South Atlantic League Notebook

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South Atlantic League Notebook
05/22/2006 3:43 PM ET
By Stephanie Storm / Special to MLB.com

Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Tourists were just 2-4 on the week, including an ugly 12-2 loss to host Greensboro on Tuesday. Asheville is now in third place in the Southern Division, eight games behind division-leading Rome.
WHO'S HOT: Eric Young Jr. leads the 16-team league in stolen bases with 30 in 39 games. He is also batting .288 (44-for-153) with 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 18 RBIs and 14 walks. ... Dexter Fowler is batting a team-high .307 (46-for-150) with 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 15 RBIs in 37 games.
WHO'S NOT: Michael Paulk is struggling to hit .222 (28-for-126) with 24 strikeouts in 34 games.
Augusta GreenJackets (San Francisco Giants)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The GreenJackets suffered through a 2-5 week that included splitting two extra-inning games. Augusta started the week with a 6-5 victory in 15 innings over visiting Greensboro but lost 4-3 in 10 innings Tuesday at West Virginia. The GreenJackets are in fourth place in the Southern Division, 8 1/2 games behind division-leading Rome.
WHO'S HOT: Michael Mooney had three home runs on the week for a total of a team-leading six on the season. Overall, Mooney is batting .322 (46-for-143) with six doubles, a triple, eight stolen bases and 22 RBIs.
WHO'S NOT: Shairon Martis is off to a rough start, going 1-2 with a 6.60 ERA in four starts this season. The right-hander has allowed 21 hits and 12 runs -- 11 earned -- in 15 innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: In a 15-inning marathon against Greensboro last Sunday, Augusta pitchers struck out 19 batters. Although the team's hitters racked up 16 hits, they also struck out 13 times.
Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The RiverDogs posted a 4-2 mark on the week, including winning 7-6 in 18 innings against visiting Rome Saturday. Charleston is currently in second place in the Southern Division, 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Braves.
WHO'S HOT: Utility man Reegie Corona hit .519 (14-for-27) with four RBIs and four runs scored in six games. On the season, he's batting .338 (47-for-139) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 17 RBIs.
WHO'S NOT: Mario Holmann is hitting just .226 (28-for-124) with 25 strikeouts this season.
DOING IT ALL: Tony Roth turned into an emergency pitcher in Saturday's 7-6 18-inning victory over Rome. He even earned the win after pitching perfectly in the final two innings. He also scored the winning run in the bottom of the 18th on a bases-loaded walk.
Columbus Catfish (Los Angeles Dodgers)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Catfish posted a 2-5 mark but managed to snap a five-game losing streak later in the week with a pair of wins at Savannah on Friday and Saturday. Columbus is now in sixth place in the Southern Division, 10 1/2 games behind division-leading Rome.
WHO'S HOT: Andrew Locke knocked in nine RBIs last week. On the season, he is batting .326 (45-for-138) with eight doubles, three triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs.
WALK THIS WAY: Brent Leach and Miguel Sanfler each issued eight walks, and James McDonald walked seven batters this week. On the season, Columbus has allowed a league-high 194 walks.
MIXED REVIEWS: Typically, when a pitcher strikes out a career-high 12 batters, it comes via a dominant outing. But in Columbus' 6-1 loss to Rome Wednesday, Catfish starter Cory Wade also allowed four runs on six hits.
Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Shorebirds were 4-2 on the week and currently sit just 1 1/2 games behind Northern Division leader Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Arturo Rivas batted .467 (7-for-15) with three runs scored and two RBIs in four games. ... Quincy Ascencion hit .444 (8-for-18) with three runs and an RBI in five games.
WHO'S NOT: Zachary Davis is batting just .236 (17-for-72) with 28 strikeouts in 26 games.
BACK ON TRACK: Former position-player-turned-pitcher Manuel Basilio pitched five scoreless innings in an outing last Sunday, allowing just three hits while striking out five batters. The right-hander missed all of last season due to shoulder surgery.
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Florida Marlins)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Grasshoppers were a successful 5-2 this week, despite kicking off the stretch with a 15-inning 6-5 loss at Augusta. Greensboro is currently in fourth place in the tight Northern Division race, just three games behind first-place Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Daniel Barone flirted with a perfect game against Kannapolis on Friday. The 23-year-old right-hander retired the first 19 batters he faced and struck out 10 over 8 2/3 innings -- improving to 4-0 on the season in the Grasshoppers 4-1 victory.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I felt I was in control,'' Barone said on Greensboro's official website. "It was kind of like, "You're not going to touch me.'"
