By Cory Giger, Altoona Mirror

ALTOONA, Pa.—Stephen Strasburg's minor league debut turned into a major spectacle for both the 21-year-old phenom and the Altoona Curve franchise.

More than 70 media members showed up Sunday afternoon at Blair County Ballpark to see Strasburg start for Double-A Harrisburg. The rest of the nation, meanwhile, got a chance to watch his performance live on ESPNews, making it one of the biggest events in Altoona sports history.

"Great atmosphere," Strasburg said of the experience. "It's just an amazing feeling to have your first outing in front of a sellout crowd and all the attention and everything.

"It made it seem like this was one of the biggest games of my life, when it was actually the fourth game of the season." [...] Continue Reading »

Rays minor leaguer Darin Downs is in serious but stable condition in a Birmingham, Ala., hospital after being struck in the head by a batted ball Monday night.

Downs, 24, has a cracked skull, brain swelling and some facial paralysis, according to a source. He’s in intensive care at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. He was struck in the head in the fifth inning of his start for Double-A Montgomery, facing host Birmingham. With runners on first and second, Christian Marrero hit a liner back through the box that struck Downs in the head; the force of the carom sent the ball into the Birmingham dugout, and the play was ruled a run-scoring ground-rule double.

Downs was expected to have surgery to repair of of the damage once the swelling goes down somewhat, but he had not had surgery as of Monday afternoon.

Downs was having his best season, making his second start at Double-A after going 12-4, 2.00 at high Class A Charlotte in the Florida State League.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Arkansas 11, Frisco 3 (Arkansas won the best-of-5 series 3-2)

The Arkansas Travelers put up four runs in the top of the third inning last night against Frisco righthander Neftali Feliz. Feliz was pulled from the game, but the Rough Riders couldn’t get back into it and the Travelers put up seven more runs in the top of the sixth to seal the deal and become Texas League champions. Their .443 regular-season winning percentage is the lowest in Texas League history for a championship team. Left fielder Brian Stavinsky, shortstop Wilberto Ortiz and center fielder Coby Smith drove in two runs apiece for the Travelers. The championship is the first for Arkansas since 2001 when the team was declared league champions after the playoffs were cancelled because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
 

EASTERN LEAGUE

Trenton 5, Akron 1 (Trenton won the best-of-5 series 3-1)

After being rained out on Friday night, Trenton won 4-1 on Saturday and then 5-1 yesterday for the Eastern League championship. Trenton scored the five runs despite the fact that no one had an extra-base hit. Left fielder Colin Curtis was the only player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. Thunder righthander Jeff Marquez gave up one run on five hits over six innings with three walks and five strikeouts for the win, lowering his postseason ERA to 3.27. The win gives Trenton back-to-back Eastern League championships and center fielder Austin Jackson was named MVP of the EL playoiffs. With the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees winning the International League title, Yankees affiliates won championships at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. The last time this happened was in 1993 when the Astros’ top two affiliates—Triple-A Tucson (Pacific Coast) and Double-A Jackson (Texas)—won their leagues.
[...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Carolina 9, Mississippi 3 (Carolina leads the best-of-5 series 2-1)

Mudcats righthander Brett Sinkbeil pitched well for Carolina, striking out five over six scoreless innings and allowing just two hits and two walks. But it was the Mudcats’ bats that really came alive this game. Everyone in the lineup had at least one hit as Carolina combined for nine runs on 16 hits. First baseman Gaby Sanchez went 3-for-5 with a home run, left fielder John Raynor went 2-for-4 with two doubles and Sinkbeil even helped himself out, getting as many base hits as he allowed, in a 2-for-3 night at the plate. A lot of the damage came off of Braves righthander Tommy Hanson. After a solid season, Hanson got roughed up last night, giving up four runs on nine hits over six innings.
 

EASTERN LEAGUE

Akron 13, Trenton 10 (Best-of-5 series is tied 1-1)

After a low-scoring first game, both teams had the lumber ringing in game two. With a combined 27 hits, 23 runs, 13 walks, five errors and two hit batters, the game took more than four hours to complete. The game was tied at six after seven innings, but Akron exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth, bringing 12 batters to the plate. Trenton came back to score four in the top of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough and now the series is knotted up at one game each. Right fielder Bronson Sardinha had a great night at the plate for the Aeros, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Trenton center fielder Austin Jackson had a solid night at the plate as well, going 3-for-6 with two doubles.
[...] Continue Reading »

EASTERN LEAGUE

Trenton 3, Akron 1 (Trenton leads the best-of-5 series 1-0)

