MVN - Most Valuable Network

08 May 8th Roundup

Highlights and Lowlights
Dustin Glant (Tucson) 1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, K, 2 BB
Cyle Hankerd (Mobile) RF 2-5, Grand Slam, 5 RBI
Rusty Ryal (Mobile) 2B 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Matt Torra (Mobile) W (4-1), 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 5/2 K/BB (1.71 ERA)
Sean Coughlin (South Bend) DH 2-5, 2B, 4 RBI including walk-off RBI double (10 RBIs in first 5 games, 18 at-bats)

Tucson 4 - Nashville 10

The Sidewinders scored 3 times in the first 2 innings but the Sounds came back with 10 runs in the next 4 innings to send them to their 4th loss in a row.   continued his comeback from a labrum tear by tossing 4 innings, his longest outing yet. Esmerling Vasquez The control hasn’t been there yet as he allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks.  He struck out 4 and also picked off 2 runners from 2nd base.  The loss went to Dustin Glant who gave up 3 runs in the 5th and 4 more without retiring anyone in the 6th.  Josh Whitesell hit his team-leading 7th homer in the loss.

Whitesell 1B 2-3, HR (7), BB, RBI, R (.300)
Jesus Merchan SS 2-3, RBI (.371)
Jamie D’Antona 3B 1-4, RBI, R (.405)

Vasquez 4 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 4 BB (6.30)
Glant (L 0-1) 7 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, K, 2 BB (7.48)
Abe Woody 3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, K, BB (4.35)
Chris Kinsey 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K, 2 BB (2.92)

Mobile 12 - Huntsville 2

Rusty Ryal hit a 3-run homer in the 1st inning and Matt Torra allowed just a run in 6 innings to improve to 4-1.  Torra scattered 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5.  The only run he allowed came on a solo homer in the 4th.  Torra has allowed more hits (43) than innings pitched (42) but he has kept the damage minimal by allowing just 4 walks with 30 strikeouts.  His 1.71 ERA ranks 5th in the Southern League.

The game was close until the 9th when the BayBears scored 7 times including a grand slam from Cyle Hankerd.  Hankerd finished with 5 RBIs.  Ryal was 2-4 and scored 3 times.  Yunesky Sanchez was 4-6 and is batting a team-leading .383.

Hankerd RF 2-5, HR (2), 5 RBI, R (.281)
Ryal 2B 2-4, HR (4), 3 RBI, 3 R, K (.351)
Sanchez SS 4-6, RBI, R (.383)
Orlando Mercado C 2-5, 2 R (.283)

Torra (W 4-1) 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB (1.71)
Cody Evans 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, K (5.40)
Reid Mahon 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER (3.52)

Visalia 10 - Stockton 4

Cesar Valdez gave up 4 runs in the first inning but combined with 3 relievers to shut the Ports down through the next 8 innings.  Valdez gave up 4 hits and 2 walks, including a bases-clearing triple to spot the Ports a 4-0 lead.  He gave up a leadoff double in the 2nd inning and that was the last hit given up by the Oaks in the game.  Visalia pitchers retired 16 batters in a row until Jorge Perez hit a batter with 2 outs in the 9th.  He got a ground out from the next batter to end the game.

The Oaks offense scored single runs in the 2nd and 4th inning before taking the lead for good in the 5th on a 3-run homer by Ricardo Sosa against former D-back prospect Brett Anderson.  Jo Jo Batten had an inside-the-park homer in the 4th.

Sosa 3B 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 E (8) (.291)
Batten CF 2-4, HR, BB, RBI, R, K (.234)
Peter Clifford DH 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, 3 R, K, SB (5) (.336)
Pedro Ciriaco SS 3-6, 2 R (.319)
Gerardo Parra RF 1-6, R, 2 K (.296)

Valdez (W 4-2) 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 2 BB (3.89)
Kyle Wright 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K (3.00)
Jorge Perez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K (6.46)
Josh Ellis 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K (0.00)

South Bend 6 - Fort Wayne 5 (11 innings)

The Silver Hawks are certainly enjoying the presence of their newest catcher as Sean Coughlin doubled in the winning run in the 11th inning and wound up with 4 RBIs on the day.  In his first 5 games in a Silver Hawks uniform, Coughlin has 8 hits (2 homers and 5 doubles) in 18 at-bats and 10 RBIs.  He has struck out just once while walking 3 times.  Playing DH for the first time, reached on a force attempt in the 1st inning for his 1st RBI.  He then came up with the bases loaded in the 5th and singled in 2 more runs.

