7/8/05 - Minor League Box Scores & Articles

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We are back in this forum with box scores and articles combined!

Hens rained out; Karnuth added to IL All-Star team

By BRUCE WELLS
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE


RICHMOND, Va. - The Toledo Mud Hens' game here against the Richmond Braves was rained out last night, and will be made up as part of a doubleheader tonight. But there was some good news for the Hens yesterday.


Closer Jason Karnuth was added to the International League All-Star team.

Karnuth is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.33 and 13 saves. It will be Karnuth's first All-Star game

Hens starter Sean Douglass and reliever Vic Darensbourg were named to the IL team earlier, but on the day they were named Douglass was called up to the parent Detroit Tigers. His record is 2-0 with Detroit.

Darensbourg has played the role of set-up man to a tee with an ERA of 0.35 in 26 innings. He has appeared in 39 games and has a 2-0 record with six saves.

The 18th annual Triple-A All-Star game will be played Wednesday at Raley Field, home of the Sacramento RiverCats.

Meanwhile, former Mud Hen and Tiger right-hander Seth Greisinger, an All-American at the University of Virginia and Detroit's first-round pick - the sixth choice overall - in 1996, was sold by Richmond to a Korean team yesterday.[joining Nelson Cruz??]

Between 1998-99, Greisinger made 12 starts for the Hens, going 3-5, and was just 23 years old when he made his major league debut in June, 1998, losing 5-1 to Roger Clemens and the Toronto Blue Jays.

After undergoing "Tommy John" elbow surgery in June 1999, Greisinger missed all of 2000 and 2001. He returned in 2002, made it back to the majors, and then had shoulder problems. More surgery. He pitched for the Hens in 2003, and then made it to the majors with the Minnesota Twins last year. He struggled a bit, was sent to the minors, and before he could be called up to help in a pennant race, he broke his hand. In 41 major league games he is 10-16 with a 5.56 ERA.

Greisinger, 30, had spent most of this season in Richmond, going 4-7 with a 3.01 ERA.

"Financially, it's a good move for him," said Richmond manager Pat Kelly. "He got a pretty good guaranteed contract for the next 3 1/2 months. I think it was a tough decision; he wasn't sure it was a good move career-wise."

"I've had my issues," Greisinger said. "But the good news is I'm pitching."

NOTES: The Hens have been on top of the IL West for 14 consecutive days, their longest stay on top since the beginning of the 1969 season. Toledo is hitting .381 on its current road trip.

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ERIE (3) AT ALTOONA (2)

 ERIE             AB  R  H BI  ALTOONA          AB  R  H BI
 J Francia 2B      4  1  1  0  R Davis CF        4  0  0  0 
 S Tousa 3B        4  0  1  0  J Guzman SS       4  0  1  1 
 J Tejeda 1B       3  0  0  0  J Bautista 3B     4  0  1  1 
 K Airoso DH       4  0  0  0  T Evans DH        4  0  0  0 
 B Gettis RF       3  1  0  0  J Bonifay 1B      4  0  1  0 
 T Giarratano SS   3  1  1  0  J Cortes RF       4  0  1  0 
 M St. Pierre C    3  0  2  1  R Sadler LF       3  0  1  0 
 C Maples LF       2  0  0  1  C Stansberry 2B   3  1  0  0 
 V Mendez CF       3  0  0  0  C Maldonado C     3  1  1  0 
 TOTALS           29  3  5  2  TOTALS           33  2  6  2

 ERIE                      100 010 100 --  3
 ALTOONA                   000 000 020 --  2

 E--C Stansberry, J Bautista, M St. Pierre. 
 DP--ALTOONA 2. LOB--ERIE 2, ALTOONA 6. 2B--C 
 Maldonado, J Bonifay, J Francia, M St. Pierre. 
 SB--R Sadler 1 (4). CS--S Tousa. SF--C Maples.
                                   IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
  ERIE
 J Zumaya (W,8-3)                   5   1   0   0   1   6   0
 A Peterson                     2 2-3   3   2   2   1   3   0
 T Rodney                         1-3   1   0   0   0   0   0
 E Almonte (S,25)                   1   1   0   0   0   2   0
  ALTOONA
 T Gorzelanny (L,4-4)               7   5   3   2   1   7   0
 J Kaye                             2   0   0   0   1   2   0

