Games Played on 8/22/2013
Minor League Player of the Day: Robert Stephenson allowed just one unearned run and struck out 8 over 5 innings despite not having location of his fastball. Details below and in the milb.com front page news story.
Daniel Corcino was pulled in the 4th inning of a 1-1 tie game with two on and two out. The runners did not scored, and Corcino’s final line was just 1 run allowed on 4 hits but 5 walks with 3 strikeouts.
I’m a little surprised that Zach Duke (24.2 IP in 23 games, 19 H, 4 BB, 27 K) was not the reliever to get the call when Jonathan Broxton hit the DL this week. Duke got the last out of the 4th inning and went on to pitch 2 scoreless innings with a hit, a walk and two strikeouts. Pedro Villarreal added two scoreless innings in relief with no hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Mike Hessman (2-for-4) hit his 23rd homerun of the year and also doubled. Billy Hamilton (2-for-4) stole his 73rd base of the season and scored twice. Neftali Soto (2-for-4) doubled, scored a run, and knocked in a run. Henry Rodriguez (2-for-4) also had a pair of hits, and continued his torrid August (.403/.457/.444).
In his second AA start, Robert Stephenson made milb.com front page news for not having his best stuff. Stephenson allowed only one unearned run on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8.
“Actually, things weren’t going too well,” the 20-year-old right-hander said. “I didn’t have very good control over my fastball, I was all over the place with it. I got kind of lucky, having my curveball tonight, that kind of saved me. My catcher [Tucker Barnhart] did an outstanding job tonight, and without him, I would have given up a couple of runs.
“It’s a good learning experience, especially learning how to deal with adversity. I think it’s very important. I think it’s a positive. It’s nice to have success, but I think the struggles are where you learn a lot.”
The full article is definitely worth the read and mentions Stephenson’s goals of reaching the major league team next year.
Stephenson and Redleg Nation Spotlight Player Tucker Barnhart combined to gun down the only Huntsville base theft attempt. Barnhart (1-for-3, BB) and Mike Costanzo (1-for-3, BB) were the only Pensacola players to reach based more than once. Ryan LaMarre tripled in the 6th inning and scored on Costanzo’s single for the only Pensacola run.
High A
Bakersfield 2 – Inland Empire 1
Jake Johnson allowed the 66ers lone run, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3 over 4.2 innings. Kyle McMyne pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, and Pat Doyle allowed just one hit over the final two innings.
Juan Silva went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and was hit by pitch twice. Danny Vicioso (2-for-3, BB) reached base three times. Juan Perez was 1-for-3 and stole two bases.
Low A
Dayton 5 – Lake County 3
Drew Cisco allowed just two runs, five hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out six over 6 innings.
Beau Amaral’s only hit of the game was a 4th inning grand slam that ended up being all the Dragons needed. Seth Mejias-Brean and Daniel Pigott each had a pair of singles and scored on the slam.
Rookie
Idaho Falls 10 – Billings 3
Zack Weiss allowed 4 runs on 5 hits in his 3 inning start.
J.R. Reynolds (2-for-4, 2B) was the only Mustangs player with more than one hit.
AZL Diamondbacks 3 – AZL Reds 2 in 12 innings
Manuel Aybar didn’t allow a hit or a run over 4 innings but did walk five, while striking out two. Juan Martinez added 3.2 scoreless innings in relief: 1 hit, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts.
Dalton Carter was 2-for-5 with a solo homerun in the 9th inning to tie the game at 1-1. Kevin Franklin also had a pair of hits in six at-bats. Leadoff hitter Kevin Garcia (1-for-4, 2B, two BB) reached base three times and scored the Reds second run in the top of the 12th inning.