Category Archives: Keeping Track

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 18

Babe Adams (1882)
Arndt Jorgens (1905)
Gil Coan (1922)
Jack Sanford (1929)
Carroll Hardy (1933)
Brooks Robinson (1937)
Reggie Jackson (1946)
Osamu Higashio (1950)
Eric Gregg (1951)
Jim Sundberg (1951)
Andre David (1958)
Jim Bowden (1961)
Erik Hanson (1965)
Eric Young (1967)
Rich Garces (1971)
Joakim Soria (1984)
Randy Rosario (1994)

Pitcher Osamu Higashio is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Eric Gregg was a National League umpire from 1975-1999.

Jim Bowden was the general manager of Cincinnati and of Washington and is currently a broadcaster for MLB Network Radio.

Two players who share a name with Minnesota Twins players, Scott Baker (1970) and Roy Smith (1976), were also born on this day.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 18 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of May 16

OMAHA STORM CHASERS 9, ST. PAUL SAINTS 8 IN ST. PAUL (11 INNINGS)

St, Paul led 7-3 after six.  Omaha scored one in the eighth and three in the ninth to tie it.  Drew Waters singled home the deciding run in the eleventh.

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

Home runs:  Helman (5).

Multi-RBI games:  Helman 4.

Stolen bases:  Castillo (6).

Pitching prowess:  Austin Schulfer pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one and walking one.  Hobie Harris pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Waters was 4-for-6 with a triple, a double, and four RBIs.

Record:  St. Paul is 17-23, in ninth place, 9.5 games behind Omaha.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 11, TULSA DRILLERS 8 IN TULSA

Wichita scored three in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead and got three insurance runs in the seventh.

Multi-hit games:  Jake Rucker was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two runs, and four RBIs.  Tanner Schobel was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs, and three RBIs.  Aaron Sabato was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs.

Home runs:  Emmanuel Rodriguez (5).

Multi-RBI games:  Rucker 4; Schobel 3; Rodriguez 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Scott Engler pitched two shutout innings, striking out one and walking one.  Jared Solomon struck out two and walked one in 1.1 scoreless innings.

Opposition standout:  Brendon Davis was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk.

Record:  Wichita is 16-19, in fourth place, four games behind Arkansas and Springfield.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 1, QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 0 IN QUAD CITIES

Jay Harry's RBI single in the first brought home the game's only run.

Multi-hit games:  Harry was 2-for-3.  Luke Keaschall was 2-for-4 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  John Klein struck out six in six shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Jacob Wosinski struck out four in three shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

Opposition standout:  Steven Zobac pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits and a walk and striking out one.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 21-14, in second place, 1.5 games behind Wisconsin.

LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS 3, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 2 IN LAKELAND

A passed ball with the bases loaded in the ninth brought home the deciding run.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Ty Langenberg struck out eight in five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk.  Jack Noble struck out five in three shutout innings, giving up one hit and two walks.

Opposition standout:  Jim Jarvis was 3-for-3.

Record:  Fort Myers is 14-22, in fifth place, ten games behind Clearwater and Lakeland.

FCL RAYS AT FCL TWINS

Postponed due to wet grounds.  Will be made up June 3.

TODAY'S TILTS

11:00  FCL Twins at FCL Red Sox
5:30  Fort Myers (TBD) at Lakeland
6:35  Quad Cities at Cedar Rapids (C. J. Culpepper, 0-0, 3.31_
6:37  Omaha at St. Paul (David Festa, 0-1, 3.00)
7:00  Wichita (Marco Raya, 0-0, 3.38) at Tulsa

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 17

Hal Carlson (1892)
Del Webb (1899)
Cool Papa Bell (1903)
Ace Parker (1912)
Billy Hoeft (1932)
Ozzie Virgil (1932)
Dan Monzon (1946)
Carlos May (1948)
Pascual Perez (1957)
Greg Mathews (1962)
Jose Guillen (1976)
Carlos Pena (1978)

Del Webb was an owner of the New York Yankees from 1945-1964.

As you probably know, James "Cool Papa" Bell was a star in the Negro Leagues.  It was said that he was so fast he could turn out the light and be in bed before the room got dark.

Ace Parker is a member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He was an infielder for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937-1938.

Left-hander Greg Mathews was drafted by Minnesota in the ninth round of the January draft in 1982, but did not sign.

