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Farmers Only Weekend Harvest: Phillip Ervin is Good

2013 first-rounder hits his first professional homer as part of a great weekend.

So far, so good
So far, so good
Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE
  • Louisville dropped 2 of 3 over the weekend. Friday was a 3-0 Bats win over the Rochester cReds Wings. Greg Reynolds tossed a 107-pitch CGSO, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. I know he's all smoke and mirrors and has no chance of being a prospect, but perhaps the emergency starting pitching depth isn't as dire as we all think it is, with Reynolds and Armando Galarraga tossing quality AAA innings. Anyway, the Bats knocked 8 singles, 2 each from Neftali Soto, Felix Perez, and Corky. On Saturday, Rochester returned the favor and 2-hit the Bats, who lost 2-1. Billy Hamilton drove in the only run with a groundout. The sticks woke up a bit on Sunday, but the Bats still lost to the Red Wings, 8-5. Neftali Soto and Mike Hessman each Bruce'd solo Jays, and Billy Hamilton was 2-5 with a steal and a caught. It was a bullpen game. Up next: Daniel "Groan" Corcino (3-10, 7.40) takes on Rochester at 7:05.
  • Pensacola won two of three over the weekend. The Wahoos smashed the Biscuits on Friday, winning 9-3. Moose Mattair yellowstone'd his team-leading 8th homer of the year, and Yorman Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk as part of his 2-4 day. Australian catcher Matt Kennelly (formerly of the Braves org) was 4-5 with a double, too. They must not like Biscuits in Holland, because Loek Van Mil let Montgomery walk-off on the 'Hoos in Saturday's contest, 4-3. Devin Lohman was 3-4 and Our-Man ripped a clutch RBI single to tie the game at one point, but it was all in vain. Starter Shaun "Diddy" Ellis was Latos'd, allowing just 1 run in 5 innings and leaving with the lead. Not to be outdone, Pensacola, too, had a flair for the dramatic, pulling out a 4-3, 14 inning win to take the series against the Biscuits. The bullpen tossed a combined 8 scoreless innings after Josh Ravin blew the save early on, and Ryan LaMarre came around to score on an error that proved to be the winning run. Despite going just 1-7, Yorman Rodriguez extended his minor league hitting streak to 14 games between Bakersfield and Pensacola. Luis Durango had 3 hits from the bottom of the order. Up next: Bring your smart phones, your dogs, and any enterprising young girls you know, as it's Social Media Monday, Bark in the Park, and Girl Scout Night tonight. No Wahoo pitcher has been named yet, but they'll face the Braves at 7.
  • Bakersfield was oh-fer the weekend, unfortunately [the bullpen]. The Blaze fell victim to a big inning on Friday, losing 6-3. David Vidal had his best game since being sent back down, going 3-4. He was a double shy of the cycle. Kyle McMyne blew the game, giving up 4 runs in 0.2 innings and spoiling a rare nice start from Jon Moscot (5 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 1 walk, 5 K). Homers from Kyle Waldrop (3-4) and Steve Selsky (2-4) weren't enough on Saturday, as Bakersfield fell to the Mavericks, 13-8. This time it was Carlos Gonzalez who fell victim to the big inning, but every pitcher was roughed up in this one. Sunday was yet another bullpen meltdown, albeit in the weirdest of ways in the Blaze's 9-8 loss to High Desert. Kyle Lotzkar's line would definitely make its way into a Jayson Stark article, as he gave up 3 earned runs in an inning of work without allowing a hit. He walked 2 guys, hit 2 more with pitches, and balked in a run to go along with 2 sac flies. Huh. Up next: Someone will face Lancaster at 10:45.
  • Dayton also took just one of three over the weekend. The Dragons were crushed by the Captains, 11-5, on Friday. Junior Arias had a two-homer game, and Tanner Rahier, Jeff Gelalich, and Daniel "Lord of the Flies" Pigott all added a pair of hits, but to no avail. Jackson Stephens took the loss, with 4 uninspiring innings. Jesse Winker has been struggling something fierce lately (Midwest League home run derby not included), posting a .190/.261/.310 line in his last 10 games. He was 0-4. Saturday was a bit better for the Dragons, as they walked off in ten innings, 6-5, over Lake County thanks to a Tanner Rahier infield single. Rahier was 3-5 on the night, and Junior Arias continued to crush the ball, going 3-5 as well. Sal "Pecorino" Romano pitched admirably, going 6 innings and allowing just 2 hits and 2 runs, neither of which were earned. He struck out 7 and walked 3. Sunday, well, huh. Unfortunately, the Ismael Guillon. The Guillon-tine was dull as hell, lasting just two-thirds of an inning in the 14-8 drubbing at the hands of the Lugnuts. He walked in two runs and left with this line: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K. Yuck. The whole bullpen outside of Ben Klimesh was shit, though. The offense did its damnedest, smacking 10 hits and scoring 8 runs, but, yeah. Up next: Drew Cisco (2-4, 4.28) looks to stop the bleeding at 7 against Lansing.
  • Billings took 2 of 3 over the weekend, thanks in large part to Phillip Ervin. The Mustangs were blanked by Great Falls on Friday, 6-0. Ervin had the only multi-hit game, going 2-4 with his second steal of the year. The Mustangs committed 5 errors, though somehow all 6 Voyager runs were earned. Saturday was a different story, as Billings whupped the Helena Brewers, 9-2. Ervin hit his first professional home run as part of a 2-5, 4 RBI day, and Jonathan Reynoso stole 2 bases and smacked 3 singles. Sunday was another good result for the Mustangs, as they came out on top of the Brewers, 4-2. Ervin and 2012 22nd round upside pick Avain Rachal both had 2 hits in the game, and catcher Daniel Paula was 3-4 with a triple and a homer. I hadn't really heard of Paula, but he had a solid 85 ABs in the AZL last year, posting a triple slash of .341/.391/.435 with 7 walks and 8 strikeouts, which is always nice to see from a catcher. He's started out his Pioneer League career with a bang, too, going 6 for his first 11. Jose Guzman tossed 5 scoreless innings, striking out 6 with no walks and 3 hits. Up next: 2013 fourth-rounder Ben Lively gets his first professional start against Missoula at 9:05.
  • The AZL Reds were blanked by the lil Indians on Friday, 5-0. Not a lot of good beyond starter Franderlin Romero, who took the loss despite allowing just one run in 5 innings. Saturday was actually worse, if you can believe it, as the baby Rojos managed just 3 hits en route to a 3-0 loss to the AZL Brewers. Venezuelan lefty Junior Morillo was the hard-luck loser this time round, allowing 2 unearned runs on 4 hits in 6 innings, striking out 4 and walking none. The bats woke up on Sunday, helping the good guys to a 4-3 win over the AZL Brewers. Solo shots from Kevin Garcia and J.R. Reynolds were the highlights for the Reds. Up next: OFF DAY!