1B Mitch Moreland was 3-4 with two doubles for AA Frisco.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/18

Stars of the Day
AAA: Evan Meek, Jake Brigham / Leury Garcia, Engel Beltre, Mike Bianucci, Joey Butler, Jared Hoying
AA: Richard Bleier / Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: All-Stars
Lo-A: All-Stars
Short-A: John Straka, Alex de la Cruz, Josh McElwee / Chris Garia, Evan Van Hoosier

AAA: at Round Rock 9, Memphis (STL) 2
Record: 41-32, +0.5

After averaging nine runs per game at Oklahoma City, the Express posted that very number against Memphis.  Leury Garcia singled and homered, RF  Jared Hoying doubled and tripled (the latter on a misplayed fly, but it counts the same), and LF Joey Butler was 2-4 with a double and walk.  CF Engel Beltre was 3-3 but after racing out a bunt single, he turned toward second base and was tagged out.  Beltre argued the call and was ejected more quickly than his home-to-first time.  Replacement Mike Bianucci singled and doubled. 

Evan Meek pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs and fanning six.  Jake Brigham (7.18 ERA) struck out five in three scoreless, one-hit innings.  They held top OF prospect Oscar Taveras hitless.

AA: at Frisco 4, Midland (OAK) 9
Record: 0-1 (second half)

For about a month, Carlos Pimentel (4.07 ERA) has reverted to the oft-shaky form he exhibited during 2011 and early 2012.  Pimentel actually retired 12 of his first 13 batters, but in the 5th he hit a batter, walked three others and gave up an RBI single and grand slam.  He surrendered six runs in 4.2 innings and struck out three.  Pimentel has always been fly-prone and will allow the homer, so he has to minimize walks in front of them to be effective. 

Richard Bleier (3.86 ERA) tossed 2.1 scoreless innings.  Justin Miller (9.90 ERA) continues to struggle, giving up another two runs.  He's allowed 15 runners and 10 runs in his last 4.1 innings.

LF Teodoro Martinez (.280/.326/.410) was 3-5 with his 15th steal.

High-A: Carolina 12, at California 2

Luke Jackson drew the starting assignment and worked around a walk in his one inning.  He touched 96 on the stadium gun a couple of times and fanned his last batter on a hard curve.  Nick Martinez posted an identical line in the 5th, fanning one batter on a sinker or hard change (I didn't get a good look).   Alec Asher surrendered a couple of doubles and a run in a one-strikeout 7th.

2B Rougned Odor played the entire game and was 1-5 with two runs scored.  Luis Sardinas appeared in the 5th and singled home two against ex-Ranger lefty Edwin Escobar, whom Texas traded for Ben Snyder back in 2010.  Sardinas and Odor teamed up on a nifty double play with Martinez on the mound.

Low-A: at North 2, South 1

Starting CF Lewis Brinson was 0-2 with a 1st-inning walk, and fellow starter Joey Gallo singled in three at-bats.  Ryan Rua was 0-1 in a brief appearance, as was catcher Jorge Alfaro.  Alex Claudio earned the save with a two-hit, one-strikeout 7th.  Authorities had agreed to shorten the contest to seven innings following a nearly three-hour rain delay.

With Brinson at the plate, White Sox Micah Johnson and Pirate Dilson Herrera executed a double steal of second and home.  Johnson then stole third and scored on a Brinson groundout.  Johnson is hitting .339/.422/.525 with 54 steals.

Short-A: Spokane 4, at  Vancouver (TOR) 5 (12 innings)
Record: 1-4, -3.0

The Indians led 4-3 with two out in the 9th and recorded a third strike against the next batter.  And they lost.  With a runner on second, said third strike escaped catcher Marcus Greene, who then threw wide of first and allowed the runner to score the game-tying run.  Poor Josh McElwee, who struck out seven batters in two innings, was charged with a blown save.  Greene did walk twice, improving to .300/.500/.300 in three games.

Starter Kelvin Vasquez, who'd opened the season in Hickory, struck out four in 2.2 innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk.  Final pitcher Richard Alvarez walked three and allowed a two-out single just in front of CF Chris Garia that plated the game-ending run.  Between them, John Straka (2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) and Alex de la Cruz (2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) pitched well.

Garia tripled, singled, walked and stole two bases.  2B Evan Van Hoosier was 2-4 with a doubled and walk. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Five OKC homers: Chris Davis (twice), Taylor Teagarden, Nelson Cruz and… Drew Meyer.  Frisco utility guy Thomas Berkery homered in his last two at-bats to provide the tying and winning runs in a 6-5 win.  Mauro Gomez and Grant Gerrard homered for Bakersfield. 

17-year-old Martin Perez made his professional debut against a lineup with an average age of 22 years, three months.  He allowed only four of 21 batters to reach safely but three scored because of errors and aggressive baserunning.

I neglected to mention that Neil Ramirez made his pro debut five years and two days ago.  He walked four and committed four balks.  Wilfredo Boscan pitched respectably in his US debut.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: off
Short-A: Chi-Chi Gonzalez

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/16

Stars of the Day
AAA: Joseph Ortiz / Mike Olt, Engel Beltre, Robinson Chirinos, Eli Whiteside
AA: Alex Buchholz
Hi-A: Will Lamb / Joe Maloney, Drew Robinson, Jake Skole
Lo-A: Alexander Claudio
Short-A: Collin Wiles

AAA: Round Rock 9, at Oklahoma City (HOU) 4
Record: 39-32, +0.5

Mike Olt homered twice in an eight-run 9th.  Olt has five homers since returning to Round Rock and a line of .250/.333/.577.  He's drawing walks and striking out less than usual (23%, albeit in a small sample).  As for any "will Texas call him up" questions, my feeling is Texas would prefer to keep him in AAA for the time being.  Even before his eye issue, he was deemed not quite ready for prime time.  Also, Mitch Moreland's upcoming return and the lack of immediate movement regarding Nelson Cruz and Biogenesis obviate an urgent need for him.

CF Engel Beltre clubbed his fourth homer of the month after hitting none in April or May.  He added two singles to improve to .280/.345/.382. Robinson Chirinos (.288/.388/.456) was 2-4 with a double and walk.  Eli Whiteside also homered in the 9th, his fourth of the season. 

Joseph Ortiz struck out two and earned an unlikely win with a scoreless 8th and 9th.  Brad Mills (3.01 ERA) gave up three runs in six innings.

