Prospect Report: Kentrail Davis Hits for the Cycle
By Jay Blue
The biggest news of the day has to be the cycle that Huntsville Stars outfielder Kentrail Davis hit yesterday. Davis went 4/6 with one of each type of hit, scoring three times and driving in just one run. It was a little anti-climactic for Davis who didn’t learn that he had hit for the cycle until after the game when he found out that his fourth-inning extra-base hit was ruled a triple rather than a double.
In Triple-A Reno, center fielder Roger Kieschnick hit a pair of home runs in a 3/4 day, adding a walk, two runs and three RBI. For the Iowa Cubs, Javier Baez is getting into the swing of things (yes. Pun intended.) and slammed four hits including two doubles and a home run, scoring a pair and driving in a pair. Tommy Medica, a first baseman for the Padres’ top farm club in El Paso, had a big game, going 3/4 with a double and home run, driving in three.
The Memphis Redbirds’ (STL) offense was explosive, getting three hits (including a double) from Oscar Taveras, two doubles from Stephen Piscotty and three hits from Randal Grichuk. Oklahoma City (HOU) righty Nick Tropeano struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and two walks (and no runs). For New Orleans (MIA), Andrew Heaney, recently promoted, made a strong statement in his Triple-A debut, striking out seven in five one-run innings of work.
For Toledo (DET), Hernan Perez had a 4/5 game, scoring three times for the MudHens.
Kris Bryant, playing for Double-A Tennessee in the Southern League, can hit. He was on base five times on Thursday with a 3/3 game that included a double, two walks, a stolen base, a run scored and three RBI. Corey Black, starting for the Smokies struck out seven in five innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks. For the Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD), shortstop Darnell Sweeney had a terrific game, going 3/4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, scored four times and drove in another four.
Also in the Southern League, Richie Shaffer, a third baseman for the Montgomery Biscuits (TB) went 3/5 with a double, a home run and a walk while teammate Jake Hager (SS) went 2/5 with a double and walk. For the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (CIN), Robert Stephenson struck out six in six innings of work, surrendering one run on just two hits but walked four.
In the Texas League, Tulsa Driller (COL) righty Jonathan Gray went six solid innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
In the California League, Visalia Rawhide (ARI) outfielder Brandon Jacobs went 3/4 with a home run. For the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, another Dodgers’ minor league shortstop, Corey Seager, had four hits, going 4/5 with a double, raising his season battinga verage to .368.
For Winston-Salem of the Carolina League, White Sox right-hander Francellis Montas notched the day’s high-strikeout total of 11 in eight innings of one-run, two-hit ball, walking just one batter.
In the Midwest League, Kane County Cougars (CHC) starting pitcher Paul Blackburn threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and no walks with six strikeouts. Peoria Chiefs (STL) lefty Rob Kaminsky struck out nine in six innings of work. He allowed just two hits and one run but was charged with two unearned runs and didn’t get a decision.
For Greensboro (MIA) in the South Atlantic League, Jarlin Garcia, a 21-year-old Dominican lefty struck out nine batters in 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk.