Salt Lake Bees
Box Score
The Good: Hank Conger clubbed two doubles, three hits total in four at bats against the Rangers ex top prospect and former first round pick, Thomas Diamond (2.01 ERA in nine starts), now in the Cubs organization. Corey Aldridge went 2-3 with a home run (7) and a walk. Daniel Davidson moved to 5-1 with six shutout innings. Davidson fanned six and lowered his ERA to 5.20. Michael Kohn pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save, his first as a member of the Bees.
The Bad: The Bees moved Peter Bourjos back into the leadoff spot and he rewarded the team with an 0-4 on the night with two strikeouts. Bourjos now has 28 strikeouts to just five walks (.291 OBP). That will not get it done out of the leadoff spot. (See Erick Aybar in Anaheim for more)
Noteworthy: Are you stoked about Stokes? Well he threw two scoreless innings, giving up two hits, two walks, while fanning two in his first rehab appearance in the minors. The matchup to follow this week is Sean O'Sullivan vs. the Cubs top prospect pitcher Andrew Cashner in the series finale on Thursday vs. the Iowa Cubs.
Arkansas Travelers
Box Score
The Good: There's no real 'Good' performance to point out for the Travelers on Monday on either offense or the pitching side, but Alberto Rosario threw out two runners trying to steal, while Manuel Flores picked off a runner as well. Flores (5.40) did notch a quality start, giving up five runs, though just three earned in 6.1 innings of work. Jeremy Moore (.215) hit his first triple of the season.
The Bad: Ryan Mount (.274) who has been surging of late with 10 hits in his last 21 at bats, went 1-4 on Monday, but fanned three times.
Noteworthy: The Travs have Tuesday off before beginning a six-game home stand lasting from Wednesday, May 26 through Monday, May 31. They will begin a series on Wednesday against the San Antonio Missions.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Box Score
The Good: Roberto Lopez (.349) after playing three different positions (C, 1B, RF) over the weekend was the DH on Monday and like a good DH (unlike Hideki Matsui), he did something with the bat. Roberto Lopez went 2-3 on the night with an RBI double, which was four straight games in which he's had at least two hits. Maybe it's time for a promotion to Arkansas to help the struggling Travelers offense and challenge Lopez a bit? Jon Townsend and Rian Kiniry both had two hits a piece and Tyson Auer stole his 22nd base of the season. Kevin Nabors (0.00) and Kyle Hurst (0.00) both shut down the Inland Empire team in relief.
The Bad: Prospects Gabe Jacobo and Alexi Amarista went a combined 0-8 on the night. M. Correa continues to get hit hard and give up runs in the California League. Correa (6.98) went six innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
Noteworthy: After a day off on Tuesday, the Quakes will send Tyler Chatwood (5-2, 1.79 ERA) to the mound against Visalia's Wade Miley on Wednesday night, in the four-game series-opener in Visalia.
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Box Score
The Good: Mike Trout (.360) went 2-4, clubbing his 7th double. Jean Segura went 2-4 with 3 RBI's and stole his 14th base. Luis Jimenez went 2-5, with a home run (2) and 4 RBI's. Jimenez who is tied for the lead in doubles with (15) now leads all Midwest League players with 37 RBI's, one more than Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands who has 15 home runs to lead the MWL. Tyler Skaggs (2.37) continued his greatness on Monday with five strong innings, giving up just one run, while striking out six.
The Bad: The Kernels had eight runs on 12 hits on Monday, but catcher Carlos Ramirez didn't join in on the fun, as he went 0-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his BA to .181 on the season.
Noteworthy: Jean Segura has been named the MWL Player of the Week for the period May 17-23. The Midwest League and Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) announced the award on Monday morning. Segura batted .435 (10-23) with a double, triple, home run and 5 RBI. He had a .519 on-base percentage; .696 slugging percentage and 1.214 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). He is the first Kernel to win a MWL weekly award since Jose Perez was named MWL Pitcher of the Week back on September 2, 2008.