Trenton first baseman Chris Malec led the offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs as the Thunder edged the Aeros, 3-1. Shortstop Ramiro Pena and catcher Francisco Cervelli also had good games at the plate—Pena went 3-for-5 and Cervelli went 2-for-4. Trenton righthander Eric Hacker wasn’t dominant, in that he didn’t strike anyone out over his six-inning stint. But he did hold Trenton to one run on three hits. Aeros first baseman Stephen Head got three of the team’s four hits.
[...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Mississippi 5, Carolina 4 in 10 innings (Mississippi leads the best-of-5 series 1-0)

Carolina got out to an early lead, scoring in the first inning and then adding on in the third and fourth. After four, the Mudcats were winning, 4-1, but Mississippi kept fighting, putting runs on the board in the fifth, sixth and eighth—on a solo home run by first baseman Kala Ka’aihue—to tie the game. In the top of the 10th, Braves third baseman Van Pope drew a two-out walk and then scored when catcher J.C. Boscan hit a double. Carolina went down in order in the bottom of the 10th, which was just the third time all game the team didn’t put a runner on base. The prospects in this game played well. Braves center fielder Jordan Schafer went 3-for-5 with two doubles, Mudcats first baseman Gaby Sanchez went 4-for-5 with a double, Mudcats center fielder Cameron Maybin went 2-for-4 with a double and Mudcats second baseman Chris Coghlan went 1-for-4 with a double.
 

EASTERN LEAGUE

On Friday, Trenton won the best-of-5 series against Portland, 3-0

With their backs against the wall, Portland held a 4-3 lead going into the eighth inning of Friday’s game, but Trenton quickly squashed their hopes of crawling back into the series by tying the game in the eighth and then winning it in the ninth. Portland pitchers didn’t help themselves out—they walked seven batters and hit three more.

On Saturday, Akron won the best-of-5 series against Bowie, 3-1

Akron got some help in the middle of their order from a rehabbing Travis Hafner, who hit behind left fielder Matt LaPorta. Hafner hit home runs on Friday and Saturday, helping the Aeros advance to the Eastern League championship series. [...] Continue Reading »

EASTERN LEAGUE

Trenton 4, Portland 3 (Trenton leads best-of-5 series 2-0)

Through the first five frames of the game, Portland righthander Clay Buchholz (Red Sox) was dominating Trenton’s lineup, giving up just two hits and striking out nine. In the bottom of the sixth, however, Trenton center fielder Austin Jackson (Yankees) came up huge with his first hit of the series—a game-tying three-run home run. Trenton scratched out another run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. The series now heads to Portland with the Sea Dogs up against the ropes.
 
Bowie 11, Akron 3 (The best-of-5 series is tied 1-1)

Bowie right fielder Nolan Reimold chose a good night for the first three-homer game of his professional career. The Orioles’ second-round pick in the 2005 draft went nuts, going 4-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBIs. After hitting 25 in the regular season, Reimold now has four home runs in the playoffs. Bowie scored in all but two innings, putting 11 runs on the board to tie the series at one game apiece. [...] Continue Reading »

EASTERN LEAGUE

Portland 1, Trenton 2 (Trenton leads best-of-5 series 1-0)

Trenton’s runs came without any extra-base hits. Their first run, in the bottom of the first inning, came as the result of a throwing error, one of two Portland made in the game. The Sea Dogs tied it up in the top of the second, but Trenton scored again in the bottom of the fourth in what turned out to be the last run scored all day. Trenton’s pitching was lights-out. Starter Eric Hacker went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six for the win. Lefthander Michael Dunn threw a scoreless inning and Jhonny Nunez threw 2 1/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts for the save.

[...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

The Dodgers aggressively promoted left fielder Andrew Lambo from low Class A to Double-A Jacksonville earlier this month, making the 20-year-old one of the youngest players in Double-A. Don’t get too excited about just four games, but yesterday’s game was a good one for Lambo, who went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and six RBIs. Lambo also helped the Suns’ run prevention by throwing out a runner at home plate.

Prospect Nuggets

Mobile outfielder Gerardo Parra (Diamondbacks) went 3-for-3 with two walks, a double and had an outfield assist at first base, though he also committed a throwing error … Jacksonville shortstop Ivan DeJesus helped Lambo and the Suns by going 3-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 21 games. But it was a rough night in the field for the 21-year-old DeJesus, who had two throwing errors and made another error missing a catch … Huntsville righthander Jeremy Jeffress (Brewers) didn’t last long last night, leaving after recording just two outs. Jeffress issued only one walk, but he gave up six hits and six runs.

