Friday Stories Lancaster nipped late. Corpus with the... No no-hitter for you, South Bend. No sweep for you either!!!! Recap Oklahoma City and Iowa was snowed out Yeah. A snowout. On May freaking 3. Well, the Redhawks and Cubs will play a regularly scheduled game at 7:05. The probable pitchers are still Brett Oberholtzer and Drew Carpenter. This game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday at 1:05. Corpus Christi 10, Midland 4 The Hooks sweep the Rockhounds out of Whataburger Field behind George Springer, as he went 3-5 with a solo homer (9) in the 1st and a 2-run double in the 2nd. Ben Orloff had a sac fly in the 2nd and reached on an error in the 4th (he was credited with an RBI). Jonathan Meyer was 2-5 with an RBI single in the 5th. Austin Wates went 2-4 with an RBI infield single in the 2nd and scored twice. And, Michael Burgess was 3-4 with 2 doubles (1 resulted in an RBI in the 6th) and scored twice. Springer scored the only run that didn't come on an RBI, and that was off a passed ball in the 6th. Domingo Santana went 2-5 with a double, and Jio Mier drew a bases-loaded walk in the 2nd. R.J. Alaniz only lasted 3 innings, and he gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Pat Urckfitz worked around a walk to retire the side in the 4th. Matt Heidenreich had his best outing of the season, as he threw 5 scoreless, allowing 3 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3. The Hooks will now head to San Antonio for 4, with Carlos Quevedo and Jake Buchanan taking the mound for the opener at 7:05. They will be opposed by Matt Andriese. Also, Mike Foltynewicz will make his AA debut on Monday, as he assumes the role previously occupied by Asher Wojciechowski: being David Martinez's partner. High Desert 9, Lancaster 7 Well, this game started out well enough for the Jethawks, as they led 4-0 after the 2nd. The Mavericks responded with 7 unanswered, culminating with 6 in the 4th, and just like that, the Jethawks found themselves down 7-4. They managed to tie the game at 7 by stretch time, but High Desert answered with 2 in the bottom half to take the opener. Kind of tough to win when only 4 guys get hits. 3 of them had multi-hit games, most notably Nolan Fontana, who went 4-5 with a solo homer in the 7th (3), scored 3 times, and stole a base (5). Andrew Aplin went 2-4 with an RBI double in the 1st (scoring Fontana) and scored twice. One of those runs was the only run that wasn't batted in, as he was able to score on an error in the 1st as Matt Duffy reached on an error. M.P. Cokinos had his 10-game hitting streak end, but he did have a sac fly in the 2nd. Telvin Nash was 2-4 with an RBI single in the 1st, and Brandon Meredith led off the 2nd with a triple. Preston Tucker and Duffy had RBI groundouts in the 5th. Tyson Perez was shelled to the tune of 3 homers in his 3 2/3 innings. He allowed 7 runs (amazingly, only 1 was earned) on 9 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Jonas Dufek got the last out of the 4th and threw a 1-2-3 5th, striking out 1. David Rollins took the loss, allowing 2 runs (both in the 7th) on 3 hits, walking 1 and fanning 1. Tom Shirley will be Luis Cruz's temporary partner as Aaron West is on the mend. They'll take the mound against TBD at 6:05 Pacific. Quad Cities 3, South Bend 2 The River Bandits managed to salvage a game in the series, despite being no-hit for 6 2/3 innings. They put up 1 in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to steal the game. Miles Hamblin broke up Andrew Sinnery's no-hit bid with a single in the 7th. Roberto Peña's single gave him an 11-game hitting streak, and on the play, Jesse Wierzbicki, who reached on an error with 1 out, scored the first QC run on another error, then Teoscar Hernandez hit his 1st homer of the season with 2 outs in the 8th to tie the game. And in the 9th, Wierzbicki led off the inning with a double, and after yet another error allowed him to advance to 3rd, Hamblin gave the River Bandits the lead with an RBI single, his 2nd hit of the evening. Jordan Jankowski allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer), walked 2, and struck out 4 in 5 innings. Brian Holmes threw 3 scoreless for the win, allowing 3 hits and fanning 3. John Neely shut the door for his 4th save of the season, throwing a 1-2-3 9th. Quad Cities will start a 3-game set with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Vince Velasquez and Joe Bircher will take on TBD at 6:35 Eastern. Yorfrank Lopez started for the Whitecaps 5 days ago.