Sidney Ponson (0-3) made another start on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers (2-3, Box score) and pitched eight strong innings, but lost for the third time this year anyway. He allowed just three runs on six hits, while striking out seven. Detroit’s Brandon Inge connected off him with a two-run homerun in the second. A sac fly by Dane Sardinha in the fifth led to the third Tigers run. Ponson threw 73 of his 101 pitches for strikes. His ERA now stands at 5.79 for the season.
Around the Majors:
- Outfielder/designated hitter Wladimir Balentien of the Seattle Mariners hit his first homerun of the season on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. He is now batting .350 (OBP .381/SLG .550) in 20 at bats through eight games.
- Outfielder/designated hitter Andruw Jones of the Texas Rangers started on Saturday against the Orioles and hit his second homerun of the season. He is batting .409 (OBP .552/SLG .864) in 22 at bats over seven games.
In the Minors:
- Since our last update on Leon Boyd, the reliever of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A, Blue Jays), appeared in three more games, collecting two more saves. He has allowed just one hit and a walk in 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five with a total of four saves.
- Outfielder Gregory Halman of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Double-A, Mariners) had his best games this season so far last Friday, when he hit two homeruns and drove in four. He followed this up with another two-hit performance on Sunday and he is now batting .176 (OBP .230/SLG .426) with five homeruns, two doubles, eight runs scored and 14 RBI. He still strikes out a lot, having 30 K’s in 68 at bats. At least he walked three times in the last six games.
- Alex Maestri of the Tennessee Smokies (Double-A, Cubs) appeared twice in games last week. He has allowed twelve hits, six runs and seven walks in eleven innings, striking out eight. He also gave up two homeruns. His ERA climbed to 4.91 in six games.
- Alex Smit (Carolina Mudcats, Reds, Double-A) struck out four in 2 1/3 scoreless innings last Thursday, his only outing since April 19. He now has conceded six hits, two runs (1 ER) and seven bb in 7 1/3 innings. Opposing batters are hitting .231 against him.
