Astros News

Daily Clips
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Day goes downhill quickly for Astros;Nine-run 7th, ejection make it easy for Nats

By: Bernardo Fallas / Houston Chronicle

Bizarre, for lack of a better word, would not begin to describe what transpired for the Astros on Monday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

In retrospect, the leadoff double Astros starter Roy Oswalt allowed the Nationals might as well have been a sign of things to come for the veteran righthander and the team.

Christian Guzman, who got the extra-base hit, went on to score and give Washington the early lead.

But things would get a lot worse before they ever had a chance to get better for Oswalt, who pitched only 2 2⁄3 innings before being ejected for he labeled a clear misunderstanding on the part of home-plate umpire Bill Hohn.

The Astros would not fare any better, with their offense pulling off their now-trademarked disappearing act for much of the game and the bullpen imploding and giving up nine runs in the seventh inning of a 14-4 loss before 34,704, about half of whom did not hang around for the stretch and Deep in the Heart of Texas.

The ejection cost Oswalt (3-7, 2.78 ERA) the loss — he left the game with the Astros down 4-1 — as well as his streak of consecutive quality starts, which was snapped at 10.

But while there’s no question Oswalt’s ejection — his first in almost six years — was both untimely and costly, it wasn’t like the Astros (17-34) threatened beyond the bottom of the third inning, when lefthander Gustavo Chacin, Oswalt’s replacement, homered for his first major league hit.

It did, however, further complicate things for a team that has become adept at complicating things for it-
self.

“You never want to lose your ace,” said center fielder Michael Bourn, who had an RBI triple and scored two runs. “That’s the man you want out there.

“Him and the umpire weren’t seeing eye to eye from the beginning. You could tell by the body language and how the umpire was calling it.”

Hard to watch
Oswalt’s early exit stretched a bullpen that had only begun to recover from back-to-back days of extended use in blowout road losses to Cincinnati just days earlier.

“Any time you have to go through your bullpen like that, that’s going to make it tough,” manager Brad Mills said.

By the time reliever Chris Sampson gave up his second two-run homer of the seventh inning to give the Nationals a 14-2 lead, many in attendance could be seen rushing for the exits.

In what was an uncommon occurrence for Minute Maid Park, two fans even rushed the field for a cheap thrill before being escorted out by security.

Either way, everyone had seen enough.

Five relievers used
Before Sampson’s rocky outing, the Nationals (26-26) scored five runs off Jeff Fulchino, who could not replicate his 1-2-3 sixth-inning effort.

While the Astros’ bullpen struggled to stay afloat — Mills used five relievers in an effort to keep pitching counts low and manageable — Washington starter Luis Atilano was cruising to his fifth victory of the season while Houston-area product Adam Dunn was racking up RBIs — he finished with four.

It was the third time in four games the Astros found themselves pummeled by the opposition.

And it was particularly frustrating for Oswalt, who was baffled by the plate umpire’s decision to eject him.

Oswalt said he merely was reacting to a bad pitch, a ball that made for a 3-2 count on the Nationals’ Josh Willingham, but Hohn thought otherwise. An exchange ensued, and Oswalt was gone.

“You get caught up in a game where you’re trying to compete, you’re going to have a little bit of emotion going,” Oswalt said. “But as far as getting thrown out for saying, ‘I’m not talking to you,’ I’ve never heard that before.”

Said Mills: “The umpire thought Roy was trying to show him up, and he wasn’t. He was expressing his frustration.”

Little of quality
Oswalt had just given up a one-out, bases-loaded double to Dunn that gave Washington a 4-1 lead. His shortened outing ended his streak of consecutive quality outings at 10, one short of matching the franchise record by Dave Giusti in 1968.

Chacin replaced Oswalt on the mound and finished walking Willingham before retiring the next two batters. He then led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to right field — his first major league hit — in his first at-bat since June 25, 2006.

Bourn had an RBI triple and later scored on an error by Dunn at first base in the bottom of the seventh to double the Astros’ offensive output, which up to that point consisted of a Carlos Lee infield single in the first inning and Chacin’s homer in the third.

“It’s nice (to hit the home run), but it means nothing,” Chacin said. “We lost.”

 

Oswalt's quality-starts streak over in loss;Ace ejected in third as Houston falls in opener to Nationals

By: Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- The kill shot to Roy Oswalt's streak of quality starts to begin the season came in the third inning on Monday, when Adam Dunn ripped a three-run double to right field one pitch after Oswalt nearly struck out the slugger on a two-strike curveball.

With the Astros trailing by three runs -- which has been pretty much an insurmountable lead for them this season -- the chances of a comeback were slim. And Oswalt didn't have to stick around to see the bitter end after being ejected moments later for what crew chief Gary Darling later said was showing up an umpire.

Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman each drove in four runs to lead a 14-hit attack -- seven of which came in a nine-run seventh inning -- and send the Nationals to a 14-4 rout of the Astros before a Memorial Day matinee crowd of 34,704 at Minute Maid Park.

Oswalt (3-7), who was trying to tie a franchise record by throwing his 11th quality start to begin a season, lasted only 2 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, four hits and three walks. He was ejected after throwing a close 2-2 pitch to Josh Willingham that home-plate umpire Bill Hohn called a ball.

"I was actually upset I missed with a pitch a little bit off the plate and was actually talking to myself on the mound," Oswalt said. "I wasn't even looking toward his way, and when I turned around he was pointing at me and saying something about, 'Are you going to keep your mouth shut?' or something. I couldn't really tell what he said. I told him I wasn't talking to him and he kept on talking, so I told him again I wasn't talking to him, and he threw me out."

Darling said Oswalt got ejected for "showing up the umpire."

"He came off the mound, pointed at [Hohn] with his glove and got ejected," Darling said.

The loss of Oswalt was a tough blow for an Astros bullpen that endured heavy workloads in blowout losses to the Reds on Friday and Saturday. Houston has been outscored, 41-14, in its last four games and finished May with a 9-20 record, the lowest winning percentage during the month in franchise history.

"You never want to lose your ace," center fielder Michael Bourn said. "That's the man you want out there. Him and the umpire weren't seeing eye to eye from the beginning. You could tell by the body language and how the umpire was calling it.

"I don't really know what happened or what was said, but I know he gave him a quick ejection. I thought he should have had a longer leash than that. He's been playing for nine years. I guess the umpire didn't see it that way today, and he ejected him."

For Oswalt, it was his shortest outing since he threw two innings and allowed six runs on Sept. 10, 2009, against Atlanta. It was the first time he had been thrown out of a game since the 2004 season, when he was ejected twice, including once by Hohn during a heated pennant race game at Wrigley Field in August for hitting Cubs catcher Michael Barrett.

"You get caught up in a game when you're trying to compete, so you're going to have a little bit of emotion going," Oswalt said. "But as far as getting thrown out of game as far as [saying], 'I'm not talking to you,' I've never heard that before."

Oswalt contended the pitch to Willingham was indeed a ball, which is why he was yelling at himself.

"I was mad at myself," Oswalt said. "The ball was supposed to come back and it stayed out there and missed two or three inches outside. If I could have gotten it to come back a little bit, I could have punched him out looking."

With Oswalt gone, the Astros used five relief pitchers and allowed the game to get out of hand. The Nationals sent 12 batters to the plate in the seventh and scored a season-high nine runs -- five runs off Jeff Fulchino and four off Chris Sampson, who gave up homers to Carlos Maldonado and Zimmerman.

