Minor League Roundup - 4/30

Clinton hurler Omar Poveda tossed a two-hit gem while Bakersfield slugger John Mayberry hit a walkoff home run on Monday evening. Lone Star Dugout looks at all of the day's minor league action.

AAA: Oklahoma 1 – Albuquerque 9
L – Simon (1-2)

Josh Rupe’s (4.91 ERA/.279 BAA) fairly rough April came to a close on Monday, as he yielded five runs – four earned – on seven hits in five innings. The right-hander walked two and fanned one.

Left fielder Jason Botts raised his average to an even .200 with two singles in four at-bats.

Desi Relaford reached three times, as he was 1-for-2 with two walks.

Player of the game: LF Jason Botts

AB	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG
4	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	.200

AA: Frisco 4 – (@) Corpus Christi 3
W – Chenard (1-1)
SV – Ingram (4)

Starting pitcher Armando Galarraga put together his best start since his first of the season, as he surrendered two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Galarraga walked just one and struck out six.

Right fielder Anthony Webster went 1-for-3 with a double and a free pass.

Shortstop Casey Benjamin (2/4) and catcher Kevin Richardson (1/3, BB) reached base a pair of times.

Player of the game: RHP Armando Galarraga

IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	ERA
6.1	5	2	2	1	6	0	5.00

A+: Bakersfield 8 – Lancaster 6
W – Herrera (1-0)
HR – Davis (6), Mayberry (6)

With the Blaze trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, third baseman Chris Davis (.244/.277/.558) hit a solo home run, his sixth of the season.

After southpaw Danny Ray Herrera tossed a scoreless inning (he allowed one run in the eighth), the Bakersfield rally began. Matt Smith walked and Thomas Berkery singled, setting the table for slugging outfielder John Mayberry (.250/.294/.510). The Stanford product promptly launched a walkoff three-run bomb over the left field wall. The home run was Mayberry’s sixth.

Matt Smith, who was 1-for-3 with two walks, raised his batting average to .333.

Second baseman Thomas Berkery (2/5, 2B), DH Brandon Boggs (1/3, 2B, BB), and left fielder Terry Blunt (2/5) reached base twice.

Bakersfield starter Bear Bay allowed five runs – three earned – on six hits in 5.1 innings.

Player of the game: RF John Mayberry

AB	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG
5	1	2	0	1	4	0	0	.250

A: Clinton 2 – (@) Cedar Rapids 3 (12 innings)
L – Gudex (1-2)
HR – Whittleman (3)

Monday was a two-man show for the LumberKings.

On the mound, starting pitcher Omar Poveda (2.03 ERA/.159 BAA) fanned a career-high 12 batters in eight innings. Poveda yielded just two runs on two hits while issuing one walk.

The 19-year-old Venezuelan finishes the month having allowed more than three hits in just one of his four starts.

At the plate, designated hitter John Whittleman (.343/.447/.586) stole the show. Whittleman, who had 75 percent of the team’s hits, was 3-for-5 with a double and a solo home run.

Player of the game: RHP Omar Poveda

IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	ERA
8.0	2	2	2	1	12	2	2.03