Written by Al Ciammiachella

---

Tony Wolters, SS-MVS: 2-4, R, K.

Known as a “baseball rat” who was always on a field somewhere, Wolters spent the first 2+ months of this season on the shelf after breaking a bone in his wrist in spring training. Missing all of that time must have killed him, and he’s taking it out on the pitchers in the New York Penn League. Wolters is hitting .304/.417/.507 overall, with a HR, 6 RBI, 5 2B and 3 3B. He’s swiped 6 bags while being caught just once. It’s great to have him back on the field, and I expect to see him in Lake County before the end of the season.

 

• Scott Barnes, SP-COL: L (7-3), 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 K, 2 BB. Yesterday was the 1^st time Barnes gave up more than 3 ER in a start since May 8, when he allowed 5.
• C.C. Lee, RP-COL: 2 1/3 IP, H, 4 K. Lee has now thrown 6 2/3 innings for Columbus, and has yet to allow a run. He’s given up 4 hits, walked one and struck out 12.
• Jason Kipnis, 2B-COL: 0-3, 2 K. Kip went hitless to break up a 7-game hitting streak, but the important thing here is he was back in the lineup after missing a couple of games with swelling in his knee.
• Luis Valbuena, SS-COL: 1-4, R, K. Could be called up to the show if Asdrubal’s ankle is a lingering issue.
• Tim Fedroff, LF-COL: 2-4, 2B, 2 K. Fedroff now up to .300/.382/.467 in 9 games with the Clippers.
• Kelvin De La Cruz, SP-AKR: W (5-6), 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, 2 BB. Strange to see DLC strike out just one batter in 5 innings of work, but he got the job done last night in part by limiting his walks.
• Matt Langwell, RP-AKR: 3 IP, 3 K. Three perfect innings of relief for Langwell, who is quietly putting together a solid season out of the Akron bullpen. He’s thrown 39 innings, has a 2.31 ERA and has 42 K against just 13 BB.
• Cory Burns, RP-AKR: S (22), IP, K. Burns is back on track, after a shaky month of May. He went all of June without allowing a run, and now has two scoreless appearances in July as well.
• Chun Chen, DH-AKR: 3-4, 2B, R. He’s back! In two games since coming back from injury, Chen is 4-7 with a HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R and a walk.
• Nick Weglarz, LF-AKR: 1-4, R, K. Weglarz has now gone an amazing 13 at bats without drawing a walk.
• Juan Diaz, SS-AKR: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, K. Diaz has been struggling of late, going just .175/.209/.225 in his last 10 games.
• Bryce Stowell, RP-LCC: 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K, 2 BB. Tough outing for the flamethrowing reliever as he works his way back from early season arm troubles.
• Gio Urshela, 3B-LCC: 2-4, 3B, RBI, R, K. Gio is 5-9 in his last two games, and 8-21 in July.
• Jesus Aguilar, 1B-LCC: 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, K. BBJA has now hit in 6 straight, and has 4 BB in his last 3 games as well.
• Carlos Moncrief, CF-LCC: 2-5, R. Moncrief hit just .198 in June, and is now 2-14 in July.
• Rob Nixon, SP-MVS: 7 IP, 3 H, 4 K. The 46^th round pick continues to impress in the Mahoning Valley rotation. In his last 3 starts, he’s gone a combined 18 innings without walking a batter, and has allowed just 3 earned runs.
• Jordan Smith, 3B-MVS: 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI. Smith is living up to his billing with the bat. He’s now at .322/.385/.424 overall with 4 2B and a 3B in 59 at bats for the Scrappers.