"It puts you in a bad situation," Oswalt said of his early exit. "You know your bullpen's going to have to throw five, six, seven innings. I wasn't trying to get thrown out of the game. If I was trying to get thrown out of the game, I would have said more than that. Now tomorrow, we're hoping the starter [Brett Myers] gets deep and maybe I could go down there and pick up a few innings in the bullpen."

Tied at 1 in the third, Oswalt allowed the Nationals to load the bases on consecutive singles by Cristian Guzman and Nyjer Morgan and a walk to Zimmerman. He just missed inside with on a 2-2 curveball to Dunn, before the Houston-area native ripped a three-run double to right to make it 4-1.

"Down by three runs, we were still in the game and still battling," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "We'd like to have Roy out there and give us a few more innings, that's for sure. But any time you have to go through your bullpen like that, that's going to make it tough."

The game was punctuated by the bizarre: Gustavo Chacin, who replaced Oswalt, homered in the third inning in his first at-bat in nearly five years. It was his first Major League hit. And two fans ran across the field in the seventh and eighth innings and were apprehended by security officials.

 

Maldonado, Zimmerman homer in Nats' 14-4 win

By: / Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) -- Roy Oswalt simmered and the Washington Nationals ' offense sizzled in Houston.

Carlos Maldonado and Ryan Zimmerman hit three-run homers off Chris Sampson , long after Oswalt was ejected, and Washington put together the highest scoring inning in Nationals' history for a 14-4 win over the Astros on Monday.

After the game, the Nationals announced on Twitter that their prized prospect Stephen Strasburg will make his big league debut June 8 against Pittsburgh.

Zimmerman and Adam Dunn drove in four runs apiece and both chipped in during a nine-run seventh, the team's biggest inning since relocating from Montreal before the 2005 season.

" It was kind of a snowball effect,'' said Josh Willingham , who went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. " Even some balls we weren't hitting well were falling, so it was a good day for everybody at the plate. You need a game like that every now and then."

Rookie Luis Atilano (5-1) allowed three earned runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings, his longest outing of the season. The Nationals came in with the fifth lowest run total in the NL (216), but Zimmerman thinks they're capable of stringing together more big innings and moving into their division race.

" As good as we've been, we can do a lot better,'' Zimmerman said. " It's exciting. If we can get rolling and scoring some runs, the way our pitchers have been throwing, we'll be a good team."

Dunn broke a 1-all tie with a three-run double off Oswalt in the third. Oswalt (3-7) gave up more than three earned runs in a start for the first time this year.

And then Oswalt lost his cool after missing the strike zone with a 2-2 pitch to Willingham. He turned his head toward the first base line and yelled something. Oswalt said he was chastising himself, not snapping at home plate umpire Bill Hohn, but Hohn took off his mask and barked back to the mound.

The Astros ace responded, " I ain't talking to you!" Hohn ejected Oswalt anyway, catcher Humberto Quintero confronted the umpire and Houston manager Brad Mills came out to join the conversation.

" I have never seen that before,'' Oswalt said. " I was actually upset that I threw a ball that ended up a little bit off the plate. I was actually talking to myself on the mound and I wasn't even looking his way.

" When I turned around, he was pointing at me saying something like, 'Keep your mouth shut,' or something,'' Oswalt said. " I couldn't really tell you what he said. I told him that I wasn't talking to him, and he kept on talking."

Oswalt has acknowledged his frustration with the Astros' dismal start and about two weeks ago, his agent asked the Astros to try and deal him. Oswalt said he wasn't trying to earn an ejection.

" If I was,'' he said, " I would have said a lot more than that."

Gustavo Chacin , a left-hander recalled from the minors on Friday, replaced Oswalt. In the bottom of the third, Chacin homered down the right field line, his first hit in eight career at-bats.

The Nationals tacked on another run in the fifth, then blew it open in the seventh.

Jeff Fulchino relieved Chacin and gave up a leadoff walk to Nyjer Morgan . Zimmerman doubled to center and Morgan scored on Dunn's infield single. Willingham walked and Desmond drove in two with a single for an 8-2 lead.

Washington was just getting started.

Sampson relieved Fulchino, and Maldonado homered off the left-field foul pole, setting a career high for RBIs in a game with one swing. Maldonado's contract was just purchased by Washington last week, after Ivan Rodriguez was injured.

Cristian Guzman and Morgan singled to keep the inning alive, and Zimmerman homered to right for a 14-2 lead. Washington reached its highest run total since a 14-6 win in Colorado on May 13.

" We had good at-bats, worked the count and got some timely hits,'' Zimmerman said. " It was nice to score some runs and have an easy one."

Houston scored two runs off Altilano in the bottom of the seventh, and Tyler Walker relieved.

NOTES: Oswalt was ejected for the first time since getting tossed twice in 2004. Hohn ejected him once that season, for hitting Chicago Cubs ' C Michael Barrett with a pitch. ... Washington manager Jim Riggleman moved regular leadoff man Morgan to the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Morgan came in hitting .202 in May (20 of 99). " He's not been getting on base leading off, so really just trying to get him a different feel," Riggleman said. ... Brian Moehler (0-2, 7.29 ERA) will start Thursday's series finale in place of Bud Norris , who's on the disabled list with bursitis and right biceps tendinitis. ... Two fans ran across the outfield and were apprehended by security personnel at different points in the game. The first fan came out of the right-field stands in the seventh and climbed over the center-field wall. The next fan ran across the outfield from the opposite side of the field in the eighth.

 

Oswalt ejected in opener vs. Nationals

By: Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt was ejected in the third inning of Monday's 14-4 loss against the Nationals by home-plate umpire Bill Hohn for arguing balls and strikes.

Oswalt, whose string of 10 consecutive quality starts to begin the season came to an end, gave up four runs and four hits. He was ejected after throwing a close 2-2 pitch to Josh Willingham that Hohn called a ball. Oswalt said something to Hohn as he walked toward the mound and was quickly ejected.

Oswalt headed to the dugout while catcher Humberto Quintero and manager Brad Mills took up his cause with Hohn. Oswalt believed he had thrown strike three to Adam Dunn in the prior at-bat, and Dunn wound up hitting a three-run double.

This was Oswalt's first ejection since 2004, when he was ejected twice during that year. The first time, he was ejected on May 8 of that season in a game vs. the Braves, and the second ejection occurred on Aug. 22 in a matchup vs. the Cubs.

Right-hander Gustavo Chacin replaced Oswalt, and then led off the bottom of the third with his first career hit -- a solo homer.

Oswalt was trying to tie a franchise record by pitching his 11th quality start to begin the season. It was the 282nd start of his career, which tied Nolan Ryan for third place on the franchise all-time list.

 

Chacin homers for first career hit

By: Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Gustavo Chacin has given up 45 homers in his career, but he got to enjoy the feeling of touching them all himself on Monday afternoon.
Chacin socked a 1-1 pitch from Washington pitcher Luis Atilano down the right-field line and just over the wall for his first career home run in the bottom of the third. It was the first Major League hit for Chacin, but what made it even more shocking is that it came in his first at-bat in nearly five years.

"For sure, it surprised me," said Chacin, who hadn't stepped to the plate in a Major League game since June 26, 2006. "Like I said, I tried to get on base in that situation. That's all that was on my mind right there."

Chacin, who spent four seasons with the Blue Jays before being signed by the Astros to a Minor League contract prior to this year, was 0-for-7 at the plate in his career. He's the first Houston pitcher to hit a homer for his first Major League hit since Butch Henry (off Doug Drabek) in 1992.

