Lehigh Valley (AAA)
The IronPigs had a wonderful homestand come to an end on Friday -- a seven-game stint that saw them go 5-2. They won five in a row, including a four-game sweep against Gwinnett before dropping a series opener in Syracuse on Saturday night. It was the first time LHV has swept the Braves and they did so by outscoring them, 26-9. They also played error-free ball in the series and didnt commit an error against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Steve Susdorf picked up a pinch-hit single Saturday night and is now 15-for-37 (.405) while hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Hes reached base safely in 13 straight and has pushed his batting average to .352 in 54 at-bats with the Pigs.
Speaking of getting hot, Dom Brown looks like hes finally starting to warm up. Hes hitting .333 in his last 15 games (18-for-54) with four homers and six RBIs over that stretch. After hitting .240 in May, hes hitting .310 this month and has his average at .265. Brown went 4-for-5 last Tuesday against Gwinnett with two homers, three RBIs, four runs and 11 total bases. He set a career-high with the total bases and equaled the clubs nine-inning franchise mark held by Jeff Larish. Mike Taylor had 12 TB in an extra-inning game on Aug. 12, 2009. He also tied the franchise mark for runs and homers, each of which was set multiple times.
OF Derrick Mitchell will miss much of the summer after getting plunked on the right hand with a pitch last weekend. Hes likely going to have surgery on the hand and with a little luck and some quick healing, he could be back sometime in August or for the playoffs. Mitchell was leading the team in homers (six) and RBIs (31) at the time of the injury.
John Suomi (hip flexor) and Andres Blanco (knee) are also ailing but arent expected to miss significant time. Suomi was riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he was hitting .548.
RHP Matt Wright has his contract purchased from Sugar Land of the Atlantic League and made his LHV debut Saturday night against Syracuse. He didnt factor in the decision after allowing two runs on three hits over six innings while fanning six. He was originally a 21st-round pick of the Braves in 2000 and had a 68-70 record in 11 minor league seasons.
MLB
Reading (AA)
Sebastian Valle is the top catching prospect in the system but he struggled mightily in May, hitting .195 with 20 strikeouts in 87 at-bats. June, however, has been much kinder to Valle, who was hitting .333 through 27 at-bats heading into Sunday. He has a homer and five RBIs this month, not to mention a .321 OBP after posting a .209 OBP in May.
Weve been writing about Darin Ruf all season, so why should this week be any different? Ruf continues to stay among the league leaders, hitting .328, good enough for third in the Eastern League. But he is 2-for-15 heading into Sunday, dropping his average to .344. His 41 RBIs are tops in the circuit. He hasnt played since Thursday, though, with hamstring issues.
Cesar Hernandez saw his hitting streak snapped at 11 games on Friday. He hit .404 (19-for-47) but is 0-for-7 in two games since. Hes batting .317 overall, fifth in the Eastern League.
C Tim Kennelly was bumped up to Lehigh Valley last week as was right-hander J.C. Ramirez.
Trevor May lost again Friday night, dropping him to 0-4 in his last seven starts. Still, he pitched better than he has for the last few weeks. He struck out nine and walked only one in 5 13 innings against Harrisburg. Still, he has a 7.21 ERA over his last seven starts.
Austin Hyatt has made a pair of starts since coming down from Lehigh Valley and is 1-0 in two starts, allowing four runs in 11 23. That includes allowing one run in six innings against Altoona on Thursday.