Lakeland 4 St. Lucie 7
Danny Worth was 2 for 4 including his first homer. It raised his average to 274 and with 11BB/15K that’s not a bad start for a 2007 draftee at High A. Lucas French allowed 10 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings but only 3 came around to score.

Quad Cities 8 West Michigan 4
Scott Sizemore went 3 for 5 and Michael Bertram and Gorkys Hernandez each had 2 hits. Jeff Gerbe was knocked around for 9 hits and 5 runs lasting only 2 2/3 innings.

Oneonta 4 Lowell 1
Justin Henry was 2 for 4. Casper Wells tripled and drove in 2 runs. Alfredo Figaro allowed just an unearned run on 5 hits while walking 1 and fanning 5 in 6 2/3 innings.

GCL Tigers 3 GCL Phillies 4
Carlos Ramirez had 2 hits and Joe Bowen had 3 hits. Jon Kibler allowed 1 run in 4 innings on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 Ks

Minors News

Matt Wallace takes a look at BA’s best tool rankings for A Ball and waxes optimistic about the Tigers 2B options at the lower levels.

Toledo 3 Columbus 8
Chris Shelton was 1 for 4 with a walk. David Espinosa walked twice. Henry Mateo had the only extra base hit and reached base 3 times. Dennis Tankersly allowed 11 hits and 8 runs and was knocked out in 4 2/3 innings.

Erie 4 Connecticut 2
Kody Kirkland doubled and homered. Jeff Lafish added a double and a single. Dallas Trahern allowed just 1 unearned run on 7 hits in 7 1/3 innings with 4 K’s and 12 ground outs.

Lakeland 1 St. Lucie 11
Cameron Maybin was 1 for 4 with 3 ground balls to third and a line drive to centerfield. Danny Worth was 2 for 4 with a triple. Kyle Sleeth only lasted an inning surrending 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. Why is he still on the 40 man roster?

Quad Cities 4 West Michigan 8
Michael Bertram was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI. Jeramy Laster also had 3 hits. James Skelton was 1 for 2 with 3 walks. Matt O’Brien went 8 innings allowing 4 unearned runs on 8 hits with 6 K’s.

Oneonta 18 Lowell 7
Guillermo Moscoso only allowed 1 run in 6 innings, but who cares when the offense plates 18? Casper Wells had 4 hits. Chris Carlson and Ronnie Bourquin each had 3 (including a homerd and 6 RBI for Carlson).

GCL Tigers DNP

Thanks to Mike R for compiling this:

Toledo 3, Columbus 9
Brent Clevlen hit a 2-run homerun and Jack Hannahan had an RBI double which was the offense for the night. Ron Chiavacci gave up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 in 6 innings of work. Eulogio de la Cruz was beat up in just 2/3rds of an inning. Allowing only 2 hits, he served up 4 runs — primarily thanks to his 3 walks vs. only 1 strike out. Vic Darensburg threw 1 1/3rd scoreless innings.

Erie 3, Connecticut 8
The Sea Wolves pounded out 5 extra base hits and only could scrape across 3 runs. Will Rhymes, Wilkin Ramirez, and Nick McIntyre had the lone RBI’s for Erie. On the mound, Andrew Kown surrendered 7 hits and 6 runs in just 4 innings of work. Matt Righter did his best Jason Grilli and relieved Kown by surrendering 2 HR’s. But, unlike Grilli, both were solo shots and he managed to plow through 3 innings.

Lakeland 8, Fort Myers 7
Cameron Maybin only hit 1 ball on the ground tonight in the victory. Lakeland used 5 different pitchers to piece this victory together and it was in dramatic fashion when, down 7-5 in the top of the 9th, Deik Scram (outstanding name) hit a lead-off double off the wall in centerfield. Maxwell Leon picked a perfect time for his 1st homerun for Lakeland to tie the game at 7. The next hitter, Cameron Maybin, hit an opposite field homerun which proved to be the game winner as Freddy Dolsi came on to get his 21st save of the season.