He's the first Astros pitcher to hit a home run since Mike Hampton on July 24, 2009, and he's the fifth Houston relief pitcher to homer. Russ Ortiz (May 19, 2009) was the last Astros relief pitcher to hit a home run.

"He's got more home runs than me and [Jeff] Keppinger put together already in one swing of the bat," said center fielder Michael Bourn, who got his first triple of the season on Monday.

Chacin tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief of Roy Oswalt, who was thrown out of the game in the third inning. The fact the Astros lost, 14-4, outweighed any personal satisfaction Chacin got from hitting a home run.

"My job is pitching, not hitting," he said. "But it's nice to hit the home run. It's real nice."

Chacin said he didn't retrieve the ball.

Moehler to start Thursday
HOUSTON -- Brian Moehler, who gave up 10 hits and eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in Saturday's 12-2 loss in Cincinnati, will start Thursday's series finale against Washington, manager Brad Mills said on Monday. Moehler is 0-2 with a 7.29 ERA in 13 games, including one start.

Mills said Moehler will benefit from having four full days to prepare himself and mentally and physically to make the start.

"It's going to be nice. Now, he has these days to prepare for that start on Thursday," Mills said. "He can look forward to that start. It's not a day down the line or two days. It's four days before he starts, so he knows, and we'll go from there."

Mills said the club also considered left-hander Wesley Wright for Thursday's game.

"But that's why [Moehler] is here, because he's able to adapt to do so many things," Mills said. "He's been with us all year, and that was one of the biggest reasons he's been given that role is that he's able to do this. It's his role, he's prepared for it, so let's give it to him."

Memorial Day meaningful for Wade
HOUSTON -- There are few bigger supporters of the military than Astros general manager Ed Wade, who has a son in the Navy, and two weeks ago, he traveled to Annapolis, Md., for the funeral of former Navy captain Jack Fellowes, who was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 6 1/2 years.

The Astros and Nationals wore special caps during Monday's game to commemorate Memorial Day.

"It's nice that one out of every 365 days we actually stop and think about what these guys are doing 365 days a year to protect us," Wade said. "Bobby Forrest, our [vice president for ballpark operations], has a son that is a Marine currently in Afghanistan, and I walk past Bobby every day and think about what's going through Bobby's head, not knowing where his son is or knowing what's going on."

Wade said his son, Ryan, will be promoted to lieutenant in the Navy from lieutenant junior grade on Tuesday.

"We're fortunate we get to play a baseball game today," Wade said. "The most stressful thing we have to deal with is if we're going to have to score runs or not. There are a whole lot of guys and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and other dangerous places making sure that's the only thing we have to worry about today."

Sullivan making most of opportunities
HOUSTON -- Cory Sullivan began Monday leading the Majors in pinch-hit appearances with 32 and was tied for seventh in the National League with five pinch-hits. He worked a key walk as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning on Sunday in Cincinnati and scored the go-ahead run.

"Any at-bat you get in a game is good," Sullivan said. "Pinch-hitting, hopefully you're not always getting at-bats that matter, not that you don't enjoy those -- getting the opportunity to get on base and give the team a chance to win. But it just means you're getting a chance to play and have an opportunity to get at-bats."

Sullivan entered Monday with four hits in his past 13 pinch-hit at-bats, and feels like he's getting more comfortable as the season progresses.

"I feel like early in the season, you get to set the groundwork for later in the season, where the at-bats in August and September will matter a little bit more," he said. "You've got that confidence to build off of."

 

Nationals-Astros Preview

By: / Associated Press

The Washington Nationals haven't gotten many chances to face the NL's worst club in recent seasons because that title has consistently belonged to them.

Now that the Houston Astros occupy that spot, Washington may be relishing the opportunity.

After matching their season high in runs in the series opener, the Nationals and red-hot slugger Ryan Zimmerman look for another victory Tuesday night as they continue their four-game set in Houston.

The Nationals (26-26) are one of the most improved teams in the majors, entering June at or above .500 for the first time since 2005 after losing more than 100 games each of the last two years.

"As good as we've been, we can do a lot better," Zimmerman said. "It's exciting. If we can get rolling and scoring some runs, the way our pitchers have been throwing, we'll be a good team."

The Astros (17-34) appear headed in the opposite direction. They rank last in the majors with 155 runs, and ace Roy Oswalt has requested a trade.

Oswalt was ejected during the third inning of Monday's 14-4 loss to the Nationals, and Washington took advantage by piling up nine runs in the seventh. Zimmerman's third home run in his last two games was a three-run shot in that inning, while both he and Adam Dunn had four RBIs in the game.

The outburst was a relief for the Nationals, who had been held to three or fewer runs nine times while losing 11 of their previous 16.

"It was kind of a snowball effect," outfielder Josh Willingham said. "Even some balls we weren't hitting well were falling, so it was a good day for everybody at the plate. You need a game like that every now and then."

It may not be quite as easy against Houston's Brett Myers. The right-hander held four of his five May opponents to two or fewer runs, going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in the month.

Myers (3-3. 3.22 ERA) was in line for a victory Thursday at Milwaukee before closer Matt Lindstrom blew the save in a 4-3, 10-inning Houston defeat.

"Every loss sucks," Myers said. "It's not fun to lose, but Matt's been throwing the ball great. You got to go with what you got."

Myers will hope to give his bullpen a break after Houston relievers were forced to pitch 6 2-3 innings Monday following Oswalt's ejection. The Astros' bullpen has had major problems lately, posting a 9.82 ERA in the club's last eight games.

The Astros have dropped 13 of their last 17 overall, and Washington's Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.60) hopes facing them can help bring his first victory since April 19. The right-hander is 0-2 in his last seven starts.

Stammen also left his latest outing with the lead after allowing three runs - two earned - in 6 1-3 innings Thursday at San Francisco, but the Nationals lost 5-4.

Stammen's only career complete game was at Houston on July 11, when he scattered nine hits in a 13-2 victory.

 

Moehler set to start Thursday

By: Bernardo Fallas / Houston Chronicle

Oswalt wants to help
Astros righthander Roy Oswalt, who was ejected in the third inning of Monday's game for arguing with home-plate umpire Bill Hohn, is open to pitching out of the bullpen today given his shortened outing in the 14-4 loss to Washington.

“We're hoping (today's) starter (Brett Myers) goes deep,” Oswalt said. “Maybe I can go out and pick up a few innings out of the bullpen. I have to talk to (manager Brad Mills first).”

Moehler goes Thursday
Righthander Brian Moehler will start in Thursday's series finale against the Nationals.

Moehler is coming off a rough outing in which he surrendered three homers and eight runs in 2 2⁄ 3 innings of Saturday's 12-2 loss to Cincinnati.

It was Moehler's first start since joining the bullpen for extended relief to start the season.

Moehler again will replace Bud Norris, who is on the disabled list (biceps tendinitis).

Manager Brad Mills said he considered starting lefty Wesley Wright but is going with Moehler because “this is what he prepares for.”

“Now he has three days to prepare for that start,” said Mills, who aims to get about 80-85 pitches, or four to five innings, out of Moehler. “This is his role; let's let allow him to do it.”

Home run OK, but …
Getting a home run for his first major league hit was nice but otherwise meaningless for Astros lefthanded reliever Gustavo Chacin .

But the chance afforded him to pitch at a crucial juncture in the game, that was something worth savoring for Chacin, who entered Monday's game in the third inning when starter Roy Oswalt was ejected.

