I guess we didn’t have any photos of the other Burt Reynolds. Feb 20, 2014; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Burt Reynolds (79) poses for a picture during photo day at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
In one of the most incredible games anywhere in baseball this year, the Clinton LumberKings (SEA) came back from a 16-run deficit to defeat the Burlington Bees (LAA) in 12 innings. Burlington amassed a 17-1 lead after five innings against Clinton thanks to three consecutive doubles leading to seven runs in the second (starting with a bases-loaded double by Kody Eaves to kick things off) and a nine-run fifth that featured two home runs including a grand slam by Cambric Moye.
Not to be outdone, the LumberKings sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth, scoring six runs to reduce the deficit to “just” ten runs while eight batters came to the plate in the eighth and ninth, scoring five runs in each inning to tie the game up. A grand slam from Marcus Littlewood in the ninth was the big blow that tied the game while Burt Reynolds had hit a solo shot in the eighth. Finally, in the top of the 12th inning, Clinton scored another three runs and the pitching staff, impenetrable since the sixth inning, held on to win an epic game for the LumberKings.
Award Winners
Austin Wilson of the Clinton LumberKings took home the Player of the Week hardware for the Midwest League, hitting .375/.429/.833 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and 11 RBI this week. Wilson, a 22-year-old, 2013 second round draftee of the Seattle Mariners, is hitting .303/.375/.485 in 28 games in his first full-season of pro ball.
West Michigan righty Austin Kubitza, 22, was named the Pitcher of the Week, throwing seven shutout innings with just two hits and one walk allowed in 12 innings for the White Caps. Kubitza, a 6-foot-5 righty, may not be long for the league after he’s been dominant so far this season, posting a 2.15 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, an outstanding 39 strikeouts to just eight walks in 29 1/3 innings and an incredible 3.80 Ground-Out to Air-Out ratio.
Division Leaders
In the Eastern Division, the West Michigan Whitecaps have surged to first place on the back of a five-game winning streak and a 9-1 record in their last 10 games. Just a 1/2 game ahead of the Dayton Dragons, the Whitecaps have a pitching staff featuring highly-ranked college pitchers that the Detroit Tigers have drafted over the past few seasons including Jonathon Crawford, Austin Kubitza and Kevin Ziomek. In fact, West Michigan has the worst OPS in the league but, by far, the best ERA (by over half a run) and the most strikeouts.
In the Western Division, the Kane County Cougars (CHC) are off to a five-game lead over their closest competitor, the Peoria Chiefs (STL) with a 24-10 record. Kane County has a 7-3 record in its last 10 games. Kane County features a middling offense but, like West Michigan, a strong pitching staff, placing third in the league in ERA.
Individual Accomplishments
Cleveland’s Adam Plutko (Lake County Captains) already has a lot of hardware on his shelf after an excellent 2013 College World Series and he may be in the running for a Pitcher of the Week award next week in the Midwest League. Plutko struck out 13 in eight shutout innings for the Captains on Thursday, allowing just three hits and no walks for an outstanding Game Score of 89. The 11th rounder from the 2013 draft didn’t pitch last year and is having an excellent pro debut so far this year with a 3.31 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 35 1/3 innings so far.
With his performance this week, Plutko moves into a share of the league lead for strikeouts with 49, sharing it with Buck Farmer of the West Michigan Whitecaps.
The best WHIP in the league belongs to Bowling Green’s Jacob Faria at 0.77. He’s allowed just 19 hits and six walks in 32 1/3 innings with 27 strikeouts and an excellent 1.67 ERA. Cedar Rapids’ Kohl Stewart is next in that category, tied with Nick Travieso of Dayton, at 0.88. Travieso features an outstanding 7.00 strikeout to walk ratio.
Joey Curletta of the Great Lakes Loons now has the sole lead in the batting title race, hitting .358. He doesn’t have the power numbers to go with it, with just nine doubles and one home run.
Leading the league in home runs are Clint Coulter (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) and Eric Haase (Lake County Captains) with seven each. Coulter leads the league in OPS thanks to his outstanding .430 OBP (he’s walked 19 times and struck out 20 in 128 plate appearances).
Current stolen base king is Mallex Smith who has 22 (in 30 attempts) for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. He’s getting more hits than Malcolm Holland of Great Lakes despite Holland’s much better success rate. Holland has 21 steals in 24 attempts and actually has a four point edge in OBP over Smith who has a 56 point on Holland when it comes to batting average.