BISCUIT CRUMBS: June 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

3 Bulls on International League team

Former Biscuits infielder Elliot Johnson is one of three Durham Bulls who will play for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The others are Dan Johnson and Joe Dillon.

4 Biscuits picked for All-Star Game

Pitchers Matt Gorgen, Jeremy Hall and Alex Torres and second baseman Drew Anderson have been named to the Sotuhern League's South Division All-Star team. The game is July 12 in Huntsville.

Gorgen has a 1.59 ERA and is among the league leaders with 14 saves. He's allowed 22 hits in 34 innings. Hall is 4-4 with a 3.01 ERA and had a 35-inning scoreless streak this season. Torres leads the Biscuits in victories. He's 7-3 with a 2.61 ERA. Anderson has a .293 average in 54 games this season.

Pitcher Darin Downs was also voted to the team, but won't play since he's been promoted to Triple-A Durham.

(Reminder: This roster will change as players are promoted -- and they will be. Heck, the North Division roster released Tuesday has already been amended. I won't be listing every change as they happen.)

C: Orlando Mercado, MIS; Konrad Schmidt, MOB
1B: Bryan Byrne, MOB
2B: Drew Anderson, MGM
3B: Matt Dominguez, JAX
SS: Jake Elmore, MOB

4 outfielders
Willie Cabrera, MIS
Evan Frey, MOB
Ollie Linton, MOB
Brandon Tripp, JAX

DH: Cody Johnson, MIS
Utility IF: Tim Torres, JAX
Utility OF: Salvador Sanchez, BHM

Pitchers
Brandon Beachy, MIS
Anthony Carter, BHM
Josh Collmenter, MOB
Matt Gorgen, MGM
Jeremy Hall, MGM
Dan Jennings, JAX
Tom Koehler, JAX
Miguel Socolovich, BHM
Alex Torres, MGM
Elih Villanueva, JAX

Voted in, can't play
Darin Downs, MGM, pitcher (promoted)
Barry Enright, MOB, pitcher (promoted)
Osvaldo Martinez, JAX, shortstop (Futures Game)
Mike Minor, MIS, pitcher (promoted AND Futures)
Brent Morel, BHM, third base (promoted)
Matt Peterson, JAX, pitcher (promoted)
Alex Sanabia, JAX, pitcher (promoted)
Mike Stanton, JAX, outfield (promoted)

According to the Southern League, Stanton and Morel weren't eligible in the voting because they weren't on a Southern League roster as of June 11. I would have voted for both.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Paxton, Gamecocks celebrate national title

Former Biscuits catcher Ian Paxton is surely smiling at the moment. Paxton played in college for South Carolina and the Gamecocks just won their first national championship. USC beat UCLA 2-1 in 11 innings to sweep the CWS championship series.

Jennings messes with bull, doesn't worry about horns

Durham center fielder Desmond Jennings finally took a leisurely stroll around the bases tonight.

Jennings hit his first home run -- off the bull at Durham Bulls Athletic Park -- in a 7-5 win over Louisville. The bull sign promises a free steak if you hit the bull. Hit the grass and you get a salad.

Pitcher Virgil Vasquez also made his first appearance since an April wrist injury. He worked five innings.

O'Malley continues to shine with Crabs

Biscuits shortstop Shawn O'Malley did well again tonight in a rehab game for the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

O'Malley tripled twice, had four hits and scored three runs in a 6-0 win at Palm Beach.

Cortez returning to Triple-A Charlotte

Former Biscuits infielder Fernando Cortez has been promoted from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox organization. Cortez hit .380 in 23 games for the Barons after starting the season in the independent Atlantic League.

Cortez was with Charlotte for the 2008 season. He won't have to wait long to see old friends. The Knights play their next seven games against Norfolk, which features outfielder Joey Gathright, a former Biscuit and friend of Cortez. Charlotte hosts Durham for two games after that.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Chattanooga, Carolina sport league's award winners

Chattanooga first baseman Jerry Sands and Carolina right-hander Matt Klinker won the Southern League's weekly awards today.

Klinker allowed two earned runs on eight hits in 13 innings over the last week to improve to 5-4 with a 1.75 ERA. He's recorded eight straight quality starts for the Mudcats.

Sands was 7-of-15 with three home runs in four games. He was promoted last week to the Lookouts after hitting .333 with 18 homers in 69 games at low-Class A Great Lakes.

My Southern League All-Star vote

The Southern League All-Star vote deadline was Friday and here's the ballot I cast.

Remember, a player had to be on the roster June 11 to be eligible. Hence, no Mike Stanton. I did end up voting for five Biscuits. "Winners" get to spend a few days in Huntsville next month. The game is July 12.

SOUTH DIVISION
2 catchers: Konrad Schmidt, MOB; Nevin Ashley, MGM
first base: Bryan Byrne, MOB
second base: Jacob Elmore, MOB
third base: Matt Dominguez, JAX
shortstop: Osvaldo Martinez, JAX

4 outfielders
Collin Cowgill, MOB
Willie Cabrera, MIS
Brandon Tripp, JAX
Evan Frey, MOB

DH: Mauro Gomez, MIS
utility infielder: Cody Cipriano, MGM
utility outfielder: Emeel Salem, MGM

2 pitchers: Tom Koehler, JAX, Elih Villanueva, JAX
2 starters: Alex Torres, MGM; Alex Sanabia, JAX
1 reliever: Darin Downs, MGM
1 closer: Matt Peterson, JAX

NORTH DIVISION
2 catchers: Robinson Chirinos, TEN; Mike Rivera, CHA
first base: Johan Limonta, WTN
second base: Brett Lawrie, HSV
third base: Corey Smith, CHA
shortstop: Dee Gordon, CHA

4 outfielders
Ty Wright, TEN
Carlos Peguero, WTN
Lorenzo Cain, HSV
Trayvon Robinson, CHA

DH: Alex Liddi, WTN
utility infielder: Zelous Wheeler, HSV
utility outfielder: Caleb Gindl, HSV

2 pitchers: Matt Klinker, CAR; Austin Bibens-Dirkx, TEN
2 starters: Mike Pineda, WTN; Hung-Wen Chen, TEN
1 reliever: Robert Rohrbaugh, WTN
1 closer: David Cales, TEN

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Durham's game Monday on MLB Network

If you fear withdrawal while the Biscuits head off on a road trip, don't miss Durham's game Monday on the MLB Network. The Bulls host the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with coverage starting at noon. Richard De Los Santos is scheduled to start for Durhamm.

Decide on All-Star team only from Rays minor leaguers

All the leagues are naming their All-Stars, so raysprospects.com has developed a fine idea and is naming an All-Star team of Tampa Bay minor leaguers. Online voting is open through July 5.

Jim Donten of the site wrote that if all goes well with this, they'll do a team for the short-season teams and a full-system postseason team, too.

They're going to list the vote totals periodically, just like the major league All-Star vote. Give me a few days and I'll list my own vote. (I'll say now that little hellion Jeremy Hellickson might deserve to be the starting pitcher.)

Upton, Longoria fight in Rays' dugout

After B.J. Upton didn't hustle after a ball today, Evan Longoria confronted him in the dugout. Here's a story about it and you can watch the video below.

Sunday: Biscuits 6, Diamond Jaxx 2

Matt Sweeney’s two-run double in the sixth inning gave the Biscuits the lead in a 6-2 win Sunday over the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

Sweeney’s hit came with the bases loaded. A third run scored on the play due to an error. Sweeney scored on a Chris De La Cruz single to cap a four-run inning.

Montgomery won four of six games in the series with West Tenn.

Sunday lineups

The finale of a six-game series.

1:51: The tarp was out and then pulled off with a 2:05 start still planned. BUT now they're pulling the tarp out again and it's raining and players are moseying off the field. Doesn't look like it'll start on time.

2:16: Scheduled for a 2:45 start.

BISCUITS
Emeel Salem dh
Rashad Eldridge cf
Nevin Ashley c
Chris Nowak 1b
Leslie Anderson lf
Cody Cipriano 2b
Matt Sweeney 3b
John Matulia rf
Chris De La Cruz ss
Alex Torres lhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Dustin Ackley 2b
Leury Bonilla cf
Alex Liddi 3b
Johan Limonta 1b
Scott Savastano dh
Jose Yepez c
Nate Tenbrink lf
Kuo Hui Lo rf
Carlos Triunfel ss
Steve Bray rhp

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Wrigley promoted to Biscuits; Fields sent down

Henry Wrigley is being promoted from high-Class A Charlotte to the Biscuits, while first baseman Matt Fields is being demoted to the Stone Crabs.

Wrigley, who has played mostly third base and left field, had a .292 average for the Stone Crabs. He led Charlotte with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Fields was hitting .232 and led Montgomery with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.

Saturday: Biscuits 5, Diamond Jaxx 3

Alex Cobb, after giving up three runs within the game’s first four batters, retired 14 straight and worked into the seventh inning, leading the Biscuits in a 5-3 win over West Tenn on Saturday.

The Diamond Jaxx went triple-double-lineout-Johan Limonta home run to start the game and led 3-0.

The Biscuits tied it on Leslie Anderson’s three-run homer in the third. Matt Sweeney doubled and scored on John Matulia’s single to put Montgomery ahead in the fifth. Chris Nowak singled in Rashad Eldridge in the sixth.

Cobb (3-2) left after the first two hitters in the seventh reached. Paul Phillips worked a perfect two innings and Matt Gorgen pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

Baker wins again with shutout effort

Brian Baker is slipping. After throwing five no-hit innings in a spot start Monday, Baker gave up two hits today while throwing five shutout innings in Durham's 10-3 win over Indianapolis. He improved to 6-0.

Saturday lineups

Running a little behind today, but I think it's worth it. I've talked to two proud grandmothers today -- Doris Jackson of Wetumpka and Julia Maxie of Millbrook -- who were as giddy as schoolgirls Friday night watching grandson Edwin Jackson throw a no-hitter. Look for the story in Sunday's Advertiser.

Tonight at Riverwalk, it's the fifth game of six between West Tenn and the Biscuits.

BISCUITS
Emeel Salem rf
Rashad Eldridge cf
Cody Cipriano 2b
Chris Nowak 1b
Leslie Anderson lf
Matt Sweeney 3b
John Matulia dh
Craig Albernaz c
Chris De La Cruz ss
Alex Cobb rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Dustin Ackley 2b
Carlos Peguero lf
Alex Liddi 1b
Johan Limonta dh
Scott Savastano rf
Nate Tenbrink 3b
Ralph Henriquez c
Carlos Triunfel ss
Brandon Haveman cf
Dan Cortes rhp

System check

You know the drill.

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South
(44-30, first place, 8 GA)
RHP Jeremy Hellickson allowed no earned runs in six innings Friday, improving to 10-2 with a 2.19 ERA. He’s 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in his last seven starts.
RHP Brian Baker threw five no-hit innings in a spot start Monday to improve to 5-0 with a 3.15 ERA. He walked the leadoff hitter and retired the last 15 batters he faced.
CF Desmond Jennings has a .387 on-base percentage and has scored 22 runs in 20 June games.
LHP Darin Downs allowed two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings in his debut Wednesday.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
Florida State League South
(0-2, tied for fifth, 2 GB)
RHP Zach Quate has thrown 15 straight scoreless innings, giving him an 0.49 ERA. He’s 13-for-14 on saves, has allowed 19 hits and totaled 51 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.
C-LF Stephen Vogt, with eight hits in his last four games, has a .377 average.
RHP Joe Cruz threw an eight-inning complete game in a loss Thursday. It was the first complete game of his career.
RHP Nick Barnese allowed one run on three hits in a seven-inning complete game Tuesday.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
Midwest League Eastern
(1-0, tied for first place)
RHP Scott Shuman has allowed six hits, walked four and struck out 33 while throwing 16 straight shutout innings.
LHP Kyle Lobstein threw seven shutout innings in his last start and is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in four June appearances.
RHP Alex Koronis threw three no-hit innings Friday and has a streak of 12.1 scoreless innings.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara
(4-3, second place, 0.5 GB)
RHP Steve Hiscock threw two perfect innings to win his pro debut Wednesday.
RF Burt Reynolds was 3-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBIs Monday.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East