AA: at Frisco 4, Midland (OAK) 16
Record: 38-31, -4.0, eliminated

If you insist.  Kevin Pucetas (4.72 ERA) surrendered 11 runners and eight runs (3 earned) in four innings.  Arlett Mavare (7.66 ERA) allowed three homers and six runs while retiring only two batters.  IF Guilder Rodriguez pitched the 9th and gave up a long homer to Chad Oberacker.  3B Alex Buchholz (.272/.316/.426) walked twice and hit his sixth homer.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 7, Carolina (CLE) 5
Record: 40-29, +2.5, first-half division champion

Tied at five with two out in the 9th, 3B Drew Robinson (2-3, 2 BB) walked and Joe Maloney (.319/.407/.447) homered.  CF Jake Skole (.192/.298/.266) walked twice, doubled and stole his third base. 

Victor Payano (3.93 ERA) walked four in three innings, struck out two and allowed two runs and three hits.  Like last year, Payano's control has faltered in June.  Will Lamb (4.96 ERA) spread a walk, HBP and single around two scoreless innings. 

Low-A: at Hickory 2, Delmarva (BAL) 4
Record: 39-31, -0.5, eliminated

Tasked with a must-win situation, Hickory managed two baserunners through the first eight innings and suffered several defensive lapses including three errors.  Still, the Crawdads had Ryan Rua and Jorge Alfaro batting as the tying run in the 9th before succumbing.  Washington-affiliated Hagerstown won the division despite fewer wins than Hickory; three cancelled games resulted in a higher winning percentage for the Suns.  Hagerstown had a vastly superior run differential compared to Hickory, so it's not as though they didn't earn the title. 

Now in his third full season, Delmarva starter Parker Bridwell had allowed at least two runs and five runners in every start this year, but against Hickory he set personal bests in innings (8) and strikeouts (10). 

Andrew Faulkner (2.80 ERA) gave up three runs, all technically earned, on six hits and a walk in five innings.  He struck out two.  Alexander Claudio fanned three in 2.2 perfect innings.

CJ Edwards "will not be available" in Tuesday's All-Star game per a Sally League press release.  Edwards last pitched on Friday the 14th.

Short-A: at Spokane 3, Everett (SEA) 4
Record: 0-3, -3.0

2012 53rd-overall selection Collin Wiles lasted a career-best 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.  Last summer in rookie ball, Wiles displayed very good control for an 18-year-old (7% walk rate) but caught too much plate with those strikes (.310 opposing average).  Eric Brooks (2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Josh McElwee (1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) also pitched.  Both are Spokane veterans who were hit pretty hard in brief stays at Hickory earlier this season.

Spokane scored a not-terrible 11 runs in the series but batted .149/.283/.253.  CF Chris Garia was 2-4 with a double and a caught-stealing.  1B Cam Schiller walked twice. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Chris Davis hit his 7th AAA homer and 20th overall. He was batting .350/.411/.688.  After a messy three-run 1st, Matt Harrison allowed no runs, walked none, and struck out three in 6.2 innings.  In his best high-A start, Bakersfield's Omar Poveda tossed seven-plus innings with one earned run, three hits, two walks and six strikeouts.  Now 25, Poveda has a 3.01 ERA in 83 innings for Atlanta's AAA squad.  Poveda and reliever Evan Reed were traded to Florida for Jorge Cantu in 2010.

Today's Starters
AAA: Martin Perez
AA: Nick McBride
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: off
Short-A: David Ledbetter

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/15

Stars of the Day
AAA: Yoshinori Tateyama / Jared Hoying, Robinson Chirinos
AA: Neil Ramirez, Richard Bleier / Odubel Herrera
Hi-A: Paul Schwendel, Joe Van Meter / Luis Sardinas, Trever Adams
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck, Ryan Bores / Joey Gallo, Ryan Rua, Nick Vickerson, Jorge Alfaro, Ronald Guzman, Lewis Brinson
Short-A: Mike Zouzalik / Janluis Castro

AAA: Round Rock 4, at  Oklahoma City (HOU)  6
Record: 38-32, tied for 1st

Down 6-0 early, Jared Hoying hit a two-run homer, his second with the Express, and Robinson Chirinos hit a solo shot (his fifth) to reduce the margin.  Five of Hoying's seven extra-base hits in Round Rock have gone for extra bases.

Ryan Feierabend (4.31 ERA) allowed all the runs.  Yoshi Tateyama struck out four in two scoreless innings.

Yangervis Solarte continues to draw the daily assignment at shortstop.  Solarte had ten appearances at short from 2006 through the end of this May.  Since then: 13 consecutive starts.

AA: at Frisco 3, Corpus Christi (HOU) 0
Record: 38-30, -4.0, eliminated

Neil Ramirez (3.12 ERA) fanned ten in six scoreless innings, allowing three walks and two hits.  His first half ends with an opposing line of .182/.292/.332 and a 31% strikeout rate.  A high walk+HBP count (40 in 75 innings) is the only sour note.  Aside from 2010 in Hickory, his control has been average at best, usually worse.

Frisco didn't post any gaudy offensive stats but scored twice off fireballer Mike Foltynewicz in the 6th.  Foltynewicz's fastball runs a steady mid-to-upper 90s and will surpass 100 occasionally.  2B Odubel Herrera (.268/.285/.350) singled, doubled, and hit a sac fly.

Richard Bleier (2 IP, 2 SO) and Ben Rowen (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) handled the Hooks after Ramirez departed.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 2, Carolina (CLE) 8 (7 innings)
High-A: at Myrtle Beach 5, Carolina (CLE) 1 (7 innings)
Record: 39-29, +2.5, first-half division champion

Despite losing the doubleheader opener, the Pelicans clinched the first-half title when word came that Winston-Salem had also lost.  Staked to a 2-0 lead, Nick Martinez suffered from his own wildness and  an exceptionally rough day at the office by 1B Joe Maloney, who committed three errors.  Martinez walked three (two of which would score), threw a wild pitch and allowed four hits in 5.2 innings.  He permitted six runs, four earned, and struck out five.  Martinez nevertheless finished with a solid first half, holding opponents to a .242/.305/.339 line.

LF Trever Adams singled and doubled.  Carolina stole four bases against the battery of Martinez and catcher Pat Cantwell, and two more when Jon Edwards replaced Martinez.

In the nightcap, Paul Schwendel (3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 SO) and Joe Van Meter (3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 SO) insured that Myrtle Beach would not lose another 2-0 lead.  Luis Sardinas was 2-4 with a double, and seven others had one hit. 

Low-A: at Hickory 12, Delmarva (BAL) 0
Record: 39-30, +0.5, magic number 1

Hickory pounded yet another four homers along with 17 other hits.  Delmarva had allowed an impressively modest 23 homers in its first 63 games, but that total now stands at 30 after three games in Hickory.  Joey Gallo (.252/.343/.592) hit his minors-leading 22nd bomb and singled twice.  Ryan Rua (.255/.365/.632) homered twice to tie Gallo for the lead and doubled.  LF Nick Vickerson (.257/.414/.404) clubbed his third, singled and walked. 

