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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (7/15)

Whittleman in Surprise

After his ninth inning heroics last night, Frisco third baseman Johnny Whittleman is hitting .257 / .435 / .800 / 1.235 in July.

Triple-A: Oklahoma City — OFF

Double-A: @ Frisco 10, Arkansas 7

3B Johnny Whittleman’s (.230 / .362 / .374) power surge continued as the 2005 second rounder belted a walkoff grand slam in the home half of the ninth to give the RoughRiders a comeback victory. It was Whittleman’s sixth homer of the year, all coming in the last nine games.

Starter RHP Blake Beavan (5.97 ERA) made it through six, allowing five runs on 11 hits and no walks, fanning only one. RHP Jumbo Diaz (3-0; 3.48) picked up the victory with a perfect ninth.

DH Craig Gentry (.312 / .382 / .444) doubled twice and walked twice in five trips from the one hole, driving in one, stealing his 35th bag of the year and scoring twice. RF Mitch Moreland (.335 / .391 / .484) doubled and walked in a 3-for-4 outing, driving in one.

Advanced-A: Bakersfield — OFF

Class-A: Hickory 9 @ Charlston 6

The River Dogs got to RHP Joe Wieland (3.83 ERA) for three runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. Wieland fanned five before giving way to LHP Yoon-Hee Nam (8-1; 2.40) who picked up the victory by holding Charlston to two runs on five hits through the next four frames. He also struck out five.

Continuing to make his case for prospect status, 3B Erik Morrison (.325 / .403 / .611) went 5-for-5 with his 13th homer of the year while C Doug Hogan (.248 / .325 / .582) stayed true to form, belting his 11th homer of the year for his only hit in five trips. Twenty-two of his 35 base hits this year have gone for extra bases.

Short Season-A: Spokane–OFF

Rookie: @ Rangers 16, Indians 5

The little Rangers jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one and continued to sprint away from the Papooses with six multi-hit performances.

CF Ruben Sierra, Jr. (.237 / .293 / .263), who hit his first double as a professional, was one of three who went 3-for-5. 2B Alex Gonzalez (.372 / .426 / .488), who turned 18 last week, doubled twice, walked once and singled from the top of the order while DH Taylor Vail (.267 / .389 / .400) doubled and walked, driving in three in his 3-for-5 outing.

Seventeen year old LHP Edwin Escobar (3.38 ERA) went four, allowing five runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits and a pair of walks, fanning six. Converted infielder RHP Johan Yan (1-0; 10.80) picked up the victory with two no-hit innings, striking out four and walking one.

SS Edwin Garcia (.271 / .333 / .407) doubled twice and walked in four trips while RF Guillermo Pimentel (.260 / .373 / .400) went 1-for-4 with a pair of walks, a stolen base, two runs scored and a pair of RBIs.