(0-4, fourth place, 4 GB)
LHP Enny Romero threw six shutout innings in a no-decision Tuesday. He allowed three hits and walked three.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYS
Gulf Coast League South
(2-3, third place, 2 GB)
C Luke Bailey hit his first pro home run Wednesday. He is 2-for-11 in three games.
RHP Virgil Vasquez threw five shutout innings Thursday in a rehab start. He was with Durham when he suffered two broken wrists in April.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays
IF Fernando Cortez had a 19-game hitting streak snapped Friday for Double-A Birmingham (White Sox). He’s hitting .402 in 20 games.
RHP Evan Meek gave up two runs in an inning Thursday and had his ERA balloon to 1.07 in 35 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s allowed 27 hits in 42 innings.
RHP Jason Hammel of the Colorado Rockies had a 25.2-inning scoreless streak snapped Thursday.
CF Joey Gathright is hitting .183 with Triple-A Norfolk (Orioles).
2B Johnny Raburn has a .219 average at Triple-A Nashville (Brewers).
2B Josh Asanovich is hitting .171 for independent Winnipeg.
OF Erold Andrus has a .295 average and three home runs in 14 games with independent York.
OF Jeremy Owens has a .217 average at independent Southern Maryland.
LHP Jino Gonzalez is 0-4 with a 4.62 ERA for independent Victoria.
IF Cesar Suarez is hitting .177 at independent Camden.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Friday: Biscuits 6, Diamond Jaxx 4

Emeel Salem and Rashad Eldridge each hit RBI singles in the eighth inning to lift the Biscuits to a 6-4 win over the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx on Friday.

Salem hit a blooper to center to score Matt Sweeney with the tiebreaking run. Eldridge followed with a bunt single that brought in Chris De La Cruz with an insurance run.

Salem and Eldridge also scored twice, while Chris Nowak and Nevin Ashley each had two RBIs.

Edwin Jackson no-hits Tampa Bay

Arizona's Edwin Jackson, whose dad is a Wetumpka High graduate, threw a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight. He issued eight walks in the Diamondbacks' 1-0 victory and threw 149 pitches, 79 for strikes.

Jackson's grandmother and some aunts and uncles still live in the area, including uncle Lewis Jackson, the Alabama State men's basketball coach.

McGee hits 10-K level

Jake McGee has 10 strikeouts through four innings tonight. It's the second time this season he's reached double figures and the 13th time a Biscuits has reached 10 Ks.

He's thrown 83 pitches, which is close to his recent limit, and may not return for the fifth. (Sergio Espinosa is warming up in the bullpen at the moment.)

UPDATE: McGee out after four shutout innings, three hits and 10 strikeouts.

Friday lineups

It's a bright day at the moment, but the forecast has led the Biscuits to pull out the tarp. Check back for updates.

UPDATE: Tarp off the field. No rain.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Emeel Salem rf
Rashad Eldridge cf
Nevin Ashley c
Chris Nowak 1b
Leslie Anderson lf
Cody Cipriano 2b
Matt Sweeney 3b
John Matulia dh
Chris De La Cruz ss
Jake McGee lhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Dustin Ackley 2b -- first time in the field this series
Johan Limonta 1b
Alex Liddi 3b
Carlos Peguero lf
Jose Yepez c
Steve Savastano dh
Nate Tenbrink rf
Kuo Hui Lo cf
Carlos Triunfel ss
Steven Hensley rhp

Montoyo named to Futures Game coaching staff

So much for Charlie Montoyo's All-Star break. The former Biscuits manager, already picked to manage the July 14 Triple-A All-Star Game in Pennsylvania, has been named to the All-Star Futures Game coaching staff for a second straight year. The Futures Game is July 11 in Anaheim, Calif.

Houser DFA'd by Marlins

James Houser, after making his major league debut Thursday, has been designated for assignment by the Florida Marlins.

Kline suffers rotator cuff tear

Pitcher Will Kline, who missed the last two seasons due to a torn labrum, won't pitch this year after an MRI revealed a slightly torn rotator cuff.

The tear was small enough that Kline hopes to avoid surgery. Dr. James Andrews gave Kline a plasma rich protein injection this week in Birmingham. Kline won't pick up a ball for another four or five months, he said. Surgery would likely have cost him a full year.