LATE POWER: Chris Harvey and Jonathan Fulton each hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to help Greensboro to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Asheville last Monday. Harvey's home run tied the game, while Fulton's proved the game winner.
Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Drive posted a 3-4 record on the week and opened with a 3-2 victory in 10 innings over visiting Hickory last Sunday. Greenville now sits in fifth place in the Southern Division, 9 1/2 games behind first-place Rome.
WHO'S HOT: Yahmed Yema knocked in eight RBIs this week, giving him 20 on the season. In 32 games, he's batting .287 (37-for-129) with nine doubles, four triples and two home runs.
WHO'S NOT: Jay Johnson is batting just .231 (25-for-108) with 21 strikeouts in 27 games. ... Luis Segovia is hitting a mere .128 (10-for-78 ) with 18 strikeouts in 21 games.
Hagerstown Suns (New York Mets)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Suns were just 2-5 on the week, including being swept in a doubleheader at Lake County early in the week. Hagerstown is tied with Hickory for last place in the Northern Division, eight games behind division-leading Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Leivi Ventura batted .409 (9-for-22) with three home runs, five runs scored and six RBIs in six games last week. ... Nick Evans hit .400 (8-for-20) with a home run, seven RBIs and five runs scored in six games last week.
WHO'S NOT: Utility man Matthew Anderson is batting a paltry .195 (15-for-77) with 18 strikeouts in 29 games. ... Hector Pellot is hitting .208 (31-for-149) with 21 strikeouts in 41 games.
LUCK RUN OUT: Jonathan Niese was tagged with his first loss of the season last Sunday in the Suns' 5-3 loss to Lakewood. The left-hander is 6-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 48 strikeouts in nine starts.
Hickory Crawdads (Pittsburgh Pirates)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Crawdads split the week 3-3, beginning with a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Greenville on Sunday. Hickory remains in last place in the Northern Division, tied with Hagerstown and eight games behind first-place Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Hickory's Derrik Moeves was 0-1 but didn't allow a run last week to rank among league leaders. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed just two hits, one walk and struck out nine batters.
TOUGH LUCK: Jean Garavito owns a 0-5 mark on the season but has a 2.30 ERA in 12 appearances. In 27 1/3 innings, he's struck out 18 batters and walked 11.
AN HONOR NONE THE LESS: Andrew McCutchen was one of a handful of organizational prospects selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play in last Monday's annual Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, N.Y. The 19-year-old started in right field, batted in the leadoff spot and was hitless in his one at-bat before the game was called due to rain after three innings with Cincinnati leading, 3-0. McCutchen was the Pirates first-round pick last summer in the 2005 draft.
Kannapolis Intimidators (Chicago White Sox)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Intimidators had a tough week, going 1-4, their only win coming Tuesday in a 4-2 victory at Hickory. Kannapolis still hasn't reached double-digit wins with an 8-33 overall mark, sitting last in the Southern Division and 22 games out of first place.
WHO'S HOT: Ryan Rote was 0-1 but didn't allow a run this week. In six innings, the right-hander allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four batters over six innings. On the season, Rote is 0-8 with a 4.93 ERA.
WHO'S NOT: Derek Rodriguez allowed three home runs last week, giving him a team-leading five homers allowed. On the season, the right-hander is 1-4 with a 4.91 ERA. In 51 1/3 innings, he's given up 37 runs -- 28 earned -- while striking out 42 batters.
Lake County Captains (Cleveland Indians)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Captains posted a 3-4 record last week, including a doubleheader sweep against visiting Hagerstown on Tuesday. With the tough week, the Captains dropped to sixth place in the Northern Division, 4 1/2 games behind division-leading Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Niuman Romero has been one of the few consistent Captains' batters, hitting .288 (38-for-132) with five doubles, a triple, 17 RBIs and 19 walks. He has reached base safely in 24 of his last 26 games.
WHO'S NOT: Frank Herrmann is 0-2 with a 6.07 ERA in eight starts. In 29 2/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed 20 earned runs (including four home runs), hit eight batters and issued 12 walks.
