got two in that inning and six in the seventh. Perez hit homer #7 and added a double (.262) while C Nick O’Shea was 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and homer #4 (.203). 3B Junior Arias had two hits and two RBI (.203, steal #25). James Allen worked five (3.71, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) but it was Dan Jensen who got the win in relief (5-9, 5.72, 1 IP).

8/6: Robert Stephenson looked fine (1.29, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) but the Loons got to Lucas O’Rear (L 0-2, 5.45, 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER) later on, pulling out a 5-2 win.

8/7: Contreras allowed one in the ninth, then El’Hajj Muhammad (L 0-2, 3.00) served up the walkoff homer in the home tenth as Great Lakes got the split, 6-5. Carlos Gonzalez pitched 3.2 innings of two-hit ball in relief of Wes Mugarian following a second-inning rain delay (3.46, 1 BB, 4 K). 2B Joe Terry had three hits (.265, 2 2B, steals #16 and #17) and Silva hit homer #5.

8/8: Kyle Waldrop’s two-run single in the top of the tenth proved the deciding blow in Dayton’s 4-2, 10-inning win! Waldrop finished 3-for-5, raising his line to .277/.341/.409 in 108 games. Not bad for a 20-year-old in this league. Waldrop also initiated a 9-3-6-4-2 tag play at home in the bottom of the ninth that would have given Lansing the win. Stalin Gerson pitched well again (3.84, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) but it was Jensen who got the victory (W 6-9, 5.42, 3 IP, 5 H). Muhammad got save #2. Rodriguez had a single and double (.272, RBI).

Transactions: 8/2: Rehabbin’ Nick Masset in from Arizona. 8/3: OF Jefry Sierra activated from the DL. INF Ryan Wright promoted to Bakersfield.

Rookie-Pioneer

This week: 6-1.

Overall: 9-2 second half, first place!


8/2: Billings kept their tie for the second-half lead, whipping Helena (MIL, 2-2) 9-4. The Mustangs trailed until the sixth, then they scored in each of their final four at-bats. Two RBIs apiece for 3B Seth Mejias-Brean (.387, 2-for-3, 2B, 2 R), CF Daniel Pigott, and 1B Carlos Sanchez (2-for-4, .272). SS Zach Vincej continued to rake in his short pro career (.371, 2-for-5, 2 R). RF Jon Matthews continues to struggle at the dish, batting .132 /.241/.145 in 23 G (1-for-4, 2 R) but he stole three bases in this one (10), including third twice. The Reds’ eighth-round pick in 2011 did hit a little better (.229/.322/.320, 18-25 SB) for the AZL squad last year. Sal Romano started (5.70, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR- to Raul Mondesi’s son Raul Jr.), but Dan Langfield (W 3-0, 3.93, 2.2 IP, 1 BB, 5 K) got the duke in relief.

8/3: Another Mustangs win, 6-4. 1B Carlos Sanchez (#5) and LF Matt Lentz (#1, 3-for-5) both homered. Vincej had two more hits and two more RBI. Drew Cisco worked five for his first pro win (W 1-0, 4.08, 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). Jimmy Moran got save #2 (2.55, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K).

8/4: Great Falls (CHW) may have won the first-half division title, but they haven’t won a game yet in the second. Billings won a classic Pioneer League seesaw matchup, 9-8, when 2B Taylor Wrenn’s fourth hit (.276) scored Matt Lentz with the winning run in the home ninth. SS Brandon Dailey also had four hits (.360) despite three errors. CF Beau Amaral had three hits (.276, 2 RBI, steals 9 and 10). Jose Amezcua struggled a bit (4.91, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Sean Lucas got the win (2-1).

