ORTIZ SHINES FOR HIGH DESERT WITH 6IP, 1H

Posted on May 15, 2016 by | Comments Off on ORTIZ SHINES FOR HIGH DESERT WITH 6IP, 1H
Photo: MiLB.com

Photo: MiLB.com

The High Desert Mavericks rode the arm of Luis Ortiz and a 14-hit attack to pound out a 9-1 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Saturday night. The home Rawhide hurt their own cause with a season-high six errors as well.

The visiting Mavericks broke open a 1-1 contest with a string of deuces in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, then put up two more runs in the ninth.

Ortiz, the Rangers’ #4 prospect in Baseball America’s rankings, allowed just one hit over six innings, a solo homer to Colin Bray in the third inning. The right-hander threw 59 pitches with 41 of them strikes while striking out five against 0 walks.

The Mavericks (24-12) have taken the first two games of the four-game set in Visalia and remained a game back of first-place Rancho Cucamonga (25-11) in the South division. The Rawhide (23-12) saw their lead in the North trimmed to two games as the San Jose Giants knocked off Modesto.

SCOREBOARD

MODESTO – 7
SAN JOSE – 11

LAKE ELSINORE – 1
LANCASTER 5

HIGH DESERT – 9
VISALIA – 1

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 5
INLAND EMPIRE – 3

STOCKTON – 6
BAKERSFIELD – 9

 

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MODESTO’S HOWARD SILENCES GIANTS

Posted on May 14, 2016 by | Comments Off on MODESTO’S HOWARD SILENCES GIANTS
Photo: MiLB.com

Photo: MiLB.com

The Modesto Nuts scored three late runs to make a Sam Howard masterpiece stand up for a 5-2 win Friday  night in San Jose. The lefty Howard (2-1) went seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out 10 against no walks to notch his second win of the season and give the Nuts a series-opening victory.

Modesto got on the board in the first with an RBI single by Ronnie Jebavy, only to see San Jose come back to tie it up in the bottom of the second. The Giants went ahead in the bottom of the fourth when 3B Jonah Arenado left the yard for the fifth time this season.

Single runs in the fifth and seventh innings put the visitors back on top and Howard was back in position the get the win for his strong effort. A two-run rally in the eighth saw SS Luis Jean double in two runs for all the insurance the Nuts would need, providing the final margin at 5-2.

Howard is on the fringe of the Colorado Rockies’ prospect list, sitting at #24 by MLB.com and #25 by Baseball America. His first pro season in 2014 had some pretty big rough spots but the Georgia Southern alum had a solid second-half in low-A Asheville last year. He’s alternated good and bad starts with Modesto over his last few outings, but Friday night’s effort was clearly his best of the season, and the first one in which he has finished the seventh inning.

 

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SAN JOSE, STOCKTON INK PDC EXTENSIONS

Posted on April 10, 2016 by | Comments Off on SAN JOSE, STOCKTON INK PDC EXTENSIONS

downloadThe Stockton Ports and San Jose Giants will continue to be affiliated with their big-league organizations through the 2020 season as both clubs announced Player Development Contract extensions.

On April 4th, San Jose agreed to an extension with the San Francisco Giants, continuing a relationship that dates back to 1988.

StocktonStockton did the same yesterday, extending their agreement with the Oakland A’s. The Ports have been an A’s affiliate since 2005.

Many of the Cal League teams are in the final years of their PDCs, as can be seen on BallparkDigest.com’s Affiliate Dance 2016 page. The stickiest situation is probably High Desert, which is embroiled in a dispute with the city of Adelanto.  the city is attempting to have the Mavericks evicted from Stater Bros. Stadium, but the legal process has been stalled at this point.

There is a lot to the High Desert/Adelanto story and you can follow it at the Victorville Daily Press local sports section HERE.

No such drama in Stockton and San Jose. Those harmonious situations are set to go to the next decade.

