By Adrian Noche, AngelsWin.com Minor League Reporter -
Editors Note: Next week we'll be back on track with our full featured program, our prospect hotlist and the minor league report. Until then, enjoy Adrian's Minor League report on all Angels affiliates.
Triple-A Salt Lake Bees
The Bees are still sitting in last place of their division despite going 4-3 since Tuesday. They have an overall record of 12-18 (8.5 GB). Andrew Heaney managed to work around 10 hits in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the win on Wednesday. The lefty allowed just a single earned run and walk while striking out 2. Nick Tropeano pitched 7 solid innings on Sunday, allowing just 2 earned runs, 7 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts. Catcher, Jett Bandy, has been great since the call-up of Carlos Perez. Bandy logged his third consecutive multi-hit game and is batting .636 (11 at-bats) with a home run and 2 doubles during that span. Bandy’s season slash line stands at .365/.382/.538. After showing signs of slowing down, Kyle Kubitza’s bat is starting to heat up once again. The third baseman is currently on a 6-game hitting streak where he is hitting .409 (22 at-bats) and owns a BB:K ratio of 4:3. Centerfielder, Gary Brown, has been on a tear as of late. After batting .160 in 9 games with St. Louis’ Triple-A affiliate, Brown has managed to climb his batting average up to .260 on the season. Brown’s slash line with the Salt Lake Bees (15 games) is an impressive .310/.339/.569. Left fielder, Andy Marte, is swinging the bat just as well. In his past 10 games, Marte is hitting .410 with 2 doubles and 2 triples.
Double-A Arkansas Travelers
The Travelers went 2-3 since Tuesday and have an overall record of 18-11, sitting just 0.5 GB first place. Nate Smith pitched 6.2 strong innings on his start Tuesday. Smith struck out 7 batters while allowing 2 earned runs, 5 hits and 3 walks. Austin Wood pitched 5 shutout innings on Sunday, striking out 5 while giving up 4 hits and a walk. Starting pitcher, Albert Suarez, continued to pitch the ball well with 7.0 innings of 2-run ball on Thursday. Kurt Spomer has yet to allow an earned run this season, stretching his scoreless streak to 13.2 innings with a shutout inning on Sunday. Brian Hernandez extended his hitting streak to 7 games on Sunday. The first baseman leads the Travelers in several offensive categories: AVG (.321), hits (35), TB (47) and RBI (28).
High-A Inland Empire
Like the Travelers, the 66ers went 2-3 since Tuesday and currently sit in last place of their division with an overall record of 14-16 (3.5 GB). Chris Ellis had his best start of the year on Wednesday. Ellis gave up 4 earned runs and struck out 10 batters in 7.0 innings pitched while giving up 6 hits and 2 walks. Despite the high ERA, Ellis has a WHIP of 1.16, 11.3 SO9 and 2.2 BB9 so far this season. Jordan Kipper bounced back after giving up 5 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched on Tuesday. On Sunday, Kipper pitched 6.0 innings of 1-run ball while striking out 7 batters. Kaleb Cowart (.191 AVG) hit his 2nd home run of the season on Wednesday and logged his second consecutive multi-hit game on Sunday. Outfielder, Mike Fish, is starting to heat up after a slow start to the season. In his last 10 games, Fish is hitting .394 with 1 home run, 1 double and 1 triple. Outfielder, Brandon Bayardi, hit his 1st home run of the season on Tuesday and has a slash line of .316/.400/.430 on the year.
Low-A Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees managed to win only 1 game since Tuesday (1-4). They currently have a 15-15 record and are 9.0 GB first place. Sean Newcomb struck out 7 batters in 5.0 innings pitched on Wednesday. Newcomb gave up just 1 earned run, 5 hits and 2 walks. Newcomb has struck out 42 batters in 29.0 innings pitched but has walked 15 batters as well. Keynan Middleton pitched his 5th straight quality start on Saturday, giving up just 1 earned run in 6.0 innings pitched while striking out 2 batters (4 H 2 BB). Second baseman, Andrew Daniel, smacked home runs in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday.
