DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Kyle McPherson (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Quincy Latimore (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI)
Home Runs: None
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (AAA)
Result: Columbus 4, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Brian Burres (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Gorkys Hernandez (1-for-3, 3B, 2 BB, 2 RBI)
Notes: Brian Burres (0-1, 3.60) wasn’t very effective, throwing 75 pitches, with 46 for strikes, and allowing almost two base runners per inning. Tony Watson (0.00) followed him with a shutout inning, although Watson walked two batters in the process, while striking out one. Cesar Valdez (10.80) allowed two runs in the seventh inning, putting Indianapolis down 4-0.
Indianapolis rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Chase d’Arnaud (.333) and Josh Harrison (.000) each walked with one out. D’Arnaud scored on the next play, making it 4-1. Two batters later, Gorkys Hernandez (.333) hit a two RBI triple on a line drive to center field. Hernandez also walked twice in the game. Pedro Ciriaco (.000) struggled in today’s game, going 0-for-5, and leaving five men on base. That included flying out and stranding Hernandez in the seventh, and grounding in to a game ending double play in the bottom of the ninth with runners at first and third, one out, and Indianapolis down by one. D’Arnaud and Brian Friday (.333) each went 1-for-3 with a double, while Alex Presley (.500) was the only hitter with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
ALTOONA CURVE (AA)
Result: Erie 3, Altoona 2
Starting Pitcher: Bryan Morris (4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 1 HR)
Top Hitter: Quincy Latimore (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI)
Notes: Bryan Morris (4.15) started off well, but ran in to trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing four walks and two hits, including a two run homer in the fifth to put Erie up 2-0. Brad Chalk helped him out with two outfield assists early in the game, keeping the game scoreless. Latimore (.500) showed some power at the plate, hitting for two doubles, with his second double bringing in two runners in the top of the eighth, tying the score at 2-2. Tony Sanchez (.500) got the first hit of the season for Altoona, going 1-for-2 on the night, with a walk and a hit by pitch. Brock Holt (.000) walked twice, while Starling Marte (.000) walked once, and both players scored on Latimore’s double in the eighth.
Aaron Pribanic (0.00) and Jared Hughes (0.00) both pitched an inning in relief, with each pitcher putting up a perfect inning and two strikeouts. They are both a part of the rotation, so this was likely a side session for each pitcher. Michael Dubee (0-1, 5.40) came on for the final two innings, and allowed the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, giving up a two out, RBI single.
BRADENTON MARAUDERS (A+)
Result: Charlotte 3, Bradenton 2
Starting Pitcher: Kyle McPherson (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Chris Snyder (2-for-3, 2B, RBI)
Notes: Bradenton carried a 2-1 lead in to the ninth inning, but Duke Welker (0-1, 27.00) blew the save opportunity, allowing two runs, one earned, on a hit and three walks, losing the game with a two RBI single. The second run scored due to a fielding error by right fielder Robbie Grossman, when Grossman let the ball get by him. Welker was his usual wild self, also throwing a wild pitch. Kyle McPherson got off to a good start in 2011, and Jhonathan Ramos (0.00) followed with 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit.
Chris Snyder (.667) was making a rehab start behind the plate, and played the first five innings, being replaced by Ramon Cabrera in the sixth inning. David Rubinstein (.500) went 2-for-4, but was caught stealing twice. Robbie Grossman (.000) went 0-for-2, but walked, and was hit by a pitch, then stole a base (1).
Joe Beimel is scheduled to make a rehab start for Bradenton tomorrow.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)
Result: Savannah 8, West Virginia 0
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton (4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR)
Top Hitter: Matt Curry (1-for-3)
Notes: This was a bad game all around for West Virginia. Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 15.75) was hit hard, allowing at least one run in each of his four frames, along with two homers. The rest of the West Virginia pitching staff didn’t have the same problem. Kevin Decker (0.00), the 39th round pick in the 2010 draft, followed that up with three strong shutout innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out one. Zach Foster (4.50) threw two innings, allowing a run on one hit, and striking out three.
The West Virginia offense didn’t do much better. Matt Curry (.333) and Eric Avila (.333) were the only players to have a hit, with each player going 1-for-3. The offense struck out 12 times, with Rogelios Noris (.000) being the only batter who didn’t strike out. To top that off, the defense struggled with four errors. Drew Maggi recorded two fielding errors at shortstop. Avila and Mel Rojas Jr. also each had a fielding error.