"It's better than surgery, obviously," Kline said. "Now, I have to give the shoulder time to heal."

Kline was enthusiastic this spring over potentially returning this year. But he started having problems in May, he said. He rested his shoulder and tried to start a throwing program three times -- "all pretty unsuccessful" -- before having an MRI.

The right-hander was a second-round draft pick out of Ole Miss in 2007. He had enough promise that he made his pro debut at low-Class A Columbus. Kline made nine starts and, now 25, is still waiting for a 10th.

"(My career) hasn't been great up to this point," Kline said. "At some point, I think I'll be able to look back on it and think it's a blessing, though I can't right now."

Kline, after making the trip to Birmingham, is spending a few days at home in Mississippi before returning to Tampa Bay's rehab program. He said he's trying to keep a positive outlook -- and has been successful so far.

"I could sit around with my head down all the time or I can sit up and smile," Kline said. "I can only have a good attitude."

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Satow headed to Biscuits

Reliever Josh Satow has been promoted from high-Class A Charlotte to the Biscuits.

Satow, a Florida State League All-Star, had a 4-1 record, was 9-for-9 on saves and owned a 1.76 ERA in 22 appearances. The 24-year-old left-hander was drafted in 2008 from Arizona State University.

Rayner Oliveros has been demoted to the Stone Crabs. He threw two innings tonight, allowed three runs and had a 7.26 ERA.

Thursday: Diamond Jaxx 11, Biscuits 1

Nate Tenbrink and Dustin Ackley both homered to lead West Tenn in an 11-1 win over the Biscuits on Thursday.

Tenbrink hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and finished with four RBIs. Ackley had a three-run blast in a five-run third that gave the Diamond Jaxx a 6-1 lead.

The Biscuits totaled four hits, including Matt Fields’ 10th home run in the second inning.

O'Malley makes rehab start for Crabs

Biscuits shortstop Shawn O'Malley made a rehab start for the high-Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs tonight. He started at second base, was 0-for-2, was hit by a pitch and stole a base before leaving in the sixth inning of the Crabs' 3-1 loss at Fort Myers.

O'Malley went on the DL in April with an elbow injury. He went to Tampa Bay's extended spring program in May to finish rehabbing the elbow, only to hurt his hamstring.

And Houser makes 43

Former Biscuits pitcher James Houser made his major league debut tonight for the Florida Marlins. He gave up three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Houser is No. 43 on the Biscuits-to-big leagues list and the third to debut this year. Houser played for Montgomery in 2007 and 2008. The '07 team now has 11 players who made the majors and the '08 team has five.

Bankston released by Rangers

Former Biscuits infielder Wes Bankston has been released by the Texas Rangers. He had played for Triple-A Oklahoma City and Double-A Frisco this year.

Rays demote Navarro, call up Joyce

Catcher Dioner Navarro has been demoted to Triple-A Durham by the Rays, who promoted outfielder Matt Joyce from the Bulls.

Thursday lineups

The Biscuits throw Leslie Anderson into the cleanup spot for the first time.

BISCUITS
Emeel Salem lf
Rashad Eldridge cf
Nevin Ashley c
Leslie Anderson dh
Cody Cipriano 2b
Matt Sweeney 3b
Matt Fields 1b
John Matulia rf
Drew Anderson ss
Jeremy Hall rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Brandon Haveman cf
Dustin Ackley dh
Alex Liddi 3b
Carlos Peguero rf
Johan Limonta 1b
Nate Tenbrink lf
Ralph Henriquez c
Leury Bonilla 2b
Carlos Triunfel ss
Jarrett Grube rhp

Clouds loom on summer horizon

We're speaking figuratively at the moment. Phil Steele's College Football Preview magazine was waiting today in my office mailbox. Always a helpful magazine, but it's also a sign.

Woods Fines retires

Pitcher Woods Fines, who hasn't pitched since October 2008 surgery for a stress fracture in his elbow, has retired. Fines was in Tampa Bay's rehab program coming out of spring training and has been listed on Bowling Green's disabled list. A 14th-round draft pick in 2004, he topped out at low-Class A.

