Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Manatees won three of five games while four games were rained out. The solid week pulls Brevard County within a half-game of first in the North.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: League pitchers can’t seem to keep RF Caleb Gindl off the basepaths. The Pace, Fla., native is hitting .312 in his last 10 games with 10 hits in 32 at-bats. … DH Derrick Alfonso is in a bit of a slump with only two hits in his last five games covering 12 at-bats.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Amaury Rivas has been strong in his last two outings. The Dominican Republic native has 13 strikeouts in his last two starts covering 11 innings while giving up just two walks.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Rivas shut down Clearwater in a 5-0 home win. Rivas allowed just one hit through six innings while striking out six and walking one to record his sixth win of the season.
Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Charlotte won four of seven games. The Stone Crabs are now in a four-way tie for second place, a half-game behind St. Lucie in the South.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: CF Emeel Salem has been money in the bank recently. The Birmingham, Ala., native has 17 hits in his last 39 trips to the plate for a .436 average with six RBIs. … DH Shawn Williams could use a few days off. He has just three hits in his last 28 at-bats for a .107 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Matthew Gorgen has been lights-out from the Stone Crabs bullpen. The Concord, Calif., native has not allowed a run in his last five appearances covering 10 innings.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Salem did a number on Sarasota in a 6-5 home win for Charlotte. Salem went 3-for-4, scoring two runs while driving in a pair. He singled and scored in the first inning, singled to center to drive in two runs in the second and singled and scored in the seventh.
Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: It was a rough week for the Threshers as they won just one of five games while having three rained out. Despite the tough week, Clearwater is only a game out of first place in the North, one game behind Tampa.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: The Threshers aren’t racking up many individual numbers, but 2B Fidel Hernandez is the closest to swinging a hot bat. The native of Venezuela has 10 hits in his last nine games covering 33 at-bats for a .303 average. … CF Arlon Quiroz has been struggling of late, with only one hit in his last 16 at-bats for a .063 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Michael Cisco has really been pitching his way out of jams. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C., native has given up 15 hits in 16 innings, but has given up just two runs in that same time frame. Cisco also has produced a nice ratio of nine strikeouts against three walks.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: 1B Michael Durant was one of the main reasons Clearwater was able to pick up its lone win. Durant went 2-for-3, with both hits for extra bases. His two RBIs proved to be the difference in the 5-3 Clearwater road win. Durant belted a two-run homer to left in the fourth and doubled to center in the ninth.
Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Cubs split six games last week. Daytona is now in last place in the North, 2.5 games out of first.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: RHP Christopher Carpenter has been a strikeout machine. The Bryan, Ohio, native has 13 strikeouts against five walks in his last 10 innings pitched. … None of the Cubs are hitting over .300 in the past two weeks, but LF Marwin Gonzalez may be struggling the most. Gonzalez has just six hits in his last 33 at-bats for a .181 clip.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Rafeal Dolis has been finding his stride lately after going through a tough patch to open the month. In his past two starts, Dolis has given up just one run and one hit over eight innings.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Carpenter dominated Clearwater to close the week on a high note for the Cubs with the 12-2 win. Carpenter struck out eight in six innings without giving up a walk. He allowed just two hits for his first win.
Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: It was a week the Blue Jays might want to forget, recording just two wins in seven games. Dunedin is tied for third place in the North with Clearwater, a game behind Tampa.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: 1B Manuel Rodriguez has been clutch with runners on base. Hitting .333 in his last nine games, the native of Panama has two homers and 10 RBIs on 12 hits. … 3B Kevin Ahrens can’t seem to buy a hit. He has only four hits in his last 33 at-bats for a .121 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: LHP Daniel DeLucia has only pitched in three league games, but already he seems comfortable on the mound. The native of Columbus, Ohio, has not allowed a run over 7 2/3 innings covering three games.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: RHP Andrew Liebel was strong in a 2-1 home win over Lakeland. The Cal State-Long Beach product threw a seven-inning complete game, scattering five hits while striking out seven without a walk.
Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Miracle won just two of seven games. Despite the rough week, Fort Myers is only a half-game behind St. Lucie in the South, tied with Charlotte, Palm Beach and Sarasota.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: LF Mark Dolenc has been feasting on league pitchers of late. The Princeton, N.J., native has 15 hits in his last 40 at-bats for a .375 average. … RF Chris Parmelee has cooled way off after the All-Star break, with only five hits in his last 33 at-bats for a .152 clip.
PLAYER TO WATCH: In his last three appearances, LHP Joe Testa has not given up an earned run. The Jackson, N.J., native has struck out five while walking one in his last 5 2/3 innings.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: 2B Steven Singleton did a number on Palm Beach in the Miracle’s July 7 road win. The University of San Diego product had four RBIs on two hits. His first RBI came in the first inning when he tripled to right for the Miracle’s first run. His second hit of the night came in the fourth when he laced a bases-loaded triple to right, giving Fort Myers a 5-4 lead.
