cincykid wrote: Our AA team an hit, maybe it is just that cali weather? Whatever it is, they can hit. Wish they had them on MiLB tv. Oh well.

RDriesenUD wrote: AA team is in Pensacola, FL.  So, maybe it is the Southern weather :)?

cincykid wrote: Our AA team an hit, maybe it is just that cali weather? Whatever it is, they can hit. Wish they had them on MiLB tv. Oh well.

by UncleWeez on Apr 25, 2012 8:30 AM EDT in Farmers only

• Louisville lost to Toledo 5-3. Andrew Brackman was tagged for 5 runs on 5 hits in 5.2 innings, walking 3 and striking out 6. Perhaps it's time for him to head for the pen? With LeCure struggling, Bray and Masset disabled (or do they prefer physically challenged?), and Alfredo Simon existing, the more effective relievers we have, the better. That's not to say it's a given that Brackman will be an effective reliever, but it's at least more likely. Anyway, Danny Dorn and Chris Valaika were the only Bats with an XBH (a HR and a 3B, respectively), and no one had more than 1 hit. Up next: Brett Tomko (0-2, 3.68 ERA) takes on Indian-no-place at 11:05 in the morning because why the hell not, right?
• Pensacola lost to the Biscuits (I'll never get tired of that name) 7-4, thanks to a rough outing from J.C. Sulbaran. The young righty followed up an 11 K performance last time out with a 7 ER stinker in 4.2 innings, striking out only 3 to 4 BB. None of the Wahoo bats had more than 1 hit either, though Brodie Greene had a walk and an RBI double, and Hank-Rod followed suit with a walk and an RBI single. The only really exciting thing that happened was first baseman Joel Guzman being ejected in the third after he struck out swinging. Hmm. Miguel Rojas filled in admirably, going 1-3 with a run scored. Up next: The Wahoos head to Jacksonville, handing the ball to Pedro Villareal (1-1, 2.22 ERA) at 7:05. Yes, that's 7:05 pm.
• Bakersfield built on their win streak, beating Stockton 6-4. Billy Hamilton went 2-5, and hit another triple and stole a base. Yawn. The Knockwurst continued to make good on his promise to "tear it up in Bakersfield," going 3-5 with a double and 2 runs scored, while David Vidal Gored the opposing pitchers, knocking a double and stealing 2 bases en route to a 2-4 night. Josh Smith struck out 9 Ports in 5.2 innings of work, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. Not too shabby for the Cal League, especially considering he only walked 1. Travis "Air" Mattair homered in the sixth to add some run support. Oh, and Yorman Rodriguez went 0-5 with 5 strikeouts. Yikes. Up next: The Blaze look to extend their win streak, with Bonny Prince Tony Cingrani (1-1, 0.53 ERA) taking on Stockton at 10:05 pm ET.
• Dayton won a 3-2 nail biter against Cedar Rapids, behind a strong start from Tanner "Paso" Robles (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) and a 3-3 performance from everyone's favorite ex-Cardinal Ryan Wright, who hit 2 triples. Theo Bowe isn't making it easy on himself in his quest to match Billy Hamilton, hitting only .196 on the year, but he reached base twice and did steal a base, bringing his season total to 9, or ten less than Sir Quix-a-Lot's total. Kyle McMyne gave up his first run of the year, but Carlos Contreras got out of a man-on-third and one out jam with a K and a groundout to earn the save and secure the win for the Dragons. Up next: The Dragons kick off a six game road trip at 7:35 ET, with Stalin Gerson (1-1, 3.78 ERA) taking on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (really?).

4/26 Game Review

Louisville had the day off.

Pensacola won 9-3. Box Score

• Henry Rodriguez went 4-5 with an RBI and 2 runs.
• Joel Guzman went 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI.
• Josh Fellhauer went 0-2 with 3 walks and a run.
• Cody Puckett went 1-4 with a walk and a run.
• Mark Fleury went 1-4 with a walk and 2 runs.
• Mark Serrano went 0-1 with a walk and a run at the plate. On the mound he threw 3 shutout innings with no walks and 6 strikeouts out of the bullpen.
• Clayton Tanner threw 2 shutout innings with a strikeout.
• Wirfin Obispo threw a hitless 9th with a walk and 2 strikeouts.

