Written by Al Ciammiachella

---

Drew Pomeranz, RP-USA: 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, K, BB.

Pomz final line wasn’t pretty, but he really didn’t pitch as bad as it looks. He struck out the 1^st batter he faced, then gave up a seeing-eye single and a popout before surrendering a 2-run HR. He then walked a batter and gave up a bloop double down the line before departing the game, and the runner he left on base scored as well to give him the final line on the day. Pomeranz seemed to shy away from his best pitch, the knuckle curve in favor of his changeup, and that was likely because his catcher had likely never seen the pitch before and he was afraid to call it with runners on base. Regardless, Pomeranz sat between 93-95 MPH with his fastball and mixed in a couple of very nice changeups, which was very encouraging to see. Pomz will open the 2^nd half in AA Akron after the Eastern League All Star break, and it will be good to see if he can replicate his success in the Carolina League against the better competition in the Eastern League.

• Jason Kipnis, 2B-USA: 1-2, HR, RBI, R. Kipnis led off the Futures Game yesterday for the US team, and hit a 3-2 pitch deep over the right-centerfield fence for a solo HR. Great moment in a homecoming of sorts for the former Arizona St. Sun Devil star.
• Scott Barnes, SP-COL: L (7-4), 5 2/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 7 H, 5 K, BB. Barnes was having an OK day when he suffered a minor leg injury when he caught a spike in the ground coming off the mound for a comebacker. He’s lost back-to-back starts for the 1^st time this season.

• Nick Hagadone, RP-COL: 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, K. Hagadone runs his scoreless streak to 9 consecutive innings. He could still contribute to the big league team this year.
• Jason Donald, SS-COL: The real story here isn’t Donald’s big day at the plate, but the fact that he left he game due to a leg injury (again). Hopefully it isn’t serious, but Donald seems to be snakebit this year.
• Beau Mills, 1B-AKR: 1-2, 2 BB. Mills is 4-13 with a HR and 3 BB in his last 4 games.
• John Drennen, RF-AKR: 0-4, K. Drennen has now played in two games since coming back from his suspension, and is 0-7, with 2 K and a run scored.
• Marty Popham, SP-KIN: W (3-0), 7 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 9 K. Outstanding start for Popham, who has finally settled into the Kinston rotation after spending time in the bullpen, as well as spot starts in Akron and a relief appearance in Columbus.
• Rob Bryson, RP-KIN: 2/3 IP, K. Bryson has made 9 appearances out of the K-Tribe pen, going 13 innings and allowing just 1 run on a solo HR. He’s struck out 18, walked just 3 and given up 6 hits. I think he’s ready for Akron any day now.
• Tyler Holt, CF-KIN: 2-3, HR (2), RBI, BB, R, SB. The K-Tribe’s sparkplug ignited the offense with a leadoff HR, and went on to reach base twice after that and even swiped his 21^st bag of the season.
• Abner Abreu, RF-KIN: 3-3, HR (8), 2B, RBI, R, BB, SB. A full stat sheet for Abreu, who’s 9-19 in his last 6 games with 4 HR, a 3B and 2 2B. The plate discipline still needs work, but it’s good to see some of his raw power showing through.
• Jesus Aguilar, 1B-LCC: 2-4, 2B, R, K. BBJA is staying hot; he’s hitting .314/.400/.514 in his last 10 after going for an impressive .373/.436/.759 line in the month of June.
• Alex Monsalve, C-LCC: 2-4, 2 1B. The Midwest League all star just keeps on hitting. He’s up to .359/.405/.538 over his last 10 games, with 2 HR.
• Jordan Casas, LF-LCC: 2-3, BB. Selected in the 40^th round last year, Casas is hitting .292/.340/.337 in 22 games for the Captains.
• Alex Lavisky, C-MVS: 2-3, RBI, BB. He’s alive! Even with yesterday’s 2-3, Lavisky is just 4-32 in his last 10 games. Yesterday’s 2 hits broke up an 0-20 skid for the young catcher.
• Tony Wolters, SS-MVS: 2-4, R, 2 SB, K. Wolters is doing everything he can to make up for his lost time due to injury. In 22 games for the Scrappers, he’s hitting .306/.406/.471 with a HR, 5 2B, 3 3B and 9 SB in 10 attempts.