The Sally League has 13 hitters with ten homers.  Five are Crawdads: Gallo (22), Rua (22), Brinson (13), Nick Williams (12) and Alfaro (10).  The first three alone have more than any other team in the league.  Gallo has eight homers in his last 34 trips to the plate. 

C Jorge Alfaro (.256/.332/.453) and CF Lewis Brinson (.247/.326/.462) were 3-5 with a double, and 1B Ronald Guzman (.405/.444/.619) hit three singles.

RHP Conner Sadzeck (2.78 ERA) was reinstated from the DL and threw five scoreless innings with two hits, three walks and five strikeouts.  Ryan Bores (4.06 ERA) handled the next three innings with two hits and a strikeout on his ledger.

Hagerstown swept its doubleheader with Lakewood, moving back to within one-half game of the Crawdads.  A Hickory win or Hagerstown loss will bring a division title.  They can't finish tied because of three cancelled Hagerstown games.

Short-A: at Spokane 4, Everett (SEA) 6
Record: 0-2

Spokane lost in similar fashion to the night before, staking Everett an early, error-fueled lead.  In his stateside debut, Yohander Mendez walked four in three innings, struck out five, and allowed three hits and three runs (two unearned).  Despite the results, the 18-year-old Mendez is one to watch.

21-year-old Alex de la Cruz, also new to the US, pitched the 8th and 9th with relative ease and struck out one.  He did walk one, an exceptionally rare occurrence last summer in the Dominican Republic (2 in 37.1 innings). 

Between Mendez and de la Cruz, Mike Zouzalik spread three baserunners and fanned two in two scoreless innings.  Texas signed the 22-year-old Austin native and UT-Pan Am alum at an open tryout in Round Rock last summer. 

DH Janluis Castro provided most of Spokane's offense via double, single and walk.  Making their professional debuts were RF Ryan Cordell (11th round, Liberty University), catcher Marcus Greene (16th, New Mexico JC) and 3B Roberto Duran (free agent, Lee University).  Cordell singled and reached on an HBP, while the others were 0-4.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas DFA'ed Robinson Tejeda and recalled Kason Gabbard.  As for the minors, I accidentally jumped forward a day while in Mexico, so I'll start fresh tomorrow.

Today's Starters
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Kevin Pucetas
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner
Short-A: Collin Wiles

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/14

Ian Kinsler was 0-4 with a walk as AA Frisco's second baseman.

Texas named its Minor League Players of the Month for May: Frisco OF Teodoro Martinez (hitter), Myrtle Beach RHP Alec Asher (starting pitcher). Frisco 1B Brett Nicholas (defender), and Hickory RHP Alexander Claudio (reliever).  Martinez was also added to the Texas League All-Star squad.  Nicholas still catches occasionally and did so last night.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Scott Richmond, Ryan Rodebaugh / Offense
AA: Tyler Tufts, Jimmy Reyes / Alex Buchholz, Tomas Telis
Hi-A: Rougned Odor, Kellin Deglan
Lo-A: CJ Edwards / Ryan Rua

AAA: Round Rock 11, at  Oklahoma City (HOU) 2
Record: 38-31, +1.0

A Hickory-esque box score for the Express.  Solo homers from Jim Adduci (#8),Joey Butler (also #8) and Engel Beltre (#3) off Ross Seaton led a 21-baserunner attack.  Beltre also singled, and Butler doubled and walked.  RF Jared Hoying doubled and tripled.

Only Mike Olt failed to tally a base hit, and he walked twice.  Robinson Chirinos matched Olt's walks and singled, as did 2B Greg Miclat.  Finally, SS Yangervis Solarte was 2-4 with a double and walk.

In his second AAA appearance, Ryan Rodebaugh threw a 1-2-3 8th.  Scott Richmond allowed two runs in seven innings.

AA: at Frisco 2, Corpus Christi (HOU) 3 (11 innings)
Record: 37-30, -5.0, eliminated

The Hooks scored on a two-run homer off a recently struggling Justin Miller (2 IP, 2 R, 3 SO, 8.31 ERA) and solo shot off Wilmer Font (1.63 ERA), who fanned four of seven batters faced.  Starter Tyler Tufts (3.38 ERA) struck out four in five scoreless innings, and Jimmy Reyes (2.81 ERA) whiffed four in two frames.

Tomas Telis (.259/.280/.364) hit a solo homer, his third, and Alex Buchholz was 2-4 with a walk.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 10, Carolina (CLE) 7
Record: 38-28, +2.0, 8-game win streak, magic number 1

On Twitter a while back, I'd joked that the Pelicans' terrible slump wouldn't end until Myrtle Beach's first Chipotle finally opened on June 20th.  I was wrong.  After squandering a 7.5-game lead, the Pelicans have won eight straight.

Carolina plunked six Pelicans including four during a six-run, 12-batter 6th.  2B Rougned Odor (.283/.359/.447) recorded two triples and an HBP, while Kellin Deglan (.210/.299/.438) went 2-3 with a triple and was hit.

Alec Asher (3.26 ERA) tied a season-high nine hits allowed and walked two in five innings, but only three scored.  He struck out three and has an opposing line of .246/.308/.379.

The Pelicans have a postponed first-half game that won't be played until the second half.  My magic number assumes it will count when played, not retroactively.  If not, the magic number is two.

Low-A: at Hickory 4, Delmarva (BAL) 7
Record: 38-30, magic number 2

CJ Edwards faced 20 batters a struck out a career-high 12.  In five innings, Edwards (2.05 ERA) surrendered two runs on two hits and a walk.  Per Mark Parker, Hickory scorekeeper and general knower of things Hickory-related, Edwards' curve was especially nasty.  Should the opportunity arise again, see him while you can, greater Hickory area residents. 

Jose Valdespina (9.00 ERA) retired only one of six batters and allowed four runs.

Joey Gallo did not homer, but Ryan Rua hit his 20th and walked.

Short-A: at Spokane 4, Everett (SEA) 6
Record: 0-1

In front of an Opening Night crowd of 6,181, 2013 23rd-overall pick Chi-Chi Gonzalez retired five of 11 batters, yielding three runs on five hits and a walk in 1.2 innings.  He struck out one.  In his first appearance since 2011, that year's 3rd-rounder Kyle Castro walked four, struck out five, and allowed two runs and two hits in three innings.  Ryne Slack, late of Hickory, fanned three in 2.1 scoreless.  The other professional debut came from John Straka, a 32nd-round righty from North Dakota State.  Strake struck out one and surrendered a solo homer and one other hit in two innings.