Jupiter Hammerheads (Florida Marlins)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: It was not a great week for the Hammerheads as they won just two of seven games. Jupiter is in last place in the South, three games out of first place.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: DH Louis Ott is on fire with 18 hits in his last 41 at-bats for a .439 average. … LF Spike McDougall is firmly implanted in a slump with just two hits in his last 17 plate appearances for a .118 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Jose Rosario had pieced together a string of very strong starts before his most recent one, which didn’t end as well. Going into his July 12 start, Rosario had 10 strikeouts against two walks in his last 13 innings while chalking up two wins. Rosario has only given up eight hits and three runs in that same span. Against St. Lucie, however, Rosario surrendered six runs on eight hits to record the loss.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: RHP Jeff Allison was solid in an 8-1 home win over Charlotte on July 10. The Lynn, Mass., native tossed a seven-inning complete game, holding the Stone Crabs to four hits while striking out five and walking none.
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Strong week by the Flying Tigers as they won five of six games while dodging three rainouts. Lakeland is in fourth place in the North, two games out of first place.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: LHP Charles Furbush has been virtually untouchable. The Portland, Maine, native has nine strikeouts against one walk in his last two starts covering 11 2/3 innings pitched. In that same time frame, he has not allowed an earned run. … CF Christopher White has just six hits in his last 31 plate appearances for a .194 clip.
PLAYER TO WATCH: LHP Mauricio Robles has not allowed an earned run in his last 12 2/3 innings while collecting two wins.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: 1B Michael Bertram hammered Clearwater in a 12-0 road win. The University of Kentucky product had four RBIs while going 3-for-5 and scoring three runs. Bertram doubled to right to lead off the second, singled to center to lead off the fourth and belted a grand slam to right in the eighth.
Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Cardinals split six games last week. Palm Beach is now in a logjam in the South, tied with Charlotte, Fort Myers and Sarasota for second place and a half-game behind St. Lucie.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: 1B Francisco Rivera has been hammering league pitching lately. The left-handed hitter has nine hits and six RBIs in his last 20 at-bats for a .450 clip. … LF Chris Swauger is really struggling with only two hits in his last 23 plate appearances for a .086 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Oliver Marmol has been tagging league pitchers, registering 10 hits in his last 25 plate appearances for a .400 average.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: 1B Curt Smith all but destroyed Fort Myers in a 13-2 road win. The University of Maine product went 5-for-6 with five RBIs. Smith singled to right in the first, singled to center to drive in run in the third, singled to right in fifth, drove in two runs with a line-drive single to center in the seventh and drove in two more runs with yet another single, a ground ball to left in the ninth.
Sarasota Reds (Cincinnati Reds)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Reds won four of seven games last week, limiting opponents to a grand total of one run in the four wins combined. Sarasota is now in a four-way tie for second in the South, a half-game behind St. Lucie.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: RHP Scott Carroll has been on fire. The Kansas City, Mo., native has not allowed a run in his last two starts covering 12 innings while giving up one walk. … 2B Jake Kahaulelio has only seven hits in his last 39 at-bats for a .179 average.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Josh Beal has been shutting down hitters out of the Reds bullpen. The native of Independence, Kan., has not allowed a run in his last six appearances covering 10 1/3 innings.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: The Reds had a lot of strong pitching performances last week, but RHP Luis Montano had the best outing. The native of the Dominican Republic held Charlotte to three hits and one earned run in six innings in a 6-1 home win.
St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Mets won four of seven games, averaging 10 runs a game in each win. St. Lucie is atop the South, a half-game ahead of a four-way tie for second place.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: League pitchers better start making some adjustments to 1B Stefan Welch quickly. In just six league games, the Australia native has been on fire with 12 hits in 27 plate appearances, racking up a home run and nine RBIs. … RF Carlos Guzman might like to have a taste of whatever Welch is eating. Guzman has just six hits in his last 37 at-bats for a .162 clip.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Though he has two no-decisions in his last two starts, LHP Angel Calero has 12 strikeouts over his last 9 1/3 innings.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Welch single-handedly destroyed Palm Beach in a 16-3 St. Lucie win. Welch drove in five runs on three hits in five at-bats. Welch lifted a sacrifice fly to left in the first and got two more RBIs on a single up the middle in the second as the Mets took an 8-0 lead. Welch also belted a two-run homer to center in the fifth.
Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Yankees won three of five games in a wet week that included four rainouts. Tampa leads the North by a half-game over Brevard County.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: 1B Kevin Smith has been solid at the plate lately. The La Mirada, Calif., native has nine hits in his lat 31 at-bats for a .290 average. … RF Seth Fortenberry is really struggling with only four hits in his last 28 plate appearances for a .143 clip.
PLAYER TO WATCH: RHP Lance Pendleton has been especially hot lately for the Yankees. The Kingwood, Tex., native has recorded 17 strikeouts in his last two starts spanning 13 1/3 innings while walking two and giving up one earned run on eight hits.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Daytona couldn’t solve RHP Ryan Zink in a 2-1 Yankees win. The Madison, Wis., native tossed a one-hit shutout through six innings. The University of Illinois-Chicago product didn’t walk a batter while fanning three.
Tags: Florida State Leauge
