With all due respect to the Connecticut Defenders’ plans to commemorate Roger Clemens’ injured groin, the PCL’s Round Rock Express did just fine this past Saturday, marking the career hit-by-pitch record of Houston’s Craig Biggio (below)
Last night, the Express won their 10th consecutive, beating the Omaha Royals, 13-3. Omaha’s Brian Bass allowed HR’s to Brooks Conrad, Cody Ransom and Brian Gordon in Round Rock’s 5 run 3rd inning. The Express’ Jason Hirsh (2-2, 3.96) — superb last week against Oklahoma — struck out 5, walked none and allowed 5 hits and one earned run over 7 innings.
The Mets’ Victor Diaz hit a 2-run HR and Lasting Milledge was 1 for 3 with a pair of runs scored in Norfolk’s 6-4 win at Toledo. P Evan MacLane (above) earned the win in his International League debut, striking out 4, walking one, and allowing 3 hits and one earned run in 7 innings. Previously, MacLane had been 3-1 (4.64, 33 IP, 25 K’s, 2 walks) this season at Binghamton.
With the recent injury to Gary Sheffield’s wrist (and little mustache), you can expect the Yankees to summon Melky Cabrera from Columbus. The latter was 3 for 5 in Columbus’ 7-3 home loss to Richmond and was named the International League’s player of the week. Cabrera ended the night with a .385 batting average, and with any luck, a deeper appreciation for much of what Columbus has to offer culturally.
Melky Cabrera’s take on playing centerfield during last year’s call up reminds me of nothing if not the chaotic racket of Times New Viking. Except watching Cabrera left me with a distinctly queasy feeling. Assuming Cabrera gets the call-up for tonight’s game, I’ll be able to say that I was in attendance for both Cabrera’s 2005 and 2006 debuts, about the most obscure “bragging” right I can imagine.