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MAVS’ DEMERITTE HAS 3H, 2HR….AGAIN

Posted on April 9, 2016 by | Comments Off on MAVS’ DEMERITTE HAS 3H, 2HR….AGAIN

imagesHigh Desert 2B Travis Demeritte had a great opening night, going 3-for-4 with 2HR in a Mavericks win over Inland Empire on Thursday. The #21 prospect of the Texas Rangers enjoyed it so much, he tallied another three hits and two more bombs on Friday.

All this damage came from the leadoff spot as Demeritte drove in eight runs over the two games.

A 2013 first-round draft pick, Demeritte showed this kind of pop in his first full pro season, bashing 25 homers as a 19-year old in 2014. But last year was a step back with only 53 games played and a PED suspension.

The Mavericks, who lost to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the South Division finals last season, are off to a 2-0 start and have put up 19 runs over the two games.

 

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NAVA TAKES HELM OF 2016 SJ GIANTS

Posted on December 16, 2015 by | Comments Off on NAVA TAKES HELM OF 2016 SJ GIANTS

downloadThe San Jose Giants have a new field boss for 2016, as former hitting coach  Lipso Nava has been announced as the new manager. Also returning from 2015 are Pitching Coach Mike Couchee and Athletic Trainer Garrett Havig.

New to the staff will be Hitting Coach Todd Linden and Strength and Condidtioning Coach Andy King.

Nava served as hitting coach for San Jose from 2013-2015. The Giants had an overall record of 72-68 in 2015 and landed a wildcard playoff berth after a red-hot second half of 42-28. Series wins over Stockton and Visalia put the Giants in the finals, where they lost to Rancho Cucamonga.

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BAKERSFIELD ANNOUNCES 2016 COACHING STAFF

Posted on December 16, 2015 by | Comments Off on BAKERSFIELD ANNOUNCES 2016 COACHING STAFF

f1b6a883-8f83-43b5-9b55-19a1f19c2f7cFour members of the Bakersfield Blaze 2015 coaching staff will return for 2016, with a new pitching coach coming aboard. Field Manager Eddie Menchaca, Hitting Coach Max Venable will be back in their 2015 capacities, as will Athletic Trainer Geoff Swanson and Performance Specialist Andy Lyon.

New to the staff for 2016 is Pitching Coach Ethan Katz.

Read the full announcement from the Blaze HERE.

The Blaze had a rough first-half last season, finishing at the bottom of the North division at 26-44. But the second half saw a .500 mark at 35-35, winning seven of its last 10 games and ending on a five-game winning streak.

 

 

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POST-SEASON AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Posted on August 22, 2015 by | Comments Off on POST-SEASON AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The California League handed out post-season honors on Friday with A.J. Reed taking home the MVP award while Antonio Senzatela was named Pitcher of the Year. Reed tore up the league in 82 games with Lancaster before being promoted to AA in July. Senzatela has made 23 starts for the Modesto Nuts and leads the circuit in ERA (2.40) and  WHIP (1.05).

The full list of honorees is as follows:

2015 CALIFORNIA LEAGUE POSTSEASON ALL-STAR TEAM
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Tyler Ogle C Rancho Cucamonga LAD
A.J. Reed* 1B Lancaster HOU
Jamie Westbrook 2B Visalia ARI
Ryan McMahon 3B Modesto COL
Christian Arroyo SS San Jose SF
Eric Aguilera UT Inland Empire LAA
Cody Bellinger DH Rancho Cucamonga LAD
Tyler O’Neill OF Bakersfield SEA
Brett Phillips OF Lancaster HOU
Raimel Tapia OF Modesto COL
Dan Altavilla P Bakersfield SEA
Anthony Banda P Visalia ARI
Chase Johnson P San Jose SF
Antonio Senzatela† P Modesto COL
J.R. House Manager Visalia ARI
Gil Heredia Coach Visalia ARI
Rex Whitney Turf Manager Rancho Cucamonga LAD
Vic Zapien Clubbie Stockton OAK

* Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year
† Pitcher of the Year

(Table from official California League webpage)

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MODESTO’S BALOG, HIGH DESERTS MARTIN EARN WEEKLY HONORS

Posted on August 18, 2015 by | Comments Off on MODESTO’S BALOG, HIGH DESERTS MARTIN EARN WEEKLY HONORS

Alex Balog of the Modesto Nuts was named Cal League Pitcher of the Week after a 7 2/3 inning performance where he held Bakersfield without a hit or a run. The 23-year old right-hander got the win and lowered his WHIP t0 1.06 on the season.

