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August 12, 2011<br />
Knoxville News Sentinel, Josh Vitters delivers walk-off RBI for Smokies<br />
http://www.knoxnews.<strong>com</strong>/news/2011/aug/11/vitters-delivers-walk-off-rbi/<br />
Daytona Beach News Journal, Loosen helps Cubs split<br />
http://www.news-journalonline.<strong>com</strong>/sports/baseball/daytona-cubs/2011/08/12/loosen-helps-cubssplit.html<br />
Peoria Journal Star, Chiefs go extra for win<br />
http://www.pjstar.<strong>com</strong>/sports/chiefs/x185261<strong>10</strong>82/Chiefs-go-extra-for-win<br />
Idaho Statesman, Hawks slugger continues to work on plate patience<br />
http://www.idahostatesman.<strong>com</strong>/2011/08/12/1757784/hawks-slugger-continues-to-work.html<br />
--<br />
Knoxville News Sentinel<br />
Josh Vitters delivers walk-off RBI for Smokies<br />
Smokies benefit from 9-game streak<br />
By: Adam Greene<br />
SEVIERVILLE — Coming into Thursday night's game, Tennessee Smokies third baseman Josh Vitters had<br />
quietly been riding an eight-game hitting streak. Vitters pushed his streak to nine with two hits against<br />
the Jacksonville Suns, including the game-winning walk-off RBI in the ninth that gave Tennessee an 8-7<br />
win at Smokies Park.<br />
"I see a lot of real good things with Josh." Smokies manager Brian Harper said. "He's really maturing. A<br />
lot of people forget he's only 21 yearsold. Most kids his age are playing in rookie ball."<br />
Vitters was only topping himself after tying the game in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single.<br />
Vitters is 14-for-35 over his nine-game streak with three doubles, a triple, a home run and <strong>10</strong> RBIs.<br />
"The kid (Vitters) works hard and he's making adjustments." Harper said. "I'm just real happy for him. I<br />
see a huge difference with him at the plate from April until now."<br />
The Smokies (69-48, 26-21 Southern League second half) and Suns (60-57, 23-24) play game three of<br />
their five-game series tonight in Smokies Park at 7:15 p.m.<br />
The Smokies and Suns traded punches all night. After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning thanks to a<br />
two-RBI single from Jacksonville's starting pitcher Jose Alvarez, Tennessee wasted no time evening the<br />
score.
Catcher Blake Lalli led off the inning with his 21st double of the season. Shortstop Junior Lake pushed<br />
Lalli to third with a base hit. After scoring two runs for the Suns at the top of the inning, Alvarez put<br />
Tennessee on the board, giving up a balk that sent Lalli across home plate. A Nate Samson RBI tied the<br />
game 2-2.<br />
Team batting leader Ty Wright gave Tennessee their first lead with a solo home run to left field in the<br />
third.<br />
The Suns evened the score in with two runs in the sixth, but a ground-out sacrifice from Samson put<br />
Tennessee ahead 5-4.<br />
Jacksonville exploded in the seventh with three runs off Smokies reliever Brent Ebinger. Closer Rafael<br />
Dolis (8-5) picked up the win.<br />
Flores suspended: Smokies catcher Luis Flores was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball<br />
for violating the league's substance abuse policy Thursday. Flores tested positive for Methylhexaneamine,<br />
a stimulant found in some energy drinks. The suspension is effective immediately.<br />
"He (Flores) is a good kid and I think it's a <strong>com</strong>plete somewhat innocent mistake," Harper said. "We<br />
really are going to miss him. He was a big part of our clubhouse. It's a tough situation."<br />
Clevenger Returns: In a related roster move the Chicago Cubs sent catcher Steve Clevenger back to<br />
Tennessee from Class AAA Iowa. The Smokies' roster currently sits at 23 players.<br />
--<br />
Daytona Beach News Journal<br />
Loosen helps Cubs split<br />
By: Staff Report<br />
LAKELAND -- Daytona's Matt Loosen (1-1) gave up two hits and struck out eight in six innings as the<br />
Cubs won Game 2 4-0 to split a doubleheader with the Lakeland Tigers on Thursday.<br />
Evan Crawford was 3-for-4 with one double and one run scored for Daytona.<br />
In Game 1, the Cubs were held to five hits in a 6-0 loss. William Bergolla was 2-for-3 with one homer,<br />
three RBIs and two runs scored for Lakeland. Angel Guzman gave up two hits and struck out one in two<br />
innings in the start for Daytona.<br />
