January 10, 2008 - MLB.com

August 12, 2011
Knoxville News Sentinel, Josh Vitters delivers walk-off RBI for Smokies
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/11/vitters-delivers-walk-off-rbi/
Daytona Beach News Journal, Loosen helps Cubs split
http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/baseball/daytona-cubs/2011/08/12/loosen-helps-cubssplit.html
Peoria Journal Star, Chiefs go extra for win
http://www.pjstar.com/sports/chiefs/x1852611082/Chiefs-go-extra-for-win
Idaho Statesman, Hawks slugger continues to work on plate patience
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/08/12/1757784/hawks-slugger-continues-to-work.html
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Knoxville News Sentinel
Josh Vitters delivers walk-off RBI for Smokies
Smokies benefit from 9-game streak
By: Adam Greene
SEVIERVILLE — Coming into Thursday night's game, Tennessee Smokies third baseman Josh Vitters had
quietly been riding an eight-game hitting streak. Vitters pushed his streak to nine with two hits against
the Jacksonville Suns, including the game-winning walk-off RBI in the ninth that gave Tennessee an 8-7
win at Smokies Park.
"I see a lot of real good things with Josh." Smokies manager Brian Harper said. "He's really maturing. A
lot of people forget he's only 21 yearsold. Most kids his age are playing in rookie ball."
Vitters was only topping himself after tying the game in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single.
Vitters is 14-for-35 over his nine-game streak with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBIs.
"The kid (Vitters) works hard and he's making adjustments." Harper said. "I'm just real happy for him. I
see a huge difference with him at the plate from April until now."
The Smokies (69-48, 26-21 Southern League second half) and Suns (60-57, 23-24) play game three of
their five-game series tonight in Smokies Park at 7:15 p.m.
The Smokies and Suns traded punches all night. After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning thanks to a
two-RBI single from Jacksonville's starting pitcher Jose Alvarez, Tennessee wasted no time evening the
score.

Catcher Blake Lalli led off the inning with his 21st double of the season. Shortstop Junior Lake pushed
Lalli to third with a base hit. After scoring two runs for the Suns at the top of the inning, Alvarez put
Tennessee on the board, giving up a balk that sent Lalli across home plate. A Nate Samson RBI tied the
game 2-2.
Team batting leader Ty Wright gave Tennessee their first lead with a solo home run to left field in the
third.
The Suns evened the score in with two runs in the sixth, but a ground-out sacrifice from Samson put
Tennessee ahead 5-4.
Jacksonville exploded in the seventh with three runs off Smokies reliever Brent Ebinger. Closer Rafael
Dolis (8-5) picked up the win.
Flores suspended: Smokies catcher Luis Flores was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball
for violating the league's substance abuse policy Thursday. Flores tested positive for Methylhexaneamine,
a stimulant found in some energy drinks. The suspension is effective immediately.
"He (Flores) is a good kid and I think it's a complete somewhat innocent mistake," Harper said. "We
really are going to miss him. He was a big part of our clubhouse. It's a tough situation."
Clevenger Returns: In a related roster move the Chicago Cubs sent catcher Steve Clevenger back to
Tennessee from Class AAA Iowa. The Smokies' roster currently sits at 23 players.
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Daytona Beach News Journal
Loosen helps Cubs split
By: Staff Report
LAKELAND -- Daytona's Matt Loosen (1-1) gave up two hits and struck out eight in six innings as the
Cubs won Game 2 4-0 to split a doubleheader with the Lakeland Tigers on Thursday.
Evan Crawford was 3-for-4 with one double and one run scored for Daytona.
In Game 1, the Cubs were held to five hits in a 6-0 loss. William Bergolla was 2-for-3 with one homer,
three RBIs and two runs scored for Lakeland. Angel Guzman gave up two hits and struck out one in two
innings in the start for Daytona.
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Peoria Journal Star
Chiefs go extra for win
By: Staff Report
GENEVA — Peoria battled back Thursday after losing an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the
11th inning for a 9-6 victory over Kane County at Elfstrom Stadium.
Rubi Silva doubled with one out in the 11th for Peoria and moved to third on a groundout. After Richard
Jones was intentionally walked, Anthony Giansanti’s double scored them both, and he went to third on an
errant throw to the plate.
Giansanti scored on an infield hit by Arismendy Alcantara for the final run.
For the record

Winning pitcher — Yohan Gonzalez (5-4), 2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts.
Save — Daniel Berlind (4), 1 inning, no runs, hits, walks or strikeouts.
Losing pitcher — Chas Byrne (3-3), 1 inning, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout.
Chiefs — improve to 19-27 for the second half and 52-64 overall.
Big sticks
Chiefs — Jones 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored; Giansanti 2-6, 2B , 2 RBI, 1 run scored.
Cougars — Orlando Calixte 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI.
Friday
Probable starters — Peoria (LHP Eric Jokisch, 8-3, 2.94) at Kane County (RHP Jason Adams, 5-6, 4.39),
7:05 p.m., Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva.
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Idaho Statesman
Hawks slugger continues to work on plate patience
By: Chris Langrill
When it comes to putting up big numbers, no one on the Hawks roster compares to first baseman Paul
Hoilman.
After Thursday’s 17-6 loss to the Eugene Emeralds, Hoilman ranks at or near the top in a number of the
Northwest League’s statistical categories.
- Hoilman leads the league in home runs with 12 after launching a monumental home run Thursday
(more on that later).
- He is also ranked No. 1 in walks (39) and second in slugging percentage (.526).
- He is second among hitters in RBIs (37) and on-base percentage (.406).
But there is one other category the Tennessean probably isn’t writing home about: strikeouts. Hoilman
easily tops that category with 73 Ks.
“He does swing and miss a lot,” Hawks manager Mark Johnson said. “But when he hits the ball, he hits it
hard. He’s going to strike out, but it’s just a matter of learning how to cut it down a little.”
Hitting coach Desi Wilson has worked with Hoilman in that area, but he said the 6-foot-4, 240-pound
slugger’s positives have outweighed his negatives.
“He has too many good numbers in other offensive categories to worry too much about the strikeouts,”
Wilson said. “I overlook (the strikeouts) because he’s doing his job.”
Besides, Wilson, who played a year in the majors with the San Francisco Giants, can relate.
“I struck out 125 times in Double-A, so I’ve told him that story,” Wilson said. “That was part of my
development. I had to make an adjustment the next year, and I did. … I’ve told him it’s his first time
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.
“I don’t really worry about it. I hit home runs and I strike out,” he said. “It might not look like it, but
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
run with two strikes.”
And as long as the rookie out of East Tennessee State learns along the way, Wilson and Johnson will take
the good with the bad.
“It’s a work in progress,” Johnson said. “He gets his walks, he’s got a good eye. He just tends to chase
some balls. … It usually takes guys 1,000 to 1,500 at-bats to figure out exactly who they are, and he’s at
about (170) at-bats into his career. So it’s a little premature to judge.”
Game notes: Boise fans didn’t get to see a win Thursday night, but Hoilman treated them to one of the
longest home runs by a Hawk at Memorial Stadium in recent memory. His sixth-inning blast sailed over
the top of the scoreboard in left field. Hawks president Todd Rahr said the last Hawk to do that was Ryan
Harvey in 2004. … Eugene pounded out a total of 20 hits and led 12-0 after the top of the fourth inning.
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