Frisco 1, Tulsa 4

AA: Frisco 1, Tulsa 4
Record: 33-22., +5.0

Blake Beavan kept his team in the game by lasting seven innings and surrendering three runs on eight hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Only twice in 12 starts has Beavan (2.82 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) allowed more than three runs.

Tulsa’s Brandon Durden was terrific yesterday, or Frisco’s offense made him look as such. In eight scoreless innings, Durden doled out only two hits, doubles by Matt Lawson and Elio Sarmiento. Lawson also singled off Scott Rice, who pitched for Frisco in 2007.

at Frisco 9, Tulsa 6

AA: at Frisco 9, Tulsa 6
Record: 30-20, +5.0

Blake Beavan had a memorable May: six wins in six starts, 2.23 ERA, and 40.1 innings with 28 strikeouts and just four walks. He won the league’s Picher of the Week award twice in three weeks. Yesterday, Beavan began with six scoreless innings on four hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Unfortunately, the 7th was less kind, as he gave up three runs while retiring only batter (via strikeout). Rehabbing Warner Madrigal was shaky again (0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R), and Josh Lueke allowed two runs on three hits in two innings.

Frisco scored eight runs in the 4th, all against Colorado’s Christian Friedrich, the 25th-overall pick of the 2008 draft. Matt Lawson went 3-4 with two doubles, a walk, and four driven in. Both Emerson Frostad and Taylor Teagarden homered off Friedrich. The three combined for all of the team’s nine RBIs.

Pitcher Danny Gutierrez’s 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program ends… now. No word on where he’ll be assigned, or when. Gutierrez spent a few minutes with AA Frisco after being acquired in late 2009 and also appeared in the Arizona Fall League.

League leaders:
Matt Lawson – 8th in runs (30), 3rd in doublers (13), 6th in walks (25), 4th in OBP (.412), 5th in slugging (.470), 3rd in batting average (.317)
Blake Beavan – 6th in ERA (2.71), 1st in innings (69.2), 6th in strikeouts (45), 1st in WHIP (0.90)
Richard Bleier – 6th in innings (58.67)
Tanner Roark – 7th in WHIP (1.17)
Zach Phillips – 7th in saves (4)
Team Pitching – 3rd in runs allowed (195), 2nd in strikeouts (395), 1st in WHIP (1.20)
Team Defense -- 1st in fewest errors (29, 14 fewer than any other team)

Game 18: Brahmas vs. Oilers

Tulsa is 4-10-2 (4-12, adjusted) thus far this season. The Brahmas are second in their division with a 11-5-1 (11-6, adjusted) this season. Maybe the Stars can give a ring to these guys, since they know how to win. Anyway, the Brahmas are ranked fifth in the CHL, so they have skills.

The Brahmas offense seems about average, but what has been winning them games (and pay attention, Stars fans) is their awesome defense, which only four teams are better (and they aren't necessarily the teams that have a higher ranking than them).

Brahmas to Watch:

• Scott Sheppard (F): 19 points; 10 assists (7)
• Grant Jacobsen (F): 17 points; 10 assists (8)
• Pete Rouleau (F): 16 points; 10 assists (1)
• Justin Kinnunen (F): 13 points (10)
• Brett Jaeger: 11 games, 8-1-1 record, with a 2.48 GAA and a .920 SV%

Oilers to Watch:

• Jeff Christian (RW): 25 points; 10 goals; 15 assists (4)
• Michel Beausoleil (RW): 25 points; 18 assists (8)
• Brendon Hodge (C): 24 points; 16 assists (-2)
• Jason Lawmaster (D): 12 points (-1)
• Kevin St. Pierre: 12 games, 2-7-2 record, with a 4.27 GAA with a .887 SV%

Wow, and I thought Turco was bad. I guess it can get worse...

Forecast: Brahmas are good. The Oilers are bad. In fact, the Oilers are trying to create a new level of just how bad can things really be... they are dead last in the CHL and they aren't going to get any better tonight. Look for a score of something like 6-2, Brahmas.

Home Ice

Game 13: Texas vs. Tulsa

Tulsa has played 9 games and is 3-5-1 (or 3-6 if adjusted) and the Brahmas are 7-3-1 (7-4, adjusted). Texas is 2-2-1 on the road, while Tulsa is 2-2 at home. Tulsa has one awful defense and may not be able to stand up to the Brahmas offense. Tulsa has given up 46 goals in just 9 games (more than 5 goals a game)... Texas has given up 33 goals in 11 games (3 a game) while scoring 38. Tulsa has only scored 25 goals this season.

Brahmas to Watch:

• Pete Rouleau (F): 13 points
• Grant Jacobsen (F): 11 points
• Tyler Skworchinski (F): 11 points
• Scott Sheppard (F): 10 points

Oilers to Watch:

• Michel Beausoleil (RW): 14 points
• Brendon Hodge (C): 13 points
• Jeff Christian (RW): 10 points

It would appear that the Brahmas depend on the Forwards, while the Oilers lean toward the RW for their points.

Forecast: The Brahmas will win this one because defenses win Super Bowl's... or Championships. At least they win games. And it will win this game. Score: 6-2.

Home Plate