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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (6/29)

Triple-A: Oklahoma City 12 @ Nashville 1

The RedHawks jumped on recently demoted Brewer Manny Parra for seven runs on five hits and five walks through the first 4.2 innings and coasted home to an easy win as RHP Luis Mendoza (4.79) pitched four scoreless on four hits and two walks before giving way to the bullpen which allowed just one run the rest of the way.

CF Julio Borbon (.298 / .365 / .387) homered and walked in six trips, driving in two while SS Joaquin Arias (.259 / .286 / .299 overall, .337 / .352 / .385 in June) had a three-run double in the fifth for his only hit in six at-bats.

Il Duque (1-0; 3.00) earned the victory in spite of allowing a run on one hit — a solo shot — in one inning of relief. The 40-something Hernandez gave way to 21 year old Neftali Feliz, who allowed a hit and a walk while fanning one in 1.2 shutout innings.

Double-A: Corpus Christi 5 @ Frisco 4

With a five-run ninth, the Hooks spoiled a brilliant start by LHP Kasey Kiker (3.00 ERA) who blanked them on four hits, no walks and no plunks while fanning six through the first six.

RHP Thomas Diamond followed Kiker with a pair of shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit and fanning one before RHP John Bannister (2-2; 5.94) gave up five runs before he could record the second out in the ninth.

LF Tim Smith (.376 / .406 / .484) went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, driving in a pair while 1B Justin Smoak (.333 / .449 / .489), RF Mitch Moreland (.333 / .373 / .477) and CF Craig Gentry (.300 / .360 / .430) each went 2-for-5. Moreland and Gentry each doubled.

3b Johnny Whittleman upped his June line to .235 / .398 / .318. Over his last ten games, Whittleman has six hits, four strikeouts and 11 walks.

Advanced-A: @ Bakersfield 5, Visalia 3

Would you believe that LHP Tim Murphy (5-6; 6.36) has put himself into contention for the organization’s minor league pitcher of the month award? After holding the Rawhide to one unearned run on six hits and five walks in 7.1 innings yesterday, Murphy’s line for the month is 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA.

1B Ian Gac (.228 / .286 / .447) drove in three runs in a 2-for-4 outing that included his 12th homer of the year while 3B Jonathan Greene (.253 / .325 / .446) tripled and singled in four at-bats.

CF Engel Beltre (.226 / .273 / .318) went 1-for-3 with a walk and recorded yet another outfield assist, gunning down a runner attempting to tag and score from third on a fly ball to center field to end the eighth inning.

Class-A: Kannapolis 7 @ Hickory 3

The Intimidators got to RHP Jake Brigham (2-5; 5.46) for seven runs on 11 hits and no walks through 4.2 innings while the Crawdads lineup managed to push just three runs across on five singles, three doubles and no walks.

3B Matt West (.254 / .346 / .371) went 2-for-4 with a double and C Macumba (.264 / .277 / .336) drove in one while going 1-for-3 and adding his fourth stolen base of the year.

Short Season-A: Tri-City 12 @ Spokane 7 (10 Innings)

RF Aja Barto (.321 / .472 / .714) drove in four runs in a 2-for-5 outing that included his third homer in just eight NWL games. Starter RHP Trevor Hurley (7.56) allowed five runs on six hits and three walks through 3.2 innings. Everett broke it open with five runs in the top of the tenth against RHP Chris Matlock (0-2; 9.53).

Rookie: Off

Esdras Abreu

Dominican Summer League Note: No, I’m not going to start recapping the two DSL clubs every day, but I did want to share this. The most highly touted member of the Rangers’ Latin American free agent class last year, outfielder Esdras Abreu — a 6’3″, 185 lb. 17 year old from San Pedro de Macoris who signed for $550K last summer — is hitting .120 / .362 / .160 through his first 21 games. He’s 6-for-50 with 18 walks.