The Pitch is a weekly news review of Australian’s in the Majors, Minors, College and other Professional Leagues compiled by Major League Baseball International (Australia).If you would like to subscribe directly to receive the pitch email majorleaguebaseball@bigpond.com
Current statistics of all active Australian and New Zealander players are attached.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Here is the latest on the Australians participating in Major League Baseball. Note: hyperlinks in this section lead to MLB.com pages wrapping up these particular games, in-text hyperlinks are to video clips of those plays.
Grant Balfour (Glenwood NSW) is 2-6 with a 5.22 ERA in 58.2 appearances, 58.2 innings, for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. He has recorded 12 saves from 15 opportunities while allowing 34 runs, all earned, on 49 hits, three homeruns, and 40 walks while striking out 53.
The Rays are 74 - 80 (.481) in 4th place in the American League East, eliminated from the pennant race and Wild Card contention.
·12 September – Grant earned his 12th save of the season pitching one inning and striking out two in the Rays 1-0 win at Toronto. He came on in the bottom of the 9th and faced three batters: Edwin Encarnacion popped out to first; Adam Lind struck out swinging; and Dioner Navarro struck out swinging to end the game.
·14 September – Grant pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing three earned runs on three hits in the Rays 6-5 10-inning win at Toronto. He came on in the bottom 8th with the score 5-1 Tampa Bay and faced five batters: Anthony Gose grounded out to second; Jose Reyes singled to second; Jose Bautista singles to left advancing Reyes to 2nd; Adam Lind homers to left; and Edwin Encarnacion flied out to centre before Grant was relieved.
· 17 September – Grant pitched 1 1/3 innings striking out one in the Rays 3-2 loss to the visiting Yankees. He came on in the 7th with the final score and two outs recorded to face one batter – getting Derek Jeter to ground out to second. In the 8th he faced three batters: Brian McCann lined out to right; Mark Teixeira was called out on strikes; and Chris Young grounded out to short.
Liam Hendriks (Carine WA; Perth Heat) is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in six Major League appearances this season, three with Toronto and three with Kansas City. He’s pitched 26.2 innings allowing 15 runs on 27 hits, three homeruns, and six walks while striking out 17.
The Royals are 85 - 68 (.556) in 2nd place in the American League Central 1.5 games behind Detroit. They lead for the second Wild Card slot, half a game ahead of Seattle and half a game behind Oakland for the first Wild Card slot.
· 16 September – Liam recorded no-decision pitching three innings in his 7th MLB start of the season in the Royals 7 – 5 loss to the visiting White Sox. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE IMPORTS IN THE MAJORS
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox) is batting .253 for the Colorado Rockies with 25 RBI, 16 doubles, four triples and eight homeruns in 273 at bats over 124 games while playing right field. Over his last ten games, dating to 29 August, he’s batting .261 with six hits in 23 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rockies are 63 - 91 (.409), in fifth place and eliminated from contention in the National League West and for the Wild Card.
Tyler Collins (Sydney Blue Sox) is batting .263 for the Detroit Tigers with three RBI, one homerun in 19 at bats over 12 games while playing left field. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Tigers are 85 - 68 (.556), in 1st place in the National League Central leading Kansas City by 1 1/2 games.
Didi Gregorious (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .204 for the Arizona Diamondbacks with 24 RBI, six doubles, four triples and six homeruns in 235 at bats over 71 games while playing short stop. Over his last ten games, dating to 3 September, he’s batting .194 with seven runs and four RBI, in 31 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Diamondbacks are 62 - 92 (.403) in fourth place and eliminated for contention in the NL West and the Wild Card.
John Holdzkom (Canberra Cavalry, Adelaide Bite) is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and one Save over six innings in six appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out 11. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Pirates are 83 - 70 (.542) in second place in the NL Central, 2.5 games behind St Louis, and hold the second Wild Card slot by 4.5 games ahead of Milwaukee .
James Jones (Adelaide Bite) is batting .252 for the Seattle Mariners with nine RBI, nine doubles, three triples, and 26 stolen bases in 310 at bats over 100 games while playing centre field. Over his last ten games, dating to 7 September, he’s batting .200 with three runs, on two hits, in 10 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Mariners are 83 - 70 (.542) in third place in the AL West eliminated from pennant contention. They are half a game behind Kansas City for the second Wild Card slot.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .260 for the Tampa Bay Rays with 34 RBI, 16 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs in 308 at bats over 100 games playing right field. He’s scored 35 runs on 80 hits and has stolen five bases. Over his last ten games, dating to 5 September, he’s batting .207 with four runs on six hits with two RBI over 29 at bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rays are 74 - 80 (.481) in 4th place in the American League East, eliminated from the pennant race and Wild Card contention.
Donald Lutz (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .180 for the Cincinnati Reds with 1 RBI and four doubles in 50 at bats over 27 games playing 1st base. He’s scored two runs on nine hits. Over his last ten games, dating to 4 August, he’s batting .167 with three hits with one RBI over 18 at bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Reds are 71 - 83 (.461) in 4th place in the National League Central, eliminated from pennant and Wild Card contention.
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite) is 1-4 with a 4.87 ERA over 64.2 innings in 34 games for the Seattle Mariners. He’s allowed 37 runs, 35 earned, on 67 hits and 19 walks while striking out 49. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Mariners are 83 - 70 (.542) in third place in the AL West eliminated from pennant contention. They are half a game behind Kansas City for the second Wild Card slot.
AUSTRALIAN ESPN BROADCAST SCHEDULE (All times AEST)
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE:
AUSTRALIAN SPORTING ALL-STAR NILSSON TO COACH BANDITS
Pat Ryan, TheABL.com.au – 14 September
BLUE SOX RE-SIGN KANDILAS, VAN STEENSEL, AND OELTJEN
Tom ‘Sparrow’ Handley, Sydney Blue Sox – 15 September
LLOYD, HUGHES HELP IN EMERALDS TRIUMPH
Perth coach, star infielder aid in women’s World Cup bronze
Alexis Brudnicki, The ABL.com – 16 September
MLB AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY & BASEBALL AUSTRALIA
BASEBALL AUSTRALIA NAMED FINALIST IN 2014 EXPORT AWARDS
Trish Quayle, Baseball Australia – 19 September
OCEANIA BASEBALL (ONCE REMOVED)
TU’IVAILALA BECOMES FIRST TONGAN TO PLAY IN BASEBALL’S BIG LEAGUE
Kalino Latu, NZ Kaniva Pacific – 14 September
AT A GLANCE
Check out this MLB advert in tribute to Derek Jeter upon his retirement: here.