Throughout the past week of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball action, it saw many Australians continue some hot hitting form, as well as a few pitchers returning to the fold for their respective teams.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOW A
LIAM SPENCE - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS
Victorian Liam Spence appeared in all six games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Chicago Cubs' Low A affiliate, as the team was at home, playing the Columbia Fireflies at TicketReturn.com Field.
In the first game of an April 27 doubleheader that finished with a 5-4 win to the Pelicans, Spence went one for three, with a run. He hit a single into centrefield in the bottom of the second innings, advancing to second on a Pete Crow-Armstrong single, and then finding his way home courtesy of a Juan Mora sacrifice fly out in centrefield.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Pelicans prevailed 3-1, with Spence going zero for two. He had a zero for four-night on April 28 as the Pelicans lost 7-6.
On April 29, his hitless streak continued with a zero for two-game, however, did receive a base on balls to lead-off the bottom of the eighth inning, and got to third base on a Mora double, however, couldn't come home to score.
Spence went one for three on April 30 when the Pelicans won 9-1, with the infielder collecting a run and two RBIs, with a walk also.
He first hit a single in the bottom of the second innings which scored Ezequiel Pagan before the third out was made, and in the bottom of the sixth inning, was granted a base on balls. He stole second base and got to third base on a Crow-Armstrong single before a Mora single allowed him to cross home plate and score. In the bottom of the seventh inning, he grounded out, but still saw BJ Murray Jr score on the contact.
The Pelicans ended the series with an 8-0 win where Spence went one for three with a run, an RBI, and a walk. He began his outing with a walk in the bottom of the second inning, but just before the final out fell, although, in the bottom of the fourth inning, he grounded into a forceout that saw him safe at first, and scoring Yeison Santana. Spence scored on a three-run home run to Mora.
HIGH A
JARRYD DALE - FORT WAYNE TINCAPS
Victorian Jarryd Dale appeared in all six games of San Diego Padres' High A affiliate, the Fort Wayne TinCaps' home series against the Dayton Dragons at Parkview Field.
The first game of the series was a 4-0 loss to the TinCaps on April 26, with Dale going zero for three with a walk to lead-off the bottom of the second innings, however, was caught trying to steal second base.
On April 27, in a 2-0 loss, Dale went two for four at the plate, hitting a single into left field in the fourth inning, stealing second base but not advancing any further, and another single into centrefield in the ninth inning.
The TinCaps won their April 28 contest 4-0, with Dale going one for three, with an RBI and a run. He hit a lead-off single into left field to start the bottom of the fourth, making his way to third on an Angel Solante double, scoring on a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dale had a sacrifice fly into left field that allowed Joshua Mears to score.
Dale finished the second half of the series against the Dragons without a hit, going zero for three in an April 29 1-0 loss, zero for four in the April 30 11-5 loss, and zero for four in an 8-0 loss on May 1.
MITCH ELLIS - QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS
Victorian Mitch Ellis contributed in one game this week for the Quad Cities River Bandits, the High A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals in the home series against the South Bend Cubs at Modern Woodmen Park.
On April 26, in an 8-2 loss, Ellis pitched two innings in relief, coming into the game at the top of the sixth inning to replace Anthony Simonelli, and gave up four hits, three runs, two walks, but had three strikeouts.
It started well for Ellis, getting a swinging strikeout of the first batter he faced, before giving up a double, a base on balls, and delivering a wild pitch that scored a Cubs runner. After a mound visit, he got the next two batters to pop out, and ground out to end the dig.
For the top of the seventh inning, Ellis gave up a walk to the lead-off batter, and a two-run home run immediately after before recording the first out, a swinging strikeout. Back-to-back singles went nowhere as Ellis recorded another swinging strikeout before the dig ended with a groundout.
JACK O'LOUGHLIN - WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS
South Australian Jack O'Loughlin played in one game this week for the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, pitching three innings in total for one hit, zero runs and four strikeouts.
On April 27, in a 5-1 loss to Great Lakes Loons at LMCU Ballpark, O'Loughlin came in as relief at the top of the fifth inning, replacing the team's starting pitcher, Dylan Smith. Despite giving up a double to the first batter he faced, two strikeouts and a groundout followed to get out of the dig.
At the top of the sixth inning, O'Loughlin had another strikeout, and even though he issued a base on balls to a Loon's batter, was again able to get out of the innings. In the seventh inning, it was a three-up, three-out affair, which started with a strikeout.
