Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop
Addison Russellagainst the West during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Benches cleared in Jacksonville last night as a routine matchup with Birmingham turned into an episode of Friday Night Fights.
In the ninth inning, with Birmingham up 4-1 and the Baron’s Jeremy Farrell standing on second and Jacksonville’s Matt Ramsey on the mound, Luis Sierra lined a single to left field. Farrell came around to score and after crossing the plate, folded his arms and bumped into Ramsey, who had gone behind home plate to back up the throw to the catcher.
The collision appeared to occur by accident, but, as Jacksonville Manager Andy Barkett relayed to the Sun’s media team, Farrell then turned back to yell something at Ramsey, prompting a shouting match. All of a sudden, the benches cleared, there was a small round of pushing and shoving on both sides, and then Farrell and Ramsey were ejected.
And that’s where things got dicey. Barkett argued vociferously and at length over the ejections, prompting the home plate umpire to eject him as well. In response, the manager casually walked halfway back to the dugout, before turning around and flinging his cap at the umpires. He then entered the dugout, whereupon he retrieved a couple buckets of baseballs and angrily flung them onto the field.
A deceiving quiet followed, before Jacksonville first baseman Wilfredo Gimenez stormed over to the Birmingham dugout, sparking another melee. The benches cleared again and the field suddenly erupted in a chorus of punches and blows.
Gimenez was promptly ejected, along with Josh Richmond and Michael Earley. Birmingham went on to win by a score of 5-1
All told: one game, one collission, two bench clearing brawls, two buckets of baseballs thrown onto the field, five players and one manager ejected.
> Cubs fans angry over the trade of ace Jeff Samardzija might when turn their attention to Tennessee, where Chicago’s Double-A affiliate plays. Because Addison Russell, the talented young shortstop they acquired in that deal, homered last night – twice – his second two homer game this week.
Russell, the 5th best prospect in the game according to Baseball America, finished the game 2 for 5 with four RBIs, but the Tennessee still fell to Mississippi 9-8. The 20 year old has adjusted well to his new home in the southern league, with five home runs and a .970 OPS in his last 13 games with the club.
On the other side of the ledger, Mississippi third baseman Kyle Kubitza came through with a big pinch-hit triple in the eighth to drive in two and then came around to score the game tying run on a Tennessee error. Kubitza, 24, is currently ranked as the Braves 9th best prospect and is enjoying a solid season in double-a, hitting .298/.406/.468 with 25 doubles and nine triples.
>Archie Bradley‘s tumultuous season continued Friday afternoon. He allowed seven earned runs and didn’t make it out of the third inning as Mobile fell to Pensacola by a score of 9-1. Bradley was arguably the best pitcher in minor league baseball last season, having posted a 1.84 ERA and a 9.6 SO/9 in 26 starts between High and Double-A.
He came into the season as the ninth best prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, and had a decent shot at winning a major league rotation spot. But he struggled in spring training and then in Double-A, before going down for all of May and most of June with elbow soreness. Bradley had been pitching well of late – he even struck out ten batters in his last Mobile start, prompting speculation of an impending promotion – but a shoddy performance like this could convince Arizona to keep him in the minors. The 21 year old is now 2-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 12 starts this season.
>On Tuesday, Jackson third baseman D.J. Peterson, 22, homered and drove in a pair to help lead the General to an 8-3 victory over Huntsville. The Mariners first pick from the 2013 draft has wasted no time since being called up to Double-A on June 26th. He owns a .300/.360/.510 line over 25 Southern League games and a .316/.400/.516 line over his last 10. In last night’s repeat 8-3 downing of Huntsville, he reached base twice, doubled, and drove in a run.
>Peterson’s teammate, third baseman/left fielder/first baseman Patrick Kivlehan has actually been even better over the past week. Seattle’s No. 16 prospect has 5 doubles, 3 triples (!), 10 RBIs and a slash line of 375/.432/.725 over his last ten games, bringing the 24 year old’s Southern League season to .317/.389/.518. Less regarded by scouts and the Mariners organization than Peterson, Kivlehan actually played third base everyday before his teammate supplanted him last month. Since then, he has split time between first base and left field ever since.