In his first game as the third hitter in the Baltimore Orioles' lineup, J.J. Hardy (Sabino High School) hit two doubles Monday to bring his season total to eight.
Joey Rickard (Arizona Wildcat) hit his first home run of the year, a lead-off shot to start the game for Class-A Bowling Green. Erik Castro (Arizona Wildcat) had three hits, three RBIs, three runs, and hit his fourth home run for Double-A Corpus Christi. Seth Mejias-Brean (Arizona Wildcat/Cienega High School) went hitless in four at-bats Monday snapping his nine-game hitting streak for Class-A Dayton.
The stats below are for players with Tucson connections from games on Monday, May 20. Go to the players listing for more information and links to the players. DNP = Did not play.
MLB
Jordan Brown… Miami Marlins vs PHI - DNP
Cory Burns... Texas Rangers vs OAK - [RP] 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, bb, 2 k
Trevor Crowe… Houston Astros vs KC - [RF] DNP
Scott Hairston… Chicago Cubs - DNP
J.J. Hardy… Baltimore Orioles vs NYY - [SS] 2/5, 2 2b, rbi, k
Nick Hundley… San Diego Padres vs STL - DNP
Ian Kinsler… Texas Rangers - 15-day DL
Mark Melancon… Pittsburgh Pirates - DNP
Donnie Veal… Chicago White Sox vs BOS - DNP
Tom Wilhelmsen… Seattle Mariners @ CLE - [RP] 1.0 IP, 2 hits, run, 0 ER, 2 k, bs
MINORS
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Bryce Bandilla… San Jose @ IE - DNP
Jett Bandy… Arkansas - 7-day DL
Eric Berger… Oklahoma City @ FRE - DNP
Andy Burns… Dunedin vs SL...
*Ryan Retz (Canyon del Oro) was named Big South Player of the Week for High Point University after compiling a .636 average, five RBIs, and one home run in three games. He was also earned 2nd Team Big South honors and will play in the Big South Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed with the Panthers.
*Stephan Desgagne (Flowing Wells), Jake Luna (Desert View), Steven Naemark (Mountain View), and Alan Valenzuela (Sunnyside) will all be heading to the NJCAA Division I College World Series with Cochise College after winning the Western District Championship on May 19. In the semifinal match-up on May 17, Naemark pitched a complete-game victory for the Apaches allowing only two runs.
*Christian Muscarello (Catalina Foothills) was named First Team All-West Region for the Trinity University. He finished the season batting .377 with 69 hits, three home runs, and 35 RBIs.
*Austin Moore (Mountain View) earned First Team All-Region honors for Lamar Community College. He ended his freshman season with eight wins, 1.98 ERA, and 88 strikeouts.
*Aaron Vaughn (Pusch Ridge Christian) was named Second Team All-GNAC for Northwest Nazarene University. He compiled four wins and 44 strikeouts in 66 innings.
*José Samayoa (Catalina) and Lee University are the No. 2 seed heading into the NAIA World Series that begins May 25.
*Nick Chapman (Sabino), Tommy Harding (Sabino), Lucas Leifeld (Sabino), and Hunter Miller (Salpointe Catholic) advanced to the NCAA Division-II College World...
The Omaha Storm Chasers hit a season-high four home runs to defeat the Tucson Padres 11-8 Monday at Werner Park.
Gregorio Petit hit an RBI double and later scored on a Storm Chaser throwing error to give the Padres a 2-0 edge in the first inning. Tucson’s lead held until the bottom of the second when Adam Moore smashed a three-run home run over the center field wall.
Brandon Allen tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the third with an infield single bringing home Petit. Tucson regained the lead with two runs in fourth off RBI hits from Jonathan Galvez and Dean Anna.
Rene Rivera’s second home run of the season in the top of the fifth gave the Padres a three-run advantage. Anna’ second double of the game scored Jaff Decker in the sixth to extend Tucson’s lead to 7-3, but Omaha brought around four runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie it up.
After the Padres took an 8-7 lead in the top of the seventh, Omaha went ahead 10-8 with the help of Christian Colon’s fourth home run of the year. Will Taveras added another home run in the eighth with a solo shot to right.
Reliever Everett Teaford earned the win for Omaha, while Brad Boxberger was charged with the loss allowing five hits including two home runs. Brandon Kloess pitched five innings allowing two hits, two runs and had seven strikeouts in a spot start for the Padres.
Here is a deeper look at the game:
Omaha 11, Tucson 8
TucsonTucsonTucsonTucsonBig Moment: The Storm Chashers struck for four...
Former Arizona Wildcat Jordan Brown is back in the majors for the first time since 2010 after the Miami Marlins selected his contract from Triple-A New Orleans on Monday.
The Marlins called up Brown after Matt Diaz was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Brown batted .261 in 37 games for Triple-A New Orleans. The first baseman/outfielder also collected 31 hits and 12 RBIs with the Zephyrs.
The trip to the big leagues will be the second of Brown’s career. He played 26 games and recorded 20 hits for the Cleveland Indians in 2010.
Miami signed Brown to a minor-league deal last winter, after spending most of the 2012 season with the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate the Nashville Sounds. Brown is in his ninth year of professional baseball and was drafted by the Indians in the fourth round of the 2005 major league draft.
The Arizona Baseball Coaches Association announced that Sahuaro High School’s Alex Verdugo was named Division II Player of the Year, while Desert Christian High School’s Zach Malis received the same honor for Division IV on Monday.
Verdugo, who was a Louisville Slugger Pre-Season Honorable Mention All American, lead the entire state with 130 strikeouts and tied for second in wins with ten. The junior left-handed pitcher also compiled a 1.29 ERA and had an 18-strikeout performance in the D-II state playoffs against Nogales. At the plate Verdugo hit .484 with a team-high seven home runs. He also drove in 40 RBIs, scored 41 runs, and stole 24 bases.
Malis batted .515 for the season with 25 extra-base hits including four home runs. The sophomore shortstop also finished second in the entire state with 58 runs and 62 RBIs. On the mound, Malis had an 8-2 record, 2.01 ERA, and 58 strikeouts. He also helped the Eagles to their first state title in school history, recording a save in the championship game. Malis' head coach Grant Hopkins also received the D-IV Coach of the Year award from AZBCA.
There were also 14 players from Tucson who made the all-state teams for AZBCA:
Division I
1st Team
Alex Robles Sr. RHP – Tucson High
Emilio Melendez Sr. 2B – Tucson High
Division II
1st Team
Jake Matthews Sr. SS – Ironwood Ridge
Devon Harrison Sr. OF – Ironwood Ridge
Michael Hoard Sr. DH – Salpointe Catholic
Division III
1st Team
Donny Sands...
Ian Kinsler (Canyon del Oro High School) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Texas Rangers with a right intercostal strain. J.J. Hardy (Sabino High School) had his hitting streak snapped at 13 games after going hitless in four at-bats on Sunday for the Baltimore Orioles. The hit streak tied for the fourth longest of his career.
Seth Mejias-Brean extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double in a win for Class-A Dayton. Relief pitcher Daniel Schlereth (Arizona Wildcat) was reinstated from the disabled list by Triple-A Norfolk.
The stats below are for players with Tucson connections from games on Sunday, May 19. Go to the players listing for more information and links to the players. DNP = Did not play.
MLB
Cory Burns... Texas Rangers vs DET - DNP
Trevor Crowe… Houston Astros @ PIT - [PH] 0/1, k
Scott Hairston… Chicago Cubs vs NYM - [PH] 0/1
J.J. Hardy… Baltimore Orioles vs TB - [SS] 0/4
Nick Hundley… San Diego Padres vs WAS - [C] 0/4, rbi, sf, k
Ian Kinsler… Texas Rangers - 15-day DL
Mark Melancon… Pittsburgh Pirates vs HOU - [RP] 1.0 IP, 0 hits 0 bb, k, hold (15)
Donnie Veal… Chicago White Sox @ LAA - DNP
Tom Wilhelmsen… Seattle Mariners @ CLE - DNP
MINORS
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Bryce Bandilla… San Jose @ IE - DNP
Jett Bandy… Arkansas - 7-day DL
Eric Berger… Oklahoma City @ SAC - DNP
Jordan Brown… New Orleans @ FRE - DNP
Andy Burns… Dunedin vs BC - [3B] 0/3, bb, run, 2 k
Dan...
In a see-saw battle between the Wildcats and Sun Devils, Brandon Dixon’s RBI single in the eighth inning put Arizona ahead for good as they defeated Arizona State 7-6 Sunday at Packard Stadium. The series win in Tempe was the first for Arizona since 2005.
The Wildcats got things going in the top of the first when Trent Gilbert nearly hit his first career home run, but settled with a stand-up double. Gilbert later came across on Riley Moore’s RBI single to put Arizona ahead 1-0.
After ASU tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, Dixon sent a deep shot to the fence in left-center field fence that was caught by Kasey Coffman. The sacrifice fly brought home Johnny Field to give the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage in the top of the third.
Coffman responded with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning for the Sun Devils’ first lead of the afternoon. That lead was short lived as the Wildcats scored three runs of their own in the top of the fourth all coming off the bat of Joseph Maggi with a bases-clearing double.
ASU answered again in the bottom of the fourth as Michael Benjamin’s two-run single put the Sun Devils up 6-5. Moore scored for the Wildcats in the fifth inning on a Sun Devils’ fielding error to knot the score up at 6-6.