--<br />
Peoria Journal Star<br />
Chiefs go extra for win<br />
By: Staff Report<br />
GENEVA — Peoria battled back Thursday after losing an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the<br />
11th inning for a 9-6 victory over Kane County at Elfstrom Stadium.<br />
Rubi Silva doubled with one out in the 11th for Peoria and moved to third on a groundout. After Richard<br />
Jones was intentionally walked, Anthony Giansanti’s double scored them both, and he went to third on an<br />
errant throw to the plate.<br />
Giansanti scored on an infield hit by Arismendy Alcantara for the final run.<br />
For the record
Winning pitcher — Yohan Gonzalez (5-4), 2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts.<br />
Save — Daniel Berlind (4), 1 inning, no runs, hits, walks or strikeouts.<br />
Losing pitcher — Chas Byrne (3-3), 1 inning, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout.<br />
Chiefs — improve to 19-27 for the second half and 52-64 overall.<br />
Big sticks<br />
Chiefs — Jones 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored; Giansanti 2-6, 2B , 2 RBI, 1 run scored.<br />
Cougars — Orlando Calixte 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI.<br />
Friday<br />
Probable starters — Peoria (LHP Eric Jokisch, 8-3, 2.94) at Kane County (RHP Jason Adams, 5-6, 4.39),<br />
7:05 p.m., Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva.<br />
--<br />
Idaho Statesman<br />
Hawks slugger continues to work on plate patience<br />
By: Chris Langrill<br />
When it <strong>com</strong>es to putting up big numbers, no one on the Hawks roster <strong>com</strong>pares to first baseman Paul<br />
Hoilman.<br />
After Thursday’s 17-6 loss to the Eugene Emeralds, Hoilman ranks at or near the top in a number of the<br />
Northwest League’s statistical categories.<br />
- Hoilman leads the league in home runs with 12 after launching a monumental home run Thursday<br />
(more on that later).<br />
- He is also ranked No. 1 in walks (39) and second in slugging percentage (.526).<br />
- He is second among hitters in RBIs (37) and on-base percentage (.406).<br />
But there is one other category the Tennessean probably isn’t writing home about: strikeouts. Hoilman<br />
easily tops that category with 73 Ks.<br />
“He does swing and miss a lot,” Hawks manager Mark Johnson said. “But when he hits the ball, he hits it<br />
hard. He’s going to strike out, but it’s just a matter of learning how to cut it down a little.”<br />
Hitting coach Desi Wilson has worked with Hoilman in that area, but he said the 6-foot-4, 240-pound<br />
slugger’s positives have outweighed his negatives.<br />
“He has too many good numbers in other offensive categories to worry too much about the strikeouts,”<br />
Wilson said. “I overlook (the strikeouts) because he’s doing his job.”<br />
Besides, Wilson, who played a year in the majors with the San Francisco Giants, can relate.<br />
“I struck out 125 times in Double-A, so I’ve told him that story,” Wilson said. “That was part of my<br />
development. I had to make an adjustment the next year, and I did. … I’ve told him it’s his first time<br />
playing pro ball, and we’re going to help you cut down your strikeouts. Just play your game.”
And that’s exactly what Hoilman has done.<br />
“I don’t really worry about it. I hit home runs and I strike out,” he said. “It might not look like it, but<br />
when I’ve got two strikes I always choke up and I’m not trying to strike out. I’m not trying to hit a home<br />
run with two strikes.”<br />
And as long as the rookie out of East Tennessee State learns along the way, Wilson and Johnson will take<br />
the good with the bad.<br />
“It’s a work in progress,” Johnson said. “He gets his walks, he’s got a good eye. He just tends to chase<br />
some balls. … It usually takes guys 1,000 to 1,500 at-bats to figure out exactly who they are, and he’s at<br />
about (170) at-bats into his career. So it’s a little premature to judge.”<br />
Game notes: Boise fans didn’t get to see a win Thursday night, but Hoilman treated them to one of the<br />
longest home runs by a Hawk at Memorial Stadium in recent memory. His sixth-inning blast sailed over<br />
the top of the scoreboard in left field. Hawks president Todd Rahr said the last Hawk to do that was Ryan<br />
Harvey in 2004. … Eugene pounded out a total of 20 hits and led 12-0 after the top of the fourth inning.<br />
--