The walkoff RBI double gave Evan Scribner his first win of the season.  Scribner gave up just a hit in 3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out 4 and walking none.  Starter Bryan Augenstein struck out 8 in 5 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and a walk.  Tom Layne had an interesting 8th.  He struck out the first 2 batters, walked the next 3 to load the bases before striking out the side to escape without any damage.

Coughlin DH 2-5, 2B, 4 RBI (.444)
Evan Frey CF 4-6, 3 R (.350)
Taylor Harbin 2B 3-6, 2B, 2 R (.263)
Aaron Hanke LF 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (.222)

Augenstein 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 8 K, BB (2.98)
Dan Fournier 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB (3.32)
Layne 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 3 BB (2.70)
Scribner (W 1-3) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K (2.89)

08 May 6th Roundup

Lowlights
Bad flu so only quick recap today

Tucson 1 - Nashville 4

Trent Oeltjen LF 1-3, HR (1), RBI, R, K (.337)
Emilio Bonifacio 2B 1-4, K (.320)

Yusmeiro Petit 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 K (2.08)
Abe Woody (BS 1, L 1-1) 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB (6.14)
Chris Kinsey 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, K (3.18)
Leo Rosales 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER (3.86)

Mobile 6 - Huntsville 10

Huntsville score 7 times in the 6th inning.

Rusty Ryal 2B 2-5, HR (3), 3 RBI, R (.352)
John Hester C 3-5, HR (1), 2B, 2 RBI, R, E (2) (.212)
Bryan Byrne 1B 3-4, BB, R (.253)

Tony Barnette (L 2-4) 5 1/3 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 4 BB (5.86)
Forrest Cory 1 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, K (4.74)
Reid Mahon 1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER (3.77)

Visalia 0 - Stockton 14

Leyson Septimo gives up 5 runs in just 2/3rds of an inning.

Peter Clifford LF 1-3, 3B, 2 K (.333)
Gerardo Parra CF 0-3 (.298)

Wes Roemer (L 2-1) 5 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 5 K, BB (5.03)
Leyson Septimo 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 BB (6.75)
Chad Beck 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB (0.00)
Scott Maine 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB (18.00)

South Bend 6 - Clinton 11

Evan Frey’s hitting and on-base streak ends.  Catcher Sean Coughlin is 6-13 in his first 4 games for the Silver Hawks, 2 homers and 4 doubles, with 6 RBIs and 4 runs.

Sean Coughlin C 3-5, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R (.462)
Taylor Harbin 2B 4-5, 3B, 2B, 2 R (.252)
Mike Mee 1B 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R (.340)
Aaron Hanke LF 2-4, HR, RBI, R, K (.218)

Weekly D-backs Farm Report : 28th April - 4th May 08

For the week of 28th April - 4th May

Tucson
Weekly Record : 5-2
Overall Record : 10-21 (4th & last PCL Pacific South, 6 1/2 games behind)
Runs Scored - Runs Allowed : 51-30

The Sidewinders have won 7 of their last 9 games.  Nothing like a series in Albuquerque to warm up the offense.  After splitting 4 games with Round Rock, the Sidewinders went to Albuquerque and spanked the Isotopes in the first 3 games by a score of 40-17.

Who’s Hot
Trot Nixon LF/RF 9-17 (.529), 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R, 2/5 K/BB, 1.578 OPS
Jamie D’Antona 3B/1B/C 13-22 (.591), HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2/0 K/BB, 1.409 OPS
Trent Oeltjen CF/RF/LF 9-17 (.529), 3 2B, 1 RBI, 6 R, 4/3 K/BB, 1.306 OPS
Josh Whitesell 1B 7-25 (.280), 3 HR, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 8 R, 7/5 K/BB, 1.120 OPS
Alex Romero CF 11-29 (.379), 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 7 R, 3/1 K/BB, 1.040 OPS
Emilio Bonifacio 2B 16-37 (.432), 4 RBI, 6 R, 4/1 K/BB, .868 OPS
Jesus Merchan SS 11-29 (.379), 3 2B, 7 RBI, 5 R, 4/0 K/BB, .862 OPS
Billy Buckner RHP 1-1, 14 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 7/4 K/BB, 0.64 ERA, 0.57 WHIP
Juan Gutierrez RHP 1-0, 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB, 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP
Leo Rosales RHP 2 Saves, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP
Jailen Peguero RHP 1 Save, 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3/0 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

Again lots of hot bats on the team with the outfield trio of Nixon, Oeltjen and Romero leading the way.  D’Antona is hitting .400/.411/.552 for the season while playing both corner infield positions as well as catch.
Whitesell led the team in homers (3), RBIs (10) and runs scored (8) for the week.
Bonifacio has a 10-game hitting streak where he has hit 24-53 (.453) but all the hits are singles except for 1 double.

