Category Archives: Keeping Track

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 2

Eddie Collins (1887)
Bing Crosby (1904)
George Giles (1909)
Joe Falls (1928)
Eddie Bressoud (1932)
Gates Brown (1939)
Clay Carroll (1941)
Keith Moreland (1954)
Dr. A (1956)
Felix Jose (1965)
Paul Emmel (1968)
Jerrod Saltalamacchia (1986)
Neftali Feliz (1988)
Erasmo Ramirez (1990)
Jonathan Villar (1991)

Entertainer Bing Crosby was part-owner and a vice president of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1947 into the 1960s.

Joe Falls was a long-time sportswriter in Detroit and had a weekly column in The Sporting News for many years.

Paul Emmel has been a major league umpire since 1999.

It appears that no players with connections to the Minnesota Twins were born on this day.  However, it is the birthday of my brother, retired professor at Virginia Tech.  Happy Birthday, Dr. A!

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 30

LOUISVILLE BATS 7, ST. PAUL SAINTS 5 IN ST. PAUL

St. Paul scored five in the first, but no more.  Louisville scored three in the sixth to tie it and two in the seventh to take the lead to stay.

Multi-hit games:  Patrick Winkel was 2-for-4 with a grand slam.  DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was 2-for-5.

Home runs:  Winkel (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Winkel, 4.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  David Festa struck out ten in five innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk.  Jorge Alcala pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.  Scott Blewett pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Rece Hinds was 2-for-5.

Record:  St. Paul is 10-16, in tenth (last) place, 7.5 games behind Omaha.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS 8, WICHITA WIND SURGE 4 IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Northwest Arkansas scored four in the first.  Andrew Cossetti hit a three-run homer in the fifth to get Wichita back in the game, but the Naturals scored one in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Multi-hit games:  Tanner Schobel was 2-for-5 with two doubles.

Home runs:  Cossetti (3).

Multi-RBI games:  Cossetti, 3.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  None.

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

Record:  Wichita is 7-15, in fifth (last) place, eight games behind Springfield.

PEORIA 11, CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 6 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

The Kernels scored five in the third to take a 5-2 lead.  They led 6-5 after seven, but Peoria scored two in the eighth and four in the ninth.

Multi-hit games:  Danny De Andrade was 2-for-4 with a three-run homer.

Home runs:  De Andrade (1).

Multi-RBI games:  De Andrade, 3.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Andrew Morris struck out nine in six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk.

Opposition standout:  Zach Levenson was 3-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, and two RBIs.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 10-11, in fourth place, 5.5 games behind Quad Cities.

BRADENTON MARAUDERS 7, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 3 IN BRADENTON

With Bradenton already leading 4-1, Shalin Polanco hit a three-run homer in the seventh.

Multi-hit games:  Poncho Ruiz was 2-for-4 with a double.  Brandon Winokur was 2-for-5 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  Angel Del Rosario, 2 (12).

Pitching prowess:  Spencer Bengard struck out seven in 3.1 innings of relief in his Class A debut, giving up one run on four hits and a walk. Aaron Holiday pitched a scoreless inning, walking two and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Garret Forrester was 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, three runs, and two RBIs.

Record:  Fort Myers is 8-14, in fourth place, seven games behind Clearwater.

TODAY'S TILTS

5:30  Fort Myers (TBD) at Bradenton
6:35  Peoria at Cedar Rapids (John Klein, 1-0, 3.18)
6:37  Louisville at St. Paul (Joe Gunkel, 0-3, 8.47)
7:05  Wichita (Pierson Ohl, 1-2, 5.40) at Northwest Arkansas

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 1

Frank Foreman (1863)
George McQuillan (1885)
Victor Starffin (1916)
Johnny Berardino (1917)
Al Zarilla (1919)
Von Joshua (1948)
Rudy Meoli (1951)
Roy Lee Jackson (1954)
Charlie O’Brien (1960)
Jose Lind (1964)
Armando Reynoso (1966)
Marcus Stroman (1991)

Born in Russia, Victor Starffin was Japanese baseball’s first 300-game winner.

Infielder Johnny Berardino played in the major leagues for eleven years and appeared in 912 games, but is best known as Dr. Steve Hardy on General Hospital, a role he played from 1963-1996.

We would also like to wish a happy anniversary to SBG's brother.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 1 →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 30

Dave Eggler (1849)
Charley Jones (1850)
Jack Sheridan (1862)
Jumbo Brown (1907)
Chet Laabs (1912)
Ernie Tyler (1924)
Ken Retzer (1934)
Ray Miller (1945)
Phil Garner (1949)
Tracy Ringolsby (1951)
Jeff Reboulet (1964)
Ryan O'Rourke (1988)
Edouard Julien (1999)

Jack Sheridan was the first home plate umpire to crouch behind the catcher in the style that umpires do today.

