Indianapolis 5, Toledo 4
Ryan Ludwick hit his 5th homer and added a walk. Josh Phelps reached base 3 times, as did Tiek Redman and Max St Pierre. Wil Ledezma was pulled after 4 1/3 innings with back stiffness. He allowed 4 hits and walking 2 and fanning 2.
Altoona 6, Erie 1
Jeremy Johnson’s record slipped to 0-3. He allowed 5 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Tony Giarratano tripled and singled twice. That was most of the offense for Erie.
Lakeland – DNP
West Michigan 9, Wisconsin 2 (In progress)
Burke Badenhop went 6 innings allowing only 2 runs while striking out 8. Justin Justice hit a grand slam and doubled. Cameron Maybin added two hits and an outfield assist.
Maybin got another walk too. His OBP is now over .400, and his SLG is about .525. And he’s a defensive presence in CF. Overall an auspicious start. If he does it two more months he should get a shot at Lakeland.
For a point of reference on Maybin, CFs w/career OPS of .925+:
Mantle, Dimaggio, Griffey, Speaker, Edmonds. Mantle was the highest at .977. Cobb if you consider him a CF would be higher but he played more RF.
Ridiculous of course to compare Maybin, but a .925 OPS in his first 100 pro ABs in a full season league, in an extreme pitcher’s park, at 19 years old, you get the idea.
Whoops, forgot that guy Willie Mays at .941.
You know, the way Griffey’s career is finishing out, it’s easy to forget how truly great he was. It’s such a shame he hasn’t been healthy. I’d much rather be watching him make a run at Ruth and Aaron then Barry.