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 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 45 appearances, 43.0 innings, for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. He has recorded 11 saves from 13 opportunities while allowing 25 runs, all earned, on 35 hits, two homeruns, and 33 walks while striking out 41.
The Rays are 55 - 59 (.482) in 4th place in the American League East, ten games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
Listen to a radio interview with Grant’s wife Angie here.
·29 July – Grant pitched one inning, striking out two, in the Rays 5-1 win over visiting Milwaukee. He came on in the top of the 9th with the final score in place and faced three batters: Carlos Gomez struck out swinging; Jonathan Lucroy was called out on strikes; and Ryan Bruan grounded out to short.
·1 Aug – Grant pitched one inning, allowing one hit, in the Rays 5-3 loss to the visiting Angels. He came on in the top of the 9th with the final score in place and faced three batters: Kole Calhoun grounded out to second; Mike Trout singled to left; and Albert Pujols grounded into a double play.
·3 Aug – Grant pitched one inning, allowing a walk, in the Rays 7-5 loss to the visiting Angels. He came on for the 8th inning with the final score in place and faced four batters: Chirs Iannetta flied out to right; Kole Calhoun flied out to centre; Mike Trout walked and with Albert Pujols batting steals 2nd; Pujols grounded out to third to end the inning.
·4 Aug – Grant copped the loss pitching 2/3 of an inning allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one in the Rays 3-2 10 inning loss at Oakland. He came on in the 10th with the score tied and faced six batters: Albert Callaspo lined out to left; Sam Fuld singled to centre and, with John Jaso batting, steals 2nd; Jaso walked; Josh Donaldson walked to load the bases; Brandon Moss struck out swinging; and Derek Norris singled to centre to score the winning run.
·6 Aug – Grant pitched one inning allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one in the Rays 7-3 win at Oakland. He came on in the 9th with the score 7-1 and faced six batters: Coco Crisp called out on strikes; John Jaso lined out to right; Josh Donaldson singled to centre; Brandon Moss walked; Josh Reddick doubled to centre scoring Donaldson and Moss; Alberto Callsapo grounded out to short to end the game.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE IMPORTS IN THE MAJORS
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox) is batting .250 for the Colorado Rockies with 19 RBI, 13 doubles, two triples and five homeruns in 212 at bats over 98 games while playing right field. Over his last ten games, dating to 27 July, he’s batting .333 with eight hits, including one homerun, and two walks in 24 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rockies are 45-69 (.395), in fifth place in the National League West and 19.5 games behind the Giants.
Didi Gregorious (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .248 for the Arizona Diamondbacks with 14 RBI, three doubles, four triples and four homeruns in 129 at bats over 39 games while playing short stop. Over his last ten games, dating to 26 July, he’s batting .281 with three runs on nine hits, including a homerun, with three RBI, in 32 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Diamondbacks are 49 - 66 (.426) in fourth place in the NL West 16 games behind Los Angeles.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .288 for the Tampa Bay Rays with 28 RBI, 10 doubles, five triples and nine home runs in 205 at bats over 65 games playing right field for the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s scored 27 runs on 59 hits and has stolen four bases. Over his last ten games, dating to 27 July, he’s batting .161 with four runs on five hits with three RBI over 31 at bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rays are 55 - 59 (.482) in 4th place in the American League East, ten games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
AUSTRALIAN ESPN BROADCAST SCHEDULE (All times AEST)
BALFOUR GRATEFUL FOR RAGING TIME IN OAKLAND
Aaron Leibowitz, MLB.com – 4 August
TRIPLE-A LEAGUES:
CHASERS’ HENDRIKS FANS 12 IN ROYALS’ DEBUT
Newly acquired right-hander establishes career high in first PCL start
Josh Jackson, MiLB.com – 2 August
VIDEO STORY HERE
THE AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE:
SLUGGER LUKE HUGHES READY TO FIRE FOR THE HEAT
Josh Spasaro, Coffs Coast Advocate – 31 July
JUNIOR BASEBALL:
The major international junior tournaments are underway with both Australia and New Zealand competing at the Under-15 World Cup and the Cal Ripken World Series and the Perth Northern Metros are representing Australia at the Little League World Series.
VERMONT SOUTH’S JORDAN BUSCH WILL COMPETE FOR AUSTRALIA
Laura Jolly, Whitehorse Leader – 1 August
CRONULLA STATE CUP REPS OFF TO PLAY BASEBALL IN THE US
Paul Haigh, The Leader – 5 August
AT A GLANCE
• The following players have been placed on 7-day disabled lists: OF Corey Adamson (Padres; Perth Heat); OF David Kandilas (Rockies; Sydney Blue Sox); OF Adam Silva (Yankees; Melbourne Aces).
•The following players have been released: RHP Justin Erasmus (Brisbane Bandits) by the Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks (Independent); OF Karl Hoschke (Sydney Blue Sox) by the Atlanta Braves and LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (Newcastle NSW) by the Cincinnati Reds.