[...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Righthander Kris Medlen (Braves) helped Mississippi clinch the second-half title in the SL’s South Division with a victory yesterday at home over visiting Mobile (DIamondbacks). Medlen struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings, walked one and gave up five hits. In 120 1/3 innings, Medlen has a 3.52 ERA with 120 strikeouts and 27 walks.

Prospect Nuggets

There are still some questions about his receiving skills, but West Tenn catcher Adam Moore’s (Mariners) season at the plate has been oustanding. The 24-year-old boosted his slash stats to .316/.394/.505 in 116 games yesterday by going 2-for-3 with a double and a homer, his 14th of the season … Jacksonville shortstop Ivan De Jesus (Dodgers) went 3-for-5 and hit a home run, his sixth of the year … Huntsville catcher Angel Salome (Brewers) went 2-for-3 and homered off Carolina righy Brett Sinkbeil (Marlins) … Huntsville righthander Alex Periard (Brewers) has solid stuff, though the 21-year-old is having an adjustment period getting used to Double-A. Yesterday Periard was excellent, throwing six shutout innings with two hits, no walks and five strikeouts against Carolina.

[...] Continue Reading »

Elvis Andrus continued his great second half with two hits on his birthday, Jeremy Hellickson continued to rack up the strikeouts and Nolan Reimold continued to do everything he can do to get out of Double-A.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

With his youth, feel for the game and short, quick swing, Elvis Andrus’ (Rangers) second-half surge should come as little surprise. The Frisco shortstop hit .277/.335/.335 before the all-star break, but has surged since then, batting .322/.373/.421 after the break. Andrus celebrated his birthday yesterday, going 2-for-5 to bring his line up to .298/.353/.375 on the year. The game was Andrus’ 13th straight game with a hit, and his fourth straight game with at least two hits.

Prospect Nuggets

Allen Craig (Cardinals) returned to the Springfield lineup, but with 2008 first-round pick Brett Wallace now in Springfield as well, there’s only room for one of them to play third base. So Wallace stayed at third base, while Craig took his glove to left field. Craig went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk … Craig and the Cardinals went up against Tulsa righthander Brandon Hynick (Rockies), who stymied the Springfield offense. Hynick tossed seven shutout innings, allowed three hits and one walk and struck out four.

[...] Continue Reading »

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

After taking the top spot on last week’s Prospect Hot Sheet, San Antonio first baseman Kyle Blanks (Padres) is getting his resume ready for this week’s version. Yesterday’s game at Corpus Christi could be enough alone to get Blanks’ name on there, as he went 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles and nine RBIs. Blanks’ 18th home run helped tip the 21-year-old’s slugging average over .500, putting him at .318/.397/.503 on the season.

Prospect Nuggets

It’s getting repetitive to say, but Frisco shortstop Elvis Andrus is tearing up the TL in the second half. Yesterday Andrus went 2-for-4, drew a walk and stole a base, his 51st of the year. At least we can start writing something new about Andrus: he turned 20 today … While Blanks and the Missions were busy thrashing Corpus Christi, Hooks center fielder Brian Bogusevic (Astros) continued his conversion from pitcher to hitter. Bogusevic went 2-for-3 with a walk, putting his batting line at .368/.455/.557 in 38 Double-A games with 16 walks and 20 strikeouts. Bogusevic has also shown acumen on the basepaths, swiping eight bags in nine attempts on the year … Midland shortstop Adrian Cardenas (Athletics) continues to hit at the bottom of the lineup and continues to hit well, going 1-for-2 and drawing two walks yesterday.

[...] Continue Reading »

There are prospects in every Double-A league with some helium, but Brett Wallace stole the show yesterday with two home runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Brett Wallace (Cardinals) has just 46 games of professional experience after being a first-round draft pick in June, but he’s already ascended to Double-A Springfield. The Cardinals look smart for pushing him so quickly. After hitting .327/.418/.490 in 41 games with low Class A Quad Cities in the Midwest League, Wallace skipped over high Class A Springfield to join Springfield. Yesterday in his fifth game with Springfield, Wallace went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs, including the game-winner in a 5-5 game in the bottom of the ninth. Wallace has a hit in all five of his Double-A games so far, going 9-for-20 with two home runs, three doubles and three hit-by-pitches.