Ernie Tyler was the umpires’ assistant for Baltimore Orioles home games from 1960 through 2010.  He went from opening day of 1960 through July 27, 2007 without missing a game, a streak of 3,769 games.  He missed two games that weekend to go to Cooperstown for the induction of Cal Ripken, Jr. into the Hall of Fame.

Ray Miller was the manager of the Twins in 1985 and 1986, replacing Billy Gardner and being replaced by Tom Kelly.

Tracy Ringolsby has been a baseball writer since 1976 and was given the Spink Award in 2005.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Rhubarb_Runner's brother.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 30 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 28

ROCHESTER RED WINGS AT ST. PAUL SAINTS

Postponed due to rain.

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS 3, WICHITA WIND SURGE 1 AT SAN ANTONIO

Brandon Valenzuela's RBI single in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie.  Ripken Reyes added an RBI single in the seventh.

Multi-hit games:  Ben Ross was 2-for-3 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Mike Paredes pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk.  Aaron Rozek pitched 3.2 innings of relief, giving up one run on four hits and two walks.  Scott Engler pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Nathan Martorella was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two runs.

Record:  Wichita is 7-14, in fifth (last) place, 7.5 games behind Springfield.

BELOIT SKY CARP AT CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS

Canceled due to rain.

PALM BEACH CARDINALS 4, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 0 IN FORT MYERS

Leading 1-0, Palm Beach scored three in the seventh on a solo homer by Luis Pino and a two-run homer by Lizandro Espinoza.

Multi-hit games:  Poncho Ruiz was 2-for-4.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Ty Langenberg struck out six in 5.1 innings, giving up one run on six hits and a walk.  Nolan Santos struck out two in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.

Opposition standout:  Chen-Wei Lin struck out seven in seven shutout innings, giving up three hits.

Record:  Fort Myers is 8-13, in fourth place, seven games behind Clearwater.

TUESDAY'S TILTS

11:07  Louisville at St. Paul
5:30  Fort Myers at Bradenton
6:35  Peoria at Cedar Rapids
7:05  Wichita at Northwest Arkansas

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 29

Frank Hankinson (1856)
Ernie Johnson (1888)
Mickey McDermott (1929)
Steve Ridzik (1929)
Ed Charles (1933)
Luis Aparicio (1934)
Akira Ohgi (1935)
Tom House (1947)
Rick Burleson (1951)
Bob McClure (1952)
Ron Washington (1952)
Steve Crawford (1958)
John Vander Wal (1966)
Sterling Hitchcock (1971)
Rafael Betancourt (1975)
Tony Armas (1978)

Akiri Ohgi was a long-time manager in Japan, winning nearly a thousand games.

Rick Burleson was drafted by Minnesota in the eighth round in 1969, but did not sign.

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to Papa MagUidhir.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 29 →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 28

Frank Warfield (1899)
Red Lucas (1902)
Charlie Metro (1918)
Tom Sturdivant (1930)
Jackie Brandt (1934)
Pedro Ramos (1935)
Tom Browning (1960)
John Cerutti (1960)
Russ Morman (1962)
Luis Quinones (1962)
Barry Larkin (1964)
Jim Poole (1966)
Jorge Sosa (1978)
Sean Douglass (1979)
Yoslan Herrera (1981)
David Freese (1983)
John Gaub (1985)
Dillon Gee (1986)

John Gaub was drafted by Minnesota in the twenty-fifth round in 2003, but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 28 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 26

ROCHESTER RED WINGS AT ST. PAUL SAINTS

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

WICHITA WIND SURGE 7, SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS 1 IN SAN ANTONIO

Wichita scored two in the first and three in the third to build a 5-1 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Noah Cardenas was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Andrew Cossetti was 2-for-4 with a walk.  Carson McCusker was 2-for-5.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Jake Rucker, 2.

Stolen bases:  Tanner Schobel (1), Cardenas (2), Ben Ross (4).

Pitching prowess:  A. J. Alexy pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, walking four and striking out three.  Taylor Floyd pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.  Rafael Marcano struck out two in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.

Opposition standout:  Brandon Valenzuela was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Record:  Wichita is 6-13, in fifth (last) place, eight games behind Springfield.

BELOIT SKY CARP AT CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS

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

PALM BEACH CARDINALS 5, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 3 IN FORT MYERS

Palm Beach scored two in the first and two in the sixth to build a 4-0 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Jose Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a double.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Charlee Soto struck out three in three innings, giving up two unearned runs on five hits.  Nolan Santos struck out two in 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

Oppositions standout:  Quinn Mathews struck out thirteen in six shutout innings, giving up three hits.

