Road To Arlington: Rangers Farm Report (8/4)

It’s been a rough year for Brandon Boggs. He gave every indication that he was a player with a fine big league future when pressed into duty last summer and did everything he could to earn a return trip to Arlington. But with the addition of Andruw Jones, he was cut out of the loop during spring training and relegated to Oklahoma City once again.

On top of that, Boggs has played the entire year with a left shoulder injury that he believes will require surgery.

Boggs spent a couple of weeks on the DL earlier this summer after he disclocated the shoulder that had been bothering him since spring training while diving for a routine fly ball. But since his return to action, he’s rediscovered his power stroke. In 51 at-bats since the PCL All-Star game break, Boggs has been one of the circuit’s most lethal hitters, with a .294 / .393 / .608 / 1.001 line.

Triple-A: @ Oklahoma City 5, Round Rock 2

RHP Luis Mendoza (5-4; 4.06) scattered eight hits over seven innings, allowing just two runs and fanning seven without issuing a base on balls.

RF Brandon Boggs (.289 / .411 / .422) went 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk.

CF Julio Borbon went 1-for-4 from the top of the order, adding his 25th stolen base of the year and driving in one on a sac fly.

DH Justin Smoak (.224 / .315 / .355) belted a two-out, two-run shot in the eighth to cap a 2-for-4 outing that also included a walk, giving the RedHawks insurance and Warner Madrigal (1.79 ERA) worked around two hits to pitch a scoreless ninth, fanning two and recording his 13th save of the year.

Double-A: @ San Antonio 4, Frisco 0

Two Frisco errors led to three unearned runs on LHP Mike Kirkman’s ledger while the Riders lineup was shutout by Will Inman. Kirkman (4-6; 5.00) went six, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks, punching out six. LHP Corey Young worked a hitless final two frames, walking one and fanning two.

3B Johnny Whittleman (.248 / .368 / .404) doubled in a 1-for-4 outing to give Frisco it’s only hit for extra bases.

Advanced-A: Bakersfield — OFF

Class-A: @ Lakewood 3, Hickory 1

Hickory starter RHP Neil Ramirez (3-4; 5.19) gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits including a homer in three innings. He walked four and fanned five. RHP Carlos Pimentel (3.48 ERA) took the ball from Ramirez and went the rest of the way, fanning six over the final five shutout frames, allowing just two hits while walking one.

Lakewood (Philadelphia) RHP Jesus Sanchez struck out nine in seven stron innings and the Crawdads lineup managed just four singles and a double by RF Miguel Alfonzo (.268 / .349 / .375) who also drew Hickory’s only walk.

Short Season-A: Spokane 9 @ Salem-Keizer 5

RF Miguel Velazquez (.303 / .364 / .525) extended his 13-game hitting streak with a double and two walks in five trips and LF Aja Barto (.280 / .346 / .510) homered in a 2-for-5 outing to drive in two as the Indians brought enough punch to the party to bail out starter RHP Braden Tullis (2.84 ERA) who surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.2 innings.

DH Jason Ogata (.423 / .476 / .592) kept up his ridiculous pace with a homer and a walk in five trips while 1B Clark Murphy (.239 / .298 / .330) went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, plating one.

RHP Kyle Ocampo (2-2; 7.20) allowed two hits and walked two in two scoreless innings, punching out two in earning his second victory of the year. He was the second pitcher to appear in the game for Spokane, which has won four in a row.

Rookie: Rangers 5 @ Brewers 4

17 year old LHP Edwin Escobar (1-3; 4.41) picked up his first win as a professional, holding the Brewers to two runs on six hits through five innings, fanning four without issuing a walk.

DH Taylor Vail (.322 / .403 / .508) doubled and tripled in four trips to drive in three.