ULRICH BOJARSKI - WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS
West Australian Ulrich Bojarski appeared in his first set of games since April 16, making an appearance in three of Detroit Tigers High A affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps' home series at LMCU Ballpark against Great Lakes Loons.
His first outing came in a 4-1 loss on April 28, though he went zero for four with three strikeouts. His second appearance of the series, in the 7-5 April 26 loss, also resulted in a zero for four performance, striking out twice.
Bojarski did however come back in a big way on May 1, an 8-2 win to the Whitecaps, going two for three with two runs and three RBIs.
At the bottom of the second innings, he hit a two-run home run over the right-field fence that opened the scoring, and in the bottom of the sixth innings, he hit a ground-rule double which saw Chris Meyers score. Bojarski himself would score a run when the next batter up, Bryant Packard hit a double into centrefield.
DOUBLE A
AARON WHITEFIELD - ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
Queenslander Aaron Whitefield appeared in all six games for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, in the home series against the Birmingham Barons at Toyota Field, recording at least one hit in each game, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.
On April 26, in a 6-4 victory, Whitefield went one for three with a base on balls and an RBI. He earned a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning that loaded the bases but did not advance, before hitting a two-out triple into centrefield in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Kevin Maitan.
The outfielder went one for five in the 9-8 walk-off win on April 27, scoring another two-out triple in the bottom of the fourth inning, however, the next batter became the final out.
The Trash Pandas won 11-3 on April 28, with Whitefield going one for five with two RBIs and a run. He first hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the sixth inning, which due to a fielding error, scored all three runners, with Whitefield making his way to third base on the error. He scored on a balk.
The Trash Pandas lost 12-5 on April 29, and Whitefield went one for five with a run, hitting a single in the bottom of the ninth inning, before Trey Cabbage hit a three-run home run into right-centrefield.
Whitefield extended his hitting streak to 10 with a two for four-game on April 30, a 4-1 win. He hit a lead-off single into left field at the bottom of the first inning and scored on a Livan Soto triple immediately after.
He hit another two-out single into centrefield in the bottom of the second innings and stole second base, however, Soto struck out as the next batter.
On May 1, in a 12-4 loss, Whitefield went one for five, with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning, before Soto grounded into a double play that ended the ballgame.
ROBBIE GLENDINNING - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS
West Australian Robbie Glendinning appeared in five-game for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, in a home series at Arvest Ballpark against the Amarillo Sod Poodles.
The first game Glendinning played was on April 26, an extra-inning 6-5 loss, with the designated hitter going one for four with a run and three RBIs. After his first two at-bats a flyout, and a strikeout, he was also out on a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning, and his ninth-inning flyout was what ended that inning and took the game beyond the regulation time after the Naturals had tied it up earlier in the dig.
Glendinning started the bottom of the 10th inning at second base under the tiebreaker rule and advanced to third base on a Nate Eaton groundball, but the Sod Poodles didn't give up any runs.
However, the 11th inning was where the runs started to come in hot, as the Sod Poodles plated five at the top half, with the Naturals only able to score four in an attempt to catch up and walk it off. The Naturals had plated one early in the dig, before Glendinning hit a three-run home run into left field to make it a one-run game, however, the result didn't end up going the way of the Naturals.
Glendinning next played on April 28, as the Naturals lost 9-5, with the infielder going one for three, the hit coming in the bottom of the fourth inning where he collected a single, and a base on balls in the bottom of the sixth inning.
On April 29, the Naturals won 8-7, with Glendinning going two for five with a run and two RBIs. He first hit a double in the bottom of the third inning, but was tagged out at home trying to score, but hit a double three innings later, which scored Nick Loftin and Michael Massey. Glendinning then scored on a Nate Eaton single into centrefield.
On April 30, Glendinning went zero for one, as he entered the game in a pinch-hitting situation with one out in the bottom of the ninth with the Naturals trailing by two runs, however, struck out swinging as the side fell 7-5.
On May 1 however, the Naturals won 9-5, with Glendinning going two for three, which included two runs and two RBIs, and a base on balls.
Glendinning first hit a double in the bottom of the second innings and scored on a Logan Porter shot that cleared the left-field fence. Glendinning then hit a two-run home run of his own in the bottom of the third innings to extend the Natural's lead.
Glendinning ended his day by drawing a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning but only made it to second base before the inning was over.
CURTIS MEAD - MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
South Australian Curtis Mead appeared in all six of the Tampa Bay Rays' Double-A affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits' home series against the Mississippi Braves at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
The series began with a 6-3 loss on April 26, a game where Mead went two for four at the plate, with a base on balls. Mead was walked in the bottom of the second innings but didn't advance past second base, with his hits coming courtesy of a fifth-inning double - where he was thrown out at home after an Austin Shenton double, and a ninth-inning double, where he was only able to advance to third base, on a wild pitch.