Bowling Green also added pitcher Albert Suarez to its DL. Suarez threw three innings Monday for the GCL Rays. The Hot Rods also shifted catcher Mayo Acosta and infielder Diogenes Luis to Hudson Valley.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Wednesday: Diamond Jaxx 11, Biscuits 6

Scott Savastano walked four times, falling one short of the Southern League record in West Tenn’s 11-6 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday.

Savastano had a shot at tying the record but hit an RBI single in the Diamond Jaxx’s five-run eighth inning.

Leury Bonilla finished with three RBIs, knocking in Savastano with a flyout in the fifth and with a two-run double in the eighth.

Nevin Ashley and Matt Fields each homered for Montgomery. Ashley hit a three-run blast in the third and Fields a leadoff shot in the ninth.

Biscuits pitching dished out a season-high 10 walks.

Wednesday lineups

Dustin Ackley, the No. 1 prospect in the Seattle organization, hits leadoff today after a few days off. He was the second overall pick in last year's draft out of the University of North Carolina.

BISCUITS
Emeel Salem cf
Drew Anderson lf
Nevin Ashley c
Chris Nowak 3b
Leslie Anderson 1b
Cody Cipriano 2b
Matt Fields dh
John Matulia rf
Chris De La Cruz ss
David Newmann lhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Dustin Ackley dh
Johan Limonta 1b
Alex Liddi 3b
Carlos Peguero lf
Jose Yepez c
Scott Savastano rf
Brandon Haveman cf
Leury Bonilla 2b
Carlos Triunfel ss
Mauricio Robles lhp

Meek: 'We stunk, but we rocked'

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profiles former Biscuits reliever Evan Meek and his wild ride to the major leagues.

Wesley Wright sent back to Round Rock

Montgomery County native Wesley Wright has been demoted to Triple-A Round Rock from the Houston Astros. The left-handed pitcher allowed six earned runs in six appearances, covering 9 2/3 innings, with Houston.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Tuesday: Biscuits 4, Diamond Jaxx 3

Leslie Anderson and Emeel Salem homered to help the Biscuits beat the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 4-3 on Tuesday.

Anderson’s homer came in the sixth and Salem’s in the seventh, giving Montgomery a 4-2 lead. West Tenn’s Johan Limonta homered in the eighth to make it a one-run game.

Heath Rollins (1-0) worked a perfect two innings and recorded his first win since returning to the Biscuits. Matt Gorgen pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

The Jaxx led 2-0 after a half-inning. Biscuits starter Alex Torres issued walks to the first two hitters and both scored. Montgomery answered in the bottom of the first. Nevin Ashley hit an RBI triple and scored on a Chris Nowak flyout.

Hellickson, Jennings going to Futures Game

Durham's Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings, the top stars on last year's Biscuits team, are headed to the MLB Futures Game next month. (They'll be two of the "elder statesmen" in the game, Biscuits official scorekeeper Kyle Kreutzer has exclaimed.)

The Diamond Jaxx have two players going: third baseman Alex Liddi and left fielder Carlos Peguero.

Hellickson and Jennings will be on the U.S. team, along with infielder Drew Cumberland of the San Diego organization. He's the younger brother of former Biscuits outfielder Shaun Cumberland.

Liddi of Italy and Peguero of the Dominican Republic suit up for the World.

Tuesday lineups

It's the opener of a six-game series between the Biscuits and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

The Jaxx no longer have right-hander Michael Pineda, he of the 8-1 record and the 2.22 ERA and mentioned in today's print edition, after Pineda was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma. Also, top prospect Dustin Ackley is taking the day off.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Emeel Salem lf
Rashad Eldridge cf
Nevin Ashley c
Chris Nowak dh
Leslie Anderson 1b
Matt Sweeney 3b
Cody Cipriano 2b
John Matulia rf
Chris De La Cruz ss
Alex Torres lhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Brandon Haveman cf -- Big Ten batting champ in '08 and '09 at Purdue
Carlos Peguero lf -- has 15 HRs this year, hit 31 last year in Cal League
Alex Liddi 3b -- played for Italy in 2009 World Baseball Classic
Johan Limonta dh -- in third season with Jaxx
Jose Yepez c -- formerly of the independent Gary SouthShore Railcats
Nate Tenbrink 1b -- played at Kansas State (K-State has a baseball team??)
Kuo Hui Lo rf -- on Taiwan Olympic team for Beijing Games
Leury Bonilla 2b -- has played at every position but catcher
Carlos Triunfel ss -- first game at Riverwalk since breaking ankle here in April '09
Steve Bray rhp -- hasn't lost since losing to Biscuits on May 23