Only one hitter made his pro debut, 2B Evan Van Hoosier, 8th rounder from the College of Southern Nevada.  He went 0-4.  20-year-old CF Chris Garia tripled and drove in three.  Garia batted .246/.319/.328 in 47 games with the Indians last summer.  He owns superior raw speed and should top last year's 18 steals.  Doubling in their short-A debuts were 3B Janluis Castro (.350/.422/.467 with the rookies last summer) and SS Alberto Triunfel (.224/.312/.347 with '12 rookies).  Both are 19.

Spokane committed three errors.  The Indians defended terribly last year; they and the '09 Crawdads are the worst-fielding teams I've covered.  This year should be better.  I think.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco's Elvis Andrus stole his 23rd base.  Bakersfield's Julio Borbon went 4-4 with a walk-off homer against an excellent San Jose squad.  Bakersfield was 3-11 against San Jose and 33-23 against the rest of the league in the first half. 

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend
AA: Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Nick Martinez / Paul Schwendel
Lo-A: TBA
Short-A: Yohander Mendez

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/13

Ian Kinsler went 0-4 with two strikeouts in his first rehab appearance.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Jake Brigham / Mike Olt, Joey Butler, Engel Beltre, Jim Adduci
AA: Alex Buchholz
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff / Drew Robinsin
Lo-A: Luis Parra, Cody Kendall / Joey Gallo, Ryan Rua, Ronald Guzman

AAA: at Round Rock 4, Albuquerque (LAD) 9 (11 innings)
Record: 37-21, tied for 1st

After two solid innings, Lisalverto Bonilla (6.16 ERA) imploded in the 11th: a leadoff walk, his own error and a wild pitch contributed to five runs. Bonilla struck out 5 of 15 batters.  Spot-starter Evan meek threw fewer than half of his 81 pitches for strikes, fighting through 3.2 innings with five walks and four runs allowed (two earned).  Between them, Jake Brigham (7.90 ERA) offered 4.1 of his best AAA innings, permitting no runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two.

Mike Olt hit his fourth homer and singled.   Olt is hitting .275/.348/.550 with a reasonable 26% strikeout rate since returning to Round Rock.  Joey Butler clubbed his 7th homer and walked, and RF Jim Adduci went 2-3 with two walks.

Engel Beltre (275/.336/.357) drew three walks (and was hit by a pitch) for the second time in a week.  Less than halfway into the season, he needs three walks to set a career high.  Impatience has betrayed Beltre since the beginning; although very talented, he's never hit for enough average or power to paper over his atrocious walk rate.  If it holds up, this newfound ability to take pitches meaningfully, as opposed to keeping the bat on his shoulder at seemingly random intervals, could pave the road to Arlington. 

AA: at Frisco 1, Corpus Christi (HOU) 7
Record: 37-29, -4.0, elimination number 1

Carlos Pimentel was touched for four homers including two by recently reinstated slugger Jonathan Singleton, who's a good candidate to finish the season wearing a fancy new Astros uniform.  Pimentel (3.60 ERA) allowed six other hits and seven runs, walked two and struck out four in five tumultuous innings.

Randy Henry made his first appearance in five weeks after recovery from an ulnar nerve injury.  Henry retired only two of five batters but none scored.  Phil Klein (1.50 ERA) tended the 6th and 7th with one hit, two walks and one strikeout. 

Alex Buchholz (.273/.315/.429) hit his fifth homer.

Frisco needs four consecutive wins and the same number of losses by Corpus Christi just to tie for the first-half division title.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 3, Carolina (CLE) 1
Record: 37-28, +2.0, magic number 2

Jerad Eickhoff (3.52 ERA) declined to allow a run for the first time since mid-April.  In seven innings, Eickhoff yielded four hits and two walks while striking out four.  He's pitched seven or more innings in six of 13 starts, a major accomplishment at this level. 

3B Drew Robinson led a mild offensive attack with two walks and a single.  It's not enough to hang your hat on, but Robinson is hitting .281/.425/.469 in June, much more in tune with his 2012 Hickory season.  His OBP slipped under .300 at the very end of May.

Low-A: at Hickory 5, Delmarva (BAL) 4
Record: 38-29, +1.0, magic number 3

Joey Gallo hit his 21st homer, 15th double and 21st single.  In his last six games, Gallo is hitting .500/.545/1.545 with seven homers.  Ryan Rua hit his 19th homer and walked.  Three games before midseason, Hickory has an incomprehensible 101 homers and 704 strikeouts.  Ronald Guzman went 3-4 with a double, improving to .394/.444/.667 in ten games. 

Luis Parra (1.24 ERA) gave up a season-high seven hits in five innings but suffered only two runs.  Parra walked one and struck out two.  Cody Kendall earned his sixth save with a scoreless 8th and 9th.

Short-A:  Opening Day

23rd-overall selection Chi-Chi Gonzalez will start for short-season Spokane on Opening Day.  Yohander Mendez will make his stateside debut Saturday, followed by 2012 supplemental 1st rounder Collin Wiles.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
OF Jason Botts signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters.  (It's Nippon Ham, not Ham Fighters ,by the way.)  As for his former teammates, the Redhawks trailed 5-3 and had two on , none out and Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis and John Mayberry waiting to hit when rain ended the contest.  Present-day Hickory manager Corey Ragsdale homered in walk-off style for Frisco after reliever Andrew Laughter surrendered five runs in the 9th.  Bakersfield's Evan Reed surrendered a homer to then-catcher Pablo Sandoval, who would reach the Majors and hit well that very year.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: CJ Edwards
Short-A: Alex "Chi-Chi" Gonzalez

Sometime this season, I will almost certainly type "Chi-Chi Rodriguez."  Apologies in advance.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/12

I neglected to mention yesterday that Texas released RHP Carlos Melo, who with long-departed RHP Guillermo Moscoso was Texas's bounty in the Gerald Laird trade back in 2008.  Melo threw hard but never developed any control, topping out at low-A Hickory in five seasons.  Texas also released Casey Shiver, its 10th-rounder from last summer.  Shiver had posted a 2.22 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 24 innings in rookie ball as a 21-year-old.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Martin Perez, Joseph Ortiz / Mike Olt, Joey Butler
AA: Brett Nicholas, Alex Buchholz, Hanser Alberto
Hi-A: Luke Jackson, Joe Van Meter / Trever Adams, Edwin Garcia, Drew Robinson, Chris Grayson
Lo-A: Keone Kela / Nick Williams, Ryan Rua, Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara

AAA: at Round Rock 4, Albuquerque (LAD) 2
Record: 37-30, +1.0

Mike Olt went single, sac fly, walk, double, improving to .257/.341/.486 in ten clear-eyed AAA games. 

