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Pettitte is big business: Sunday’s Empire State “home” game was scheduled to be play at Batavia of the New York Penn League, but it has been relocated to Rochester. The Red Wings were scheduled to have a home game, but they will now play a doubleheader Saturday. Batavia’s capacity does not even reach 3,000, and Pettitte could attract 10,000 in Rochester. Of course the Yankees are more concerned about the facility Pettitte will be pitching at, and AAA facilities typically hold a huge edge over those in short season leagues. This could be Pettitte’s last minor league start before returning to the Yankees.
Miller still trying to finally reach majors: In 2006, Adam Miller looked like he would soon be leading Cleveland’s rotation in the post-Sabathia era. Unfortunately for Miller, that was the last time he’s had a full workload. Since then, he’s had to deal with various elbow and finger injuries, and he completely missed the 2009 and 2010 seasons. After pitching in relief in the Cleveland organization in 2011, he became a minor league free agent and was picked up by the Yankees. In three appearances with Empire State this season, he’s allowed four runs in six innings. Staying healthy is a great goal for Miller, but the 27 year old surely hopes to pitch in the majors before hanging them up.
Salt Lake gets back in the win column: Mike Trout is obviously a very dangerous player that can help his teams win in a number of different ways. Salt Lake has been missing that, and on Thursday, they finally won their first game without him. Trout was batting over .400 with an OPS nearing 1.100 on April 26th when he played his last game for the Bees. They lost that game, and it was just the start of the seven game losing streak that was finally snapped. So far, their lineup has been fine without Trout, but the remaining Bees certainly have big shoes to fill. Ryan Langerhans‘ three run dinger in the first inning provided most of their offense, and the bullpen held on for a 5-3 win.
Pitching dominates Jackson doubleheader as expected: When James Paxton and Taijuan Walker were both scheduled to pitch for Jackson Thursday, Pensacola fans knew they were in for a treat. Sometimes games with big expectations don’t work out, but this was everything it was expected to be. Behind Paxton, Jackson won game one 3-1. The run Paxton allowed was unearned, and he only allowed three hits and two walks in 5.1 innings with five strikeouts. Pensacola took game two 1-0, and once again the run was unearned. Walker allowed that run in 5.2 innings on only two hits and two walks. Reds prospect Daniel Corcino was just as good, striking out four in six scoreless innings.
San Jose joins MiLB.TV: San Jose has televised some games locally for years, but now every home game will be featured on MiLB.TV. They become the 10th lower minors affiliate to be shown on MiLB.TV and the 18th below AAA. It will be the first time fans can enjoy Cal League games online. This would’ve been great two years ago when I wrote about the Cal League regularly, but it will still provide a great chance to see some high-A prospects.
Charlotte outlasts Bradenton in 16: In what I’m pretty sure is the longest game in the minors this year, the Charlotte Stone Crabs got a 16th inning run to squeak past Bradenton Thursday night. Both starters were good but were gone long before the game’s conclusion. Charlotte’s Grayson Garvin struck out 10 in 5.1 innings, and Colton Cain had five strikeouts in six. Each allowed an earned run. If not for a blown save by Bradenton’s Casey Sadler, the game could’ve ended in regulation. Each team had plenty of chances in extra innings, and the game was finally decided in the 16th when Ty Morrison laid down a squeeze bunt to score Robby Price.
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Top Hitters | Aff. | H/AB | R | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | SB |
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Brandon Tripp | CLE | 2/4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Chris Hawkins | LNS | 3/5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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Cody Hawn | BC | 2/4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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David Vidal | BAK | 2/3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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Gregory Hopkins | WIS | 3/4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Harold Riggins | ASH | 2/3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Jake Lemmerman | CHT | 3/4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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Jedd Gyorko | SA | 3/3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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Jesus Aguilar | CAR | 2/4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Justin Bloxom | POT | 2/3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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Kyeong Kang | MON | 3/4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Matt Spring | POR | 2/4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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Michael Pericht | RC | 2/4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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Mike McDade | NH | 2/5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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Scott Van Slyke | ALB | 3/5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Vinnie Catricala | TAC | 4/5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Top Pitchers | Aff. | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
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Adys Portillo | FW | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
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AJ Schugel | ARK | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
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Bruce Billings | SAC | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
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Chris Corrigan | PB | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
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Cody Buckel | MB | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
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Cody Martin | LYN | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
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Daniel Corcino | PEN | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
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Daniel Straily | MID | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
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Edwin Carl | KC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
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Grayson Garvin | PC | 5.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
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James Avery | ERI | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
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James Paxton | JAC | 5.1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
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Joel Pineiro | NOR | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
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Keyvius Sampson | SA | 5.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
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Kris Johnson | ALT | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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Mike Rayl | CAR | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
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Myles Jaye | KAN | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
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Ryan Pressly | SAL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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Vin Mazzaro | OMA | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
On tap today
Thad Weber returns to Toledo after ML stint
Dellin Betances tries to throw strikes
Rodrigo Lopez still in professional baseball
Walker, Corcino meet in top SL matchup
Stone Crabs travel to parent club’s Pinellas County
Quad Cities and Burlington meet in doubleheader
Tampa Bay’s low-A affiliate meets South Bend’s J. Shields
If you know of a player performance or article that should be shared, please let me know on Twitter at @5runrally so I can check it out!