Prospect of the Day: Luis Jimenez, 3B Cedar Rapids Kernels
Box Score
The Good: Hank Conger clubbed two doubles, three hits total in four at bats against the Rangers ex top prospect and former first round pick, Thomas Diamond (2.01 ERA in nine starts), now in the Cubs organization. Corey Aldridge went 2-3 with a home run (7) and a walk. Daniel Davidson moved to 5-1 with six shutout innings. Davidson fanned six and lowered his ERA to 5.20. Michael Kohn pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save, his first as a member of the Bees.
The Bad: The Bees moved Peter Bourjos back into the leadoff spot and he rewarded the team with an 0-4 on the night with two strikeouts. Bourjos now has 28 strikeouts to just five walks (.291 OBP). That will not get it done out of the leadoff spot. (See Erick Aybar in Anaheim for more)
Noteworthy: Are you stoked about Stokes? Well he threw two scoreless innings, giving up two hits, two walks, while fanning two in his first rehab appearance in the minors. The matchup to follow this week is Sean O'Sullivan vs. the Cubs top prospect pitcher Andrew Cashner in the series finale on Thursday vs. the Iowa Cubs.
Arkansas Travelers
Box Score
The Good: There's no real 'Good' performance to point out for the Travelers on Monday on either offense or the pitching side, but Alberto Rosario threw out two runners trying to steal, while Manuel Flores picked off a runner as well. Flores (5.40) did notch a quality start, giving up five runs, though just three earned in 6.1 innings of work. Jeremy Moore (.215) hit his first triple of the season.
The Bad: Ryan Mount (.274) who has been surging of late with 10 hits in his last 21 at bats, went 1-4 on Monday, but fanned three times.
Noteworthy: The Travs have Tuesday off before beginning a six-game home stand lasting from Wednesday, May 26 through Monday, May 31. They will begin a series on Wednesday against the San Antonio Missions.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Box Score
The Good: Roberto Lopez (.349) after playing three different positions (C, 1B, RF) over the weekend was the DH on Monday and like a good DH (unlike Hideki Matsui), he did something with the bat. Roberto Lopez went 2-3 on the night with an RBI double, which was four straight games in which he's had at least two hits. Maybe it's time for a promotion to Arkansas to help the struggling Travelers offense and challenge Lopez a bit? Jon Townsend and Rian Kiniry both had two hits a piece and Tyson Auer stole his 22nd base of the season. Kevin Nabors (0.00) and Kyle Hurst (0.00) both shut down the Inland Empire team in relief.
The Bad: Prospects Gabe Jacobo and Alexi Amarista went a combined 0-8 on the night. M. Correa continues to get hit hard and give up runs in the California League. Correa (6.98) went six innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
Noteworthy: After a day off on Tuesday, the Quakes will send Tyler Chatwood (5-2, 1.79 ERA) to the mound against Visalia's Wade Miley on Wednesday night, in the four-game series-opener in Visalia.
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Box Score
The Good: Mike Trout (.360) went 2-4, clubbing his 7th double. Jean Segura went 2-4 with 3 RBI's and stole his 14th base. Luis Jimenez went 2-5, with a home run (2) and 4 RBI's. Jimenez who is tied for the lead in doubles with (15) now leads all Midwest League players with 37 RBI's, one more than Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands who has 15 home runs to lead the MWL. Tyler Skaggs (2.37) continued his greatness on Monday with five strong innings, giving up just one run, while striking out six.
The Bad: The Kernels had eight runs on 12 hits on Monday, but catcher Carlos Ramirez didn't join in on the fun, as he went 0-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his BA to .181 on the season.
Noteworthy: Jean Segura has been named the MWL Player of the Week for the period May 17-23. The Midwest League and Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) announced the award on Monday morning. Segura batted .435 (10-23) with a double, triple, home run and 5 RBI. He had a .519 on-base percentage; .696 slugging percentage and 1.214 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). He is the first Kernel to win a MWL weekly award since Jose Perez was named MWL Pitcher of the Week back on September 2, 2008.
Prospect of the Day: Luis Jimenez, 3B Cedar Rapids Kernels