On 93 pitches, Martin Perez (2.10 ERA) walked none and struck out six, allowing an unearned run on eight hits.  Opponents are hitting .239/.297/.385 with a 23% strikeout rate against him in five AAA starts.  He's never pitched this well at this level for a significant length of time.  Alas, these games overlap his one very shaky MLB start.

In two scoreless innings, Joseph Ortiz gave up two singles and struck out six.  DH Joey Butler (.320/.405/.481) was 3-4. 

AA: at Frisco 5, Corpus Christi (HOU) 8
Record: 37-28, -3.0, elimination number 3

Frisco held George Springer reasonably in check but was hurt by an error and other miscues.  (Springer was minor-league baseball's leader in home runs until Joey Gallo's recent onslaught.)  After a Hanser Alberto error, starter Nick McBride hit a batter and allowed two two-out singles leading to three unearned runs.  McBride (9.00 ERA) walked three, struck out an impressive five and allowed two hits in his three innings.  Neither Arlett Mavare (2 IP, 3 R) not Richard Bleier (3 IP, 2 R) could stem the tide.

Alberto (.227/.260/.301) was 3-4 with a double, and 1B Brett Nicholas (.312/.381/.554) singled twice and walked.  3B Alex Buchholz (.273/.317/.413) followed last night's four hits with three more including a double. 

Realistically, if not technically, Frisco needs to win the other three games of its series against the division-leading Hooks to win the first-half title.  Silliness: 1) The league has split-season division champs, and Frisco's first half ends squarely in the middle of a four-game series vs. Midland; 2) If Frisco and Corpus tie for the first-half title, the tiebreaker is their first regularly scheduled second-half game, which will be June 20. 

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 5, Frederick (BAL) 1
Record: 36-28, +2.0, magic number 3

Luke Jackson (2.18 ERA) limited the Keys to two singles and a walk to his final batter in six-plus innings.  One unearned run scored after his departure.  Jackson struck out six.  Opponents are hitting .227/.324/.355 against him, very good but perhaps not quite as good as it sounds; the league average is just .253/.330/.383, and Myrtle Beach favors pitchers.  Joe Van Meter (2.29 ERA) fanned five in two scoreless innings. 

Connecting for a single and double were LF Trever Adams, SS Edwin Garcia and 3B Drew Robinson (.224/.314/.332).

Low-A: Hickory 3, at Hagerstown (WAS) 10 (7 innings)
Low-A: Hickory 5, at Hagerstown (WAS) 6 (9 innings)
Record: 37-29, +0.5, magic number 4

Hagerstown erupted for 36 baserunners in the doubleheader, perhaps the most critical coming on an error in the 9th innings of Game 2.  Jose Leclerc's errant throw on a sac bunt allowed the winning run to score all the way from 1st. 

Starter Tyler Smith (4 IP, 6 R, 3 BB, 2SO, 6.91 ERA) was the victim in the first game, and Sam Stafford (1 IP, 4 R) fueled the fire.  Nick Williams (.299/.321/.643) hit his 12th homer, Ryan Rua (.245/.356/.582) his 18th.  Williams was also hit by a pitch and Rua walked. 

In the latter game, Joey Gallo (.236/.331/.565) homered twice more to take command of the minors-wide home run lead at 20.  Nomar Mazara (.236/.327/.389) mashed his sixth homer, singled and walked.  Both deep flies came in the 1st, granting Hickory a temporary 3-0 lead.  Ryan Bores (4.41 ERA) gave up four runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.  Keone Kela also lasted 2.2, yielding one runs but stranding two in scoring position in the 3rd and fanning three.

So, Hickory departs Hagerstown as it came, leading the Suns by a fragile 0.5 games.  Hickory will make the long drive home to face 28-35 Delmarva, while Hagerstown hosts 25-38 Lakewood. At two games back, Pittsburgh-affiliated West Virginia can still sneak in. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas purchased the contract of RHP Eric Hurley and optioned Kam Loe.  Nelson Cruz hit his 20th homer for AAA, and Chris Davis clubbed his 17th between AA and AAA.  Frisco clinched a first-half title via a 15-0 pasting of the Hooks. 

Today's Starters
AAA: Evan Meek
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: Luis Parra

Good morning from Bahia San Lucas.

3B Joey Gallo hit three homers and a double in the first game of a doubleheader against Hagerstown.  Victimized by all but the final homer was 2009 unsigned Texas first-rounder Matt Purke.  Gallo (.235/.327/.548) and Houston's George Springer share the minor-league lead with 18.  Gallo also reached 100 strikeouts in the nightcap.  He's on pace for 39 homers and 219 strikeouts.

After announcing a partial squad two days ago, Spokane has topped off its roster with eight 2013 draft picks:
RHP Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez (1),
C Joe Jackson (5) from The Citadel,
RHP Sam Wolff (6) of New Mexico,
OF Ryan Cordell (11) from Liberty University,
C Marcus Greene (16) from New Mexico Junior College,
RHP Travis Dean (26) from Kennesaw State,
RHP Justin Sprenger (29) of Tennessee Wesleyan,
RHP John Straka (32) from North Dakota State.

I'll update my organization chart when I get back to Austin on Saturday.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/11

Stars of the Day
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Jimmy Reyes / Alex Buchholz, Tomas Telis
Hi-A: Victor Payano, Jon Edwards / Luis Sardinas, Chris Grayson
Lo-A: Frank Lopez, Alexander Claudio, Andrew Faulkner, Cody Kendall / Joey Gallo

AAA: at Round Rock 0, Albuquerque (LAD) 6
Record: 36-30, tied for 1st

I comment on this game only to fulfill my duty.  Brad Mills gave up two runs in six innings, but Ryan Rodebaugh's AAA debut needs a reboot: four runs on two doubles, three singles and an HBP in one inning.  Offense was negligible.

AA: Frisco 3, at Midland (OAK) 4
Record: 37-27, -2.0, elimination number 5

A tough loss.  Tied at two with two out and none on in the 5th, Midland strung together a pair of walks and singles for two runs.  Frisco also left the bases loaded in the 9th.  Kevin Pucetas (4.61 ERA) allowed four runs in six innings.  Jimmy Reyes (3.00 ERA) offered a scoreless 7th and 8th with a walk and strikeout.  Alex Buchholz was 4-4 with two runs and catcher Tomas Telis drove in three with two singles.

Frisco has seven All-Stars on the South Division squad: starting 2B Odubel Herrera and 1B Brett Nicholas, reserve IF Guilder Rodriguez and catcher Tomas Telis, and pitchers Carlos Pimentel, Neil Ramirez and Ben Rowen.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 5, Frederick (BAL) 4
Record: 35-28, +1.0, magic number 5

SS Luis Sardinas went 4-5 with a double, CF Chris Grayson tallied three singles, and 1B Joe Maloney singled and doubled.  Sardinas (.282/.330/.340) also stole his 19th base. 

