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Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 12

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Vic Willis (1876)
Addie Joss (1880)
Bill Bailey (1888)
Eric McNair (1909)
Bill Wight (1922)
Bob Zuk (1927)
Johnny Antonelli (1930)
Terry Cooney (1933)
Charlie Lau (1933)
Woodie Fryman (1940)
Vicente Romo (1943)
Terry Harmon (1944)
Mike Macfarlane (1964)
Paul LoDuca (1972)
Antonio Osuna (1973)
Brad Brach (1986)
Pedro Hernandez (1989)
Dennis Santana (1996)

Bob Zuk was a long-time scout who was responsible for signing, among others, Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell, and Gary Carter.

Terry Cooney was an American League umpire from 1975-1992.

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Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 10

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IOWA CUBS 4, ST. PAUL SAINTS 1 IN ST. PAUL

Patrick Wisdom hit a three-run homer in the fifth to break a scoreless tie.

Multi-hit games:  Chris Williams was 2-for-4 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. (4).

Pitching prowess:  Matt Bowman struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Ryan Jensen struck out three in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.

Opposition standout:  Thomas Pannone struck out six in five innings, giving up one run on three hits and two walks.

Record:  St. Paul is 5-5, tied for fifth with Nashville, 1.5 games behind Iowa and Omaha.

WICHITA AT SPRINGFIELD

Rained out.  Will be made up Friday as part of a doubleheader.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 11, DAYTON DRAGONS 2 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Leading 3-2, Cedar Rapids scored five in the seventh and three in the eighth.  Rubel Cespedes hit a three-run homer in the seventh.

Multi-hit games:  Cespedes was 4-for-5 with a home run and seven RBIs.  Danny De Andrade was 3-for-4.  Ricardo Olivar was 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, and four runs.  Luke Keaschall was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs.  Keoni Cavaco was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.

Home runs:  Cespedes (2).

Multi-RBI games:  Cespedes,7.

Stolen bases:  De Andrade (1).

Pitching prowess:  Zebby Matthews struck out eight in five innings, giving up one run on four hits.  A. J. Labas struck out three in 1.2 innings, giving up an unearned run on two hits.  Ricardo Velez struck out three in 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits.  Miguelangel Boadas struck out two in a scoreless inning.  Kernels pitchers recorded sixteen strikeouts.

Opposition standout:  Hector Rodriguez was 3-for-4.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 1-3, in fifth place, 2.5 games behind Wisconsin.

CLEARWATER THRESHERS 8, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 7 IN CLEARWATER

Fort Myers scored five in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead.  It was 7-5 going to the bottom of the eighth, but Clearwater scored three to win the game.  Trent Farquhar singled home the deciding run.

Multi-hit games:  Maddux Houghton was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.  Angel Del Rosario was 2-for-4.

Home runs:  Houghton (1), Brandon Winokur (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Houghton, 4.  Winokur, 2.

Stolen bases:  Houghton (1), Rayne Doncon (1).

Pitching prowess:  Wilker Reyes struck out three and walked two in two shutout innings.

Opposition standout:  Farquhar was 4-for-5 with a triple, a double, two runs, and two RBIs.

Record:  Fort Myers is 3-2, tied for second with Clearwater and Lakeland, one game behind Dunedin.

TODAY'S TILTS

5:30  Fort Myers (Ross Dunn, 0-0, 2.25) at Clearwater
6:35  Dayton at Cedar Rapids (Andrew Morris, 0-0, 0.00)
6:35  Wichita (Jarret Whorff) at Springfield
6:37  Iowa at St. Paul (David Festa, 0-0, 1.59)

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 11

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Pop Corkhill (1858)
Ossee Schrecongost (1875)
Matsutaro Shoriki (1885)
Sam Chapman (1916)
Barney McCosky (1917)
Jim Hearn (1921)
Bob Casey (1925)
Sid Monge (1951)
Bret Saberhagen (1964)
Turner Ward (1965)
Sean Bergman (1970)
Robin Jennings (1972)
Jason Varitek (1972)
Trot Nixon (1974)
Todd Dunwoody (1975)
Kelvim Escobar (1976)
Mark Teixeira (1980)
Andres Blanco (1984)
Alejandro De Aza (1984)
Kenta Maeda (1988)

Matustaro Shoriki is known as the father of Japanese baseball.