Prospect Nuggets

Looking for a Texas League prospect with some helium? Springfield outfielder Daryl Jones destroyed the high Class A Florida State League and is now doing the same to TL pitchers. Jones, 21, went 3-for-5 with a home run out of the leadoff slot yesterday, bringing his Double-A line to .338/.467/.583 in 28 games … Frisco shortstop Elvis Andrus turns 20 tomorrow, but he’s making the most of his teenage years. Yesterday he went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a steal, his 50th of the year. Thanks to an excellent second half, Andrus is batting .295/.350.374 in 110 games this season … On the mound for Frisco, righthander Neftali Feliz allowed two runs in five innings, walked two and struck out three … Northwest Arkansas righthander Dan Cortes (Royals) struck out four and limited Tulsa to one run in six innings, though he did walk four … For Tulsa, righthander Chaz Roe (Rockie) struck out seven in seven innings, holding the Naturals to two runs. Roe walked two and allowed seven hits. [...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Gerardo Parra (Diamondbacks) has struggled since his promotion from high Class A Visalia to Double-A Mobile, but the 21-year-old has shown flashes of his potential. Yesterday’s power surge was an encouraging sign, as Parra went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.

Prospect Nuggets

Jacksonville shortstop Ivan DeJesus (Dodgers) singled to extend his hitting streak to 15 games … Chattanooga shortstop Chris Valaika (Reds) went 2-for-4 and hit his 10th Double-A home run and his 17th on the season … Lefthander Donald Veal (Cubs) pitched well for Tennessee, striking out eight with just one walk, four hits allowed and one run allowed in seven innings.

What To Watch For Today

Righthander Tommy Hanson (Braves) pitches tonight for Mississippi at Carolina, which sends righty Brett Sinkbeil (Marlins) to the mound.

[...] Continue Reading »

Kyle Blanks capped his big night with a walk-off home run, Tyler Colvin beefed up his resume for Friday’s Prospect Hot Sheet and Chris Tillman is making the Orioles look smarter every day.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

San Antonio edged out Frisco 14-12 yesterday, with a big contribution from first baseman Kyle Blanks (Padres). Blanks went 5-for-7, smashed two home runs and a double and drove in six runs. His second home run came in the 12th inning, giving the Missions the walk-off win. The two home runs give Blanks 17 on the year, and he’s now hitting .316/.396/.499 in 120 games. And Blanks is still just 21.

Prospect Nuggets

Frisco center fielder Julio Borbon (Rangers) went 2-for-6 with a walk, then stole three bases. Between Frisco and high Class A Bakersfield, Borbon has 49 steals in 65 attempts (75.4 percent) … Midland shortstop Adrian Cardenas chipped in two hits in five at-bats, including a double. Cardenas has been hitting at the bottom of the order for the Rock Hounds, though in 14 games he’s hitting a nice .353/.421/.412.

What To Watch For Today

Righthander Brandon Hynick (Rockies) pitches tonight for Tulsa.

[...] Continue Reading »

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Aaron Poreda hasn’t overwhelmed hitters in his first full pro season, but he throws hard, he throws strikes, and he’s pitched very well in the last month. That could lead to a big league promotion for the White Sox’ stretch run, but for now Poreda will have to settle for shutting down Southern League hitters, which he’s done quite well lately. Yesterday Poreda shut down a strong Huntsville lineup, going six innings and allowing just one run, which was unearned. Poreda walked two and struck out six, lowering his ERA with Birmingham to 3.17 in 76 2/3 innings with 21 walks and 62 strikeouts. Poreda, 21, began the year in high Class A Winston-Salem, where he had a 3.31 ERA in 73 1/3 innings with a 46-18 K-BB mark. In each of his last five starts, Poreda has not allowed more than three earned runs in one outing.

[...] Continue Reading »

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Daryl Jones didn’t make the Cardinals Top 30 prospects list entering the season, but he figures to rank prominently at the conclusion of the season. Jones, 21, began the season with high Class A Palm Beach and hit .320/.399/.463 in 300 at-bats before his promotion to Double-A Springfield. Success has continued in the Texas League for Jones, who went 2-for-4 with a home run yesterday to bring his Double-A batting line to .294/.478/.515 in 22 games.

Prospect Nuggets

Lefthander Derek Holland’s (Rangers) ascent in prospect status continued yesterday. The Frisco righthander allowed just one run and three hits in six innings yesterday, walking one and striking out seven. Holland, 21, began the year in the low Class A Midwest League before promotions to high Class A and Double-A. Between the three levels, Holland has a composite 2.40 ERA in 138 2/3 innings with 145 strikeouts and 36 walks … Tulsa shortstop Chris Nelson (Rockies) with a double, a walk and a stolen base … Left fielder Chad Huffman had a another big night for San Antonio, as the 24-year-old went 3-for-5 and clocked his 30th double.

What To Watch For Today

Righthander Dan Cortes (Royals) starts tonight for Northwest Arkansas.

[...] Continue Reading »