Victor Payano (3.84 ERA) walked three in five innings but struck out six and allowed only two hits, so only two scored with him on the bump.  Jon Edwards (3.70 ERA) produced a scoreless 7th and 8th, while Randol Rojas (2.,76 ERA) earned his second save.

The Pelicans will have five All-Stars: 2B Rougned Odor (starting), SS Luis Sardinas, and pitchers Alec Asher, Luke Jackson and Nick Martinez.  The Carolina League doesn't play a self-contained game, instead locking horns with the California League, so making the team is quite a challenge. 

Low-A: Hickory 6, at Hagerstown (WAS) 2 (7 innings)
Low-A: Hickory 1, at Hagerstown (WAS) 0 (7 innings)
Record: 37-27, +2.5, magic number 4

Gallo stole the show, obviously.  Ryan Rua (.242/.350/.567) doubled and walked.  Frank Lopez (1.74 ERA) fanned eight in five innings and allowed a couple of runs on five hits and a walk.  Alexander Claudio (1.27) faced seven batters, recording a walk and six strikeouts.  The changeup specialist has an opposing line of .139/.173/.243 and a 38% strikeout rate.

Nick Williams (.306/.325/.646) tripled home DH Nick Vickerson (0-2, BB) for the second game's only run.  Even after last night, Williams has a higher isolated power than Gallo, but he's also drawn a total of four walks all season.

Andrew Faulkner (2.37 ERA) one-hit the Suns across five innings, walked two and struck out seven.  Cody Kendall (4.55 ERA) issued a rare walk but earned a two-inning save. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
I announced Spokane's roster.  The only position players still in the organization as hitters are OF Joey Butler and C Zach Zaneski.  Also around but converted to the mound are Johan Yan and Matt West (still recovering from Tommy John).   The pitching staff included Martin Perez, Neil Ramirez, Carlos Pimentel and Richard Bleier.  Contrasted to present-day Myrtle Beach, Texas's only high-A All-Star in 2008 was 2B Jose Vallejo.

Today's Starters
AAA: Martin Perez
AA: Nick McBride
Hi-A: Luke Jackson
Lo-A: Tyler Smith / Ryan Bores (tentative)

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/8

Greetings from Cabo San Lucas.

Texas has purchased the contract of RHP Kyle McClennan and DL'ed Michael Kirkman, who, sad to say, is suffering from a recurrence of skin cancer.  The Rangers say a full recovery is expected.  Also DL'ed (again) is Alexi Ogando, replaced by Josh Lindblom.

Stars of the Day
MLB: Ross Wolf
AAA: Yoshinori Tateyama, Cory Burns / Engel Beltre, Robinson Chirinos
AA: Carlos Pimentel / Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: Ryan Harvey / Trever Adams, Joe Maloney
Lo-A: Luis Parra / Nomar Mazara, Lewis Brinson, David Lyon

AAA (1): Round Rock 5, at Iowa (CHC) 8
AAA (2): Round Rock 4, at Iowa (CHC) 5
Record: 33-26, tied for first

Round Rock lost both ends of a rare day-night doubleheader.  In the opener, two Ian Stewart homers off Jake Brigham plated four.  Brigham (9.39 ERA) gave up one other hit and an additional run, walked four and struck out five in four innings.

A healthy Josh Lindblom was scratched from his Game 2 start.  Lisalverto Bonilla (6.17 ERA) was touched for five runs on eight hits and a walk in 3.1 innings.  The mercurial righty had performed admirably in his other spot start and really impressed in a three-inning stint a few days ago.  Yoshi Tateyama fanned four in 2.1 scoreless, and Cory Burns permitted no hits in a clean 7th and 8th.

Robinson Chirinos hit his fourth AAA homer and singled in the first game, while Engel Beltre went 4-5.  DH Mike Bianucci was 3-5 with a double in the night game.

RF Jared Hoying was 1-3 with a walk in his AAA debut.  Hoying stormed out of the gate in Frisco this season (.293/.363/.543 in April) before cooling off considerably leading up to his inaction because of a hamstring pull.  Mike Olt was 1-8 with two strikeouts on the day.

AA: Frisco 5, at Midland (OAK) 2
Record: 35-26, -3.0

Teodoro Martinez hit a three-run homer, his seventh.  Honestly, I would have expected around seven for the season from him.  Adding two singles were DH Brett Nicholas, catcher Tomas Telis, 2B Odubel Herrera and CF Ryan Strausborger. 

Carlos Pimentel (2.96 ERA) regained his early-season form and then some, pitching seven innings of one-hit ball, walking two and striking out six.  Pimentel has reached 80 strikeouts in just 70 innings.  More impressive, given his history, is the total of 21 walks. 

Ben Rowen earned a one-out save.  Ordinarily, I'm not especially interested in who's closing, just how they pitch, because the closer isn't necessarily the brightest relief prospect.  But Rowen's usage has been interesting.   He's entered the game to get just the final out three times in the last 12 days.  That's atypical, at least below AAA.  With the first half approaching its final week and a three-game hurdle to clear, Frisco appears to have shifted to a more win-oriented pitcher-usage strategy, and the man they trust is Rowen.  Since allowing a memorable grand slam plating three bequeathed by Cody Buckel, he's allowed 22 runners in 22.1 innings.  Opponents are hitting a meager .210/.282/.320 against him. 

High-A: Myrtle Beach 8, at Carolina (CLE) 4 (10 innings)
Record: 32-28, tied for first

The Pelicans recovered from a 4-1 deficit.  1B Trever Adams went 4-4 with his seventh homer, and DH Joe Maloney singled and doubled. 

Jerad Eickhoff (3.86 ERA) couldn't match his 11-K performance from earlier in the week, yielding four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings.  He struck out three.  Francisco Mendoza (2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 SO) and Ryan Harvey (2 IP, 1 H) stifled the Mudcats as the Pelican offense awakened.

Low-A: Hickory 5, at Greenville (BOS) 1
Record: 34-27, +0.5

Solo homers from Nomar Mazara (fifth) and Lewis Brinson (13th) led the way.  Mazara (.235/.325/.377) also walked.  Brinson singled and is hitting a cool .500 in June, boosting his line to .257/.328/.487).  Catcher David Lyon (.233/.320/.349) tripled and singled.  Hickory is hitting .316/.381/.578 as a team this month.

Luis Parra (0.75 ERA) walked four in five innings but permitted only two hits and no runs.  Aside from keeping their bats on their shoulders, Sally League hitters haven't figured him out yet (.191/.273/.281).