“This is the type of situation you yearn for, get out of jams like that,” said Chacin, who recently was recalled when righthander Bud Norris went on the disabled list.

Chacin is a former Toronto starter who is in his second stint with the Astros this season after being called up from Class AAA Round Rock .

A Dunn deal
Washington first baseman Adam Dunn, who grew up in New Caney, went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, his most since driving in five runs at Colorado on July 25, 2009. Dunn has a .290 average with 110 RBIs with the bases loaded.

Memorial Day tribute
The Astros and Nationals joined the rest of Major League Baseball in pausing during the seventh inning — 3 p.m. local time — for a Memorial Day remembrance in honor of U.S. servicemen and women who died for their country.

Veterans and active-duty military personnel also were honored. Army Sgt. Tony Cooper sang the national anthem, and Marine Maj. William J. Gibbons Jr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Two hundred fifty military personnel were treated to seats by former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell.

The Astros also wore commemorative white caps with a stars-and-stripes team logo.

The Astros also wore commemorative white caps with a stars-and-stripes team logo.

Odds and ends
Right fielder Hunter Pence went 0-for-4 but finished May with a .302 batting average and at .344 owns the highest career average for the month among all active National League players (minimum 300 plate appearances). … Shortstop Tommy Manzella has reached base safely in 14 of his last 17 games.

They said it
“I didn't feel like we were out of the game until it got to be 14-2, when (you need) a miracle comeback. I don't feel like I'm out of the game when it's 6-2, 7-2. You just have to believe you can make it; if you don't believe you can make it, you're not going to make it. That's the only thing with this team, I think our biggest problem sometimes, we get down by three or four and think the game's over when it's not.”

— Center fielder Michael Bourn on Sunday's loss, during which the Astros were behind just 4-2 at one point

 

How do Nats spell success? Bullpen

By: Zach Schonbrun / MLB.com

While buzz builds for the June 8 arrival of super-prospect Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' early success has been keyed by the bullpen, which keeps proving its performance, thus far, is no fluke.
With the addition of prospect Drew Storen two weeks ago, the Nats' relief corps has an ERA of 2.41 in the past 14 games. It's holding hitters to a .235 batting average against in that span.

Its mainstays have stayed consistent. Tyler Clippard -- who has allowed only two hits and no runs in his past six appearances -- has rebounded after back-to-back losses. And closer Matt Capps has 17 saves and had an 8-0 strikeout-walk ratio in May.

Both have sparked a dramatic turnaround for the Nats, who have lowered their team bullpen ERA by 1.27 from last season -- the third-best ERA improvement in the Major Leagues.

The 'pen is only one ingredient to Washington's early success this season, and after two months, the team is off to its best start. The Nats have 26 wins heading into June -- last year, they took 26 wins into the All-Star break.

"It's kind of fun to see how far we've come," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "It's fun to become a competitive team. A couple of years ago, it wasn't, you had no chance. But it's fun coming to the park now."

"We've been in every game," second baseman Adam Kennedy said. "It's better than being blown out."

The Astros send right-hander Brett Myers to the hill on Tuesday, who, in his first two months with Houston, has been a pleasant surprise in the National League Central. He has pitched at least six innings in all 10 of his starts this year, combining with Roy Oswalt to become just the second pair of Astros teammates to hurl six or more innings in each of their first 10 starts.

Myers will be making his 34th career appearance against Washington, his most against any club. He was 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in May.

Nationals: Willingham having All-Star year
Very quietly, Josh Willingham may be having an All-Star-caliber season. He leads the National League with a .438 on-base percentage and 39 walks, and he finished off the month of May with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 30 games. He went 2-for-3 on Monday, with one RBI and two walks, to head into June on a high note.

Astros: Staff to stay with 13 pitchers
The Astros continue to suffer from injury issues, the latest being rookie Bud Norris (biceps tendinitis). With Norris out, the team has elected to stay with 13 pitchers on the roster.

"You never know what can happen," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "Nobody expected Norris to get hurt and guys could take a line drive off the foot or turn an ankle, and we can't expect those things. We are going to go with 13 right now through at least this time around through the rotation, and we'll see where we are when that time comes."

Worth noting
Washington's 14 runs on Monday were the most since it beat Colorado, 14-6, on May 13, and more than it has scored in the past four games combined. ... Nats outfielder Nyjer Morgan batted second on Monday, switching Cristian Guzman into the leadoff spot. The switch may have worked: Morgan went 3-for-4, with four runs scored and two stolen bases on Monday. ... Oswalt was ejected in the third inning Monday, snapping his string of 10 consecutive quality starts -- one shy of tying the franchise record. ... Brian Moehler will get the start for Houston against Washington on Thursday

 

Houston Astros Team Report

By: / USA TODAY

INSIDE PITCH
Roy Oswalt's run of consecutive quality starts ended with a thud Monday as the Astros ace was ejected in uncharacteristic fashion in the third inning of a 14-4 loss to the Nationals in what the right-hander described as a misunderstanding on the part of home plate umpire Bill Hohn.

Did frustration get the best of Oswalt?

In this case, yes, although he said he expressed frustration with himself over the location of a pitch — which Hohn correctly called a ball — when Hohn took off his protective mask and shouted at him.

"I was upset I missed with the pitch a little bit off the plate," Oswalt said. "I was actually talking to myself on the mound, not even looking his way.

"When I turn around he's pointing at me saying something about, 'You're going to keep your mouth shut,' or something. I couldn't really tell what he'd said. And I told him I wasn't talking to him. And he kept on talking and I told him again, and he threw me out.

"I guess you can't say anything. He threw me out for saying, 'I'm not talking to you.' "

It was Oswalt's fourth career ejection and first since Aug. 22, 2004, when, in what may or may not be a coincidence, Hohn ejected him against Chicago for hitting a batter.

Oswalt, who dropped to 3-7 despite a 2.78 ERA, has asked the struggling Astros to consider trading him to a contender.

The loss dropped the Astros to 17-34, still worst in the National League.

NATIONALS 14, ASTROS 4: The Astros saw ace Roy Oswalt ejected in the third inning and never recovered. The Nationals put the game out of reach with a nine-run seventh inning fueled by two-run homers by Ryan Zimmerman and Carlos Maldonado.

NOTES, QUOTES

—RHP Brian Moehler will start Thursday's series finale against the Nationals, manager Brad Mills said. Moehler, who started the season in the bullpen, allowed three home runs and eight runs in 2 2/3 innings of emergency start work in Saturday's 12-2 loss at the Reds. It will be Moehler's second start in place of RHP Bud Norris (biceps tendinitis, 15-day DL).

—LHP Gustavo Chacin's solo homer was his first major league hit. Chacin, who previously started for Toronto in portions of four seasons, was 0-for-7 at the plate before the at-bat, his first since June 25, 2006. He also tossed 2 2/3 innings and give up one run in his longest career outing as a reliever.

—RHP Roy Oswalt, who was ejected from Monday's game, said he would be willing to come out of the bullpen in Tuesday's game against the Nationals. "We're hoping (Tuesday's) starter (Brett Myers) goes deep (into the game)," said Oswalt, who threw only 58 pitches before getting tossed. "Maybe I can go out and pick up a few innings out of the bullpen."

—RHP Chris Sampson, who missed most of last week while nursing shoulder tendinitis, had his third consecutive rough outing in relief, prompting Astros manager Brad Mills to say the team will talk to the pitcher before re-evaluating his health. Sampson gave up a pair of two-run homers in two-thirds of an inning.

