Bus Leagues Express: September 2

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Cole wins AAA debut: It only took 12 solid starts with Altoona for the Pirates to believe he was ready for AAA, and his first start indicated that their assessment was correct. In Indianapolis’ 4-3 win over Toledo, Cole allowed three runs on six hits and a walk in six innings while striking out seven. A solid 62.5% of his pitches were strikes, and with the wild card chase entering its final month, it’s within the realm of possibility that Pittsburgh decides Cole is an option to help them down the stretch. His BB/9 is a touch over 3.0 this year, and he’s also striking out more than a batter per inning. He has the stuff to succeed now even if he’s not completely refined as of yet.

Hammel closer to providing much needed relief for Orioles: Jason Hammel was enjoying a breakout season for the Orioles before a knee injury in July knocked him out of action. He made his first rehab appearance on the way back for Frederick Saturday, striking out seven in five scoreless innings and throwing over 70% of his 66 pitches for strikes. The Orioles are desperate for starting pitching in the stretch run, and they’re trying a lot of different avenues to find five arms that stick. They may decide to bring Hammel back to the majors for his next start to try and improve the beleaguered rotation.

When the best record isn’t enough: When the Northwest League season wrapped up last night, there was one team standing alone with the best record: Eugene. Unfortunately for them, their season is over, and they will not be playing when the league’s postseason starts tomorrow. Because the Northwest League uses a first half/second half champion playoff system, in rare instances the team with the best overall record can be shut out, and the Emeralds were that rare instance in 2012. In the first half, they finished 3.5 games behind Everett with the second best record in the league, and they were just a half game behind Vancouver in the second half, this time with the third best record. Despite having the league’s best pitching staff, their players will soon be reporting to instructional ball and beginning their offseason.

Vermont picks up MiLB’s 19th no-hitter: A little more than 72 hours after Palm Beach’s Chris Corrigan threw a perfect game, Vermont threw their first no-hitter in team history in their 2-0 win over Tri-City. Not only does Tri-City have the best record in the league, they’re the best run scoring team in the league, so it didn’t come easy for the Lake Monsters. J.C. Menna, in his second year with Vermont, threw the first six innings despite having four walks and only striking out two. It was his first win of the season as he struggles to get his career off the ground. Deyvi Jimenez and Ryan Dull threw three innings to complete the no-hitter.

Lexington follows that up with #20: About an hour after Tri-City was no-hit, the Houston organization broke even in no-hitters for the night when Lexington blew out Rome 10-0. Chris Devenski, acquired from the White Sox in the Brett Myers trade, struck out 16 and walked just one in his complete game shutout. Devenski had struggled since coming over in the trade but remaining in the South Atlantic League, walking 15 in 20.1 innings and allowing opposing batters to hit over .300 against him. It’s the first time this season there have been two no-hitters in one day, and this is the second time this season Rome has been no-hit.

Burlington takes 12 to edge Elizabethton: They could be the top two offensive teams in the Appy League, but game one of the championship series was a tight pitcher’s duel. The Royals prevailed 3-2 over the Twins in 12 innings, moving one game away from winning the championship. Elizabethton led 2-1 in the 8th inning, but the typically reliable Tyler Herr allowed a home run to Mark Threlkeld which forced extra innings. In the 12th inning, Bubba Starling won the game for Burlington with a sac fly to center field that scored the speedy Terrance Gore for the walkoff win. Both of Elizabethton’s runs came on solo homers by Adam Walker and D.J. Hicks, and they’re going to have to find a way to string together more hits as the series shifts back to Elizabethton.

On tap today

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