 SO--ERI: S Tousa 2, V Mendez 2, K Airoso 2, J 
 Tejeda, C Maples, B Gettis. ALT: J Bonifay 2, J 
 Cortes 2, C Stansberry 2, T Evans, R Sadler, J 
 Bautista, R Davis, J Guzman. BB--ERI: J Tejeda, B 
 Gettis. ALT: R Sadler, C Stansberry. T--2:18. 
 A--3,868.

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'Wolves hang on against Curve

From staff reports


ALTOONA-- The Erie SeaWolves fought off rain and a late comeback by Altoona to maintain first place in the Eastern League's South-ern Division.

Edwin Almonte struck out Craig Stansberry with the tying run on third and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve Erie's 3-2 win Thursday night before 3,868 fans at Blair County Ballpark.

The SeaWolves remained a half game in front of the Akron Aeros for first place in the division.

The teams open a four-game series tonight at Akron.

Erie scored single runs in the top of the first, fifth and seventh innings off Altoona starter Tom Gorzelanny (4-4).

Juan Francia scored in the first when he doubled and later scored on an error by Stansberry.

The SeaWolves went up 2-0 when Byron Gettis scored on a sacrifice fly by Christopher Maples.

In the seventh, the SeaWolves used back-to-back, two-out hits to produce their third run.

Tony Giarratano singled to left and scored on a double by catcher Max St. Pierre.

Altoona rallied in the bottom of the eighth.

Stansberry and Carlos Maldonado reached off Erie reliever Adam Peterson and later scored on RBIs by Javier Guzman and Jose Bautista.

Almonte retired Altoona's first two batters in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Ray Sadler singled, stole second and reached third on a throwing error by St. Pierre.

Almonte, though, struck out Stansberry for his 25th save.

Joel Zumaya (8-3) allowed no runs and one hit in five innings. He struck out six batters.

He was on a pitch count because of his scheduled appearance in Sunday's Major League Futures Game at Detroit.

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Erie SeaWolves at Akron Aeros

Erie SeaWolves (47-39)

at Akron Aeros (46-39)

Friday-Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, 2:05 p.m.

Monday, 7:05 p.m.

On the air:WFNN-AM/1330

Pitching matchups:



Today:Erie RH Randor Bierd (1-3, 5.40) vs. Akron LH Rafael Perez (1-0, 0.00)


Saturday:Erie RH Jeremy Johnson (7-4, 4.12) vs. Akron LH Jeremy Sowers (0-1, 2.70)


Sunday:Erie RH Nate Cornejo (4-9, 3.94) vs. Akron RH Dan Denham (6-6, 3.63)


Monday:Erie RH Humberto Sanchez (3-2, 5.75) vs. Akron RH Jake Dittler (4-6, 3.17)

Notes: Akron won two of three games from Erie at Jerry Uht Park from June 13-15 in the last series between the teams. Erie, however, leads the season series 6-5. The SeaWolves are 3-1 against Akron at Canal Park this season and 3-4 against the Aeros at home. ... Erie pitchers Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander will leave the club Saturday and join the U.S. Team they will represent in Sunday's Major League Baseball Futures Game at Comerica Park in Detroit. The game is set for 4 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. ... Akron manager Torey Lovullo is one of five assistant coaches on the U.S. Futures Team. ... Akron will send three players - outifielder Jon Van Every, third baseman Pat Osborn and left-hander Chris Cooper - to Wednesday's Eastern League All-Star Game in Portland, Maine. Cooper replaces Akron right-hander J.D. Martin, who was selected to the game but had to withdraw because of a strained right elbow.