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas designated Elizardo Ramirez for assignment.  Ramirez had been added to the 40-man and active roster for a 2.2-inning, 9-run start that would be the last appearance of his Major League career.  Ramirez was a handy if unexciting starter/swingman for Texas's AAA squad during 2008-2010. 

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Frank Lopez
 

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/7

Excuse the brevity.  I'm a traveling man on no sleep.  I'll recap draft highlights tomorrow or Monday.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Martin Perez / Mike Bianucci
AA: Phil Klein
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter, Paul Schwendel / Jake Skole, Rougned Odor, Kevin Torres, Luis Sardinas
Lo-A: Joe Burns / Joe Maloney, Lewis Brinson, Nick Williams, Ronald Guzman, Nomar Mazara

AAA: Round Rock 3, at Iowa (CHC) 1
Record: 35-26, +1.0

Martin Perez walked four in six innings but yielded only one run and five hits while fanning four.  In four AAA starts, he's got a 2.63 ERA with very strong peripherals.  Cory Burns earned his 14th save with a 1-2-3 9th.

The Express scored three despite only five hits.  DH Mike Bianucci's first homer of the season plated two.  He'll see much more playing time with Chris McGuiness away.  Engel Beltre and Mike Olt were 0-4.

OF Jared Hoying, who'd been recuperating from a hamstring pull in Frisco, was activated and promoted to Round Rock.  He didn't take the field.

AA: Frisco 0, at San Antonio (SDG) 8
Record: 34-26, -3.0

Nick McBride (11.70 ERA) didn't walk anyone and struck out five in four innings, but eight hits led to three runs.  Phil Klein (1.77 ERA) struck out three in two scoreless, hitless innings.  Wilmer Font (1.50 ERA) fanned two in a perfect 8th, breaking a string of six games with at least one walk.  Justin Miller gave up three hits and a walk without retiring a batter.

Teodoro Martinez (.286/.341/.429) singled twice. 

High-A: Myrtle Beach 10, at Carolina (CLE) 1
Record: 31-28, tied for 1st

Myrtle Beach's long-dormant offense erupted for 21 baserunners.  19-year-old Rougned Odor fell a homer short of the cycle and walked to improve to .295/.366/.452.  Luis Sardinas contributed a single, double and his 17th steal.  CF Jake Skole (.196/.299/.266) walked twice and doubled, as did 1B Kevin Torres.  Preston Beck (.221/.313/.300) doubled and singled.

Joe Van Meter (2.41 ERA) shut out the Mudcats for five frames on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts.  Paul Schwendel followed with four innings of one-hit, one-run ball.

Low-A: Hickory 8, at Greenville (BOS) 17 (completion of game suspended 5/22)
Low-A: Hickory 5, at Greenville (BOS) 10
Record: 33-27, -0.5

Tyler Smith lost two games last night.  In the completion of the long-suspended contest (itself delayed by rain), Cody Kendall immediately surrendered a double that brought home three runners belonging to Smith, who had pitched the first 2.2 innings back in May.  Jose Valdespina (2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 7.04 ERA) was similarly bullied, while Joe Burns maintained decency in the final two innings by fanning three and preventing further damage.

Current Pelican Joe Maloney had a three-run homer before the suspension.  Nick Williams doubled a mashed his eighth homer, and CF Lewis Brinson added a solo shot, his 11th. 

More rain pushed the regularly scheduled game to 10:18 PM.  Ronald Guzman (.294/.368/.647 in five games) hit his second homer.  Hickory also belted six doubles including two by Nomar Mazara (.234/.322/.363), who has made slow, steady progress during the season.  Joey Gallo singled and doubled.

Smith's ERA ballooned to 6.75 after Greenville pined another seven runs on him in 3.1 innings.  Smith allowed six hits and two walks while striking out three.  Jose LeClerc (5.40 ERA) also suffered, yielding five runners and three runs in just 1.2 innings. 

Hickory DL'ed RHP Connor Sadzeck with a shoulder issue.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Eric Hurley (5.30 ERA, 1.54 WHIP) gave up two runs in 6.2 innings and struck out seven.  His next start would be for the Rangers.  Oklahoma lost in the 10th on three walks and a Chris Davis error.  Davis's two-run single accounted for all of his squad's runs.

Today's Starters
AAA: Brigham / Lindblom
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: Luis Parra

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/6

Per multiple sources, first-rounder Travis Demeritte has said he will skip college to sign with the Rangers.  No deal is in place yet.  For now, he's a shortstop.  

As for me, some travel might make my coverage a little erratic over the next week, so please bear with me.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Brad Mills, Yoshinori Tateyama / Engel Beltre, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Kevin Pucetas / Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: Victor Payano / Rougned Odor, Chris Grayson
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner / The Offense

AAA: Round Rock 6, at Iowa (CHC) 0
Record: 32-26, -1.0

Mike Olt was hitless with a walk and two strikeouts.  He's 8-for-24 with two doubles, two homers, two walks and 11 strikeouts (.333/.385/.667) since returning.

Homering for the second time in June after two dry months was Engel Beltre (.282/.340/.372), who also drew threw walks.  With eight more free passes, Beltre will surpass his previous high of 28 set in Frisco in 2011.  SS Yangervis Solarte also homered for the 8th time, and catcher Robinson Chirinos (.282/.384/.444) was 2-4 with a walk.

Brad Mills (2.87 ERA) limited the CUbs to a hit and two walks in five innings.  Yoshinori Tateyama (2.2 IP, 2 SO) and Nate Robertson (1. IP, 2 SO) handled the rest.

AA: Frisco 3, at San Antonio (SDG) 2
Record: 34-25, -2.0

LF Teodoro Martinez doubled, walked and stole his 13th base.  1B Brett Nicholas singled twice, the only Rider with two hits.

SS Hanser Alberto was ejected in the 4th.  When Alejandro Selen, who had moved from RF to second base, was removed in the 7th, Frisco abandoned its DH.  In the 9th, reliever Ryan Rodebaugh appeared as a pinch hitter and reached on an error.

Kevin Pucetas gave up two runs in six innings.  Ben Rowen (0.64 ERA) worked around a hit and walk for his seventh save.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 5, Potomac (WAS) 5 (suspended)
Record: 30-28, tied for 1st

Rain halted play after Luis Sardinas singled home Edwin Garcia with two out in the 9th to tie the game.  A continuation date hasn't been set.  The league uses a split-season format, but the teams aren't scheduled to meet again until the second half.  