Who’s Not
Chris Kinsey RHP 3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 12.00 ERA, 2.67 WHIP

Mobile
Weekly Record : 3-3
Overall Record : 15-15 (2nd Southern League South, 1 game behind)
Runs Scored - Runs Allowed : 20-22

A 3-3 week including a 3-2 series win at Birmingham maintained the BayBears 2nd place in their division, a game behind the Barons.

Who’s Hot
Frank Curreri 1B/LF 6-15 (.400), HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, 3/4 K/BB, 1.217 OPS
Rusty Ryal 2B 9-24 (.375), 2 3B, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R, 6/0 K/BB, .985 OPS
Tony Barnette RHP 1-0, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6/0 K/BB, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP
Matt Torra RHP 0-1, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7/0 K/BB, 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Reid Mahon RHP 2 Saves, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP
AJ Shappi RHP 1 Save, 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5/1 K/BB, 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP

Good pitching helped a lot to keep their record at .500 with so many cold hitters in the lineup as seen below.

Who’s Not
Bryan Byrne 1B 1-13 (.077), 3/1 K/BB, .220 OPS
Cyle Hankerd LF/RF 2-18 (.111), 1 R, 2/0 K/BB, .269 OPS
Greg Thomson CF/RF 1-21 (.048), 1 R, 3/5 K/BB, .278 OPS
John Hester C 2-15 (.133), 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, 2/0 K/BB, .325 OPS
Brandon Burgess LF 2-12 (.167), 1 RBI, 1 R, 3/0 K/BB, .333 OPS

Visalia
Weekly Record : 2-5
Overall Record : 14-17 (5th and last California League North, 9 games behind)
Runs Scored - Runs Allowed : 46-56

The Oaks lost both series they played in the week 1-2 and the pitching gave up 8 runs a game.

Who’s Hot
Peter Clifford LF/RF 10-25 (.400), 2 HR, 3B, 4 2B, 10 RBI, 7 R, 9/6 K/BB, 1.411 OPS
Ed Easley C 8-23 (.348), 4 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R, 7/3 K/BB, .945 OPS
Gerardo Parra CF 8-21 (.381), 2 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R, 3/2 K/BB, .911 OPS
Pedro Ciriaco SS 13-33 (.394), 2B, 3 RBI, 8 R, 9/0 K/BB, .818 OPS
Josh Ellis RHP 1 Save, 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP

7 of Clifford’s 10 hits went for extra bases as he put up a slugging percentage of .880.
Being rested twice in the week worked well for Parra as he bounced back after a rough previous week.

Who’s Not
Steve Mena RF 5-25 (.200), 5 RBI, 3 R, 9/0 K/BB, .400 OPS
Chase Christianson RHP 0-1, 9 IP, 19 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 4/2 K/BB, 14.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP
Barry Enright RHP 0-1, 9 IP, 19 H, 11 ER, 7/4 K/BB, 11.00 ERA, 2.56 WHIP
Wes Roemer RHP 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 8/4 K/BB, 9.64 ERA, 2.57 WHIP
Jason Urquidez RHP 3 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 18.00 ERA, 2.67 WHIP

When 3 of your 5 starters have ERAs above 9 for the week, you know your team is in trouble.

South Bend
Weekly Record : 3-3
Overall Record : 9-19 (6th and last Midwest League Eastern, 8 games behind)
Runs Scored - Runs Allowed : 24-17

The Silver Hawks are playing better lately but remain rooted at the bottom of their division and league.

Who’s Hot
Derrick Walker RF 9-24 (.375), HR, 3B, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R, 4/0 K/BB, 1.067 OPS
Mike Mee 1B 8-23 (.348), HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 3/3 K/BB, .945 OPS
Evan Frey CF 8-23 (.348), 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2/3 K/BB, .842 OPS
Jarrod Parker RHP 2-0, 11 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 8/1 K/BB, 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP
Tom Layne LHP 3 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.55 WHIP
Bill Spottiswood RHP 1 Save, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP
Jeff Dietz RHP 1-0, 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

Frey’s hitting streak has reached 22 games and he has reached base in all 25 games he has played.
Parker has been as good as advertised, winning both his starts while allowing just a run in 11 innings.  The D-backs are being very careful with him but his pitch count and innings has been steadily rising.