-- Ron Leonardi

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SEAWOLVES HANG ON FOR 3-2 VICTORY
Joel Zumaya improves to 8-3


Altoona, PA—It was dubbed as a match up of all-stars, and it lived up to expectations. Joel Zumaya and Tom Gorzelanny squared off in the finale of their four-game series with first place on the line, and Zumaya came out on the winning end. The hard throwing right-hander pitched five scoreless innings of one-hit ball to help the SeaWolves defeat the Altoona Curve 3-2.

Erie jumped ahead early scoring an unearned run in the first of Gorzelanny (4-4). Juan Francia led off the game with a double, and came around to score after Scott Tousa’s bunt single, and a throwing error by Curve second baseman Craig Stansberry. The Wolves would add to their lead in the fifth when Byron Gettis led off with a walk, and eventually scored on Chris Maples’ sacrifice fly to center.

The SeaWolves led 2-0 heading into the seventh inning, and they put together a two-out rally to get a much needed insurance run. Tony Giarratano singled to left field, and then Max St. Pierre hit a double down the third base line that scored Giarratano all the way from first base.

Adam Peterson came in to relieve Zumaya, and did a good job striking out three in his first two innings. But in the eighth, he ran into a bit of trouble walking the leadoff man, and then giving up a double to Carlos Maldonado. After Rajai Davis grounded back to Peterson, Javier Guzman drove in Stansberry from third with an RBI ground out to third. Lee Rodney then came in with a runner on third, and surrendered a bloop single to left field that made the game 3-2.

Leading by just one heading into the ninth, Edwin Almonte came in to try and collect his 25th save of the season. He struck out Josh Bonifay to open the inning, then retired Jorge Cortes on a flyout to deep right field. With two outs, Almonte gave up an opposite field single to Ray Sadler. With the count 2-2 to Stansberry, Sadler took off for second and slid in safely as the throw from St. Pierre went into center field. Sadler went to third on the throw, so now the tying run was 90-feet away. Fortunately, Almonte threw a great change-up on 3-2, and got Stansberry swinging to end the game.

With the win, the Wolves took the series 3-1, and won six of eight in Altoona this season. Erie heads to Akron to begin a four-game series with the Akron on Friday night. Randor Bierd will get the start for the SeaWolves, and Rafael Perez will go for the Aeros. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm, and you can catch all the action live on Sports Radio 1330 The Fan or on the internet at www.seawolves.com.

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Could not find a text based box for the Lakeland game (ESPN did not have it or some others this morning!).

Tata Helps Tigers Remain Perfect For Month of July

By TOM ZEBOLD
Ledger Correspondent

LAKELAND -- The Lakeland Tigers refuse to lose in the month of July.

Starting pitcher Jordan Tata struck out eight over five innings to lead the Tigers to a 6-0 victory over Daytona in front of a crowd of 370 at Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday.

With the win, the Tigers increased their winning streak to nine.

Tata (7-2) retired nine of the first ten Cubs he faced. Daytona did not get a hit until the fourth inning when designated hitter Scott Moore singled on a ground ball with two outs.

A walk and an error set up Daytona with the bases loaded and its best chance of scoring. Tata quickly ended the rally when he got Paul O'Toole to end the inning with a weak fly-out to third base.

Lakeland had no problems scoring runs as the Tigers started off the game with a five-run first inning. Third baseman Kody Kirkland highlighted the inning by recording his sixth triple of the season that drove in two Lakeland runs.

Daytona starting pitcher Anderson Tavarez never got comfortable on the mound and was lifted after giving up six runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Lakeland designated hitter Derek Nicholson blasted his eighth home run of the year over the left field fence for the team's sixth run.

Meanwhile the Cubs could only produce two hits against Lakeland pitching and struck out 13 times.

Daniel Zell pitched a perfect ninth inning to close out the game. He has not allowed a run in 18 appearances, which goes all the way back to May 16.

The Tigers' recent streak has allowed the team to move into second place in the Florida State League standings. The team is now only a half game behind the Dunedin Blue Jays and is 7-3 at home during the second half of the season.

Preston Larrison (1-2) will look to get his second win of the season and increase Lakeland's win streak to ten when he is expected to take the mound against Daytona's Lee Gwaltney Friday at 7 p.m.