Myrtle Beach's single-heavy attack included two hits and walk from Rougned Odor (.288/.358/.434) and a single and double from CF Chris Grayson (.229/.314/.355).  Odor also stole his 15th base.   He has a chance to reach last year's 19 by the halfway point.  The Pelicans are hitting .194/.257/.263 in June.

Fresh off the DL, Victor Payano (3.86 ERA) held Potomac scoreless for five innings on three hits, three walks and six strikeouts.  Jose Monegro (1 IP, 2-run HR) and Jon Edwards (1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) couldn't maintain what was a 3-0 lead entering the 6th.

Low-A: at Hickory 15, Lakewood (PHI) 4
Record: 33-25, +1.0

Hickory blasted yet another four homers, including two by 2B Ryan Rua, who leads (along with Houston's George Springer) the minor leagues with 17.  Rua (.247/.361/.598) also singled, was hit by a pitch and drove in six to raise his RBI total to 50.  In 126 lower-level games during 2011-2012, Rua hit 11 homers.

Also homering were youngsters LF Nick Williams (his 10th) and SS Luis Marte (3rd), who added a single and plated five.  Williams is batting .302, the only teenager whose contact has matched his power so far.  Mired in a lengthy slump, Joey Gallo (.214/.316/.485) singled and doubled.  1B Nick Vickerson singled and drew four walks, and catcher Jorge Alfaro was 3-5 with a double.  DH Ronald Guzman singled twice and walked.  CF Lewis Brinson walked twice and singled.

Andrew Faulkner (2.84 ERA) surrendered a two-run homer to Philly catcher Justin Dalles and five other hits and a walk in seven innings while striking out eight.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The Rangers took the modest step of designating Sidney Ponson for assignment because casting him adrift at sea would violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Matt Harrison's AAA debut: four runs in 5.1 innings with eight hits, two walks and two strikeouts.  Joaquin Arias (.280/.303/.357) homered for the first time since August 2006.  In AA, Tommy Hunter permitted only two runs in seven innings with three walks and two strikeouts.

Michael Kirkman was activated at Clinton.  June 2008 was the beginning of his slow rehabilitation following two years essentially lost to injury, wildness and lack of confidence.

Today's Starters
AAA: Martin Perez
AA: Nick McBride
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter
Lo-A: Tyler Smith

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/4

Stars of the Day
AAA: Mike Olt, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Tyler Tufts / Tomas Telis
Hi-A: Francisco Mendoza / Trever Adams, Drew Robinson
Lo-A: Frank Lopez / Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams

AAA: at Round Rock 6, Nashville (MIL) 2
Record: 33-26, tied for 1st

Mike Olt hammered a 1-0 fastball to center for his second AAA homer.  He drew a nine-pitch walk in his next appearance and then struck out twice.  If, hypothetically, Nelson Cruz were suspended today and said "I wholeheartedly accept MLB's investigation, witness affidavits and punishment at face value," I don't think Texas would be inclined to recall Olt immediately.  While I'm optimistic about his situation,  Olt could use some minor-league seasoning to insure his timing and confidence are fully recovered. 

Yangervis Solarte also homered for the seventh time.  Solarte has recovered from a soft April and his hitting .303/.346/.443, fairly close to last year's line.  DH Mike Bianucci doubled and walked.  Batting .136/.240/.227, Bianucci is trying to get on track after missing the first six weeks of the season.

Ryan Feierabend (4.02 ERA) gave up two runs in five innings.  Jake Brigham, Kyle McClellan and Johan Yan tossed scoreless innings.

AA: Frisco 1, at San Antonio (SDG) 2
Record: 32-25, -4.0

Tomas Telis (.242/.268/.318) clubbed his first homer of the year and singled.  Although never expected to display above-average over-the-fence power, Telis did hit 11 homers and slug .430 as a Crawdad in 2011.

Justin Miller threw a 1-2-3 8th with one strikeout.  Tyler Tufts (4.08 ERA) one-hit the Missions over five innings while walking and fanning one.  An error and passed ball contributed to both  San Antonio runs in the 7th against Richard Bleier (1 IP, 3 H, 3 SO).  Phil Klein gave up a single and three walks in the 6th but no runs. 

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 2, Potomac (WAS) 9
Record: 30-27, +0.5

The Pelicans have lost of 11 of 12 by an aggregate score of 64-27.  Luis Sardinas' two-out error in the 4th plated two, and a subsequent single scored another.  Alec Asher (2.83 ERA) was atypically hittable, allowing more safeties (5) than innings pitched (3.2) for only his third start this season.  Asher walked two, struck six and permitted one earned run along with three of the unearned variety. 

Only two of ten batters put the ball in play against Francisco Mendoza (5.52 ERA), who fanned five and walked three in 2.1 scoreless innings.

3B Drew Robinson (.217/.300/.328) singled and doubled, and 1B Trever Adams (.243/.322/.386) reached on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.  Five hitless games have dropped catcher Kellin Deglan to .191/.290/.411.

Low-A: at Hickory 4, Lakewood (PHI) 1
Record: 31-25, -1.0

In his first full-season game, 19-year-old Aliangel Frank Lopez took a no-hitter into the 6th.  He departed with a single hit, two walks and six strikeouts on his ledger, and eventually, an unearned run.  Alex Claudio earned a carefree two-inning save, his ninth.  Lopez and Claudio successfully split pitching duties in the rookie-league championship game last August.

Jorge Alfaro (.247/.333/.478) hit his 10th homer, double last year's total in 23 fewer games.   Better still, Alfaro has already easily surpassed last year's activity  at catcher.  Hamstring troubles limited him to a paltry 29 games behind the dish.  This year, he's on pace for  100. 

LF Nick Williams doubled twice.   While possessed of more-than ample power, Williams (.296/.322/.583) had only one double entering the game.  He would've been an All Star if not for missing a full month with a strain.

1B Ronald Guzman was 0-3 with a strikeout in his belated 2013 debut.  Guzman's last at-bat resulted in a warning-track fly to center.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
In Bakersfield, a magnificent pitcher’s duel between Kasey Kiker and Oakland’s Trevor Cahill produced a scoreless game until the 8th. Kiker tossed seven scoreless innings, allowed just three hits and a walk and struck out six. Cahill entered the 3rd after a rehab appearance by Andrew Brown and fanned 12 in six innings. 

The 20-year-old Cahill, taken 66th overall in 2006, would finish 2008 in AA Midland and begin 2009 in Oakland's rotation.  Kiker, selected 12th overall the same year, never reached AAA and was out of baseball by his 25th birthday.

Minnesota grabbed OF Joe Benson two places prior to Cahill.  Benson is day-to-day with a groin pull, by the way.  He hasn't been DL'ed.

Today's Starters
AAA: off
AA: Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Neil Martinez
Lo-A: Ryan Bores