Who’s Not
Aaron Hanke LF/RF 2-15 (.133), 2B, 1 R, 7/2 K/BB, .435 OPS
Bryan Henry RHP 0-1, 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 20.25 ERA, 3.00 WHIP
Josh Blake RHP 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 18.00 ERA, 4.00 WHIP
Jordan Norberto LHP 4 1/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 10.38 ERA, 2.31 WHIP

08 May 3rd Roundup

Highlights and Lowlights
- Jesus Merchan has 5 RBIs as Sidewinders score 17 runs on 24 hits to crush the Isotopes
- BayBears shut out on 4 hits by Barons

Tucson 17 - Albuquerque 6

The Tucson batters must enjoy hitting in Albuquerque as they have another big offensive day.  They totalled 24 hits including 2 homers and 6 doubles to score 17 times against the hapless Isotopes pitching.  Jesus Merchan was 4-6 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs while Jamie D’Antona and Josh Whitesell each had 3 RBIs.  Emilio Bonifacio was 4-7 and is now batting .336 for the season.

Esmerling Vasquez made his 2nd start of the season and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in 3 innings.  He was still rusty, walking 4 and hitting a batter while striking out just 1.  He threw 64 pitches, 30 for strikes.  The win went to Abe Woody who gave up a run in 2 innings.

Merchan SS 4-6, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R, K, CS (1) (.333)
D’Antona 3B 3-5, 3 RBI, 2 R (.400)
Whitesell 1B 2-5, HR (5), 2B, BB, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 K (.292)
Bonifacio LF-2B 4-7, RBI, R (.336)
Trot Nixon RF 3-5, HR (3), 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 3 R (.313)

Vasquez 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K, 4 BB (6.00)
Woody (W 1-0) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB (4.26)
Emiliano Fruto 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 K, BB (4.37)
Connor Robertson 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 2 BB (5.40)

Mobile 0 - Birmingham 3

Matt Torra took his first loss of the season due to poor run support.  He gave up just a run on 6 hits in 5 innings, striking out 7.  The Barons scored 2 more runs off Cody Evans in the 6th inning.

Torra (L 3-1) 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K (1.75)
Evans 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, BB (6.00)

Visalia 12 - Bakersfield 7

The Oaks scored in every inning but the first to defeat the Blaze 12-7.  The Blaze held a 7-6 lead after 5 1/2 innings but were outscored 6-0 the rest of the way.  Gerardo Parra was 4-5 with a double and 2 runs scored while Pedro Ciriaco and Peter Clifford each had 3 hits in the balanced attack.

The win went to Kyler Newby who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Chase Christianson.  Josh Ellis pitched the last 2 1/3 innings for his 3rd save.  Ellis has allowed just an unearned run in 10 appearances spanning 17 2/3 innings.  He has struck out 16 with 4 walks.

Parra CF 4-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R (.315)
Ciriaco SS 3-5, 2B, 3 R, K, CS (2) (.315)
Clifford LF 3-4, HR (3), 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R, K (.333)
Manuel Ferrer 2B 1-3, HR (1), BB, 2 RBI, 2 R, E (7) (.216)
Ed Easley C 2-4, 2B, BB, RBI, 2 R, K (.298)
Brad Miller 1B 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, R, K (.147)

Christianson 5 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 K (8.59)
Newby (W 1-1) 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K, BB (1.80)
Ellis (SV 3) 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K (0.00)

South Bend 3 - Peoria 4

Bryan Augenstein pitched 7 innings and gave up just 2 runs but suffered his first loss of the season.  Augenstein gave up 8 hits and no walks with 3 strikeouts.  Josh Blake had a rough debut for the Silver Hawks, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in a single inning of relief.
Derrick Walker was 3-4 with a triple and a double while Clayton Conner homered for the 2nd day in a row in a losing cause.

Walker RF 3-4, 3B, 2B, R (.273)
Conner DH 1-4, HR (3), RBI, R (.184)
Evan Frey CF 1-3, 2 BB, K, SB (8) (.343)

Augenstein (L 0-1) 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 K (2.45)
Blake 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB (18.00)
Dan Fournier 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, K (3.06)