After two scoreless frames for both teams, Maggi came home on Dixon’s single for what proved to be the game-winning run.
Here is a deeper look at the game:
Arizona 7, Arizona State 6
Big Moment: With the bases-loaded...
Brad Nelson drove in five of Iowa’s seven runs Sunday to split the series with a 7-3 win over the Tucson Padres at Principal Park.
Tucson went ahead in the top of the first after three consecutive hits anchored by Brandon Allen’s RBI single gave the Padres a 1-0. The lead held until the fourth when Nelson and Donnie Murphy launched two home runs to put Iowa up 3-1.
Daniel Robertson cut the Cubs’ lead to one run in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to right. Nelson responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run double for Iowa. Nelson would later score on a J.C. Boscan’s RBI groundout.
Allen’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly brought the Padres within four runs of the lead in the ninth, but Yoanner Negrin was able to hold off the rally and secure the win for Iowa.
Nick Struck earned the win for the Cubs pitching six innings allowing two runs. Wilfredo Boscan was charged with the loss surrendering eight hits, five earned runs, and two walk.
Here is a deeper look at the game:
Iowa 7, Tucson 2
Big Moment: Nelson’s seventh home run of the year, a two-run shot to dead center, put Iowa up 2-1 in the fourth.
Key Player: The five RBIs for Nelson brings his season total to 31, tied for the fourth most in the Pacific Coast League.
By the Numbers: 8. Runs scored in the first inning this series for Tucson. Before coming to Iowa the Padres had only scored 12 runs the entire season in the opening frame.
Padres Notes: Tucson starting pitcher...
In a battle of former Arizona Wildcat teammates, Houston Astros' Trevor Crowe hit a lead-off single in the eighth inning against Pittsburgh Pirates setup man Mark Melancon. Crowe later scored that inning to tie the game. J.J. Hardy (Sabino High School) came up with two hits on Saturday for the Baltimore Orioles to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
Jesus Cota (Pima Aztec/Sunnyside High School) compiled four RBIs, three runs, and hit his eighth home run in the Mexican League for Saraperos de Saltillo. Steve Selsky (Arizona Wildcat) hit an 11th inning home run to help High-A Bakersfield to an extra-inning win.
The stats below are for players with Tucson connections from games on Saturday, May 18. Go to the players listing for more information and links to the players. DNP = Did not play.
MLB
Cory Burns... Texas Rangers vs DET - DNP
Trevor Crowe… Houston Astros @ PIT - [LF-RF] 1/3, run, 2 bb, k
Scott Hairston… Chicago Cubs vs NYM - DNP
J.J. Hardy… Baltimore Orioles vs TB - [SS] 2/5, 2b, rbi,
Nick Hundley… San Diego Padres vs WAS - DNP
Ian Kinsler… Texas Rangers vs DET - DNP
Mark Melancon… Pittsburgh Pirates vs HOU - [RP] 1.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 bb, run, ER, bs
Donnie Veal… Chicago White Sox@ LAA - [RP] 0.1 IP, 3 hits, 4 runs, 4 ER, HR, 2 bb, k
Tom Wilhelmsen… Seattle Mariners @ CLE - DNP
MINORS
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Bryce Bandilla… San Jose @ RC - DNP
Jett Bandy… Arkansas - 7-day DL
Eric Berger… Oklahoma City @ SAC...
The Wildcats battled back to tie the game twice in the final three innings, but Arizona State was able to answer each time to defeat Arizona 6-3 Saturday at Packard Stadium.
The Sun Devils scored first in the third inning off Michael Benjamin’s RBI single to left. Starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg kept ASU ahead 1-0 until the top of the seventh when Riley Moore scored from second base on a Sun Devils’ throwing error.
Trever Allen and Dalton Dinatale responded with RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim the lead for ASU 3-1. The lead lasted for only half an inning as Arizona knotted the scored back up at 3-3 in the top of the eighth, highlighted by Brandon Dixon’s RBI single.
Wildcats’ reliever Mathew Troupe surrendered a bases-loaded walk to Nathaniel Causey in the bottom of the eighth to force in the go-ahead run for ASU. Troupe was charged with his first loss of the season yielding two earned runs in the eighth.
James Farris started the game for Arizona going 6.1 innings scattering six hits, three runs, and struck out seven.
Here is a deeper look at the game:
Arizona State 6, Arizona 3
Big Moment: With one out and two Wildcats on base in the top of the seventh, Kevin Newman singled to left giving Trent Gilbert an opportunity to score from second base. After Gilbert rounded third base, he slipped and fell allowing the Sun Devils to tag him out and end the scoring threat.
Key Player: Allen compiled three hits and three RBIs, including a...