All Pitchers of the Week at MiLB.com
High Desert’s Tripp Martin was red-hot at the plate last week batting at a .375/.423/1.000 clip with four homers. On August 15th, Martin went 2-for-3 against Inland Empire, blasting two home runs and knocking in three.

All Players of the Week at MiLB.com
MONDAY SCOREBOARD

INLAND EMPIRE – 0
LANCASTER – 8

MODESTO – 12
VISALIA – 13    (10 innings)

HIGH DESERT – 1
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 8

SAN JOSE – 2
STOCKTON – 13

LAKE ELSINORE – 3
BAKERSFIELD – 1

 

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BELLINGER STAYS HOT AS QUAKES DOWN MAVS 8-2

Posted on August 14, 2015 by | Comments Off on BELLINGER STAYS HOT AS QUAKES DOWN MAVS 8-2

rancho-cucamonga-quakes-primary-logo-2-primaryA day after dropping both games of a double-header at High Desert, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes rallied from 2-0 down to outpace the Mavericks 8-2 Thursday night. 1B Cody Bellinger was in the middle of a three-run fourth inning and, after the game was all but decided, blasted his 26th homerun in the ninth inning.

Bellinger is tied with Bakersfield’s Tyler O’Neill for the California League homer lead.

With the win Rancho Cucamonga pulled to within two games of High Desert in the South Division 2nd half standings.

Continue reading →

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PORTS EDGE NUTS BEHIND MENGDEN’S GEM

Posted on August 12, 2015 by | Comments Off on PORTS EDGE NUTS BEHIND MENGDEN’S GEM

StocktonDaniel Mengden allowed a first-inning run but then shut down the Modesto Nuts over the next six innings as the Stockton Ports won a tight contest by a score of 2-1 Tuesday night. The Stockton Ports took advantage of Modesto errors to score both of its runs.

Modesto got on the board first behind a Michael Benjamin single followed by two errant pick-off throws by Mengden that sent Benjamin to third. The run came in when Benjamin scored on a steal attempt by Ryan McMahon as the throw went through to second base.

Stockton broke through in the sixth inning with a pair of walks, a fly ball out that moved Jacob Nottingham to third, and an errant pick-off attempt by Modesto’s Devin Burke.

The deciding run came across in the eighth when a botched double-play attempt put Stockton runners at first and third and Nottingham followed with a sac fly.

Modesto loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but failed to score when Correlle Prime grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

Stockton has won three straight games while Modesto suffered its fifth straight defeat and is now one game behind Visalia in the North division 2nd half standings.

TUESDAY SCOREBOARD

BAKERSFIELD 11
LAKE ELSINORE 1
Brett Ash goes 6  IP for Blaze, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. Kyle Petty goes 3-for-4 with a 2B, a HR (8) and 4 RBI.

VISALIA 6
SAN JOSE 4 (11 innings)
Rawhide get two in top of 11th on Kevin Cron‘s 23rd HR and a sac fly by Jose Queliz. Visalia takes one-game lead in the North division.

LANCASTER 8
INLAND EMPIRE 2
Chase McDonald belts his 22nd HR, Jethawks score seven runs in last three innings. Francis Martes (W, 2-1) goes 6 IP allowing 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB with 3 Ks.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA 13
HIGH DESERT 2
Quakes get homers from Tyler Ogle (16) and Jacob Scavuzzo (8) and pull within one game of first-place Mavericks. Scott Barlow (W, 5-2) goes 6 IP, allows 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 5 K’s.

STOCKTON 2
MODESTO 1
Daniel Mengden (W, 4-3) allows three hits, two walks and one earned run over seven innings. Jacob Nottingham’s sac fly in the top of the eighth is the difference as the Ports hand the Nuts their fifth-straight loss.

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