—RF Hunter Pence went 0-for-4 but finished May with a .302 batting average and at .344 owns the highest career average for the month among all active National League players (minimum 300 plate appearances).

BY THE NUMBERS: 107 — Losses for the Astros this year if they continue to play at their pace through 50 games. That number would break the franchise record for losses in a season by 10.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I had to get on Tito. I texted him (Friday) night. I said 'Hall did a better job than Cash did for me.' " — Manager Brad Mills on his exchange with mentor Terry Francona after both used position players to pitch in blowouts on the same night with Francona's Red Sox getting scoreless work from Bill Hall and Mills' pick, catcher Kevin Cash, giving up a run.

ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

—RHP Bud Norris (right biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 24.

—RHP Alberto Arias (right rotator cuff impingement) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 4. He had season-ending surgery April 22.

 

Elias Says...

By: / Elias Sports Bureau, Inc.

JIMENEZ SETS ERA RECORD IN SHUTOUT

Ubaldo Jimenez shut out the Giants on Monday lowering his ERA to 0.78 this season. That's a major-league record for the lowest ERA for a pitcher through his first 11 starts of a season.

Monday's duel between Jimenez (9-1 entering the game) and Tim Lincecum was by one measure almost unprecedented. There was only one other starting pitcher matchup - before June - between the reigning Cy Young Award winner and a pitcher with nine or more wins to that point in the season.

On May 23, 1971 Jim Perry (Twins) started against Vida Blue (Athletics) at the Oakland Coliseum. Perry had won the A.L. Cy Young award in 1970 and Blue entered that game with a 9-1 record. Blue threw a complete-game five-hitter that day in Oakland's 3-1 victory and he finished that season with a 24-8 record, winning the Cy Young award himself that year.

A-ROD HAS DAY TO REMEMBER

Alex Rodriguez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs in the Yankees' 11-2 win over the Indians on Monday. A-Rod's six RBIs tied the most for a Yankees player in a game played on Memorial Day. Rick Cerone had six RBIs (four of them produced by a grand slam) on Memorial Day in 1980. Between Cerone and Rodriguez, one other player hit a grand slam for the Yankees on Memorial Day: Danny Tartabull in 1992.

GARCIAMANIA IN ST.LOUIS

Jaime Garcia defeated the Reds on Monday and lowered his ERA to 1.32 this season. That's the lowest ERA by a National League rookie through his first 10 starts of a season since Fernando Valenzuela had a 1.24 ERA to that point in 1981, on his way to winning the World Series, the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young award.

CHIPPER ENDS LONGEST HOMERLESS STREAK OF CAREER

Chipper Jones' home run on Monday ended his streak of 118 consecutive at-bats without a homer. That was the longest homerless drought of his major-league career.

MARLINS SCORE 13 LATE RUNS

The Marlins trailed the Brewers 4-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, before they rallied with 13 runs over the next three innings to win 13-5. The last major-league team to score 13 (or more) runs in a game after being held scoreless through the first five innings was the Marlins themselves, in a 14-7 win against Arizona last July. And it was the most runs the Brewers ever allowed in a game in which they shut out the opponent in the first five innings.

JONES CLEANS UP FOR PITTSBURGH

Garrett Jones, batting fourth in the lineup, hit a home run in the Pirates' 2-1 victory over the Cubs on Monday. Pittsburgh entered the game with only three home runs hit this season from the cleanup position in the batting order, which was second-fewest in the major leagues, ahead of only the Mets (2).

TOP OF THE ORDER LEADS WASHINGTON TO VICTORY

Cristian Guzman, Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Zimmerman - the first three batters in the Nationals' lineup - combined to score 10 runs in Washington's 14-4 win at Houston on Monday. Only one other major-league team produced 10 (or more) runs from the first three starters in the batting order in a game this season. Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun scored 10 times in the Brewers' 20-0 win at Pittsburgh on April 22.

NAPOLI IS PERFECT AT PLATE

Mike Napoli was 3-for-3, with a home run and three runs scored in the Angels' win at Kansas City on Monday. He's the first starting catcher to go 3-for-3 (or better) with a home run and at least three runs scored in a game this season. Two starting catchers did that in a game last year: Joe Mauer and Ryan Doumit.

HILL ENDS THREE-WEEK SLUMP

Aaron Hill was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the Blue Jays' 3-2 win over the Rays on Monday night, breaking out of his 21-day slump. Hill entered the game batting .125 (9-for-72) since May 10, the second-lowest batting average in the major leagues over that span (minimum: 40 at-bats), ahead of only Cliff Pennington (.121).

HAIRSTON SLAMS METS

Jerry Hairston Jr., batting first in the Padres lineup, hit a second-inning grand slam in the Padres' 18-6 win vs the Mets on Monday night. He's the fourth leadoff batter in the major leagues to hit a grand slam this season and now three of them have come versus the Mets. Felipe Lopez and Shane Victorino hit grand slams from the first position in the order against the Mets earlier this year, as did Drew Stubbs against the Cubs.

 

Ex-Astro Robertson dies in motorcycle accident

By: Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle

Jeriome Robertson, who won 15 games as a rookie with the Astros in 2003, died late Saturday night after crashing his motorcycle in his hometown of Exeter, Calif.

Robertson, 33, went 15-9 to help the Astros to second place in the National League Central in 2003. He finished seventh in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Robertson's success and his Astros career were abbreviated. At the end of spring training the following year, he was traded to Cleveland for outfielder Luke Scott.

Robertson appeared in eight games for the Indians, going 1-1 before being traded to Montreal. He had minor league stints in the Cincinnati and New York Mets' organizations but never made another major league appearance.

He was released by the Mets in 2006 and played in the Atlantic and Mexican leagues before leaving baseball in 2007.

 

Little slugger putting up big numbers;Altuve ‘electric’ at the plate for Class A Lexington

By: Zachary Levine / Houston Chronicle

LEXINGTON, Ky. —Astros prospect Jose Altuve could take his position at second base with his hair on fire or juggling swords, and it wouldn't change the first thing you notice about him.

He's short. He's very short.

But standing a legitimate 5-5, Altuve is putting up some of the biggest numbers at Class A Lexington outside of vertically-unchallenged Kody Hinze and J.D. Martinez.

“I feel the same size when I'm in the field as everybody else,” Altuve said.

The 20-year-old Venezuelan, now in his third year playing in the Astros' stateside affiliates, has often been projected to grow into the status of an organizational player because of his height, but he certainly hasn't yet.

He's batting leadoff for the Legends, entering Monday night's game hitting .297 with a .356 on-base percentage and, the one that really belies his size, a .422 slugging percentage.

“They might look at him as short, but he can drive the ball,” said Lexington manager Rodney Linares, who has managed Altuve for the last three years including 2008 and 2009 at rookie-level Greeneville.

In fact, mention Altuve's name to Linares and he'll literally — in three words —declare his love for his second baseman and one of his team leaders.

Mention his name to assistant general manager Ricky Bennett, and Bennett will start smiling.

“He's electric,” Bennett said. “We spent a lot of time in spring training talking about him, talking about challenging him in Lexington. We probably spent more time talking about him than anybody, and he has not disappointed at all.”

The one knock from within the organization is that as he has piled up 13 extra-base hits including four home runs, he's perhaps overswinging. And the 166-pounder does indeed put a lot into his swing, saying that his power doesn't come any more from his thick legs than it does from any other part of his frame.

