Toledo 4, Columbus 5 (Reds)
Adam Wilk (LHP) dropped to 4-5 on the season after allowing 3 ER in 4IP to take the loss. Wilk was relieved by LJ Gagnier (RHP) and Matt Hoffman (LHP) who each allowed a run each. Brendan Wise (RHP) closed out the game with a scoreless 9th.
Ryan Strieby (1B) went 3-5 with a double, a homer, and a RBI. Danny Worth (3B) was 1-3 from the plate but drove in 3 with a three-run homer in the 6th inning.
Lakeland 7, Clearwater 1 (Phillies)
Carols Guillen DH’ed and went 1-5 with a run scored. His ABs went as follows:
- AB 1 – 1st inning – flied out to left
- AB 2 – 3rd inning – reached on E4
- AB 3 – 5th inning – singled to center
- AB 4 – 7th inning – popped out to SS
- AB 5 – 8th inning – K
Drew Smyly (LHP) started for the Flying Tigers and earned his 4th win after allowing just 1 ER over 6 IP.
Corey Jones (2B) had a big night with the bat as he drove in 3 runs and went 2-4 with a double.
West Michigan 1, South Bend 7 (D-Backs)
Kyle Ryan (LHP) gave up 4 ER in the 3rd inning and got the hook after just 2 2/3 as the starter. Predictably, he was charged with his 6th loss. Torrealba and Cruz held South Bend at bay over 5 1/3 innings until Ramon Lebron (RHP) entered the game. Lebron gave up 3 ER, 4 H, and a walk in the top half of the 9th – mercilessly killing any hope of a comeback. To his credit, an outing like this only inflated his season ERA to 1.97. In fact, Lebron had only given up 2 ER in his previous 14 2/3 innings of work.
Hernan Perez (2B) drove in the only run of the night and went 1-4 with a double. Robbins went 0-4 with 3 K’s.
Normally, I don’t have any interest in, nor do I cover, opposing pitchers; however, David Holmberg (LHP) who started for South Bend, struck out 7 in 7 innings and held West Michigan to just one hit. On the season, he’s 8-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 83 innings. He’s struck out 81 while walking only 13. He’s also 6’4’’, 219lbs., 20 years old, and ½ human ½ sasquatch. If DD ever stumbles across the pages of DTW – this is my official request to add Mr. Holmberg to the Tigers farm system.
I’m still trying to figure out why Danny Worth was sent down. I thought he proved himself pretty well in the Majors. Obviously, there is a lot of dead wood on this team that can’t be moved, but I’m started to think that some of them can just be released.
Hitting wise, Worth really hasn’t proved himself in the minors yet. He has shown that he can hit left handed pitchers, but not so much vs righties. We already got a few guys like that with Inge and Raburn.
Inge and Raburn can’t hit either one, but they are veterans (read: they are owed lots of money), and so hope springs eternal.
To be fair to Raburn (if not Inge), at least there is some possibility that he can rip an XBH, which is unlikely with Worth, who is pretty much a singles hitter. The frustration factor with Raburn is pretty high because much was expected, but sticking with him for most of the playtime at 2B may be the best option anyway at this point. Worth at 2B may “feel” better, but his actual offensive contribution probably wouldn’t amount to much. I think he projects to be a late inning defensive replacement/spare part guy – not invaluable, but not a regular.
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