Quad Cities7, West Michigan 4
Brennan Boesch, Ryan Strieby, Gorkys Hernandez and Santo De Leon combined to drive in all 4 West Michigan runs. The Whitecaps pounded out 10 hits, but Brennan Boesch’s double was the only hit for extra bases. Lauren Gagnier dropped to 4-11 with the loss, allowing 9 hits and 7 runs in just 6 innings. He did strike out 5 and walk only 2, however.

Brooklyn 7, Oneonta 2
Kyle Peter had 3 hits, but that was about it for the offense. The lone RBI’s came from 2B, Justin Henry and Catcher Adrian Cassanova. Mark Brackman got the loss while striking out 5, walking 2, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings.

GCL Phillies 4, GCL Tigers 5
Only 3 of the Tigers 5 runs were earned as the Phillies kicked ball around, making 4 errors in the process. RBI’s came from centerfielder Chris White, catcher Craig Maddux, and SS Joaquin Guzman. Gene Lamont’s son, Wade, was 0-for-2 with 1 strikeout. He’s now down to a dismal .167 average and 23 strikeouts in just 78 at-bats. 2007 3rd round pick, Luke Putkonen, got the start and went 3 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, with 3 strikeouts vs. zero walks.

Toledo 1 Charlotte 4

Erie 5 Connecticut 7

Lakeland 13 Fort myers 4

Quad Cities 11 West Michigan 5

Brooklyn 2 Oneonta 3

GCL Blue Jays 0 GCL Tigers 3

GCL Tigers 3 GCL Blue Jays 7

Toledo 5 Charlotte 4
Dane Sardhina went 2 for 4. Henry Mateo doubled and homered. Yorman Bazardo allowed 1 run on 1 walk, 5 hits, and 3 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Erie 13 New Britain 3
Clete Thomas had 4 hits. Wilkin Ramirez was 3 for 5 with a home run. Kody Kirkland also went deep. Eddie Bonin allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings.

Lakeland 5 Fort Myers 9
Deik Scram tripled and added 2 singles. Justin Justice also had 2 hits. Cameron Maybin was 0 for 4.
Peoria 1 West Michigan 7
James Skelton had 3 hits and Gorkys Hernandez went 2 for 4. Ryan Strieby hit his 14th homer. Jonah Nickerson pitched 7 shut out innings and allowed only 3 hits and 1 walk while fanning 4.

Brooklyn 5 Oneonta 2
Ronnie Bourquin, Chris Carlson, and Kody Kaiser all had 2 hits. Sean Finefrock allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 5 K’s in 5 innings.

GCL Tiugers Rained out

Minors News

Baseball America released its Best Tools list for AAA. Mike Hessman rates as the best defensive third baseman and Ryan Raburn has the best offensive arm in the International League.

Toledo 2 Charlotte 1
Brent Clevlen went 3 for 3 with a walk. Anastacio Martinez allowed just 1 unearned run on 2 hits over 6 innings while fanning 9. Fernando Rodney had trouble with the strike zone and only recorded one out in his 15 pitches while allowing a hit and a walk and only throwing 7 strikes

Erie 5 New Britain 0
Steve Torrealba singled and homered. Mike Hollimon also homered. Jeff Larish was 1 for 3 with a walk. Jair Jurrjens fanned 10 and walked none in a 3 hit complete game shutout.

Lakeland – double header rained out

Peoria 1 West Michigan 3
Scott Sizemore and James Skelton were 2 for 4. Jeff Gerbe was activated and pitched 3 no hit innings fanning 2. Charlie Furbush went 5 innings and allowed an unearned run on 2 hits in 5 innings. Brett Jensen finished it off by fanning 2 in the 9th.

Oneonta 3 Staten Island 2 11 innings
Ronnie Bourquin was 3 for 5. Casper Wells and Kody Kaiser each homered. Alfredo Figaro pitched 5 shut out innings fanning 7 and walking 4.

GCL Braves 1 GCL Tigers 1 (game suspend due to rain)
Hayden Parrot went 1 for 3. Brandon Hamilton walked 2 and fanned 2 to go along with 1 run and 1 hit in 3 innings. Richard Zumaya followed with 3 scoreless innings of 1 hit ball.