“I think sometimes in his case, he tries to do a little too much,” Bennett said. “His swing gets a little too big. We'll have to sit down from time to time and say ‘Hey, shorten your swing up, let's get back to your approach and what you can do.' and he's fine.”

He feels fine too, not slowing down in his first full season.

And while players his height are an extreme rarity in the major league ranks —American League MVP Dustin Pedroia fits the profile at the same position — Altuve hasn't strayed from that path to this point.

Also in the system
In addition to the four full-season minor league teams that started three days after the Astros proper, there is a fifth team currently in action within the system.

The Astros' Dominican Summer League affiliate began play Saturday with a win over the DSL Pirates in the first game played at the Astros' new complex in Santo Domingo. They lost their second game, but Venezuelan 17-year-old Enderson Franco debuted with five innings of one-hit ball and striking out six.

The season runs until Aug. 21, with games most days at 10:30 a.m. local time.

 

MLB mock draft 2.0

By: Keith Law / ESPN.com

The 2010 Rule 4 draft is just one week away, and there haven't been many changes in the Top 10, but there's more clarity in the middle of the round than there was a week ago. The biggest change has to be the comeback of LSU starter Anthony Ranaudo, who started the year as the presumptive No. 2 pick behind Bryce Harper but struggled through an injury-plagued spring. He was solid in his start at the SEC tournament Wednesday, then was very impressive in a three-inning relief outing Sunday as the Tigers won the championship game. But questions about his price tag and what's really going on in his elbow will limit his market to teams with larger draft budgets and higher risk tolerances.

Washington Nationals
Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada
No change. Harper's next game is Monday at 2 p.m. MT at the JuCo World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. SCOUTING VIDEO


Pittsburgh Pirates
Manny Machado, SS, Brito Miami Private High School (Fla.)
Still possible they take Drew Pomeranz, but the odds of them taking Jameson Taillon remain slim. SCOUTING VIDEO

Baltimore Orioles
Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands High School (Texas)
If Taillon is gone -- unlikely -- they'll probably take Machado. SCOUTING VIDEO

Kansas City Royals
Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast University
The name of the week is Minnesota catcher/right fielder Michael Kvasnicka, and this is the highest I've heard him so far.

Cleveland Indians
Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
Or a college bat (Michael Choice over Zack Cox), or possibly Chris Sale if he gets here.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington
The Diamondbacks could also take Zack Cox, Deck McGuire or Drew Pomeranz.

New York Mets
Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas
They like Brandon Workman, and Kvasnicka is also in the Mets' extended mix, although taking him over Cox would elicit a lot of criticism in the industry. Wild rumor of the week had them interested in Matt Harvey.

Houston Astros
Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet High School (Wash.)
The fact that no one has a strong idea of what the Astros want to do is fueling a lot of rumors that didn't check out when I looked into them. One thing I did learn is that they can go over slot on the right player.

San Diego Padres
Kolbrin Vitek, 2B, Ball State
The Padres remain interested in Karsten Whitson and Nick Castellanos and would probably pop Zack Cox if he fell this far.

Oakland Athletics
Dylan Covey, RHP, Marantha H.S.
One hot rumor this week has the A's on Florida prep infielder Yordy Cabrera, but I was told that's unlikely. They remain high on Michael Choice and could consider Christian Colon here.

Toronto Blue Jays
Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley H.S.
The Jays are on everyone from Whitson to Covey to Aaron Sanchez to Justin O'Conner to Kaleb Cowart to Jake Skole (more on him in a moment).

Cincinnati Reds
Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami
I've also heard them on Christian Colon, Gary Brown, Bryce Brentz, and most recently Arkansas CF/RHP Brett Eibner. Colon and Brown seem a little less likely because they'll probably look for a bonus over slot. SCOUTING VIDEO

Chicago White Sox
Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
They're taking a non-Boras college arm -- McGuire's stock seems to be slipping, which could push him to the White Sox over Asher Wojciechowski and Barrett Loux.

Milwaukee Brewers
Nick Castellanos, SS/3B, Archbishop McCarthy (Fla.)
I've heard several names here as well, including Matt Harvey, but it's worth noting that Milwaukee and Houston are the subjects of the most speculation, and both scouting directors worked under Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik, who was famed for his extreme secrecy when he ran Milwaukee's drafts. SCOUTING VIDEO

Texas Rangers
Kellin Deglan, C, Langley H.S. (B.C.)
This pick is unprotected, meaning that the Rangers have to sign whomever they take here because they receive no compensation in the 2011 draft, so they're looking at signable guys like Deglan or Kvasnicka.

There's also a rumor that the Rangers are one of a few teams in hard on Georgia Tech baseball/football recruit Jake Skole, who is getting significant interest in the late first/sandwich/early second round range; he played only nine games this spring around an ankle injury that kept him out two months, but he is a premium athlete with a compact swing who did hit well in his limited time on the field. The Blue Jays are also reportedly on Skole, who'd probably cut a deal if any team took him this high.

Chicago Cubs
Justin O'Conner, C, Cowen H.S.
Tim Wilken loves athletic kids who play multiple sports or who play as both position players and pitchers. The latter describes O'Conner, who has moved behind the plate this year with strong results.

Tampa Bay Rays
Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State
Brentz's stock seems to have slipped a little, but I still expect him to go in the middle of the round. I do expect the Rays to go pretty heavy on prep athletes at some point in the draft, but it may not come until the second round. SCOUTING VIDEO

Los Angeles Angels (from Seattle)
Peter Tago, RHP, Dana Hills H.S.
I've also heard the Angels love O'Conner; they could take him here and hope Tago slides to 29.

Houston Astros (from Detroit)
Delino DeShields Jr., 2B, Woodward Park Academy (Ga.)
They're also reportedly on Texas A&M righty Barrett Loux if DeShields doesn't get here.

Boston Red Sox (from Atlanta)
Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
If Boston could get full medical info on Ranaudo, I think this would be close to a lock … but if they could get full medical info, so could the teams ahead of them, and Ranaudo might not even make it this far. Either way, the team that takes Ranaudo will have to take a leap of faith, because he's not coming to town for a physical. The Red Sox are also interested in Vitek, Wojciechowski, Kaleb Cowart and Barrett Loux.

Minnesota Twins
Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State
The Twins supposedly want either Wimmers or Brentz and are hoping at least one of them falls to them.

Texas Rangers
Kaleb Cowart, 3B/RHP, Cook County H.S.
They could go for Cowart at 15, but that's the unprotected pick and it's more likely they'll take a very signable player there and hope Cowart gets past the Red Sox.

Florida Marlins
Barrett Loux, RHP, Texas A&M
Industry consensus has the Fish taking a college arm, with Seth Blair in the mix, but they reportedly also love Aaron Sanchez and are on Marcus Knecht for their second-round pick.

San Francisco Giants
Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
I keep hearing the Giants on bats, including Colon and Brentz.

St. Louis Cardinals
Stetson Allie, RHP/3B, St. Edwards H.S.
I've heard the Cardinals are heavy on Allie, although hearing they might take a prep arm with their first pick in consecutive years made my head explode.

Colorado Rockies
Cam Bedrosian, RHP, East Coweta H.S.
They also like Allie a ton and have been linked to Arizona State's Seth Blair, although they don't have much history of taking players advised by Scott Boras.

Philadelphia Phillies
Jesse Biddle, LHP, Germantown Friends Academy
I don't think this is just an example of a team being attached to the local kid, although that's always possible. The Phils are also on Christian Yelich and, somewhat paradoxically, Mike Kvasnicka.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Brett Eibner, CF/RHP, Arkansas
The Dodgers could be another landing spot for Ranaudo if he slides past the Red Sox, and they're also on Bedrosian.

