Monthly Archives: September 2014

LANCASTER EARNS TRIP TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Posted on September 9, 2014 by | Comments Off on LANCASTER EARNS TRIP TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

lancasterjethawksnewThe Lancaster Jethawks got out to a 3-0 lead after three innings Monday night and made it stand up, beating Inland Empire 4-2 to sweep the South Division Finals. Kyle Westwood allowed two fifth-inning runs to the 66ers and four Jethawks relievers threw zeroes the rest of the way as Lancaster, the 2012 California League champions, returned to the Championship Series.

The 66ers swept a season-ending four game series at Lancaster to win the second half championship, while the Jethawks were first half champions. But in this post-season series, it was Lancaster who did the sweeping, and they await the winner of the Visalia-Bakersfield series in the North Division Finals.

RF Ronnie MItchell went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI for the Jethawks, finishing the series batting .455 (5-for-11).  Westwood went 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and two walks, but just the two runs.

BAKERSFIELD STAYS ALIVE

The Bakersfield Blaze staved off elimination with a 7-3 win at Recreation Park in Visalia Monday night. The North Division Finals now stand at 2-1 in favor of the Rawhide with game four set for 6PM tonight.

Wandy Peralta went six innings for the Blaze, allowing four hits, two walks and two earned runs and OF Jeff Gelalich knocked in four runs. It was a 2-1 game through five when Bakersfield added to their lead with a three-run sixth. Single runs in the eighth and ninth offset Visalia’s comeback attempts.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFF PAGE

 

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NORTH FINALS: VISALIA WINS IN BAKO, UP 2-0

Posted on September 8, 2014 by | Comments Off on NORTH FINALS: VISALIA WINS IN BAKO, UP 2-0

The Visalia Rawhide won the second game of the South Division Finals in Bakersfield on Sunday, and now will go home to Recreation Park to try to secure a berth in the Championship Series. Visalia’s 7-5 win over the Blaze put the Rawhide up 2-0 in the best-of-five series.

Visalia starter Spencer Arroyo got knocked around early, not making it out of the fourth inning as the Blaze took a 5-4 lead. But the Rawhide scored three runs in the top of the sixth and six relievers kept Bakersfield off the board the rest of the way.

VISALIA – 7
BAKERSFIELD – 5

John Omahen (VIS) – W, 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Kevin  Medrano (VIS) – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
Andrew Velasquez (VIS) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Jeff Gelalich (BAK) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI

The series resumes tonight in Visalia with Bakersfield’s LHP Wandy Peralta facing the Rawhide’s RHP Brandon Sinnery.

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SOUTH FINALS: LANCASTER GOES UP 2-0

Posted on September 8, 2014 by | Comments Off on SOUTH FINALS: LANCASTER GOES UP 2-0

The Lancaster Jethawks held serve with a 5-2 victory over Inland Empire on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Finals series. Kent Emanuel went six innings, allowing just 2 ER while Danry Vasquez homered and knocked in two runs for the Jethawks.

INLAND EMPIRE – 2
LANCASTER – 5

Kent Emanuel (LAN) – 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Danry Vasquez (LAN) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Sherman Johnson (IE) – 2-for-3, HR, 2 Runs

The series moves to Inland Empire tonight with the  Jethawks sending RHP Kyle Westwood to the mound in search of the series sweep against the 66ers’ RHP Austin Wood.

 

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SOUTH FINALS: LANCASTER 7-3 OVER INLAND EMPIRE

Posted on September 7, 2014 by | Comments Off on SOUTH FINALS: LANCASTER 7-3 OVER INLAND EMPIRE

lancasterjethawksnewThe Lancaster Jethawks took game 1 of the South division finals with a 7-3 win over the Inland Empire 66ers. The matchup of the last two California League champions saw Vincent Velasquez go six innings, allowing two earned runs, while Lancaster put up all seven runs over the first four innings.

Ronnie Mitchell and Chase McDonald both homered for the Jethawks while the 66ers could only muster four hits against Velasquez and two relievers.

INLAND EMPIRE – 3
LANCASTER – 7

Vincent Velasquez (LAN) – W, 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Daniel Minor (LAN) – 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Chase McDonald (LAN) – 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
Chris O’Grady (IE) – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Mark Shannon (IE) – 1-for-4, RBI

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NORTH FINALS: RAWHIDE OVER BAKERSFIELD 10-5

Posted on September 7, 2014 by | Comments Off on NORTH FINALS: RAWHIDE OVER BAKERSFIELD 10-5

VRThe Visalia Rawhide took the opening game of the Division Finals with a 10-5 road win over Bakersfield. Rudy Flores hit a pair of homers and Alex Glenn, George Roberts and Jose  Queliz all went deep as the Rawhide struck first in the series.

The Blaze held a 5-4 edge going to the top of the seventh innings, but Visalia put up six runs over the last three innings to get the win. Blayne Weller went 5 1/3 innings and four Rawhide relievers were not scored upon the rest of the way.

VISALIA – 10
BAKERSFIELD – 5

Joey Krehbiel (VIS) – 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Rudy Flores (VIS) – 3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
George Roberts (VIS) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Sean Buckley (BAK) – 2-for-5, HR
Zach Vincej (BAK) – 2-for-5, 2B, RBI

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VISALIA, INLAND EMPIRE SWEEP

Posted on September 5, 2014 by | Comments Off on VISALIA, INLAND EMPIRE SWEEP

The Visalia Rawhide finished off a mini-series sweep of the powerful Stockton Ports with a 2-1 win Thursday night to advance to the Division Finals against Bakersfield.

