Across the Affiliates 05/18/08

A five-run seventh inning was enough to lead the Toledo Mud Hens to an 8-5 in on Saturday evening (box/gamer). Facing a rehabbing Dontrelle Willis, the Clippers managed only one run on five hits and four walks over the first five innings. Tommy Murphy (1/4), Alex Escobar (3/4), Rey Olmedo (1/4), and Yurendell de Caster (1/3) all hit solo home runs for Columbus. By going 3/4 with a double, homer and two RBI, Escobar extended his hitting streak to twelve games. RF Jorge Padilla was 1/2 with two walks in his debut for Columbus. Garrett Mock took the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out five. Bobby Brownlie was torched for five runs on four hits and one hit batter in just one inning of work. Notes: Columbus activated Kory Casto (hamate) from the DL and released Jason Dubois.

Record:  Columbus 24-20, 3rd place IL West (4GB)
Today: RHP Collin Balester (4-2, 3.79) at Toledo LHP Casey Fossum (1-0, 2.84) at 1:05PM

Harrisburg was scheduled to play two seven inning games on Saturday but only got one completed. Fortunately for the Senators, they picked up a win against Altoona (box/gamer). Cory VanAllen moved to 3-0 on the season with six innings of work in which he surrendered four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out a pair. VanAllen is now a combined 6-0 in 2008 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over eight appearances with 32 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 46IP. Zech Zinicola picked up his fourth save with a one-hit scoreless ninth. Mike Daniel was 1/2 with a walk, run scored and his eighth stolen base of the season. Roger Bernadina was 2/3 with a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Justin Maxwell stole his thirteenth base of the season as part of a 1/3 evening. Luis Jimenez  and Luke Montz each homered in the winning effort.

Record:  Harrisburg 26-14, 1st place EL South (2 games ahead)
Today: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-1, 2.92) hosts Altoona LHP Kyle Bloom (0-3, 6.41) at 1:05PM

Potomac’s Edgardo Baez was 3/5 with three doubles and six RBI as the P-Nats blasted the Salem Avalanche 10-1 (box/gamer). Chris Marrero was 2/4 with a double, walk, RBI and two runs scored. Matt Rogelstad’s streak of three straight games with a home run came to an end but he managed a pair of doubles, scoring once. Marvin Lowrance scored three times while going 2/3 with a walk and Frank Diaz drove in and scored two runs while going 3/5 with a double. Joe Norrito picked up the win in his spot start with five scoreless innings allowing only two hits with three strikours. Clint Everts picked up his first save of the season for Potomac with three innings surrendering the only run on two hits and one walk while striking out two.

Record:  Potomac 26-15, 1st place Carolina North (2.5 games ahead)
Today: RHP Jhonny Nunez (0-4, 5.30) at Salem RHP Casey Hudspeth (2-3, 4.57) at 2:07PM

Hagerstown fell behind early 6-0 and could not muster enough of a rally, dropping a 6-4 decision to Kannapolis (box/gamer). Brad Peacock fell to 0-5 on the season allowing all six runs (four earned) on three hits and six walks in just 2 1/3 innings of work. Ryan Harrison, Luis Atilano,  and Edulin Abreu kept the Suns in the game with 6 2/3 scoreless innings of relief allowing a combined four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Boomer Whiting was held hitless but did steal his seventh base in short time with Hagerstown. Stephen King was 2/4 with a double and two RBI, Michael Burgess was 1/4 with his eleventh home run on the season, and Bill Rhinehart & Dan Lyons were each 2/4 with a walk and a double.

Record:  Hagerstown 20-21, tied for 4th place Sally North (6GB)
Today: RHP Brad Meyers (1-0, 5.40) versus Kannapolis at 2:05PM