Richmond 4 Toledo 8
Brent Clevlen and Erick Almonte each had 2 hits. Jack Hannahan homered and added walks. Dennis Tankersley allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings. Eulogio De La Cruz fanned 3, but allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in 2 innings. Fernando Rodney allowed 2 singles and fanned 1 in 2/3 innings before reaching his 15 pitch limit.

Erie 2 New Britain 6
Wil Rhymes had 2 hits and a walk. Jeff Larish also chipped in 2 hits. Dallas Trahern took the loss allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings.

Lakeland – Doubleheader rain out

Peoria 3 West Michigan 7
Brandon Timm was a homer short of the cycle. Gorkys Hernandez doubled wtice and homered. James Skelton homered, singled, and walked. Matt O’Brien allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk and 2 K’s in 7 2/3 innings.

Oneonta 2 Staten Island 4
Chris Carlson homered as part of a 3 for 4 day. Guillermo Moscoso was knocked around for 8 hits in 4 innings leading to 3 runs.

GCL Tigers 3 GCL Braves 6
Carlos Ramirez hit his 2nd homer. Ryan Roberson on a rehab assignment walked twice in 4 PAs. Luke Putkonen started and was lifted in the first inning after only 5 batters. Not sure if he was injured. Jon Kibler came in and fanned 6 while allowing just 1 hit in 4 1/3 innings.

Richmond 1 Toledo 2
Virgil Vasquez allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 6 innings. He gave way to Eulogio De La Cruz who allowed 2 hits but fanned 2 in his inning of work. Fernando Rodney made it through his inning allowing a hit, and striking out a batter and throwing 7 of his 9 pitches for strikes. Chris Shelton was the offense with 2 hits including his 11th homer.

Harrisburg 4 Erie 7
Pedro Cotto had 3 hits. Wil Rhymes and Matt Joyce each went 2 for 5. Kody Kirkland fanned 3 times in 3 at-bats. Andrew Kown allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks in 4 innings.

Lakeland – DNP

West Michigan 6 Cedar Rapids 2
Jordan Newton knocked 2 homers and James Skelton doubled and walked twice. Duane Below fanned 8 in 4 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 walks.

Aberdeen 6 Oneonta 7
Casper Wells tripled and singled. Jorge Patino went 3 for 4. Sendy Vasquez allowed 6 runs on 9 hits over 4 innings.

GCL Tigers DNP

Richmond 1 Toledo 4
Chris Shelton homered and singled. Andres Torres added 2 hits as well. Yorman Bazardo pitched a complete game alloing 1 unearned run on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 4 K’s – and it only took him 92 pitches.

Harrisburg 7 Erie 14
Jeff Larish hit his 20th homer, walked, and singled. Wilkin Ramirezwas 3 for 4 and hit his first homer since joining Erie. Mike Hollimon added a 3 for 5 day. Jon Connolly was knocked around for 5 runs on 8 hits, 2 walk, and 2 homers in 6 innings.
Lakeland 3 Dunedin 8
Deik Scram was 3 for 4 with a homer. Kyle Sleeth allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, 3 walks, and 3 K’s in 5 innings.

West Michigan 5 Cedar Rapids 0
Jordan Newton went 3 for 4. Ryan Strieby homered twice bringing his total to 13. Jonah Nickerson pitched the complete game 2 hitter allowing only 2 hits while fanning 7 and walking none.

Aberdeen 10 Oneonta 8 (10 innings)
Ronnie Bourquin and Casper Wells each homered and singled. The team made 8 errors which is obscene. Sean Finefrock allowed 2 homers among 7 hits as he was chased after 3 1/3 innings.

GCL Indians 2 GCL Tigers 5
Cameron Maybin was 2 for 4. Orlando Rodriguez homered. Hayden Parrott was 1 for 3 with a walk. Brandon Johnson allowed 1 run on 5 hits, no walks and 4 strikeouts. Richard Zumaya came on in relief and walked 4 allowing a run without allowing a hit. Brandon Hamilton fared better fanning 3 and allowing 1 walk in 2 innings of work.