Cast your vote for Triple-A All-Stars

Here's the link to the Triple-A All-Star Game ballot. Since I'm not in the mood to enter my name, e-mail address and birthdate, I'm not sure of the cadre of former Biscuits/current Bulls/general riffraff who await your support, but there is a means to write-in anyone you like.

Voting ends Friday and you can vote up to 25 times. The fan voting makes up one-third of the selection process.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Baker, Bulls with excellent effort

Brian Baker, making a spot start for the Bulls, tossed five no-hit innings in Durham's 2-0 win at Indianapolis tonight.

Mike Ekstrom gave up a hit to the first batter he faced -- quickly followed by a double play -- and worked two innings. R.J. Swindle tossed two perfect innings to finish it.

Baker (5-0) walked one and struck out five. He issued a leadoff walk in the first and retired the last 15 hitters he faced. Baker has a 3.15 ERA this year and was making his first start.

Baker started in place of Carlos Hernandez, who had a right quad strain. Baker hadn't pitched in nine days.

Houser also called up by Marlins

Former Biscuits pitcher James Houser has been promoted to the Florida Marlins from Triple-A New Orleans. The left-hander had a 3.26 ERA in 11 appearances for the Zephyrs.

Houser is in line to be No. 43 on the Biscuits-to-big leagues list.

Wayward Biscuits also win weekly awards

Former Biscuits Chris Seddon and Mike Wlodarczyk also won weekly awards today with Seddon honored by the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and Wlodarczyk by the independent Can-Am League.

Seddon threw 14 shutout innings in two victories, including a four-hit shutout last Tuesday, for the Tacoma Rainiers in the Seattle organization. Wlodarczyk was 2-0 with a 1.39 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 innings for the Brockton Rox.

Seddon is 8-3 with a 3.43 ERA this year. Wlodarczyk is 3-1 with a 4.13.

Oliveros to replace Downs on roster

Rayner Oliveros, who was deactivated Sunday, will move back to the active roster in place of Durham-bound Darin Downs. The Biscuits activated Paul Phillips from the disabled list Sunday and deactivated Oliveros.

Here's Chuckie: Caufield best in Southern League

Huntsville outfielder Chuckie Caufield won the Southern League's hitting award after feasting on the Biscuits.

Caufield had a six-RBI game Friday and added three Saturday against Montgomery. He's 12-for-25 with 12 RBIs and eight runs scored in his last seven games.

Tennessee right-hander Hung-Wen Chen was the top pitcher after not allowing a run in two starts, covering 12 innings. He's won five straight starts and is 8-5 with a 2.27 ERA.

Two from Rays win minor league weekly honors

Two Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguers won their league's weekly awards today.

Charlotte's Matt Moore was the top pitcher in the Florida State League and Bowling Green's Tyler Bortnick was the top hitter in the Midwest League.

Moore (left) was 2-0 over the week with 20 strikeouts and seven hits allowed in 13 innings. His seven-inning, one-run effort Sunday included 11 punchouts and helped the Stone Crabs clinch a first-half division title.

In his last three starts, Moore is 3-0 with an 0.93 ERA. He turned 21 on Friday.

Bortnick was 9-for-21 over the week with two home runs and six runs scored. The second baseman is hitting .295 this year.

Rays owner: Team will consider non-St. Pete stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays' pursuit of a new stadium won't stop at the St. Petersburg city limits.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said today that the team will consider options for a new ballpark within the Tampa Bay market -- and not just inside St. Petersburg or Pinellas County.

"Our ability to compete and, quite frankly, to survive rests on our ability to attract people and businesses to our ballpark," Sternberg said, according to a team release. "Our customers are our fans. And like any other business, we need to be in a location that is convenient for our fans to reach us."