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to Philosofer.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 17 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of May 15

OMAHA STORM CHASERS 6, ST. PAUL SAINTS 0 IN ST. PAUL

Omaha scored five in the second inning, which would be more than enough.

Multi-hit games:  DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  Keirsey, Jr. (11).

Pitching prowess:  Ronny Henriquez pitched two shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out one.  Nick Wittgren pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one.  Ryan Jensen pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.

Opposition standout:  Luis Cessa struck out five in five innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

Record:  St. Paul is 17-22, in ninth place, 8.5 games behind Omaha.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 7, TULSA DRILLERS 1 IN TULSA

Wichita broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run fifth.

Multi-hit games:  Jeferson Morales was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs.  Jake Rucker was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs.  Emmanuel Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and two runs.

Home runs:  Rucker (2).

Multi-RBI games:  Morales 2; Kyler Fedco 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Zebby Matthews struck out six in five innings, giving up one run on three hits.  Mike Paredes pitched two perfect innings.  John Stankiewicz retired all four men he faced.

Opposition standout:  Sauryn Leo struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits.

Record:  Wichita is 15-19, in fourth place, five games behind Springfield.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 3, QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 0 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Misael Urbina's two-run single in the third broke a scoreless tie.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Urbina 2.

Stolen bases:  Luke Keaschall (12).

Pitching prowess:  Andrew Morris pitched seven shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out six.  Ricardo Velez struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

Opposition standout:  A. J. Block struck out three in two perfect innings.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 20-14, in second place, 2.5 games behind Wisconsin.

LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS 16, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 1 IN LAKELAND

Lakeland scored eight runs in the first inning.

Multi-hit games:  Kyle Hess was 2-for-3.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  Payton Eeles (3).

Pitching prowess:  Aaron Holiday struck out three and walked three in 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up one hit.  Matthew Clayton pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Daneurys De La Cruz was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, three runs, and three RBIs.

Record:  Fort Myers is 14-21, in ninth place, 9.5 games behind Clearwater.

TODAY'S TILTS

11:00  FCL Rays at FCL Twins
5:30  Fort Myers (Ty Langenberg, 0-3, 4.44) at Lakeland
6:35  Quad Cities at Cedar Rapids (Darren Bowen, 2-2, 4.23)
6;37  Omaha at St. Paul (Randy Dobnak, 3-3, 4.42)
7:00 Wichita (Jaylin Nowlin, 2-2, 3.33) at Tulsa

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 16

Cy Rigler (1882)
Jim Brown (1892)
Watty Clark (1902)
Earl Halstead (1912)
Stubby Overmire (1919)
Lefty Phillips (1919)
Dave Philley (1920)
Rube Walker (1926)
Billy Martin (1928)
Rick Reuschel (1949)
Rick Rhoden (1953)
Jack Morris (1955)
Tack Wilson (1956)
Mark Funderburk (1957)
Bob Patterson (1959)
Mitch Webster (1959)
Doug Brocail (1967)
Jim Mecir (1970)
Drew Maggi (1989)
Dietrich Enns (1991)

Cy Rigler was a National League umpire from 1906-1935.

Earl Halstead was a scout, a minor league general manager, and a minor league umpire.  He also invented the first pitching machine that could throw curve balls.

Lefty Phillips managed the California Angels from 1969-1971.

Dave Philley played five of his eighteen major league seasons in Philadelphia, three for the Athletics and two for the Phillies.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 16 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of May 14

ST. PAUL SAINTS 13, OMAHA STORM CHASERS 7 IN ST. PAUL

St. Paul scored three in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead and put it out of reach with four in the eighth.

Multi-hit games:  Diego Castillo was 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, three runs, and two RBIs.  Michael Helman was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, and four RBIs.

Home runs:  Yunior Severino (6); Chris Williams (2); Alex Isola (4); Helman (4).

Multi-RBI games:  Helman 4; Castillo 2; Dalton Shuffield 2.

Stolen bases:  Anthony Prato 2 (4); Castillo (5).

Pitching prowess:  Jorge Alcala struck out three and walked one in 1.2 scoreless innings.  Diego Castillo struck out two in a perfect inning.

Opposition standout:  John Rave was 2-for-5 with a double.