PROSPECT UPDATE: John Drennen was batting .323 (20-for-62) with a pair of doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBIs in 17 games before injuring his left thumb on a slide into second base, landing him on the disabled list April 26. The left-handed hitter was the Tribe's sandwich pick (33rd overall) last year out of California's Rancho Bernardo High School.
Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The BlueClaws were 4-2 this week and continue to keep pace in the Northern Division, just four games behind first-place Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: Carlos Carrasco recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in Lakewood's 5-2 win over Delmarva Thursday. On the season, the 19-year-old right-hander is 3-2 with a 1.90 ERA.
WHO'S NOT: Lakewood's offense ranks third from last in the 16-team league with a combined .235 batting average. ... Welinson Baez is hitting just .217 (30-for-138) with a team-high 54 strikeouts in 36 games.
THE GOOD & THE UGLY: John Urick was 3-for-3 with a double and drove in three runs with two outs in a 5-3 victory at Hagerstown last Sunday. However, he also committed a pair of errors in the game.
Lexington Legends (Houston Astros)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Legends posted a 4-2 record last week, maintaining their hold on first-place in the Northern Division by 1 1/2 games.
WHO'S HOT: Sean Walker was 1-0 and didn't give up a run to rank among league pitching leaders last week. In seven innings, the right-hander allowed just two hits, two walks and struck out seven batters. On the season, he is 4-2 with a 4.24 ERA in seven starts.
WHO'S NOT: James Gant is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in 12 appearances. In 19 innings, the right-hander has given up 27 hits and allowed 25 runs (19 earned). ... Eli Iorg is batting just .229 (32-for-140) with a team-leading 47 strikeouts in 36 games.
Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Braves saw a seven-game win streak snapped Saturday with an 18-inning 7-6 loss at Charleston, but still went 5-1 on the week. Rome maintains a commanding 6 1/2 game lead over Charleston in the Southern Division.
WHO'S HOT: Kala Kaaihue batted .476 (10-for-21) with three home runs, nine runs scored and nine RBIs in six games last week...Kelly Johnson hit .533 (8-for-15) in four games with one home run and three RBIs.
WHO'S NOT: Brandon Monk is hitting a paltry .232 (29-for-125) with 32 strikeouts in 33 games.
REHAB CENTRAL: Atlanta pitchers Chuck James and Lance Cormier each threw a perfect rehab inning in Rome's 6-1 win over Columbus on Wednesday. The left-handed James (strained hamstring) struck out one batter and retired two others on flyouts in a 15-pitch first inning. Cormier (left oblique strain) used 13 pitches to get through a perfect second inning, striking out the last two batters he faced. ... Atlanta outfielder Kelly Johnson is also rehabbing with the team.
Savannah Sand Gnats (Washington Nationals)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Sand Gnats were just 2-5 on the week, dropping to seventh place and 5 1/2 games behind Southern-Division leading Rome.
WHO'S HOT: Brian Peacock is batting .283 (34-for-120) with nine doubles, a triple and a team-leading seven home runs and 21 RBIs in 32 games.
WHO'S NOT: The team is struggling both offensively and defensively. The Sand Gnats' pitching staff ranks last in the 16-team league with a 4.88 ERA, while the team's batters are just slightly better -- ranking second to last in the league with a .225 batting average. The team's 375 strikeouts are tops in the league.
IT WASNT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS TOUGH: Opening Day starter Craig Stammen finally recorded his first win of the season last Sunday in the Sand Gnats' 5-0 shutout win over visiting Columbus. The right-hander gave up just three hits in seven scoreless innings to improve to 1-6 with a 3.49 ERA in nine starts.
West Virginia Power (Milwaukee Brewers)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Power continued to stay hot, going 5-1 on the week. West Virginia has now crept into third place in the Northern Division, just 2 1/2 games behind first-place Lexington.
WHO'S HOT: West Virginia's Mat Gamel batted .417 (10-for-24) with two home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored in six games last week. On the season, he's batting .299 (46-for-154) with 10 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 26 RBIs.
WHO'S NOT: Ryan Marion has a 9.00 ERA in eight games (one start). In 17 innings, the right-hander has dished up 20 runs -- 17 earned -- on 23 hits and 11 walks.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.