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Last minute wins becoming habit
Whitecaps wait until the ninth to score


DAVENPORT, IA - For second time in a week West Michigan faced a multi-run deficit going into the ninth but pulled out a 10 inning victory, 6-5 over Quad Cities.

The win earned the Whitecaps a 2-2 split in the series with the West Division leading Swing and stretches West Michigan’s extra-inning win streak to eight. The Whitecaps are now 9-3 in extra inning games.

Quad Cities took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on the third home run in the series for Eric Verbryke.

A questionable RBI double by Rick Ankiel in the eighth made it 3-0 Swing. The ball appeared to go off the wall several feet on the foul side of the right field foul pole. Both runners on base stopped and the Whitecaps defenders stopped moving as well until a hesitant fair ball call was made by the umpires. Matt Shepherd scored from second on the play.

In the top of the ninth, Justin Justice led off with a home run against Swing starter Phillip Andersen, who had allowed just four base runners in the game prior to the ninth. Andersen then walked Steve Young and was removed from the game.

Closer Mike Sillman, who is third in the league with 17 saves came in and blew a save opportunity. Nick McInytre walked and Brent Dlugach singled to load the bases and put the go-ahead run on base. Back-to-back fielder's choice ground outs by Luis Sabino and Wilkin Ramirez provided the second and third runs of the inning to tie the game, 3-3.

Dlugach came through the go-ahead hit in the tenth inning of Jayme Torres. A two-run triple to right put the Whitecaps on top, 5-3. Dlugach scored on a single by Sabino for a 6-3 advantage.

Kevin Ardoin struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for the Whitecaps, but walked the bases loaded in the tenth. The third walk issued by Ardoin came on a ball called by the umpires because Ardoin put his hand to his mouth before a pitch.

West Michigan manager Matt Walbeck came out to argue the call, which brought Mike Ferris to the plate with the winning run and 11 home runs on the season. Walbeck was ejected from the game.

Ferris singled to right to drive in a pair of runs against Whitecaps closer Anthony Tomey. The next batter, pinch hitter Nick Stavinoh flied to right to end the game. Tomey earned his seventh save.

Josh Kauten pitched six innings in his second starter for the Whitecaps since coming off a six-week stint on the disabled list. He allowed four hits, but all were in the first inning. Kauten retired ten in a row before allowing a lead off walk in the seventh.

Lavon Lewis kept the game close as he pitched the seventh and eighth for the Whitecaps.

Dlugach finished 3-for-5. Justice went 2-for-4 and doubled to start the rally in the tenth. He also scored the go-ahead run.

Jeff Frazier went 0-for-3 with a walk to end his 12-game hitting streak.

West Michigan rallied from a 6-1 deficit through eight innings last Saturday against Clinton to win 7-6 in ten innings. The next day, the Whitecaps were down 6-0, but beat the Lumberkings, 12-8.

The second leg of the Whitecaps eight game road trip is at Clinton. A four game series begins Friday.

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Middleton’s slam leads O-Tigers to 13-7 victory

O-TIGERS ’05

Staff Report


Oneonta and Tri-City showed why they’re two of the New York-Penn League’s offensive teams by combining for 22 hits Thursday.

The O-Tigers, though, came up with the bigger ones.

Cory Middleton hit a grand slam in the first inning and Oneonta defeated the host ValleyCats, 13-7, for its fifth straight victory.

The O-Tigers improved to a league-best 12-4 heading into tonight’s home double-header against Tri-City (8-8). The first game starts at 6 p.m. at Damaschke Field.

Middleton, Michael Hollimon and Rafael Mendez had two hits apiece for the O-Tigers, and Joel Roa also homered.

Middleton’s first-inning grand slam gave Oneonta a 4-0 lead. The teams traded runs in the second, and the Tigers scored two more in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by William Rhymes and Hollimon.

Roa homered in the sixth to make it 8-1, but Tri-City answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Two Oneonta runs in the seventh pushed the lead to 10-2.

However, the ValleyCats rallied with five runs in the seventh, highlighted by Jordan Parraz’s two-run single with the bases loaded.