Pawtucket 4 Toledo 2
Timo Perez homered and doubled. Chris Shelton added a double as well. Anastacio Martinez pitched the first 2 innings and allowed both runs on 4 hits. Fernando Rodney fanned 2 and walk 1 in his inning of work.

Harrisburn 7 Erie 8
Matt Joyce went 3 for 4 with a homer. Mike Hollimon also had 3 hits and Kody Kirkland doubled twice. Eddie Bonine allowed 6 runs (4 earned) in 6 innings work with 1 walk, 7 K’s, and 2 homers.

Lakeland 6 Dunedin 8
Dusty Ryan homered twice. Shawn Roof added 2 hits. Angel Castro allowed 3 runs in 5 innings. Ed Clelland was rocked for 5 runs on 2 homers in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

West Michigan 2 Cedar Rapids 3
Joe Tucker singled and 2 walks. Brennan Boesch hit his 8th homer of the year. Charles Furbush went 5 innings and allowed 1 run on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 7 K’s.
Aberdeen 9 Oneonta 4
This box score stopped updating in the bottom of the ninth, so things may change a tad after I write this. Alfredo Figaro started but only pitched 1 1/3 innings and all he surrendered was a walk. Kody Kaiser had 2 hits and Ronnie Bourquin had 3 hits.

GCL Yankees 7 GCL Tigers 3
Cameron Maybin is on rehab assignment and went 2 for 3 with 2 walks. Justin White added 2 hits. Jonathan Kibler allowed 3 hits and 2 runs in 2 innings as the starter.

Minors News

Matt takes a lookat Edward Reynoso who has been putting up sick numbers in the Dominican Summer League. Players in the DSL are of course a long, long ways from helping the big club but his numbers are freakishly good and all of 18 years old.

Pawtucket 3 Toledo 2
With a chunk of the team playing in Chicago tonight, the Mud Hens came up short. Jack Hannahan doubled and walked and Henry Mateo homered. Jordan Tata turned in a 7 hit, no walk, 2 run 8 inning performance.

Erie 12 Trenton 1
Clete Thomas had 3 hits and a walk. Matt Joyce had 2 hits and 3 walks. Wil Rhymes added 3 hits. Andrew Kown didn’t need much support with 1 run allowed on 3 hits and a walk in 7 innings. And the Seawolves damage came at the hands of Kevin Whelan (part of the Sheffield deal) who started and surrendered the first 5 runs as he allowed 6 walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Fort Myers 2 Lakeland 3
Still no Cameron Maybin. Ovandy Suero had 2 hits. Mike Hernandez doubled and walkd and knocked in a run. Burke Badenhop allowed 1 run in 6 innings on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 K’s.

West Michigan 2 Burlington 5
Lauren Gagnier allowed all 5 runs on 8 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. James Skelton was 2 for 3 with a double plus a walk.

Staten Island 1 Oneonta 3
Oneonta managed only 2 hits, one each for Mike Sullivan and Cory Middleton. Sendy Vasquez allowed just 1 run on 4 hits, a walk and 2 K’s.

GCL Tigers PPD Rain

Toledo 3 Richmond 4
Jack Hannahan went 3 for 4 with a walk. Chris Shelton added 2 hits and 3 strike outs. Yorman Bazardo went 6 2/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks and 2 K’s.

Erie 4 Trenton 2
Matt Joyce homered and walked twice. Jon Connolly allowed 1 run on 5 hits, a walk, and 2 K’s in 6 innings.

Fort Myers 4 Lakeland 1 (in progress)

West Michigan 1 Burlington 3
Joe Tucker had 2 hits, and that was half of the offense. Duane Below went 7 innings, fanning 6 and walking none but allowing 3 runs on 8 hits.

Oneonta DNP

GCL Blue Jays 4 GCL Tigers 1
Luis Arlet homered, his 5th of the year, in the 9th to break up the shut out. Brandon Johnson struck out 7 in 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.