The Minor Leagues, Generally

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Thomas Diamond to Start AAA All-Star Game

Mr.Z has inside sources telling him that Metairie native and UNO product Thomas Diamond -- currently having a terrific season for the AAA I-Cubs -- will start the AAA All-Star Game on July 14 at 6 pm CT. The game will be played in Allentown.

Diamond is currently leading the PCL in Ks and opponent's BAA and is 4th in WHIP.

Game #83: Zephyrs Lose 2-1

After winning the first two games of a four-game set with Omaha, the Zs lost the final two to slip back to a game below .500. Yesterday's was a tough 2-1 defeat in 10 innings.

New Orleans' lone run came in the second, when Gookie Dawkins extended his hitting streak to ten games with a two-out RBI double to score Bryan Petersen from first. They rallied in the third as well, loading the bases with just one out on consecutive singles by Cousins, Richar, and LoMo off Omaha starter Luis Mendoza. But Luna grounded into a double play, and Omaha would squeeze a run across in the 5th on an Irving Falu sac fly. The decisive Omaha run in the 10th came off of a shaky Adalberto Mendez dealing with a tough heart of the Omaha order. Omaha loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to Alex Gordon. The heavy hitting Kila Ka'aihue brought home David Lough with a sac fly to give Omaha a 2-1 lead that would hold up.

Starting for the Zephyrs, Sean West was excellent once again and is solidifying his position as the pitcher with the best stuff on the staff. Over 7 strong innings the lefty gave up just four hits, three of them singles. Meyer and Benitez followed West with scoreless innings.

The Zephs are on the way to Iowa for a five-game set with the I-Cubs, one of them a make-up game for last week's rain-soaked series in New Orleans.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Game #82: Zephyrs Lose 7-2

The Zephs roll skidded to a halt after four consecutive wins as Omaha easily trounced the punchless Zs 7-2 last night in Metairie.

Riding two Ed Lucas home runs and strong pitching from standout starter Bryan Bullington, the Royals never let the Zephs into the game. Wes Whisler's fourth start for the Zephyrs couldn't have been much worse, as the lanky lefty allowed 13 baserunners in six innings, 10 of them reaching on hits, four of them extra-base hits. By the time Jorge Sosa came in to stop the bleeding and strike out five over two innings, the game was out of hand.

The most interesting thing going in this one was that Rick Ankiel got his first hit while on his rehab assignment from Kansas City, a double. Mr.Z is not joking.

Game #83 is today (Wednesday) at 11:30 am. Sean West is on the hill for the Zs.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Cameron Maybin to the DL

With inflammation in his left shoulder.

Games #80 & #81: Two More Wins

The Z-train is rolling. With wins over the Omaha Royals on the 4th of July and on National "Recovery" Day (July 5), the Zs have crept over the .500 mark for the first time since April.

The appetizer game to the deservedly renowned Zephyr Field fireworks was a close, tense one. The Zs built a 3-0 lead by the 4th on RBI doubles by Gookie Dawkins and LoMo as well as Danny Richar's RBI groundout. VandenHurk was excellent through five, but an Alex Gordon double and a Kila Ka'aihue bomb tied the game at three in the sixth. However, the Zephyrs have flashed late spark recently. After Omaha pulled ahead with two runs off of Jorge Sosa in the seventh, the Zephs loaded the bases for Hector Luna, the AAA All-Star who has flourished in every offensive situation this year except for with runners in scoring position. But God Bless America, Luna ripped a bases-clearing double and Armando Benitez took your breath away in the good way and the Zs held on for a 6-5 win.

Yesterday's 5-0 win came on the strength of another good Brian Lawrence performance on the hill. Lawrence was in scatter mode over 6 1/3, allowing eight baserunners with nobody passing third. After wiggling free from a bases-loaded jam in the 6th, the Zs came up with five in the bottom half courtesy of a solo shot by catcher Brad Davis and a three-run HR by Logan Morrison, LoMo's first at Zephyr Field.

Now at a cool 41-40, the Zs have caught Albuquerque in the standings and are a mere 2.5 games back of division-leading Oklahoma City.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Donnie Murphy Called Up

Well, this answers why Murphy was suspiciously pulled from the game two nights ago. The Marlins DFAd Brian Barden and called up shortstop Donnie Murphy yesterday, citing the need for late-inning offense.

Along with Hector Luna, Murphy had been one of the Zs only power threats with Logan Morrison still not flashing HR pop. Murphy has hit 12 HRs this season. Murphy has spent limited time in his career with both the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland A's; Florida will be his third major league team.

Tim Torres was called from AA Jacksonville to take Murphy's spot and had two hits in his debut. Torres has shown some pop this year with 10 HRs.

Game #79: Zephyrs Win 3-1

Riding seven outstanding innings from Tom Mastny -- who was in the independent leagues a month ago -- the Zephyrs squeaked by Nashville 3-1 Saturday night to win their second straight road series. It's the first time this year the Zs have won two consecutive series on the road, and the team pulled to within one game of the .500 mark.

Mastny held Nashville's offense to just four hits and the Zephs bullpen did the rest, breezing through two clean innings with Meyer (instead of Benitez) getting the save opportunity. Tim Torres, debuting for the Zephs after being called up from Jacksonville, had two hits.

The Zephyrs return to Zephyr Field today to open a four-game series against Omaha. Tonight's game begins at 6 PM and VandenHurk will be on the hill opposed by former top pitching prospect Philip Humber.