The O-Tigers came back with three insurance runs in the ninth. Two scored on bases-loaded walks by Tri-City’s Eric Sheridan.

Guillermo Moscoso (1-1) allowed five hits and two runs in six innings to earn the victory. He struck out four and walked none.

Each team finished with 11 hits. The ValleyCats entered the game with a .306 team average, which is tops in the NY-Penn. Oneonta’s .279 average ranked third. Jamestown is second at .285.

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Army grad catches on with Tigers

NY-PENN BASEBALL

By Chris Lofaro


Contributing Writer


ONEONTA — The Oneonta Tigers have a leader unlike any other in New York-Penn League baseball.

Meet Schuyler Williamson, 2005 draft pick, backup catcher, Army officer.

Williamson, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army, became the second United States Military Academy player selected in the history of the amateur baseball draft this past June. A former star catcher at West Point, Williamson went to Detroit in the 26th round of the 2005 draft.

Playing time has been sporadic at best for Williamson in the short-season, Single-A league thus far, but he’s making the most of his innings. Williamson, who played the last three innings of Thursday’s 13-7 victory at Tri-City, is batting .500 (5-for-10) with four RBIs, three runs and two doubles in seven appearances for the Stedler Division-leading O-Tigers this summer.

"Schuyler is probably the hardest-working guy we have," O-Tigers manager Tom Brookens said, "and we have hard workers on this team."

That’s usually expected of USMA graduates, who are required to serve a minimum of five years on active duty and three years in a Reserve Component after finishing school.

Williamson’s case is unique, though, as the recently implemented Alternate Service Option allowed him to play professional baseball right out of college. Williamson, who must be under contract to remain eligible for the option plan, will owe the Army two years of active duty. If he’s still playing baseball after fulfilling those two years, Williamson can choose to "trade in" his final three years of required active duty for six years in the reserves.

"My goal when I started out was to do four years (at West Point) and then serve my country," said Williamson, the co-Player of the Year in the Patriot League as a junior. "The Alternative Service Option was instated in March of this year, so I was just in the right place at the right time. As far as my obligation goes, we are going to see how everything plays out. But no matter what, my country will be waiting."

Outfielder Josh Holden, a 2003 West Point graduate, was the first former USMA player to be granted a release from active duty under the option plan. Holden signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Cincinnati Reds last season and played in the rookie Gulf Coast League during his leave time.

Holden completed his two-year requirement to the Army during the past offseason and joined the Billings Mustangs — the Reds’ Single-A rookie affiliate of the Pioneer League — in June. According to the website billingsgazette.com, Holden will handle public relations and recruiting aspects for the Army when he returns to reserve duty.

Another thing Williamson needs to consider — should he follow the same path as Holden — is the cost of reimbursing the Army for college expenses. The website www.recordonline.com reported June 2 that Holden’s agent and the Reds were negotiating a debt of $120,000 owed to the Army as the result of the player’s decision to "trade in" his remaining years of active duty.

There seem to be as many pros as cons for Williamson, who joins Mike Scioletti (1998, 43rd round, White Sox) as the only former USMA players selected drafted. Right now, though, Williamson seems to be leaning toward the pros.

"Schuyler is a natural athlete and a great leader," Army baseball coach Joe Sottolano said. "Whenever you take a West Point graduate and put him in the general public, it can only benefit all that are involved. Especially Schuyler, because he is a special kid."

Williamson displayed strength, maturity and leadership as a teenager, said his former Pensacola Catholic High (Fla.) baseball coach, Richard LaBounty.

"He’s the reason why I went," Williamson said of LaBounty, who urged him to consider joining the USMA. "I never knew — or heard — about the military academy."

Williamson, who graduated from high school in 2001, started his military training at West Point that summer. Williamson went on to set 15 USMA baseball records and graduated as the Black Knights’ all-time leader in at-bats, runs, total bases, games played, multiple-homer games, runners caught stealing and percentage of runners caught stealing.

"No matter what," LaBounty said, "Schuyler will make everyone around him better."