Los Angeles Angels (from Boston)
Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow H.S.
They also like Bedrosian, who seems very likely to go in the 25-35 range now, and UCLA commit Adam Plutko.

Los Angeles Angels
A.J. Cole, RHP, Oviedo HS (Fla.)
It's possible that they won't go back to the well for a third prep arm if they get two at 18 and 29, but those are three guys they're on right now. SCOUTING VIDEO

Tampa Bay Rays
Brandon Workman, RHP, Texas
I've also heard the Rays on Derek Dietrich and Drew Vettleson; whoever they take here, it'll probably be a predraft agreement because the pick is unprotected. I am having a hard time imagining a pitcher of Workman's caliber and track record getting out of the top 30, but it is a weird year.

New York Yankees
Christian Yelich, 1B/OF, Westlake H.S.
They remain interested in Tyrell Jenkins, Ryan Lamarre and Jacksonville State outfielder Todd Cunningham, as well as any high-ticket player who should fall to them for money reasons.

 

Polin Pitches Express Past O-Royals 4-2;Round Rock salvages series finale

By: / roundrockexpress.com

OMAHA, Neb. - Marcos Cabral's two-run homer capped a three-run second inning and propelled the Round Rock Express to a 4-2 victory over the Omaha Royals in Monday's series finale at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Express (23-28) snapped a three-game skid with the win, which ended Omaha's eight-game winning streak. Nonetheless, the Royals (27-22) won the series three-games-to-one.

Michael Garciaparra's RBI groundout snapped a scoreless tie, and Cabral followed with his first home run since joining the Express two weeks ago. Round Rock never relinquished that lead, winning for only the third time this season in 24 games when scoring fewer than five runs.

Meanwhile, Polin Trinidad turned in his best start of the season. Trinidad (3-2) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout over 8.0 innings, matching the longest outing by an Express pitcher this season. He had allowed 21 runs in his previous four starts, allowing at least five runs in three of those four outings.

Trinidad retired 18 of the last 20 batters he faced, including a string of 12 straight in the middle innings. After Ed Lucas doubled to open the fourth and later scored on a Marc Maddox sacrifice fly, Trinidad did not allow another base runner until a walk and a single to open the eighth.

Casey Daigle pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout for his seventh save of the season. All seven of his saves came in May, matching Fernando Salas of Memphis for the most saves this month in the Pacific Coast League.

Omaha starter Luis Mendoz (3-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 4.0 innings.

Omaha scratched the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the third on Alex Gordon's two-out RBI single. The Express answered in the top of the fourth on a bizarre double play. With the bases loaded and one out, Matt Kata bounced into an RBI fielder's choice that scored Garciaparra from third. Cabral tried to score from second on the play but was thrown out at the plate.

The Royals made things interesting in the eighth. Irving Falu drew a leadoff walk, and David Lough followed with a single. After Alex Gordon grounded out, a wild pitch put runners at second and third. However, Trinidad retired the next two batters and escaped the jam unscathed.

Drew Locke continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run scored; he has hit safely in 13 consecutive starts and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Jason Bourgeois (1-for-5) extended his hitting streak to nine games and has hit safely in 19 of the last 20 games; he also extended his road hitting streak to 15 games, the longest such streak in the PCL this season. Cabral finished the game 2-for-4, while Kata went 1-for-4 and snapped an 0-for-24 slump.

Trinidad and Daigle limited the Royals to five hits on the day, and no Omaha batter had more than one hit.

Round Rock returns home Tuesday, opening its fourth home stand of the season with a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs. First pitch for Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Sergio Perez (1-0, 3.21 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express.

 

Express win finale at Omaha

By: / statesman.com

OMAHA, Neb. — Marcos Cabral's two-run homer capped a three-run second inning as the Round Rock Express beat the Omaha Royals 4-2 in Monday's series finale at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Express (23-28) snapped a three-game skid and prevented a four-game sweep with the win, ending Omaha's eight-game winning streak.

Michael Garciaparra's RBI groundout snapped a scoreless tie, and Cabral followed with his first home run since joining the Express two weeks ago. Round Rock won for only the third time this season in the 24 games when they've scored fewer than five runs.

Round Rock's Polin Trinidad (3-2) turned in one of his best starts of the season, allowing two runs on five hits over eight innings, and matching the longest outing by an Express pitcher this season. He had allowed 21 runs in his previous four starts.

Round Rock returns home today for a 7:05 p.m. game at Dell Diamond, opening its fourth homestand of the season with a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs.

 

Walker Walks Off in Travs' Triumph

By: / CCHooks.com

Brian Walker's RBI single in the ninth inning Monday gave Arkansas a 4-3 victory over Corpus Christi in their series finale at Dickey-Stephens Park.

The Travelers got going in the ninth when Ivan Contreras opened the frame on an infield single off Hooks reliever Henry Villar (0-3). Jeremy Moore laid down a sacrifice bunt, putting Contreras at second base. Efren Navarro, who hit a two-run homer in the second, was then issued an intentional free pass before Walker lined a 1-0 offering from Villar into right-field for the game-winner.

Corpus Christi had battled back from a 2-0 deficit with a run in the third and two more in the fifth. J.B. Shuck and German Duran both singled to start the third. With runners at the corners, David Cook bounced into a double play for the Hooks' first tally.

In the fifth, Shuck hammered a 1-1 pitch from Travs starter Michael Anton over the fence in right for a two-run homer and a 3-2 Corpus Christi lead.

Hooks hurler Jared Wells held Arkansas to two hits and three runs over seven innings. He walked two and struck out six, tossing 103 pitches.

The Travelers stole a run from Wells in the sixth. After working a lead-off walk, Andrew Romine stole second and third base, setting the stage for Roberto Lopez's RBI groundout.

Corpus Christi scratched out seven hits against Anton in 6.1 innings of work, but stranded six on base. Jeremy Haynes (1-0) notched 2.2 innings of two-hit relief to record the victory.

The Hooks head back to Whataburger Field for a six-game homestand, beginning Wednesday night against Springfield. Lefties Douglas Arguello (6-3) and Nick Additon (3-4) are slated to start the series opener.

 

Travelers slam brakes on Hooks' road trip

By: / caller.com

CORPUS CHRISTI — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - What began as a promising road trip ended in disappointing fashion for the Hooks.

Corpus Christi dropped its second consecutive game against the Arkansas Travelers, falling 4-3 on Monday afternoon at Dickey-Stephens Park.

The Hooks (25-25) finished 3-3 on their trek through Springfield and Arkansas, dropping the latter series.

Once again, the Travelers sunk the Hooks in the late innings. In Sunday’s 2-1 loss, it was a seventh-inning homer that was the difference. Monday’s game was decided with a walk-off hit in the ninth.

Against Hooks reliever Henry Villar, Ivan Contreras led off the inning with an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Jeremy Moore. Hooks manager Wes Clements then opted to intentionally walk Efren Navarro to set up a force and face Brian Walker.

Walker promptly made Clements rue that decision, lining Villar’s 1-0 pitch into right field to score Contreras with the winning run. The hit was the only one for Arkansas with runners in scoring position.

The Hooks had a promising rally in the seventh that was short-circuited by a bizarre play.

With one out, the Hooks had runners on first and third when J.B. Shuck drew a walk. However, Jhon Florentino, the runner on third, was somehow tagged out, ostensibly trying to steal home, even though a walk would seem to indicate a dead-ball situation.