The team's lease at Tropicana Field with the city of St. Petersburg runs through 2027. The Rays hatched plans for a new retractable-roof stadium to be built near the St. Pete waterfront in November 2007. Those plans met resistance and were shelved.

(Here's a Tampa Bay geographic primer -- Pinellas County is basically the peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and is where St. Petersburg is located. Hillsborough County includes the city of Tampa and is the east side of the bay. The people on both sides aren't known to be cooperative. Tropicana Field is near the tip of the peninsula.)

"Baseball in the Tampa Bay area does not belong to Stu Sternberg, just as it doesn’t belong to St. Petersburg or Tampa, Pinellas or Hillsborough. It is a regional asset," Sternberg said.

"It belongs to our fans throughout the region. For this asset to be preserved, a comprehensive process to explore a new ballpark must begin. That process needs to consider all possible locations throughout Tampa Bay -- meaning Tampa and Hillsborough as well.”

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Downs, Garcia promoted to Durham

Biscuits pitchers Darin Downs and Justin Garcia have been promoted to Triple-A Durham.

Garcia is scheduled to join the Bulls for Monday's game at Indianapolis. Downs, who pitched 2 1/3 innings Sunday and wouldn't be available Monday, said he will drive with wife Christy to Durham and then he'll fly to Indy.

Downs (left) was 6-2 with a 1.69 ERA this season. Last year, he won the Florida State League's ERA championship and finished the season with the Biscuits. Downs suffered a season-ending -- and life-threatening -- injury in his second appearance for Montgomery. He was hit on the head by a line drive.

"I'm just happy to be playing this year after what happened last year, and I think I was doing really good," Downs said. "You really can't control what goes on. All you can do is what you can do and let the rest take care of itself."

Garcia was 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA in 13 games for the Biscuits, but he last pitched June 2 and hasn't been on the active roster since June 6. The Bulls recently added infielder Omar Luna because of an injury and may have more.

Stone Crabs clinch playoff berth

Matt Moore struck out 11 over seven innings and Greg Sexton hit a three-run home run in a 3-1 win over Jupiter.

With the win, the Stone Crabs clinch the Florida State League's South Division first-half title.

Moore (3-7) allowed a run in the sixth and won his third straight decision. He combined with Marquis Fleming on a five-hitter.

Lobstein shines again for Hot Rods

Kyle Lobstein worked seven innings in Bowling Green's 2-0 win over West Michigan today, combining with Alex Koronis and Scott Shuman on a five-hitter. This month, Lobstein is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA, eight walks and 21 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.

Suns lose star pitcher Sanabia to big leagues

Jacksonville, in the midst of celebrating a first-half division title, also celebrated another player being promoted to the major leagues.

Pitcher Alex Sanabia learned after the Suns' win that he's going to the Marlins. He was 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 14 starts.

"There was a lot of celebrating going around," pitcher Jeff Allison said. "It's a great feeling."

Allison threw 6 2/3 shutout innings today and his teammates "dumped beer all over me" after the game, he said.

Sunday: Suns 5, Barons 0

Jeff Allison threw 6 2/3 innings and the Jacksonville Suns clinched a Southern League playoff berth with a 5-0 win over the Birmingham Barons.

Sunday: Stars 4, Biscuits 3

Caleb Gindl’s RBI single in the seventh inning pushed the Huntsville Stars to a 4-3 win over the Biscuits on Sunday and likely deprives Montgomery of a first-half South Division championship.

With Montgomery’s loss, the Biscuits need the Jacksonville Suns to also lose Sunday. The Suns led the Birmingham Barons 5-0 in the seventh inning.

The Biscuits frittered away two leads Sunday. They scored twice in the top of the fifth before giving up two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Fields homered in the top of the sixth, but Huntsville scored another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to tie it.

Montgomery had three errors Sunday and totaled 14 in the final four games -- all losses -- of the Huntsville series.

Rays announce that major announcement coming

Something to keep an eye on -- Rays owner Stuart Sternberg "will make an important announcement regarding the future of the Rays franchise" at a news conference at Tropicana Field on Monday, according to a team release.