Game notes

Big nights from the #3 and #4 hitters as Henry Rodriguez and Joel Guzman each had four hits. Henry Rodriguez pushed his average up to .322 on the season. Guzman pushed his average up to .304. Mark Serrano had a fantastic outing from the bullpen and even got two plate appearances and scored a run. The game tonight will be available on Milb.tv if you subscribe.

Game links

Postgame article from BlueWahoos.com.

Bakersfield won 8-1. Box Score

• Billy Hamilton went 3-4 with an RBI, 2 runs and 4 steals (23).
• AJ Means went 1-4 with a walk and a run.
• Devin Lohman went 1-4 with a double, 2 RBI and a run.
• Donald Lutz went 2-4 with a triple, HR (5), 2 RBI and 2 run.
• David Vidal went 2-4 with an RBI.
• Bryson Smith went 1-4 with a triple and a run.
• Tucker Barnhart went 1-3 with a double, walk and a run.
• Tony Cingrani allowed 1 hit and 1 walks in 6 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts.
• John Holdzkom threw a perfect 9th with 2 strikeouts.

Game notes

Tony Cingrani may be the most dominating pitcher in the minor leagues so far this season. He has a 0.39 ERA, 5 walks and 28 strikeouts in 23 innings in the California League. Billy Hamilton is off to a great start at well, continuing to crust the ball. He is up to .377/.456/.597 with 23 steals. The Donald Lutz and David Vidal duo seem to be continuing their one-upsmanship. Lutz raised his average to .329 on the season with two hits. Vidal raised his up to .324 with his two singles. The win was the 10th in a row for the Blaze.

Game links

Postgame article from BakersfieldBlaze.com.

Dayton won 3-1 in 10 innings. Box Score

• Jefry Sierra went 2-5 with an RBI and a run.
• Ryan Wright went 2-5 with a run, steal (5) and RBI.
• Danny Vicioso went 2-4 with an RBI and a steal (1).
• Junior Arias went 2-4 with a run and a steal (4).
• Nick O’Shea went 1-2 with a double.
• Justice French allowed a run in 6 innings with 8 strikeouts.
• Brooks Pinckard threw 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts.
• Kyle McMyne threw 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts.

Game notes

The Dragons were down to their last out before a blooper off the bat of Danny Vicioso fell between the right fielder, first baseman and second baseman to plate Junior Arias who had an infield single earlier in the 9th. The game headed to extra innings where the Dragons were able to put two runs up in the top of the 10th to take the lead and Kyle McMyne who held it down in the 9th did the same thing in the 10th to pick up the win and lower his ERA to 0.84 on the season. Justice French did his part to keep the team in the game with just 1 earned in 6 innings as he lowered his ERA to 2.60. The game will be in Miller Park tonight and also available on Milb.tv if you are a subscriber.

Game links

Postgame article from DaytonDragons.com.

• 04/28/12 at 5:28pm
• Written by dclark

cincykid wrote: Griffey Sr. on Billy Hamilton: ‘He does things that I haven’t seen before’

• 04/28/12 at 5:28pm
• Written by dclark

High praise for Reds prospect Billy Hamilton from Reds Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Sr. after the speedster reached base safely in his first five plate appearances and stole three bases in Bakersfield’s 7-0 win against Modesto on Friday.

Here are quotes from Senior from the story (linked above) by Modbee.com’s Brian VanderBeek:

“We don’t know how long he’ll be with us,” said Blaze manager Ken Griffey Sr. “He needs the experience, but I’d certainly like him here all year.

“He’s quick and he’s playing really well. We’re looking for improvement on defense, especially coming in on the ground balls, which he’s starting to do better.”

The stolen base is just starting to return to prominence in baseball since falling out of favor during the steroid, long-ball era. No one has stolen more than 80 bases in a major league season since 1988.

“Everyone was hitting home runs, so you didn’t need to steal bases,” Griffey said. “This is an exciting thing to watch. He does things that I haven’t seen before, and I’ve been in the game 40 years.”