Bob Casey was the Twins' public address announcer from 1961 until his death in March of 2005.

Jason Varitek was drafted by the Twins in the first round in 1993, but did not sign.

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Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 9

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IOWA CUBS 9, ST. PAUL SAINTS 7 IN ST. PAUL

Iowa hit three homers in the second to build a 6-0 lead.  St. Paul cut it to 6-4 in the fourth, but Iowa scored three more in the fifth.

Multi-hit games:  Jair Camargo was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two runs, and four RBIs.  Michael Helman was 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs.

Home runs:  Helman (1), Camargo (2), Luis Severino (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Camargo, 4.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Caleb Thielbar pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out one.  Josh Staumont pitched a scoreless inning, walking one.  Ronny Henriquez struck out two in two perfect innings.

Opposition standout:  Luis Vasquez was 3-for-3 with two home runs, a walk, and three RBIs.

Record:  St. Paul is 5-4, in fourth place, a half-game behind Gwinnett, Iowa, and Omaha.

SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS 6, WICHITA WIND SURGE 2 IN WICHITA

The Cardinals scored three in the sixth, two on a Lars Nootbaar single, to take a 6-2 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Emmanuel Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

Home runs:  Rodriguez (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Rodriguez, 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Taylor Floyd pitched a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Brandon Komar struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up two hits.

Record:  Wichita is 1-3, tied for third, three games behind Springfield.

DAYTON DRAGONS 7, CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Dayton scored four in the third, two on a Hector Rodriguez triple, to take a 5-1 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Rubel Cespedes was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Home runs:  Cespedes (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Cespedes, 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Jack Noble pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up walking one and striking out one.  Gabriel Yanez struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Juan Mendez pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Rodriguez was 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 0-3, in sixth (last) place, 2.5 games behind Wisconsin.

FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 5, CLEARWATER THRESHERS 4 IN CLEARWATER

Rayne Doncon's sacrifice fly in the eighth broke a 4-4 tie.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Doncon, 2; Brandon Winokur, 2.

Stolen bases:  Angel Del Rosario, 2 (2).

Pitching prowess:  Danny Moreno struck out two in two shutout innings, giving up two hits.  Kade Bragg pitched a perfect inning and struck out one.

Opposition standout:  Otto Kemp was 2-for-3 with a triple.

Record:  Fort Myers is 3-1, tied for first with Dunedin.

TODAY'S TILTS

5:30  Fort Myers (Ty Langenberg) at Clearwater
6:35  Dayton at Cedar Rapids (Zebby Matthews)
6:35  Wichita (Jarret Whorff) at Springfield
6:37  Iowa at St. Paul (Randy Dobnak, 1-0, 2.35)

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 10

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Ross Youngs (1897)
Bubba Hyde (1908)
Chuck Connors (1921)
Frank Lary (1930)
Robert Nederlander (1933)
Wes Stock (1934)
Joe Gibbon (1935)
Bob Watson (1946)
Lee Lacy (1948)
Tom Lundstedt (1949)
Ken Griffey (1950)
Mike Devereaux (1963)
Starvin’ Marvin Freeman (1963)
Alberto Reyes (1971)
Mike Lincoln (1975)
Andre Ethier (1982)
Corey Kluber (1986)
Charlie Culberson (1989)
Scott Blewett (1996)

Bubba Hyde was an outfielder in the Negro Leagues for twenty-six years.

Better known as an actor, Chuck Connors was a first baseman for the Chicago Cubs in 1951.  He also played professional basketball, and was the first player to break the glass backboard with a slam dunk in a professional basketball game.

Robert Nederlander is a part-owner of the New York Yankees and was managing partner in from 1990-1991, when George Steinbrenner was suspended.

