Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/22 You might enjoy my Ben Rowen videos more if I provide the links.
Here's the standard video, and
here's the slow-motion of his three strikeout pitches.
Stars of the Day AAA: Jake Brigham / Leury Garcia, Jared Hoying, Yangervis Solarte, Aaron Cunningham, Engel Beltre
AA: Richard Bleier / Chih-Hsien Chiang
Hi-A: Rougned Odor
Lo-A: Sam Stafford / Nomar Mazara
Short-A: Collin Wiles, Josh McElwee, Mike Zouzalik / Janluis Castro
Rookie: Easton Napiontek, Nick Gardewine
AAA: Round Rock 9, at Albuquerque (LAD) 5 Record: 44-33, +2.0
Not that he wasn't going to pitch at all this series, but Jake Brigham drew the short straw in replacing Martin Perez at mile-high, hitter-friendly Albuquerque. Brigham (5.87 ERA) responded with his best AAA performance, striking out nine, walking none and allowing only an unearned run on five hits in seven innings. Brigham struck out rehabbing Matt Kemp twice. When Johan Yan ran into trouble in the 9th, Ryan Rodebaugh fanned Kemp swinging to end the game.
Homers a Go Go:
Leury Garcia, #2, also a triple
Jared Hoying, #3, also a single
Yangervis Solarte, #9, and a double
Aaron Cunningham, #5, plus a double
CF Engel Beltre was 3-4 with a double.
AA: at Frisco 1, Corpus Christi (HOU) 5 Record: 3-2, tied for 1st
Randy Henry (1 IP) and Richard Bleier (2 IP) both struck out two allowed no runs. Starter Nick McBride (6.14 ERA) surrendered two in four innings on four hits and four walks. RF Chih-Hsien Chiang singled and walked, and 2B Odubel Herrera (.257/.279/.337) doubled and walked. Herrera drew only six walks in the season's first half, well below the already low rates of previous years.
High-A: Myrtle Beach 6, at Frederick (BAL) 13 Record: 1-1, tied for 1st
Victor Payano's one inning of work consisted of four runs on a two-run homer, three walks and a balk. Joe Van Meter (2 IP, 5 R) and Taylor Dennis (3.2 IP, 3 R) couldn't stanch the bleeding. 2B Rougned Odor (.284/.359/.440) singled twice and walked.
Low-A: at Hickory 6, Greensboro (MIA) 7 Record: 2-1, tied for 1st
Frank Lopez (5.28 ERA) fanned seven in five innings but permitted seven runs on two homers and six other hits. Sam Stafford (8.44 ERA), who's dealt with control/command issues all season, produced three scoreless innings marred by a lone double and struck out three. RF Nomar Mazara (.241/.326/.390) hit his seventh homer and singled.
Short-A: at Spokane 3, Boise (CHC) 2 (7 innings)
Short-A: at Spokane 4, Boise (CHC) 3 (7 innings) Record: 3-6, -4.0
Collin Wiles walked none, struck out four and allowed five hits including a solo homer. After Alex de la Cruz loaded the bases with none out in the 6th, Josh McElwee stranded them all. He would surrender his own run in the 7th but fanned five total and earned the save. In the second game, Ryne Slack struck out six in 3.2 innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. Mike Zouzalik took care of the last five out for the save.
Spokane strung together just enough offense in both games. Infielder Janluis Castro doubled, walked and singled across the doubleheader. The Indians have yet to homer.
Rookie: Rangers 4, at Padres 5 Record: 1-2, -1.0
The Rangers managed only four hits. SS Travis Demeritte singled and walked, while CF Jose Cardona walked twice and stole his first base.
2nd-rounder Akeem Bostick retired only one of five batters faced and picked off a runner for another out. He struck out one and allowed two runs. 34th-round RHP Easton Napiontek, a 20-year-old from Washington's Lower Columbia College, tossed 2.1 scoreless with a hit, walk and strikeout. RHP Nick Gardewine, a 19-year-old 7th rounder from Kaskaskia Community College in Illinois, retired six straight, four on strikeouts.
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Clinton's Neftali Feliz struck out ten, walked two, allowed three hits and no runs in six innings. In his last 11 starts, Feliz had an 0.93 ERA. Spokane's Neil Ramirez, Ramirez, he of the four balks on Opening Day, allowed one run on two hits and two walks while fanning six in five innings.
Today's Starters AAA: Evan Meek
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Luke Jackson
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner
Short-A: David Ledbetter
Rookie: TBD
Opening Day is 4/6/2015 on the road against the Athletics