Donald leads USA to bronze medal

The USA Olympic baseball team captured the bronze medal yesterday by defeating Japan, 4-2. Jason Donald (pictured celebrating with Jayson Nix) belted a 2-run home run providing the margin of victory. JD led team USA with a .381 batting average in the 9 games in Beijing.

Howard goes deep, deep, deep

OK, so Ryan Howard hit his 34th home run, a 2-run shot for the Phillies in Philadelphia's 8-1 pasting of the Dodgers last night, but it was Kevin Howard who is my HomeSider of the night. Kevin was 3 for 4 last night in Portland, all 3 hits were home runs!! Kevin is now hitting .282 for the Tacoma Rainiers, and has hit 6 home runs in his 11 games with the team. With Seattle out of the American League playoff picture, this performance by Kevin could get him a call-up to the Mariners when the rosters expand September 1.

some quick notes

We start Tuesday night when the Oakland A's promoted Scott Mitchinson from Kane County to Stockton. Mitch was 5-3 with a 1.74 ERA before being injured. He has returned to the active list and, after 2 more brief appearances with the Cougars, was promoted to the Ports, where he will be a teammate of Matt Spencer, who started the season in Clearwater. Spencer is hitting .336 since the trade and his overall numbers are very impressive for someone who jumped a level, never appearing in low A: 11 home runs, 59 RBI and a .276 overall batting average.

Wednesday night in Chicago, Gavin Floyd picked up his 13th win of the year as the White Sox destroyed the Mariners, 15-3. Gavin leads all HomeSiders in victories and should be one of the Sox' starters come playoff time.

The Lakewood BlueClaws have found their winning ways again in Eastlake, Ohio, winning Wednesday and Thursday to pull within a half game of the West Virginia Power in the bid for the franchise's second playoff berth. The BlueClaws look like they will have to do it without one of their top guns as Dominic Brown's left shoulder has been re-injured, and he is returning to Florida for rehab.

Tuesday's tops

Tuesday night starts in the majors, where in Minnesota, Randy Ruiz pounded 2 more hits, driving in 2 more runs in the Twin's 13-2 bashing of the A's. "Homie" is now hitting .379 in his first 9 games as a major leaguer, with 5 RBI.

Randy's teammate in Lakewood, Michael Bourn, also knocked in 2 runs with a triple last night for Houston in the Astro's 5-2 win over Milwaukee. It was a big, two-out knock to tie the game in the 3rd inning and lead to Houston's victory.

Taylor Buchholz also shined last night, pitching a 1-2-3 8th inning in the Rockies' 8-3 triumph oer the Dodgers. It took Taylor just 13 pitches to retire LA, reducing his ERA to a minuscule 1.57 for the season.

In Sacramento Tuesday night, Kevin Howard had 3 hits, including a double and a 14th inning game winning home run for Tacoma as the Rainiers topped the River Cats, 4-3. Kevin has hit 3 home runs in 8 games since being traded from the Dodgers to the Mariners, his first 2 coming last Friday night against his old teammates, the Las Vegas 51's!!

In Corpus Cristi, Adrian Cardenas added 3 hits and 3 RBI to Midland's 19-hit effort in the Rock Hounds 16-12 win over the Hooks. Adrian is hitting .348 in his first 13 AA games for the Oakland affiliate.

Cardenas' teammate in Lakewood, Edgar Garcia, made his best start since being promoted to Reading on Tuesday. Edgar threw 6 solid innings, holding the hard hitting Bowie Baysox to just 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. Greg Golson hit his 13th home run, Jeremy Slayden picked up RBI #75 and Javon Moran added 2 hits, for Reading, but Bowie won the game 3-2 in 10 innings.

Finally, in Charleston, West Virginia, the Asheville Tourists beat the Power, 10-6, drawing the idle Lakewood BlueClaws to within 2.5 games of first place with 13 game remaining. Lakewood opens a 5 game series in Lake County Wednesday.

HomeSider Highlights

The top news around the HomeSide has got to be Quintin Berry's 30 game hitting streak. This is the longest streak in minor league baseball this season. The streak was stopped Friday night by Tampa. Q is now hitting .276, with 45 stolen bases(in 58 attempts).

Matt Maloney won his 4th straight decision last Thursday, 4-2 over Toledo. Matt is now 10-4 with a 3.95 ERA for Louisville and is looking like a lock for a September call up with the Reds.

Zack Segovia has posted 2 wins in his 5 starts for Harrisburg, although the last outing Thursday in New Hampshire was a rough one. Zack's ERA is a shaky 7.04 in 23 innings with the Eastern League affiliate of the Nationals.

I also have to mention Michael Taylor. After hitting .361 in the first half of this season with Lakewood, Mike was promoted and struggled for the first 3 weeks with Clearwater. These struggles are a long gone memory now as Taylor looks like he did here, hitting .342 for the Threshers, with 6 home runs and 28 RBI in 53 games. Overall, Taylor's season is .353, with 34 doubles, 16 homers, 78 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Can you say "Paul Owens Award winner"?

Around the majors

It has been fun watching the major league games the past few days, as the HomeSiders have been very prominent.

Randy Ruiz had 2 hits and 2 RBI Sunday in the Twin's 11-8 win over the Mariners. Randy is hitting .364 in his first 7 games in the majors.

Robinson Tejeda threw 2.2 hitless innings against the Yankees on Saturday, including coming into the game with the bases loaded and 1 out and stranding all 3 runners. After a shaky start with K.C., Tejeda has settled in, posting a 1.59 ERA in August in 11 innings of work (2.42 in 31 innings overall).

Taylor Buchholz threw 2 more scoreless innings over the weekend, and has been fantastic for Colorado this year. Taylor is 5-3, with a save, 19 "holds", and 1.60 ERA, pitching mainly in games when the Rockies are ahead.

Gavin Floyd pitched to a no decision Friday night in Oakland, allowing just 1 earned run in 5.2 innings against the A's. Gavin leads all former 'Claws with 12 wins in 2008, which is tops on the White Sox staff.

Speaking of the A's, Oakland has promoted Josh Outman to AAA Sacramento, where he has pitched 4 innings in 2 appearances without giving up a run. Adrian Cardenas, promoted to AA Midland is 12 for 38 (.316) in his first 11 games in the Texas League. Oakland has also called up Gio Gonzalez, who has made 3 major league starts, posting a 1-2 record and a 7.53 ERA.

Of course, Ryan Howard continues to lead the National League in home runs with 33 and RBI with 104.

Thanks to all HomeSiders

Just a quick note to all the HomeSiders who have inquired to my wife's health. Lena is doing fine and recovering from Monday's surgery as well as could be expected. Thanks for all your notes and cards. And special thanks to the Lakewood HomeSiders, we have received your wonderful fruit.

I will try to get back on the ball in a few more days. Thanks again, everyone!!