8/5: The Voyagers fell to 0-8, as Billings wiped out a 3-0 deficit with a five-spot in the fourth. Ponies win, 8-4. Sanchez hit a two-run homer (#6). RF Jon Matthews drove in three (1-for-4, 3B, .138). LF Jesse Winker had two doubles and a single (.356). Erik Miller got the relief win (1-1) with a hitless inning. Joel Bender struck out five over 3.1 (6.27, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB). Starter Jon Moscot allowed one hit and one run in two innings. Moran got the last out for save #3.

8/6: 0-9, 5-2. Ismael Guillon can’t be stopped (W 4-1, 2.60, 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). Lucas got save #6 (2.66, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K). Winker had three more hits (.367) while Vincej stayed at .400 with two hits and two RBI.

8/7: Great Falls finally got off the schneid, capitalizing on three Mustangs errors to win 5-2. Dan Langfield started for the first time and looked great (2.2 IP, 1 H, 6 K, 3.43) but Carlos Ramos ended up with the loss in relief (L 1-1, 9.77, 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER). Undeterred, Vincej got up to .429/.463/.592 in 13 games (3-for-4). 1B Robert Maddox hit a two-run homer, #10, to re-tie him for the PL lead.

8/8: Drew Cisco won his second game in a week (W 2-0, 3.74, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) and Billings got enough runs despite going 3-for-20 with RISP and 12 runners left on; they triumph 4-2. Amaral (3-for-5, .287), Wrenn (3-for-3, BB, .293) and RF Jeff Gelalich (.226, 2-for-4, 2 R) paced the 13-hit attack. Bennett Klimesh struck out six in three innings of relief (32 K in 22 IP, 2.45 ERA) and Matt Wiley got save #5 (still 0.00, 9 G, 7.2 IP; he missed a month with injury).

Transactions: 8/8: INF Gabriel Rosa back to the AZL Reds, while LHP Amir Garrett came up from Arizona.

Rookie-Arizona

This week: 3-3.

Overall: 13-25, third place, 9.5 back.


8/2: Off.

8/3: MAKEUP MADNESS versus the Baby Brewers! Could the good guys keep their two-game win streak alive? As it turns out, no, but the Redlings did get a split with a 5-2 win in game two after getting mauled 15-5 in the opener. Seven errors in seven innings in that first game; don’t ask. They actually committed four more in the nightcap, but 1B Jhimmy Lopez drove in three runs and 3B Tanner Rahier was 2-for-2 with a double (.216) as Mike Salter pitched five strong (3-0, 1.90, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K).

8/4: The Redlings traveled across town to face the Brewers at their place. This ended up working out pretty well, as the Reds whomped the Baby Brews 15-2. 2B Humberto Valor had four hits and four RBI (.271, 2 2B) while SS Brent Peterson added four more hits (.365). Mike Saunders pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief for the win (3-0, 1.48, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K). Pedro Diaz started (4.50, 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K).

8/5: That’s five of six! A 4-3 win over the Rangers saw the Redlings play errorless ball and get six one-hit shutout innings from Jose Williams (W 1-2, 6.11, 0 BB, 5 K). The 6’5” Dominican, 21, had his best outing of the year by a fair margin. Abel de los Santos got save #2. Valor had two more hits and a run knocked in (.281).

8/6: The Angels got six in their final two at-bats to turn a 1-1 game into a 7-4 win. Wandy Peralta was charged with the loss (L 2-5, 6.27, 3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER). Nick Travieso was excellent (4.00, 3 IP, 1 H, 2 K) and Amir Garrett looked decent as well (5.79, 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). RF Adam Matthews was 3-for-3 with a walk (.344).

8/7: Off.

8/8: The Indians survived six errors to win a seesaw affair, 8-6. Mike Salter took his first loss (3-1, 2.57, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K).

Transactions: 8/8: RHP Ryan Fennell added to the roster. He’s a non-drafted free agent signee out of Canisius. INF Gabriel Rosa down from Billings; LHP Amir Garrett up to Billings.

The Reds also announced the signing of Curacaoan SS Carlton Daal. No word on a roster assignment. Do a search for “daal” on this page for some info.