Kinston starting pitcher T.J. HOUSE (20) had another stellar outing on Monday, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and 1 BB in 7 innings of work. He struck out only one batter in the game, but he nevertheless held Salem in check. In his last 4 outings, he’s given up a total of 3 runs (all earned) while striking out 13, walking 4, and allowing 14 hits (no home runs) in 27 innings of work. The dip in Ks bothers me a little, but the parallel trend of fewer BBs is encouraging. With the way that House has been pitching as of late, he doesn’t really need to strike out many batters. On the season, he now has a 3.62 ERA with 91 Ks, 50 BBs, and a .256 BAA in 117 innings pitched.
On the other hand, Lake County starter BRETT BRACH (22) was in strikeout mode on Monday night. In 7 innings of work, he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits (one HR) and no walks while striking out 9 batters. Such a high number of Ks is unusual for Brach, but his dominance on the mound is nothing new. This season with Lake County, he has a 2.88 ERA with 71 Ks, 21 BBs, and a .269 BAA in 93.2 innings. He’s two years older than House and playing at a lower level, but I still like this guy. He’s deserving of a promotion to Kinston, where he’ll be tested. In his last 10 starts, he’s allowed more than 3 earned runs only once and kept his opponents under 2 earned runs in 7 of those 10 outings.
Mahoning Valley pitcher CASEY GAYNOR (23) also impressed on Monday, dominating Aberdeen. In 5 innings of work (following Mitch Talbot’s 3-inning rehab start), Gaynor gave up no runs on 2 hits and 2 BBs while striking out 7. On the season, he has a 4.25 ERA with 24 Ks, 12 BB, and a .270 BAA in 29.2 innings on the mound. 10 of his 12 appearances are relief outings, and he’s mostly done well in that role. Gaynor, a graduate of Rutgers, is in his first season of professional ball.
On Monday, a trio of Mahoning Valley Scrappers were named to the 2010 New York- Penn League All-Star game. Second baseman DANIEL DeGEORGE is batting .257 in 109 at-bats this season and had a scorching hot July in which he hit .365. He’s in his second year of pro baseball… Starting pitcher ALEX KAMINSKY also got the nod after posting a 2.15 ERA with 41 K, 15 BB, and a .222 BAA in 10 starts (50.1 IP) this season. He’s in the midst of his first season of professional ball, out of Wright State… Another starter, OWEN DEW, also receives All-Star honors. In 47.2 innings of work for the Scrappers this season, he’s recorded a 2.64 ERA with 25 K, only 4 BB, and a .206 BAA. A graduate of Central Florida, Dew is in his first pro season.
High A Kinston Rundown (W, 5-2): Catcher CHUN CHEN went 2 for 4 with a run scored on Monday. He’s batting .333 in his last 10 games and .300 in 90 at-bats on the season for Kinston… Shortstop JUAN DIAZ went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Acquired from the Mariners earlier this season, the 21 year-old Diaz is batting only .230 with a 2B, a 3B, no HR, 10 RBI, and no SBs through 126 at-bats with Kinston after hitting .295 with 8 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 41 RBI, and 8 SB in 254 California League at-bats before the trade… DOUG PICKENS went only 1 for 4, but that hit was a big 3-run home run. In 261 at-bats with Kinston, he’s batting .230 with 6 HR and 33 RBI, but is hitting only .133 in his last 10 games… NATE RECKNAGEL went 1 for 3 with an RBI, a BB, and a run scored. He’s batting .222 on the season (180 at-bats) and .219 over his last 10 games… Reliever CORY BURNS pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his 21st high A save of the season and his 33rd overall, between Kinston and Lake County.
Class A Lake County Rundown (W, 11-2): The big bats of Lake County are back after a few games off. DELVI CID led the charge, going 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base, his 57th of the season. After batting .195 in April, 182 in May, .289 in June, and .280 in July, Cid is batting .350 so far in August… Shortstop CASEY FRAWLEY went 3 for 4 with a 2B, 3 RBI, a BB, and 2 runs scored on Monday. He’s batting only .263 in his last 10 games, but I like his 4:5 K to BB ratio… ADAM ABRAHAM went 2 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. In his last 10 games, he’s batting .341 with 9 RBI and a .413 OBP… Catcher ROBERTO PEREZ continued his recent hot streak, going 3 for 5 with 2 2B, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. He’s batting .394 in his last 10 games with 5 2B, a 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, and 10 BB to only 4 K (.535 OBP)… Outfielder JASON SMIT went 2 for 4 with a 2-run HR and 3 total RBI. He’s batting .306 in his last 10 games with 2 HR and 10 RBI… Right-handed relief pitcher JOSE FLORES continued his solid 2010 campaign, tossing a scoreless inning in which he struck out one. On the season with Lake County, he’s maintained a 2.20 ERA with 37 Ks, 5 BBs, and a .221 BAA in 28.2 innings of work.
Short-season Mahoning Valley Rundown (W, 4-1): Another good game for CARLOS MONCRIEF, who went 2 for 3 with a 2B, a BB, and a run scored. He’s batting .432 over his last 10 games with a .488 OBP… GIOVANNY URSHELA remained hot, going 3 for 4 with a 2B and an RBI. In his last 10 games, he’s batting .450 (18 for 40) with 10 RBI and no strikeouts… JESUS AGUILAR went 0 for 2, but drove in 2 runs on sacrifice flies… MITCH TALBOT made a rehab start with the Scrappers on Monday, allowing one run on 2 hits and a BB in 3 innings of work.
The Columbus Clippers and Akron Aeros did not play on Monday. The Clippers game was postponed and the Aeros had a scheduled day off.