The April 27 matchup saw the Biscuits win 10-9, with Mead going two for three at the plate, with two runs and a base on balls.
He first hit a single in the bottom of the second innings but was stranded at first base, before being hit by the pitch leading off the bottom of the fourth innings. Mead scored on a Kameron Misner double. In the same inning, Mead drew a walk and got to second on a wild pitch, but the third out was made before any more advancement along the bases.
Mead began the bottom of the seventh inning as the lead-off batter, and hit a single into right field, advancing to second base, and then third base, through the next two batters. He scored on a Grant Witherspoon two-out single into right field.
On April 28, in a 5-0 win, Mead went two for three with two runs, three RBIs and a base on balls. After grounding into an inning-ending double play at the bottom of the first inning, Mead had his first hit at the bottom of the fourth inning, blasting a ball into left field for a double, but it didn't translate into a run.
Mead was walked to begin the bottom of the seventh inning, and scored on Evan Edwards' two-run home run into centre-right field, a shot that opened the scoring of the ballgame. Mead then homered himself the next inning, hitting a three-run shot over the left-field fence to extend the Biscuits' lead.
On April 29, the Biscuits fell 9-4, but Mead went one for four at the plate with a run and an RBI, leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double into centrefield. Mead advanced to third base on a Shenton groundout, and scored on a Misner groundout immediately after, tying the score at one-all. An eighth-inning groundout from Mead saw Roberto Alvarez score from third base.
Mead went two for three in the April 30 10-9 loss, the batter scoring a run, and having two walks in the process. He first hit a single into left field and got to second base on a wild pitch, and third base on a Shenton flyout, but couldn't advance any further. He drew a walk in the bottom of the third innings, but otherwise, outs fell around him.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Mead hit a single into centrefield and reached second on an errored Shenton hit. Misner was walked, which saw Mead head to third base, and then a Witherspoon single into centrefield scored two runs, including Mead. He was also walked again in the eighth inning, and made it to second, but stayed there as the inning came to a close.
In the final game of the series on May 1, Mead came into the game in a pinch-hitting situation at the bottom of the ninth inning, however, struck out as the game went into extra innings, with Mead subbed back out of the game which ended in an 11-7 loss.
TRIPLE A
BLAKE TOWNSEND - TACOMA RAINIERS
Victorian Blake Townsend made one appearance for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners Triple-A affiliate, when the side took on the Las Vegas Aviators at Las Vegas Ballpark, pitching one inning as a closer, giving up one hit, zero runs, and claiming two strikeouts.
On April 28, in a 7-1 win to the Rainiers, Townsend replaced Riley O'Brien to finish the game at the bottom of the ninth inning, and, although he gave up a walk, single, and hit by pitch across the first three batters he faced, was able to get out of the bases-loaded jam with an infield fly rule for the first out, before delivering back-to-back strikeouts to end the ballgame.
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LIAM HENDRIKS - CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Liam Hendriks has had just one appearance in the past week for the Chicago White Sox, pitching one inning in closing against the Los Angeles Angels on April 30, a game that ended in a 4-0 White Sox win.
Hendriks replaced Kendall Graveman at the top of the ninth inning as the Angels were quickly down two as Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani each flew out on hits to the outfield. The count was full-on Anthony Rendon, however, a base on balls was the ultimate outcome, the runner making it to second, although Hendriks claimed the final out, seeing Jared Walsh lining out to second base to end the game.
ALEXANDER WELLS - BALTIMORE ORIOLES
After optioning him in mid-April, the Baltimore Orioles recalled New South Welshman Alexander Wells from the organisation's Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides for its 12-8 loss on the April 26 matchup with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Wells replaced Orioles pitcher Paul Fry at the bottom of the seventh inning with one out with the score 10-4 to the Yankees and got Joey Gallo to strike out swinging for the second out. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded out as Wells, and the Orioles ended the inning.
Baltimore came back in the top of the eighth inning and scored four runs, with Wells returning in the bottom half where he first got Kyle Higashioka to strike out swinging, and the Yankees were two down when DJ LeMaieu popped out to second base.
However, Wells then gave up back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, before ending things with a Tim Locastro swinging strikeout.
At the end of the month, Wells was placed on the injury list with an elbow inflammation issue, however, that diagnosis has since been graded as a UCL strain, and is expected to miss up to eight weeks.