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Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 9

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Doc White (1879)
Hippo Vaughn (1888)
Wade Johnston (1898)
Vic Sorrell (1901)
Fred Frankhouse (1904)
Claude Passeau (1909)
Zip Payne (1909)
Joe Brinkman (1944)
Peter Gammons (1945)
Nate Colbert (1946)
Kirk McCaskill (1961)
Hal Morris (1965)
Graeme Lloyd (1967)
Rudy Hernandez (1968)
A. J. Ellis (1981)
David Robertson (1985)
Luis Arraez (1997)

Cecil "Zip" Payne was a long-time minor-league player and manager, collecting 2,179 hits.

Joe Brinkman and Derryl Cousins hold the record for most games umpired together, 2,123.

Rudy Hernandez was an infielder in the Mets organization from 1987-1991, reaching AA.  With the exception of 2004, he has been a manager or coach in the Twins' organization since 2001.  He is currently a batting coach for the Twins.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Mama MagUidhir.

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Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 7

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NASHVILLE SOUNDS 8, ST. PAUL SAINTS 1 IN NASHVILLE

Nashville scored all eight of their runs in the fourth inning, including a two-run homer by Joey Wiemer.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  Will Holland (1).

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Scott Blewett struck out two in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.  Matt Bowman pitched a perfect inning and struck out one.

Opposition standout:  Wiemer was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk, and two runs.

Record:  St. Paul is 5-3, in second place, a half-game behind Gwinnett.

FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS 12, WICHITA WIND SURGE 8 IN WICHITA

Wichita scored six in the first to take a 6-3 lead.  They fell behind 7-6, scored two in the eighth to go up 8-7, but Frisco came back with five in the ninth to win it.

Multi-hit games:  Carson McCusker was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs.  Tanner Schobel was 2-for-3 with two walks.  Andrew Cossetti was 2-for-4.

Home runs:  Kala'i Rosario (2); Noah Cardenas (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Rosario, 3; Cardenas, 2.

Stolen bases:  Emmanuel Rodriguez (4).

Pitching prowess:  Pierson Ohl pitched five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk and striking out four.  Regi Grace pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk.

Opposition standout:  Max Acosta was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs.

Record:  Wichita is 1-2, in third place, two games behind Springfield and Tulsa.

CEDAR RAPIDS AT BELOIT

Rained out.  Will be made up April 27.

FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSLES 5, TAMPA TARPONS 2 IN FORT MYERS

Fort Myers scored two in the second to take a 4-2 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Wilfri Castro was 2-for-3 with a double.  Rayne Doncon was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs.  Byron Chourio was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Home runs:  Doncon (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Doncon, 3.

Stolen bases:  Isaac Pena (1), Chourio (1), Brandon Winokur (2), Carlos Aguiar (2).

Pitching prowess:  Aaron Holiday walked three in a scoreless inning.  Paulshawn Pasqualotto pitched five shutout innings of relief, giving up two hits and two walks and striking out three.  Wilker Reyes pitched a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one.  Samuel Perez pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Montana Semmel struck out three in two perfect innings.

Record:  Fort Myers is 2-1, tied for first with Dunedin and Clearwater.

TUESDAY'S TILTS

4:07  Iowa at St. Paul (Caleb Boushley, 1-0, 1.59)
5:30  Fort Myers at Clearwater
6:35  Dayton at Cedar Rapids (Darren Bowen)
6:35  Wichita (TBD) at Springfield

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 8

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John Peters (1850)
Kirby Higbe (1915)
Stan Wasiak (1920)
Charlie Maxwell (1927)
Turk Farrell (1934)
Takao Kajimoto (1935)
John Hiller (1943)
Catfish Hunter (1946)
Randy Marsh (1949)
Mac Scarce (1949)
Gary Carter (1954)
Alex Gonzalez (1973)
Timo Perez (1975)
Jeremy Guthrie (1979)
Matt Ford (1981)
Chris Iannetta (1983)
Bobby Wilson (1983)
Felix Hernandez (1986)
Carlos Santana (1986)
Yonder Alonso (1987)
Jeremy Hellickson (1987)
Jo Adell (1999)

Stan Wasiak holds the record for most wins as a minor league manager, 2,530.  He managed from 1950-1986, managing at levels from Class D to AAA.

