Frisco 6, at Midland 3

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 6, at Midland 3
Record: 38-31, +2.5, first half over

Walks per start by Blake Beavan:
0: 6
1: 7
2: 1
3: 1
4+: none

Beavan refused to concede a single walk once again. He struck out six and allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits. In his last nine starts covering 241 batters, Beavan has yielded one homer and five bases on balls. That is ridiculous. His strikeout rate during this period is an ordinary 16%, about 2% below the league average, but every other statistical aspect of his game is top notch.

Marcus Lemon propelled the offense with his second homer, a single and walk. Nobody else managed more than a single hit, but Frisco strung together enough one-baggers and walks to plate six.

Kasey Kiker has been activated from the DL. Andrew Laughter has reluctantly taken Kiker’s place. Utility man Andy Jenkins dropped down from OKC.

Frisco 4, at Midland 2

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 4, at Midland 2
Record: 22-18, +2.0

Blake Beavan needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings. Beavan walked just one, struck out two, and gave up both runs on five hits. Beavan’s been a little lucky – that .238 average on balls in play is going to be awfully tough to sustain – but he’s clearly making progress in his second run through the Texas League. He’s already surpassed last year’s 34 strikeouts in 33 fewer innings.

Matt Lawson (.320/.399/.453) went 3-5 with two RBI. RF Joey Butler (.296/.374/.447) drove in Frisco’s other runs on a double and also walked.

Super-utility player Emerson Frostad has joined Frisco. Johnny Whittleman hasn’t played in a few days because of a sore quad.

Frisco 4, at Midland 2

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 4, at Midland 2
Record: 22-18, +2.0

Blake Beavan needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings. Beavan walked just one, struck out two, and gave up both runs on five hits. Beavan’s been a little lucky – that .238 average on balls in play is going to be awfully tough to sustain – but he’s clearly making progress in his second run through the Texas League. He’s already surpassed last year’s 34 strikeouts in 33 fewer innings.

Matt Lawson (.320/.399/.453) went 3-5 with two RBI. RF Joey Butler (.296/.374/.447) drove in Frisco’s other runs on a double and also walked.

Super-utility player Emerson Frostad has joined Frisco. Johnny Whittleman hasn’t played in a few days because of a sore quad.

at Frisco 8, Midland 3

By Scott Lucas

AA: at Frisco 8, Midland 3
Record: 18-12, +3.0

Frisco scored seven in the 2nd inning, typically a harbinger of victory. Particularly damaging to Midland was a two-out grand slam by Matt Lawson (.291/.373/.445), his 2nd homer of the season. Joey Butler walked and doubled to extend the world’s least effective hitting streak to 11 games (.244/.333/.311 during the “streak”). Still-hot Renny Osuna (.333/.407/.528) drew two walks and singled. LF Andy Jenkins made the first and last outs in the 2nd inning but later singled and hit a solo homer for Frisco’s other run.

In six innings, Blake Beavan (3.57 ERA) permitted a lone run on just three hits and a walk plus three strikeouts. Evan Reed worked a scoreless 9th. If not for a run allowed back on April 12th, he’d own the same perfect ERA as Zach Phillips and Cody Eppley.

The RoughRiders have won seven straight and own a three-game lead in the Texas League’s South Division.

Roughriders at Rockhounds

Beaven has been promoted up to AA Frisco and makes his first AA start tonight in Midland. I need to catch up on a few things with Beaven first...

On June 4th, 2009

Bakersfield 4, at Visalia 3 (12 innings)

Win: Flores (3-1, 3.24)

OF Joey Butler singled home Davis Stoneburner in the 12th, and OF Tim Smith’s sac fly provided needed insurance. Butler (.294/.348/.443) was 3-6 with a double and his 4th steal. Smith (.328/.410/.448) also doubled and walked.

Since a two-inning, eight-run start on May 2nd, Blake Beavan has pitched 41.1 innings with a 3.92 RA, 2.40 ERA, 40 hits, three homers, eight walks, and 24 strikeouts. On Wednesday, he tied a season high with six strikeouts, walked one, and allowed a run on seven hits in six innings. Ryan Falcon followed with 2.1 scoreless relief innings.

On June 10th, 2009

at Bakersfield 5, San Jose 3

Win: Beavan (5-4, 4.30)

Save: Reed (4, 1.74)

Blake Beavan fanned six in eight innings while allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. He retired the side in order five times. Though his ERA is almost two runs higher than what he posted in Clinton last year, his peripheral stats have barely changed. A few more balls hit into play are eluding his defense, and a few more hits are coming with runners in scoring position. Essentially, he’s matching last year’s performance in a tougher league.

He almost didn’t keep the win. Corey Young allowed a single and two walks to load the bases with one out in the 9th. Evan Reed relieved him and induced an impressive, game-ending 5-2-3 double play. Give credit to Jonathan Greene and Jose Felix.

The Cal League announced its roster yesterday for the California/Carolina All-Star game. 1B Mauro Gomez and 2B Matt Lawson will make the trip to Lake Elsinore on the 23rd. Lawson (.311/.366/.435) celebrated the announcement with two walks and a single. Gomez (.272/.333/.508) singled, doubled, and walked. Ian Gac hit his 10th homer.

So, Beavan is 5-4 with a 4.30 ERA, but started the season 0-4 with a 7.88 ERA (Follow this link to a previous post: CLICK HERE). I wouldn't know if he has faced any Rockhounds before, but either way, I am thinking this debut could start out like his previous Bakersfield debut... rocky and then after some adjustments, he could get a call next season to start in AAA Oklahoma.

Jason Fernandez has pitched 71.1 innings this season for the Rockhounds. He has a 6-5 record with a 3.79 ERA in twelve starts (he has one complete game). He gives up a HR every ten innings or so and gives up a walk every 2.84 innings, or every eight outs.

Forecast: I am a Beavan fan, and if they were in Frisco tonight, I might have found a way to go out and see him pitch. He's making his debut on the road, it's his first AA start, and I would like to say that I think it would go well... but I just don't believe that. I really, really don't. Look for the Rockhounds to win this one, as they are in first place and Frisco is in last place. Having the best farm system doesn't necessarily mean they are going to win all the time... not even half the time. It just makes you scratch your head a little. Rockhounds win it by stopping a five game losing streak with a score of 4-2. Johnny Out.

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