Record:  Fort Myers is 7-12, in fourth place, six games behind Clearwater and Lakeland

TODAY'S TILTS

12:05  Beloit at Cedar Rapids (C. J. Culpepper, 0-0, 3.68 and Darren Bowen, 0-2, 8.59)
1:07  Rochester at St. Paul (Louie Varland, no record and Randy Dobnak, 1-3, 5.23)
5:05  Palm Beach at Fort Myers (Paulshawn Pasqualotto, 0-1, 2.57)
7:05  Wichita (Jaylin Nowlin, 1-1, 4.50) at San Antonio

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 27

Hi Myers (1889)
Allan Sothoron (1893)
Rogers Hornsby (1896)
Horace Stoneham (1903)
Johnny Hayes (1910)
Buddy Armour (1915)
Enos Slaughter (1916)
John Rice (1918)
Greg Kosc (1949)
Willie Upshaw (1957)
Patrick Lennon (1968)
Frank Catalanotto (1974)
Chris Carpenter (1975)
Pedro Feliz (1975)
Benj Sampson (1975)
Luis Perdomo (1984)
Corey Seager (1994)

 Horace Stoneham was the owner of the Giants from 1936-1976.

John Rice was an American League umpire from 1955-1973.

Greg Kosc was an American League umpire from 1976-1999.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 27 →

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 25

ST. PAUL SAINTS 3, ROCHESTER RED WINGS 0 IN ST. PAUL

Matt Wallner singled home a run in the first inning and that was all the Saints would need.

Multi-hit games:  Yunior Severino was 2-for-4 with a home run.

Home runs:  Severino (3).

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. (8); Will Holland (6).

Pitching prowess:  Caleb Boushley pitched six shutout innings, giving up six hits and striking out four.  Justin Topa struck out three in a perfect inning.  Jordan Balazovic pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.  Diego Castillo pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.

Opposition standout:  D. J. Herz struck out five in five innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits and five walks.

Record:  St. Paul is 10-13, tied for eighth place, five games behind Iowa, Omaha, and Toledo.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 9, SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS 2 IN SAN ANTONIO

Wichita scored three in the second and four in the fifth to build a 7-0 lead.

Multi-hit games:  Jake Rucker was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Kala'i Rosario was 2-for-4 with a double.  Andrew Cossetti was 2-for-5 with a double.  Carson McCusker was 2-for-5.

Home runs:  None.

Multi-RBI games:  Noah Cardenas, 2; Cossetti, 2; Jorel Ortega, 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Pierson Ohl pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks and striking out three.  John Stankiewicz struck out three in two perfect innings.  Miguel Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning.  Jared Solomon struck out two in a perfect inning.

Opposition standout:  Jason Blanchard pitched two shutout innings, walking one and striking out one.

Record:  Wichita is 5-13, in fifth (last) place, 9.5 games behind Springfield.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4, BELOIT SKY CARP 2 IN CEDAR RAPIDS (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Cedar Rapids scored two in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Multi-hit games:  None.

Home runs:  Gabriel Gonzalez (1).

Multi-RBI games:  Gonzalez, 2.

Stolen bases:  Luke Keaschall (9).

Pitching prowess:  Zebby Matthews struck out seven in 5.2 innings, giving up one run on five hits.

Opposition standout:  Chase Luttrell was 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs.

BELOIT SKY CARP 8, CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 1 IN CEDAR RAPIDS* (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

*This was a makeup game.  It was played in Cedar Rapids, but Beloit batted last.

Beloit scored four in the second and that was all they would need.

Multi-hit games:  None.  Cedar Rapids had three hits.

Home runs:  Dillon Tatum (1).

Multi-RBI games:  None.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  A. J. Labas pitched 2.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Jake Thompson was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Record:  Cedar Rapids is 9-9, in fourth place, four games behind Cedar Rapids.

PALM BEACH CARDINALS 13, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 9 IN FORT MYERS (10 INNINGS)

Fort Myers led 9-0 after three, but a five-run ninth tied it at nine and a four-run tenth put it away for Palm Beach.  Fort Myers made five errors.

Multi-hit games:  Jose Rodriguez was 3-for-5 with a grand slam, two runs, and four RBIs.  Poncho Ruiz was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Home runs:  Rodriguez (2), Rayne Doncon (2).

Multi-RBI games:  Rodriguez, 4; Ruiz, 2.

Stolen bases:  None.

Pitching prowess:  Cesar Lares struck out five in five innings, giving up two unearned runs on seven hits and a walk.  Kyle Bloor pitched two shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out one.

Opposition standout:  Kade Kretzschmar was 2-for-3 with three walks, three runs, and two RBIs.

Record:  Fort Myers is 7-11, in fourth place, six games behind Clearwater

TODAY'S TILTS

6:05  Palm Beach at Fort Myers (Charlee Soto, 0-0, 2.70)
6:35  Beloit at Cedar Rapids (C. J. Culpepper, 0-0, 3.68)
6:37  Rochester at St. Paul (Louie Varland, no record)
7:05  Wichita (Marco Raya, 0-0, 2.00) at San Antonio