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/qcriverbandits">qcriverbandits</a> lineup Sat: Hernandez-8 Sclafani-6 Elkins-4 Wierzbicki-3 Hamblin-DH Dineen-5 Morales-2 Ovando-9 Scott-7 Velasquez/Bircher-1</p>— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits/status/330797880510136320">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23cchooks">#cchooks</a> go for 5th straight win tonight in San Antonio. Here's how they line up: <a href="http://t.co/MItrBU3QYH" title="http://twitter.com/cchooks/status/330805126640066561/photo/1">twitter.com/cchooks/status…</a></p>— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks/status/330805126640066561">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Official announcement just made: Tonight's game has been PPD. Will be made up when RedHawks return this month. Still play 2 at 1:05 Sun.</p>— OKC RedHawks (@okcredhawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/okcredhawks/status/330826640156393472">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>True that! RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/bsinger10">bsinger10</a>: The only thing that can stop villar right now is Mother Nature</p>— OKC RedHawks (@okcredhawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/okcredhawks/status/330830824083705856">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>RHP Vincent Velasquez touches 99 mph on ballpark radar gun Bot 4, Ks last 2 batters in 1-2-3 frame. @<a href="https://twitter.com/qcriverbandits">qcriverbandits</a> 4, @<a href="https://twitter.com/wmwhitecaps">wmwhitecaps</a> 3, End 4</p>— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits/status/330835017246855168">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> It's likely a hot gun, but the reading suggests that he's reaching the mid-90s.
Saturday Story Swept. Recap Oklahoma City and Iowa was rained out Liquid precipitation this time. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>5 of our first 14 home games have been postponed by snow/cold/rain. Our first DH is tomorrow. 1 more DH in May and 3 more in June. So far.</p>— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/330880260612685824">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> This game will be made up the next time the Redhawks visit Des Moines, which will be May 24-27. Sunday's doubleheader will go as scheduled. Once again, Brett Oberholtzer will be the probable starter for game 1, which will start at 1:05. His opponent will now be Guillermo Moscoso. Kyle Hallock is the scheduled starter for game 2, and he'll be opposed by Brooks Raley, a former Aggie. San Antonio 6, Corpus Christi 2 The Hooks dropped the opener as the Missions put up 4 in the 4th to take the lead and 2 more in the bottom of the 5th in response to the Hooks scoring 2 in the top half. Jonathan Meyer and Rene Garcia had 2 hits apiece. Meyer's RBI single drove in Garcia in the 5th, and he would score on an error that also allowed Ben Orloff to reach and advance to 2nd. Austin Wates had a double, and Enrique Hernandez singled. Carlos Quevedo went 4 1/3, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits (2 2-run homers), walking 1, and striking out 2. Jake Buchanan breezed through 3 2/3 perfect innings, striking out 1. It took Buchanan 23 pitches (18 strikes) to record 11 outs, forcing 9 groundouts and 1 flyball out. Game 2 of the series pits Nick Tropeano and Bobby Doran against Keyvius Sampson. Pretty good matchup in the making. First pitch is 2:05. High Desert 5, Lancaster 3 Ugh... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It gets worse for the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23JetHawks">#JetHawks</a>. Delino DeShields injures himself trying to field grounder up the middle. Leaves game. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23jethawks">#jethawks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23astros">#astros</a></p>— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasondschwartz/status/330886663788195840">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The Mavericks took advantage of a balk by Luis Cruz and a horrid error by Tyler Heineman in the 6th. Cruz had picked off Jamal Austin (who was trying to steal 2nd), but the umpire ruled that to be a balk. And with 2 outs, a passed ball was charged to Heineman, as a pitch got away from him, and he stumbled to try to get it, and thinking that Cruz would be covering, threw it towards home. Problem was... Cruz wasn't there. And as a result, Heineman just threw it away. And to top it all off... Austin scored. Aaaaaaaaaaand..... it just snowballed from there for Cruz, as Dan Paolini went solo on him, and Steven Baron crushed a 2-run shot to give the Mavericks the lead, which they wouldn't relinquish. Ugh again. Delino DeShields had an RBI triple in the 3rd and scored on Nolan Fontana's groundout. He also doubled to lead off the game. Tyler Heineman was 2-2 with an RBI double in the 6th and walked twice. Tom Shirley allowed a hit and struck out 1 over 4 shutout innings. T.J. Geith worked around a walk and a hit to retire the side in the 5th, striking out 1. Cruz got rocked in his 1 2/3 innings, as he allowed 5 runs on 6 hits (2 homers), walked 2, and struck out 2. Kenny Long finished it out, allowing a hit (his first hit allowed this season) and striking out 1 in 1 1/3. Blair Walters will get the start, and his partner will be..... Aaron West. According to Jason Schwartz on the Jethawks' post-game show, West is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time for the game, which will take place at 2:05 Pacific. High Desert's starter has yet to be deterined, but Cam Hobson started for them 5 days ago. West Michigan 7, Quad Cities 4 The Whitecaps scored 4 in the 5th to take the series opener. Jesse Wierzbicki hit a 2-run double in the 3rd, and Miles Hamblin hit an RBI groundout later. Joe Sclafani was 2-4 with an RBI double in the 4th. Vince Velasquez went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4. Cameron Lamb took the loss as he only got 2 outs in the 5th, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits, walking 1, and striking out 1. Gera Sanchez got the last out of the inning. Joe Bircher allowed a hit and fanned 3 over 3 scoreless. Lance McCullers and Dan Minor will be the pairing in the middle game, which begins at 1 Eastern. Opposing them for West Michigan will be Montreal Robertson. Three Stars 3. Delino DeShields, 2B, Lancaster 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, R Man, he needed a game like this, as he was slumping horribly. And then he got hurt. Get well soon. 2. Tom Shirley, P, Lancaster 4 IP, H, K Excellent spot start for a guy who's normally a reliever. 1. Jake Buchanan, P, Corpus Christi 3.2 IP, K My God, Buchanan has just been riduclous so far this season. Honorable Mentons Tyler Heineman, C, Lancaster: Started out slowly, but he looks like he's found his groove since coming off the DL. Rene Garcia, C, Corpus Christi: He'll likely take a backseat to Max Stassi moving forward, but he's performed when given the opportunities. Joe Bircher, P, Quad Cities: Except for one poor outing, Bircher has been consistently pretty good. Goat Luis Cruz's balk proved to be fatal, as it allowed High Desert to rally.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>RHP @<a href="https://twitter.com/lmccullers_41">lmccullers_41</a> touches 100 mph on Fifth Third Ballpark radar gun, fans 2 in 1-2-3 Bot 2. @<a href="https://twitter.com/qcriverbandits">qcriverbandits</a> 2, @<a href="https://twitter.com/wmwhitecaps">wmwhitecaps</a> 0, End 2</p>— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits/status/331101039732334592">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That is three in the system that have hit triple digits as starters this season... Even if the guns are high, we are talking 96-98 mph, very encouraging.
Lance has given up more than 1 run once and will now see his ERA dip to below 2. His 9+K/9 is more than encouraging, and I hope his dominance continues. He is showing A LOT of promise thus far this year. Also, him only walking one batter this start is great.
It's really exciting. I was the most skeptical of him among the 2012 big three making the transition to full season ball but he's done extremely well. Obviously it's still early in the year so fatigue isn't it issue yet but he's impressing the heck outta me.
Frankly, before the 2012 season, I thought he had 1-1 potential, and I am so glad to see him putting it all together for a month. You bring up an interesting point with fatigue, and I think that will be the most interesting and important factor for him and his adjustments this year.
Seriously, how he is not at least in AAA is beyond me. He's 23, quit treating him like Jason Lane, let's get him moved up.
