Los Angeles Angels Prospect Report (4/16 Games)

By Brian Waller, AngelsWin.com Columnist

Salt Lake Bees (8-4)The Bees beat the Tucson Padres 6-2 Monday night in front of 3,997 fans at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The win helped the Bees take the 4-game series from the Padres and improved their overall record to 8-4. Matt Shoemaker pitched 8.0 impressive innings improving his record to 2-0 on the season. Shoemaker threw 106 pitches, 61 strikes-41 balls while striking out five and walking three. Other than first baseman Efren Navarro, all position players for the Bees collected at least one hit in the game. Third baseman Jorge Cantu hit a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, it was his 3rd home run of the season. Shortstop Andrew Romine went 2-for-4 and had a stolen base bringing his total for the young season to five. With outfielder Alexi Amarista back in triple-A and batting 2nd behind Mike Trout, the top of the order for the Bees looks very good. In Monday’s game the dynamic duo went 3-fo-8 with 2 runs.

Next up: The Bees head to “Sin City” to face the Las Vegas 51’s for a 4-game series. Brad Mills takes the mound for the Bees in the opener opposite 51’s starter Bill Murphy.

4/16/12 Box Score

Arkansas Travelers (3-8)The Travelers lost 2-1 Monday night against the Frisco Rough Riders in front of 3,276 at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. As the score reflects, it was quite the pitcher’s duel. Travs’ pitcher AJ Schugel took the loss as he gave up two earned runs off three hits in 5.2 innings. Schugel had major control problems, issuing five walks to Rough Rider batters. Caleb Graham, Mike Piazza, and Dakota Robinson came out of the Travs’ pen and pitched a combined 2.2 innings of no hit baseball. The lone run for Arkansas came off an error by Frisco pitcher Johan Yan in the 9th inning. Other than shortstop Jean Segura going 1-for-4 while collecting his 3rd stolen base of the season there wasn’t much offense for the Travs’ to discuss.

Next up: The Trav’s wrap up their 3-game series with the Rough Riders tonight as John Hellweg gets the start opposite Frisco pitcher Miguel De Los Santos.

4/16/12 Box Score

Inland Empire 66ers (7-4)Inland Empire came from behind to secure a 4-3 win over the Modesto Nuts Monday night in front of 1,025 at San Manuel Stadium. The 66ers, who improved to 7-4, trailed by two going to the 8th but got three consecutive two out hits to score three runs for a win. Donn Roach didn’t get the win but was fairly effective on the mound as he went 7.0 innings allowing only three earned runs off of six hits while striking out five. Jimmy Swift had the big hit of the game; he was inserted as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning and came through with a two run double that proved to be the difference. First baseman C.J. Cron was held hitless. After going 5-for-5 on April 10th, Cron has only two hits in his last 18 at-bats. Catcher Brian Hernandez had a big day for the 66’ers, he was 3-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base, he is now hitting .333 this season.

Next up: The 66’er and the Nuts will play game two of the three game series tonight as Nick Maronde will start opposite Joshua Slaats.

4/16/12 Box Score

Cedar Rapids Kernels (6-5)Cedar Rapids lost to the Peoria Chiefs 6-2 on Monday night in front of 616 fans at O’Brien field in the first game of a 3 game series. The Kernels’ offense only mustered two runs off of five hits, three of them by right fielder Andy Workman. Workman went into the game in a 1-fo-21 slump to begin the season so it was nice to see him get it going. Kernels’ starter Austin Wood took the loss as he lasted only 4.0 innings giving up three earned runs off of five hits. The Kernels were still in the game when he departed but a rough outing by Reliever Frank DeJiulio put the game out of reach. DeJiulio gave up three earned runs in only 1.2 innings and saw his ERA balloon to 10.13. The Kernels are on a two game skid in which they’ve been outscored 17-3. Prior to the game, Austin Wood was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 5th-15th. Going into Monday’s game, Wood had allowed only 1 run off of just 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 15 over 10 innings in his first 2 starts of the season. Wood is the first Kernel this season to earn MWL weekly honors.

Next up: Michael Clevinger will take the mound tonight for the Kernels opposite Chiefs’ hurler Patrick Francescon in game two of the three game series.

4/16/12 Box Score

AngelsWin.com Top 10 Prospects

1. Mike Trout (CF) (AAA) ..... 1-4, 1 Run. Hitting .420 w/ .474 OBP.
2. Garrett Richards (RHP) (AAA) ..... 2-0, 2.14 ERA – 21 K’s in 21 IP. 0.76 WHIP
3. Jean Segura (SS) (AA) ..... 0-3. Hitting .241
4. John Hellweg (RHP) (AA) ..... 2.70 ERA, Starts today.
5. C. J. Cron (1B) (A+) ..... 0-3, Hitting .279. Only 2 hits in his last 18 at-bats.
6. Taylor Lindsey (2B) (A+) ..... 1-3, 1 RBI. Hitting .211
7. Matt Shoemaker (RHP) (AAA) ..... 2-0, 3.26 ERA.
8. Luis Jimenez (3B) (AAA) ..... Day off. Hitting .294.
9. Kole Calhoun (OF) (AAA) ..... 2-4, 1 Run. Hitting .292
10. Kaleb Cowart (3B) (A) ..... 1-4, 2 K’s. Batting .349.

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