The Inland Empire 66ers did the same as they went 13 innings to pull off a 5-4 win over Lake Elsinore and advance to the Division Finals against Lancaster.

VISALIA – 2
STOCKTON – 1

Andrew Barbosa (VIS) – W, 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Rudy Flores (VIS) – 2-for-4, HR (2)
Socrates Brito (VIS) – 2-for-4, 1 Run
Chris Lamb (STK) – 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Brendan McCurry (STK) – 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Jaycob Brugman (STK) – 2-for-3, 1 Run

LAKE ELSINORE – 4
INLAND EMPIRE – 5

Clint  Sharp (IE) – 6 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Danny Miranda (IE) – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Anthony Bemboom (IE) – 3-for-6, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Dennis Raben (IE) – 2-for-5, 1 Run
Elliot Morris (LE) – 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Alberth Martinez (LE) – 3-for-6, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 Runs
Benji Gonzalez (LE) – 2-for-5, RBI, 1 Run scored

The Division Finals start on Saturday:

INLAND EMPIRE @ LANCASTER – 6PM
VISALIA @ BAKERSFIELD – 7:15PM

 

 

 

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RAWHIDE, 66ERS WIN PLAYOFF OPENERS

Posted on September 4, 2014 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE, 66ERS WIN PLAYOFF OPENERS

Steve McQuail went deep three times as the Visalia Rawhide roughed up the Stockton Ports for a 13-3 win in the North division playoff opener in Visalia Wednesday night. Brandon Sinnery went six innings, allowing three earned runs, and then Keith Hessler and Johnny Shuttlesworth went three scoreless innings out of the Rawhide bullpen to seal the win.

STOCKTON – 3
VISALIA – 13
Visalia leads series, 1-0

Brandon Sinnery (VIS) 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Johnny Shuttlesworth (VIS) – 2 IP, 2  H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Steve McQuail (VIS) – 4-for-5, 3 HR, 5 RBI
Rudy Flores (VIS) – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Matt Olson (STK) – 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI
Beau Taylor (STK) – 2-for-2, HR,

In the South division mini series, Inland Empire came from behind late with two runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to post a 4-2 win over Lake Elsinore.

INLAND EMPIRE – 4
LAKE ELSINORE – 2
Inland Empire leads series 1-0

Dennis Raben (IE) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs scored
Raymond Hanson (IE) – 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Jeremy Baltz (LE) – 1-for-3, BB, RBI
Bryan Rodriguez (LE) – 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – SHERMAN JOHNSON, INLAND EMPIRE

Posted on September 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – SHERMAN JOHNSON, INLAND EMPIRE
Photo:MiLB.com

Photo:MiLB.com

Sherman Johnson stayed hot after winning this award just two weeks ago. This time, the second baseman out of Florida State slashed .469/.541/1.031 with five longballs and nine RBIs. He was a huge part of the 66ers’ surge to the second-half title. Over the last 10 games of the season, Johnson batted .405 and scored 12 runs as Inland Empire made the playoffs.

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PITCHER OF THE WEEK – MATT FLEMER, MODESTO

Posted on September 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on PITCHER OF THE WEEK – MATT FLEMER, MODESTO
Photo: MiLB.com

Photo: MiLB.com

Matt Flemer threw a four-hit shutout against Stockton to post his 13th win, second most in the Cal League. The right-hander from Cal stuck out nine and didn’t walk anybody in the season finale. It was a rough year for Modesto in the standings, but Flemer provided consistency over his 165 innings pitched. In each of his last four outings he went at least seven innings, walking just two and striking out 30 while going 3-1.

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OLSON, DAHL FEATURED IN FANGRAPHS STORY

Posted on September 1, 2014 by | Comments Off on OLSON, DAHL FEATURED IN FANGRAPHS STORY
Photo: Steve Cummings/CalLeagueHeat.com

Photo: Steve Cummings/CalLeagueHeat.com

Stockton’s Matt Olson and Modesto’s David Dahl are part of David Laurila’s SUNDAY NOTES piece tonight on Fangraphs.com. Olson leads the Cal League in homers with 37 and has walked a lofty 117 times, which pushes is OBP to .405. He checks in as the Oakland A’s #2 prospect by MLB.com’s rankings.

Dahl is the #10 overall pick from the 2012 draft and he slashed .302/.341/.496 for the lo-A Asheville Tourists in 89 games this season. Dahl played 29 games in Modesto before heading back to  Asheville this week. Laurila’s piece has several quotes from the Alabama native.

FanGraphs.com is an invaluable resource of analytical baseball features. The way to look at this game is  up to the consumer. You can take a nostalgic view (none of these guys can carry Mantle’s jock) and you can go strictly by the number-crunching ideology (WAR, etc.) Fangraphs asks pertinent questions, researches appropriately to get to answers, and does it all with an approach that would be enjoyable if you had the conversation with its writers in the bleachers. You can take a break to grab a soda mid-article. Watch an AB. The intelligent baseball discourse is always there. My favorite site, as you can tell.

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