Minor League Recap, 4/21

Written by Greg Fertel | 21 April 2007

• Steve Jackson got the start, allowing 4 runs in 3 and 2/3 innings. He struck out 1 and walked 3. Jackson's sinker wasn't sinking tonight. He's been struggling with pitch counts all season: failing to go more than 5 innings in each of his three starts.
• Justin Pope allowed seven runs and got just one out. He's a non-prospect at 27 years old.
• Bronson Sardinha was 2 for 5.
• Andy Phillips was 3 for 5, but is still batting just .255/.339/.436 on the season. He's clearly past his prime and should not be considered for any sort of promotion back to the major leagues.
• Alberto Gonzalez was 1 for 5.

• Brett Smith dominated despite poor control, allowing no runs in 7 innings. He struck out 7, walked 4, and did not allow a hit. Smith has a 1.56 ERA in 17.1 innings this season, with 20 strikeouts. He started out hot last year too, but this is really a positive sign from Smith. He was a 2nd round draft pick back in the day, and throws very solid sliders and changeups despite a weak fastball.
• Brett Gardner was 1 for 5 with a double. He's down to .216/.298/.373. The silver lining? 6 of his 11 hits were for extra bases. Gardner said before the season that he wants to concentrate on driving the ball. He definately seems to have succeeded in that, but at the expense at his ability to get on base. Hopefully the incoming warm weather will heat up Gardner's batting average.
• Cody Ehlers was 1 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI. He's getting a lot of big hits for the Thunder, but he needs to stay more consistent. Ehlers is batting just .184 on the season.

• Ian Kennedy pitched five innings of one-run ball. He was sharp, striking out 5 and walking none. If Chase Wright remains in the majors long enough for Trenton to actually play 5 games in 5 days, which has yet to happen this season. For now, he's the bully in the schoolyard.
• Zach Kroenke pitched two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two walks and a hit.
• Anthony Claggett blew the game, allowing a run in one inning of work. Since striking out 5 of his first 13 batters faced, Claggett has only one strikeout in 4.2 innings.
• Josa Tabata was 0 for 4 and Juan Miranda was 0 for 3. They are both in bona fide slumps.
• Francisco Cervelli was 1 for 3. He just keeps chipping in a hit or two per game. That's a great sign of success for a guy who skipped a level.

• Mitch Hilligoss was 2 for 4 with a double. He committed his 7th (!) error of the season.
• Mr. Streaky was 0 for 3 and is now batting just .220/.314/.339.
• Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 3 with a walk, and is 4 for his last 9. He's heating up, but has yet to drive a ball for extra bases this season.
• David Robertson relieved Eric Hacker for two scoreless innings. He scattered a single and a double, striking out four and allowing two walks. He now has 16 Ks in 11.1 innings. Tampa any day now...