Record:  St. Paul is 17-21. in ninth place, 7.5 games behind Omaha.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 6, TULSA DRILLERS 3 IN TULSA

Wichita scored three in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Tanner Schobel was 3-for-5 with two RBIs.  Emmanuel Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs.  Ben Ross was 2-for-4 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Schobel 2; Kala'i Rosario 2.

Stolen bases:  Alerick Soularie 3 (12); Schobel 2 (5); Carson McCusker (2); Ross (6).

Pitching prowess:  Pierson Ohl struck out ten in six shutout innings, giving up four hits and a walk.  Miguel Rodriguez retired all four men he faced.

Opposition standout:  Diego Cartaya was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Record:  Wichita is 14-19, in fourth place, six games behind Springfield.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 6, QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 5 IN CEDAR RAPIDS (10 INNINGS)

Quad Cities tied it with a run in the ninth, but Jay Harry delivered an RBI double in the tenth for the win.

Multi-hit games:  Agustin Ruiz was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.  Harry was 2-for-5 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Ruiz 2; Ricardo Olivar 2.

Stolen bases:  Jose Salas (6); Ruiz (1).

Pitching prowess:  Juan Mercedes pitched two perfect innings.  A. J. Labas struck out two in a perfect inning.

Opposition standout:  Jack Pineda was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 19-14, in second place, 2.5 games behind Wisconsin.

FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 11, LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS 8 IN LAKELAND

Lakeland led 6-0 after two, but Fort Myers closed to 6-5 after six and scored six runs in the seventh.  Payton Eeles homered to tie it and Byron Chourio homered to give the Mighty Mussels the lead.

Multi-hit games:  Kyle Hess was 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, two runs, and four RBIs.  Brandon Winokur was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.  Chourio was 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.

Home runs:  Hess (1); Eeles (1); Chourio (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Hess 4; Maddux Houghton 3.

Stolen bases:  Winokur 2 (9).

Pitching prowess:  Spencer Bengard pitched 5.1 innings of relief, giving up one run on five hits and three walks and striking out five.  Nolan Santos pitched two shutout innings, giving up four walks.

Opposition standout:  Luis Santana was 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two runs, and two RBIs.

Record:  Fort Myers is 14-20, tied for fourth with Dunedin, nine games behind Clearwater.

FCL TWINS 10, FCL RAYS 3 AT RAYS

Leading 5-2, the Twins scored four in the eighth.

Multi-hit games:  Omari Daniel was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and three RBIs.  Yasser Mercedes was 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, and two runs.

Home runs:  Mercedes (2).

Multi-RBI games:  Daniel 3; Harold Grant 2.

Stolen bases:  Daniel 2 (2).

Pitching prowess:  Adrian Bohorquez struck out four in four innings, giving up one run on a hit and a walk.  Mitch Stone struck out two in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.  Alejandro Crisostomo pitched a scoreless inning, giving up three walks and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Jose Contreras was 2-for-4.

Record:  The FCL Twins are 6-2, in first place, one game ahead of the FCL Rays and the FCL Red Sox.

TODAY'S TILTS

12:00  Wichita (Zebby Matthews, 0-0, 0.00) at Tulsa
12:05  Quad Cities at Cedar Rapids (Andrew Morris, 2-1, 2.64)
5:30  Fort Myers (Paulshawn Pasqualotto, 0-3, 4.67) at Lakeland
6:37  Omaha at St. Paul (TBD)

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 15

Tip O'Neill (1860)
Joe Evans (1895)
Jimmy Wasdell (1914)
Al McBean (1938)
Yukata Enatsu (1948)
Bill North (1948)
Rick Waits (1952)
George Brett (1953)
John Smoltz (1967)
Scott Watkins (1970)
A. J. Hinch (1974)
Josh Beckett (1980)
Justin Morneau (1981)
Brian Dozier (1987)
Michael Brantley (1987)

Yukata Enatsu was one of the first closers in Japan, recording 193 saves.

A. J. Hinch was drafted by Minnesota in the third round in 1995, but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 15 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Game of May 13

FCL TWINS 9, FCL ORIOLES 8 AT ORIOLES (7 INNINGS)

The Twins fell behind 8-0 after three, but scored five in the fourth, two in the fifth, and two in the seventh.  Dameury Pena delivered a two-run single in the seventh for the tying and go-ahead runs.