Pitcher Takao Kajimoto won 254 games in Japan and was a twelve-time all-star.

Randy Marsh was a major league umpire from 1981-2009 and is currently a director of umpiring.

Yonder Alonso was drafted by Minnesota in the sixteenth round in 2005, but did not sign.

We would like to wish a happy birthday to the brother of Daneeka's Ghost.

Dad A passed away on this date five years ago.  I'm not asking for sympathy--he lived a long, full life, he was ready to go, and I'm confident about where he is.  Still, I felt that I should at least acknowledge the anniversary somehow.

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Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 6

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ST, PAUL SAINTS 3, NASHVILLE SOUNDS 0 IN NASHVILLE

Yoyner Fajardo and DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. each homered in the third to give the Saints the lead.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  Fajardo (2), Keirsey, Jr. (1).

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Brent Headrick struck out seven in five shutout innings, giving up two hits and three walks.  Ronny Henriquez struck out two in two shutout innings, giving up two hits.  Diego Castillo pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.  Hobie Harris pitched a scoreless inning, walking two and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Kevin Herget pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one.

Record:  The Saints are 5-2, in first place, a half game ahead of Gwinnett and Indianapolis.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 13, FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS 3 IN WICHITA

Wichita scored four in the third and five in the fourth to build a 9-2 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Tanner Schobel was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs.  Kala'i Rosario was 3-for-5 with two runs.  Emmanuel Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and three runs.  Andrew Cossetti was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs.  The first four men in the order were 10-for-17 with a home run, three doubles, three walks, and nine runs, and ten RBIs.

Home runs:  Rosario (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Rosario, 4; Schobel, 3; Cossetti, 2; Jeferson Morales, 2.

Stolen bases:  Rodriguez, 2 (3); Alerick Soularie (1); Ben Ross (2).

Pitching prowess:  Travis Adams pitched five innings, giving up two unearned runs on a hit and a walk and striking out four.  Sheldon Reed struck out two in two shutout innings, giving up two hits.

Opposition standout:  Liam Hicks was 2-for-3.

Record:  The Wind Surge is 1-1, in third place, one game behind Springfield and Tulsa.

BELOIT SKY CARP 2, CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 1 IN BELOIT

Beloit scored both of their runs on a two-run walkoff double by Cameron Barstad in the bottom of the ninth.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  Misael Urbina (1), Jose Salas (1).

Pitching prowess:  John Klein struck out six in five shutout innings, giving up three hits and a walk.  Miguelangel Boadas pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.  John Stankiewicz struck out three in two perfect innings.

Opposition standout:  Ike Buxton struck out eight in 5.1 innings, giving up an unearned run on four hits and two walks.

Record:  The Kernels are 0-2, in sixth (last) place, two games behind Beloit.

FORT MYERS MIRACLE 6, TAMPA TARPONS 4 IN FORT MYERS

Isaac Pena's two-run single broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth and the Miracle led the rest of the way.

Multi-hit games:  Poncho Ruiz was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs.  Rayne Doncon was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.  Byron Chourio was 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Doncon, 2.

Stolen bases:  Rafael Cruz (1), Brandon Winokur (1), Carlos Aguiar (1).

Pitching prowess:  Jeremy Lee struck out six in four innings of relief, giving up one run on two hits and three walks.  Nolan Santos struck out the side in a perfect inning.  Xander Hamilton struck out two in a perfect inning.

Record:  The Mighty Mussels are 1-1, tied for second, one game behind Clearwater.

TODAY'S TILTS

11:05  Tampa at Fort Myers (Tanner Hall)
1:05  Cedar Rapids (Christian MacLeod) at Beloit
1:05  Frisco at Wichita (Pierson Ohl)
2:05  St. Paul (Simeon Woods Richardson, 0-0, 0.00) at Nashville