So instead of having the bases loaded with one out, the Hooks had runners on first and second with one out. Travelers reliever Jeremy Haynes then got German Duran to ground out to end the inning. The Hooks finished with only one hit with runners in scoring position.

The Travelers tied the score at 3 with a run in the sixth off Hooks starter Jared Wells that came without Arkansas getting a hit.

Andrew Romine drew a leadoff walk and Wells then appeared to have Romine picked off, but the Hooks botched a rundown, allowing Romine to steal second.

One out later, Romine stole third and with the infield drawn in, Roberto Lopez’s high chopper to third allowed Romine to score the tying run.

The Hooks trailed early after Navarro’s two-run homer in the second.

However, Corpus Christi got a run back in the third when Shuck scored as David Cook grounded into a double play.

Then in the fifth, Shuck’s two-run homer his first of the season gave Corpus Christi a 3-2 lead.

Wells, making his third start since joining the rotation, went a season-best seven innings, allowing three runs on only two hits while striking out six.

Before the game, Florentino was named the Texas League’s player of the week.

In five games last week, Florentino batted .526 (10 for 19) with 2 triples, 2 runs and 9 RBI. He had four multi-hit games during the week and went 5 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

 

Russell’s Blasts Lead 66ers Past Lancaster

By: / jethawks.com

(LANCASTER, CA) – Kyle Russell displayed the prodigious power that has made him a top prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system by smacking a pair of home runs and collecting five RBIs in Inland Empire’s 7-0 triumph over the JetHawks at Clear Channel Stadium Monday. Russell went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, a solo shot and five RBIs and the 66ers got a complete game shutout from starter Nate Eovaldi. The loss extended Lancaster’s season-long losing streak to 11 games.

After Eovaldi and JetHawks starter Kyle Greenwalt each tossed scoreless innings through the first two frames, the 66ers got singles from Chris Gutierrez and Johan Garcia in the top of the third. With two on and two out, Russell socked a three-run homer over the right field wall to give Inland Empire a 3-0 advantage.

66ers catcher Matt Wallach belted a solo home run off Greenwalt (1-4) in the fourth to extend Inland Empire’s lead to 4-0.

Meanwhile, the JetHawks struggled at the plate throughout the night. Eovaldi (1-2) limited Lancaster to just five hits and registered five strikeouts with no walks en route to picking up his first win of the season in the complete game shutout. Albert Cartwright was the only JetHawk to record a multi-hit game.

Russell crushed a solo homer in the top of the eighth that sailed over the batter’s eye beyond the center field fence. Russell leads the California League with 14 home runs. The 66ers tacked on another run in the ninth off JetHawks reliever Michael Schurz.

With the win, the 66ers improved to 20-32. Lancaster fell to 15-35 with the loss.

The JetHawks will seek to avoid a series sweep when the two teams meet on Tuesday at Clear Channel Stadium. Right-hander Ross Seaton (1-6, 5.54 ERA) gets the start for Lancaster. The 66ers are expected to counter with L.A. Dodgers southpaw George Sherrill (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who will be making a rehab start for Inland Empire. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. Tune in for all the live action beginning with the JetHawks Pre-Game Show at 6:45 p.m. on www.jethawks.com/csn and News Talk 1380-AM.

The 2010 season marks the 15th anniversary of professional baseball in the Antelope Valley, and since its inaugural game in 1996, The Hangar has produced more than 90 Major Leaguers and inducted 25 members into The JetHawks Hall of Fame. Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of 15 years of Hangar Heroes in 2010.

 

Dodgers’ George Sherrill Scheduled to Pitch in Lancaster Tuesday Night

By: / jethawks.com

(LANCASTER, CA) – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher George Sherrill, an All-Star in 2008, is scheduled to pitch against the JetHawks in Lancaster Tuesday night for the Inland Empire 66ers, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sherrill will most likely start the game for Inland Empire and will only pitch one or two innings. Sherrill will become the first Major League player to come to Lancaster as part of a rehabilitation assignment in 2010. The game begins at 7 PM.

Sherrill first came to the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 2004. After several years as a set-up reliever, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, where he became an all-star in 2008. That season he saved 31 games. He saved 20 more in 2009 before being traded to the Dodgers. Originally undrafted out of Austin Peay University, Sherrill spent parts of four season playing in Independent Leagues before being signed by the Mariners.

The left-hander was placed on the disabled list by the Dodgers May 25 with a back sprain. He is expected to pitch two games in the California League before continuing his rehabilitation at the higher levels of the Los Angeles farm system.

Several Dodgers have pitched in Lancaster on rehabilitation assignments over the past several years. In 2009 reliever Will Ohman faced the JetHawks while former all-star starter Jason Schmidt pitched in Lancaster several times in 2007 and 2008.

Fans arriving early may have an opportunity to watch Sherrill warm up in the bullpen before the game. The gates open at 6 PM. It is a Taco Tuesday at Clear Channel Stadium, with tacos on sale for just $2 with discounts on other concessions items. It is also Hawaiian shirt day, with fans encouraged to wear their garish Hawaiian finest.

The 2010 season marks the 15th anniversary of professional baseball in the Antelope Valley, and since its inaugural game in 1996, The Hangar has produced more than 90 Major Leaguers and inducted 25 members into The JetHawks Hall of Fame. Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of 15 years of Hangar Heroes in 2010.

 

Hoppers homers lead to win over Legends

By: / Lexingtonlegends.com

(APPLEBEE'S PARK, Lexington, Ky.) The Greensboro Grasshoppers hit five home runs in an 8-4 win over the Lexington Legends Monday night at Applebee's Park.
Rand Smith led off the game with a homer to left field, and after Justin Bass walked with one out, Kyle Skipworth homered to right to give Greensboro a 3-0 lead.

The Legends came back with a run in the second. Consecutive singles by Jonathan Meyer, Rene Garcia and Brian Kemp loaded the bases, and Meyer came home when Grant Hogue hit into a force play at second base.

Greensboro played long ball again in the fourth inning. Kyle Jensen singled, and Chad Cregar and Taylor Krick followed with back-to-back home runs to make the score 6-1.

Lexington added a second run in the fifth inning when Kody Hinze's single scored Jake Goebbert, who had doubled. Hinze is the South Atlantic League leader in RBI with 53.

The Grasshoppers scored their final two runs in the eighth inning when Smith singled and Chase Austin homered.

Matt Montgomery pitched the first seven innings for Greensboro and picked up his second win over Lexington this season. Legends starter Tanner Bushue (3-3) worked the first four innings and took the loss.

The Legends open a four-game series against the West Virginia Power Tuesday night at Applebee's Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

Lexington serves up 5 homers in loss

By: / Lexington Herald-Leader

The Greensboro Grasshoppers ended their four-game series at Applebee's Park with a bang, hitting five home runs in an 8-4 victory over the Lexington Legends on Monday night.

Rand Smith led off the game with a home run, and Greensboro kept slugging away to win its third game of the series.

Kyle Skipworth added a two-run homer in the first; Chad Cregar (Western Kentucky) and Taylor Krick went back-to-back in the fourth; and Chase Austin homered in the seventh.

The Legends scored on Grant Hogue's RBI grounder in the second inning and Kody Hinze's single in the fifth, his South Atlantic League-leading 53rd RBI.

Matt Montgomery (4-5) gave up seven hits and two runs over seven innings to beat Lexington for the second time this season.

Legends starter Tanner Bushue (3-3) allowed six earned runs in four innings.