Mutli-hit games:  Yasser Mercedes was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.  Pena was 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs.

Home runs:  Mercedes (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Mercedes 4; Pena 2; Ariel Castro 2.

Stolen bases:  Pena (2); Mercedes 3 (5).

Pitching prowess:  Eider Machuca struck out three in three shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Wilker Reyes pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Luis Almeyda was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Record:  The FCL Twins are 5-2, tied for first with the FCL Rays.

TODAY'S TILTS

11:00  FCL Twins at FCL Rays
11:07  Omaha at St. Paul (TBD)
5:30  Fort Myers (Charlee Soto, 0-2, 4.95) at Lakeland
6:35  Quad Cities at Cedar Rapids (TBD)
7:00  Wichita (Pierson Ohl, 1-2, 4.35) at Tulsa

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 14

J. L. Wilkinson (1878)
Alex Pompez (1890)
Earle Combs (1899)
Bob Thurman (1917)
Les Moss (1925)
Dick Howser (1936)
Tony Perez (1942)
Dick Tidrow (1947)
Dave LaRoche (1948)
Dennis Martinez (1955)
Hosken Powell (1955)
Pat Borders (1963)
Joey Cora (1965)
Larry Sutton (1970)
Roy Halladay (1977)
Luke Gregerson (1984)

J. L. Wilkinson was the long-time owner of the Kansas City Monarchs.

Alex Pompez was the long-time owner of the New York Cubans.

We would also like to wish a very happy anniversary to Lucy and SBG.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 14 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of May 12

ST. PAUL SAINTS 5, TOLEDO MUD HENS 4 IN TOLEDO

St. Paul scored four in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead.  Toledo had the tying run on base in both the eighth and ninth.

Multi-hit games:  Patrick Winkel was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  Tony Kemp was 2-for-4 with a double.  Michael Helman was 2-for-5 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Winkel 2; Yunior Severino 2.

Stolen bases:  Matt Wallner (1); DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. (10).

Pitching prowess:  Joe Gunkel pitched 3.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out two.  Ronny Henriquez pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Gio Urshela was 3-for-3.

Record:  St. Paul is 16-21. in ninth place, 8.5 games behind Omaha.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 11, ARKANSAS TRAVELERS 1 IN WICHITA

Leading 4-1, Wichita scored five in the fourth.

Multi-hit games:  Jake Rucker was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.  Jorel Ortega was 2-for-5 with a double.  Aaron Sabato was 2-for-5 with two doubles.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Rucker 3; Alerick Soularie 2.

Stolen bases:  Soularie 2 (9); Tanner Schobel (3).

Pitching prowess:  Jarret Whorff struck out three in three innings, giving up one run on two hits and two walks.  Scott Engler pitched two perfect innings, striking out one.  Regi Grace pitched a perfect inning.  John Stankiewicz pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.  Taylor Floyd pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.  Jared Solomon pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk.

Opposition standout:  Grant Witherspoon was 1-for-3 with a home run.

Record:  Wichita is 13-19, in fifth place, seven games behind Springfield.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4, SOUTH BEND CUBS 2 IN SOUTH BEND

Cedar Rapids scored three in the tenth to break a 1-1 tie.  Ricardo Olivar hit a two-run triple.

Multi-hit games:  Olivar was 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and two RBIs.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Olivar 2.

Stolen bases:  Danny De Andrade (5), Olivar (1), Jay Harry (1).

Pitching prowess:  Jordan Carr pitched 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, giving up a hit and two walks and striking out two.  Jacob Wosinski pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one and walking one.  Ricardo Velez struck out four in three scoreless innings, giving up an unearned run on no hits and no walks.

Opposition standout:  Tyler Schlaffer pitched 4.2 innings, giving up one run on four hits and a walk and striking out three.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 18-14, in third place, 2.5 games behind Wisconsin.

DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS 4, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 3 IN FORT MYERS

A sacrifice fly in the ninth broke a 3-3 tie.

Multi-hit games:  Rayne Doncon was 3-for-4 with a walk.  Poncho Ruiz was 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Ross Dunn pitched two shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Arjun Nimmala was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

Record:  Fort Myers is 13-20, in fifth place, nine games behind Clearwater and Lakeland.

TODAY'S TILT

11:00  FCL Twins at FCL Orioles