September 5, 2012

Minor League Update

Games of September 4

by Bradley Ankrom

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We had a lighter slate of games last night as postseason play began in many of the minor leagues.

Around The Majors

• Adam Eaton, CF, Diamondbacks: 2-for-6, R, 2B, K. Major league debut for Adam “not the pitcher” Eaton, who hit .375/.456/.523 in 613 Double-A and Triple-A PA this year.
• Eduardo Escobar, SS, Twins: 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. Versatile glove-first Venezuelan came to the Twins in the Francisco Liriano deal.
• Yasmani Grandal, C, Padres: 2-for-5, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Has a hit in eight of his last nine games after an 0-for-12 (with seven walks) stretch.
• Matt Harvey, RHP, Mets: L (3-4), 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR. Only his second major-league start in which he has given up more than a hit per inning; fails to record more than 15 outs for only the second time this season.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS/3B, Blue Jays: 1-fo-3, K. Extends hitting streak to four games; has collected exactly one hit in each of those four games.
• Jose Iglesias, SS, Red Sox: 1-for-3, 2B. Finally earned his first hit of the season, a two-out double in the top of the fifth inning.
• Brett Jackson, CF, Cubs: 0-for-2, K. Hitless in September with seven strikeouts in four games.
• Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox: 1-for-4, HR (1). Had two home runs in 39 major-league AB in 2011; took 71 AB before he hit his first one this year.
• Manny Machado, SS/3B, Orioles: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI. Four of his last five games have been multi-hit affairs; raised his batting average 14 points to .266 last night (hooray for small samples).
• Jordan Pacheco, 3B/1B, Rockies: 2-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI. Has quietly put together a solid rookie season (.313/.344/.428) while bouncing between third and first base for Colorado.
• Jarrod Parker, RHP, Athletics: L (9-8), 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 5 K, 0 HR. One of his strongest starts of the second half, left the game trailing 2-1.
• Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Rockies: ND, 3.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K. Nice bounce-back from four-inning, six-run outing on August 29.

Around The Minors

• Albert Almora, CF, Cubs (Short-Season A Boise): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI. Sixth-overall pick of last June’s draft; second triple of the year.
• Gregory Bird, 1B, Yankees (Short-Season A Staten Island): 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB. Six-for-eight over his last two games; tie-breaking two-run home run in the seventh inning.
• Tyler Collins, RF, Tigers (Advanced Class-A Lakeland): 2-for-3, HR (8). Collins’ solo homer in the bottom of the first inning proved to be the only run in Lakeland’s 1-0 win over Dunedin.
• Phillip Evans, SS, Mets (Short-Season A Brooklyn): 2-for-4, RBI. Drove in the Cyclones’ only run in 9-1 loss to Lowell; interesting bat-first middle infielder who will likely have to slide across the bag to second base.
• Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins (Advanced Class-A Jupiter): ND, 5.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, K, 0 HR. Marlins’ top pick in 2011 may have had the quietest 14-1, 1.75 ERA regular season in baseball history. Future number-two starter who  could arrive in Miami next year.
• Deven Marrero, SS, Red Sox (Short-Season A Lowell): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI. Fourteenth double of the season for Red Sox first-rounder.
• Raul Mondesi Jr., CF, Brewers (Short-Season Helena): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K. Nice excuse to remind you that this exists.
• Tony Renda, 2B, Nationals (Short-Season A Auburn): 3-for-5, R, 2B, RBI, K. Second-round pick out of California has shown plenty of patience (31 walks in 71 games) but little pop (.295 SLG).
• Joe Sclafani, SS, Astros (Short-Season A Tri-Cities): 5-for-5, 2 2B. Astros’ 14th-round pick out of Dartmouth.
• Richie Shaffer, 3B, Rays (Short-Season A Hudson Valley): 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, K. Back-to-back two-hit games in which he hit a triple; Rays 2012 first-round pick hitting .298/.400/.474 overall.
• Christian Yelich, CF, Marlins (Advanced Class-A Jupiter): 3-for-5, 2 R. Collected three of Jupiter’s seven hits in the Hammerheads’ game one playoff loss to St. Lucie.