Minor League Recap 4/29

Written by Greg Fertel | 29 April 2008

• Dan Giese got the start, and was solid.  In 5 innings of work, he gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks, striking out only 1 batter.
• Scott Patterson walked 1 but struck out 2 in 2/3 scoreless.
• Steven Jackson gave up a walk and struck out 1 in 2/3 scoreless.
• Jose Veras pitched 1 1/3 perfect relief innings to get the save, striking out 2 in the process.
• Brett Gardner was 1 for 4 with 2 walks, and his average has dipped below .300 for the first time in a while.
•  Bernie Castro was 2 for 5.
• Juan Miranda was 1 for 2 with a double, before he left with a shoulder injury.
• Jason Lane was 2 for 4 with a walk and a steal.
• Eric Duncan was 2 for 5 with a homer, raising his average to .279.  Very quietly, he's putting together a more than respectable .892 OPS.  Remember, he's only 23, younger than Gardner and Miranda.
• Cody Ransom and Greg Porter were each 1 for 4.
• Elardio Rodriguez, the former Israeli Baseball League MVP, was 1 for 3 with a double and 2 walks filling in for the promoted Chris Stewart.

• Chase Wright got the start and was great.  In 7 innings, the lefty gave up 1 run on 4 hits and a walk, while striking out 4, with a groundout:flyout ratio of 12:4.
• Mike Gardner struck out 2 in 2 innings of 1-hit relief.
• José Tabata, who was suspended for Trenton's last game, was out of the lineup again.  He's struggled with the transition to AA so far, and needs to get his attitude straightened out if he wants to succeed a higher level.
• Colin Curtis was 2 for 5.
• Cody Ehlers was 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk.
• PJ Pilittere was 2 for 4, and I wonder if he should have been called up to the Bronx instead of Chris Stewart.  At least he worked with Phil Hughes in the past, and wouldn't have been so out of sync with him.
• Chris Malec was 1 for 3 with a walk.

• With several organizational officials in attendance (including Nardi Contreras and Mark Newman), Zach McAllister put on a show.  In 8 innings of work, Zach surrendered only 1 earned run on 5 hits and no walks, while striking out 6 and maintaining a 14:3 groundout to flyout ratio.  On the season he has a 1.13 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP, with a GO:FO ratio over 3, and a k:bb ratio over 6.  He has been sensational so far this season, and looks ready for a promotion to Tampa.
• Jonathan Ortiz pitched a perfect 9th, striking out 1.
• Abe Almonte was 1 for 4 with a double.
• Justin Snyder was 0 for 4.
• Jesus Montero was 1 for 3 with a double, though he did allow 2 passed balls to give him 5 on the season.
• Brandon Laird was 1 for 3 with his 2nd homer of the season.
• Taylor Holiday was 2 for 3 with a stolen base.
• Walter Ibarra was 1 for 3 with a home run.
• Austin Krum was 0 for 2 with a walk