SB Nation - Toru Murata

Aeros win Eastern League Title (Minor League Recap September 14-15)

Ryan — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:24:39 -0000

Akron

Eastern League Finals (Best of 5)

The Thunder forced a fourth game by scoring 7 unanswered runs starting in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Aeros had scored two runs in the top of the fifth to push their lead to 7-4, but T.J. House would give up four runs to give up the lead, and the Thunder wouldn't look back.

Carlos Carrasco made the start, going two innings, but this time he got banged around. He allowed the first four batters he faced to reach, and all four of them would score. But then he retired the next six batters he faced, as if he had suddenly settled down.

House was the true starter of the game, and for his first two innings, he faced the minimum. But wildness got him into trouble in the fifth, and the Thunder would scored four runs in an inning again. House would come out for the sixth inning, but he'd be removed before he could finish it.

The Aeros had plenty of offense, led by Chun Chen's three hits. Jordan Henry reached base four time, two via walks, two via hits. Adam Abraham hit a home run, while Jesus Aguilar contributed two hits, including a double.

Akron 6, Trenton 1 (AKR win series 3-1)

The Aeros took home the Eastern League championship behind a fine start by Toru Murata, who went six innings and allowed just one run on three hits. Murata, who is 27 but only has been in the United States for two seasons (he was essentially a Japanese minor-league free agent), spent most of the season in the bullpen but has been starting for the Aeros down the stretch.

The Aeros scored two runs in the first inning, one more in the fifth, and put the game away with three runs in the ninth inning. The offensive start of the game was Adam Abraham, who went 2-for-4 with a triple. Roberto Perez added a double.

Minor League Recap: July 7, 2012

Ryan — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:00:17 -0000

Indianapolis 10, Columbus 5
The (Indianapolis) Indians returned the favor from Friday night, scoring 10 runs on 18 hits. T.J. McFarland gave up most of those runs (8) in just 2.1 innings. McFarland hasn't had the success he had in Akron earlier this season; his strikeout rates have gone from 6.1/9 in Akron to 4.6/9 in Columbus, and his walk rates went from 1.8/9 to 3.7/9.

On the offensive side, Jared Goedert hit a two-run homer for the Clippers, Vinny Rottino went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Russ Canzler went 1-for-2 with 3 walks.

Bowie 7, Akron 1
Steven Wright walked seven Baysox, and that contributed his short outing; he allowed 5 runs in 4.2 innings. Tyler Holt went 2-for-5, and Nick Weglarz doubled in 4 at-bats.

Potomac 4, Carolina 3
Tony Wolters led the Mudcat offense in their loss, hitting 2 doubles and walking twice.

Bowling Green 4, Lake County 2
The Captains were held to just two hits by the Hot Rods. Mason Radeke made the start, allowing 2 earned runs in 5 innings.

Mahoning Valley 5, Connecticut 3
Aaron Siliga (17th round, 2010) went 2-for-3 with a double and triple as the Scrappers beat the Tigers. Josh Martin (10th round, 2012) got the win, allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. Jacob Lee, who was picked one round earlier than Martin, pitched three scoreless innings in relief.

The AZL Indians were off

Transactions:

Columbus: RHP Toru Murata demoted to Akron (AA)

Minor League Recap: June 29, 2012

Ryan — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 01:00:24 -0000

Columbus 9, Norfolk 4
The Indians and Orioles' AAA teams are facing off this weekend as well. Jeanmar Gomez made his first start since being demoted, and somehow allowed just one run in seven innings of work, as he allowed 10 hits. He didn't allow a walk and induced two double plays, so perhaps that's how he got away with it. Russ Canzler continued to rake, going 2-for-4 with his 10th home run. Jason Donald before his call-up to Cleveland went 2-for-4 as well.

Erie 5, Akron 4 (10 Innings)
The SeaWolves won with a run in the 10th inning off Rob Bryson. Paolo Espino struggled in his start, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 4.1 innings. Thomas Neal had three hits, all singles; he's due for a return trip to Columbus.

Carolina 9, Myrtle Beach 6
Will Roberts only lasted 2 innings, but the Carolina bullpen held the Pelicans to two runs over the last 7 innings of the game, and the Mudcats scored in 6 of their 9 at-bats. Ronny Rodriguez slugged two home runs, and five different Carolina players had doubles (two of them, Bo Greenwell and Anthony Gallas, had two).

West Michigan 4, Lake County 2
Francisco Lindor hit his 14th double, and Jordan Smith his 15th, but the Captains could only manage two runs on 8 hits.

Mahoning Valley 3, State College 2
Joseph Wendle (6th round, 2012 draft) went 3-for-4 with 3 singles, and Jake Sisco (3rd round, 2011) allowed 2 runs in 6.1 innings.

AZL Rangers 6, AZL Indians 4
Nicholas Pasquale (20th round, 2012) allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in 3 innings. Caludio Bautista, Juan Herrera, and Manuel Boscan each had two hits apiece.

Transactions:

Columbus: IF Jason Donald promoted to Cleveland; Placed RHP Toru Murata on the 7-day Disabled List (groin); Added OF Vinny Rottino to roster (waiver claim)

Akron: IF Ryan Rohlinger promoted to Columbus (AAA); OF Jeremie Tice activated from the Temporary Inactive List

Minor League Recap: June 28, 2012

Ryan — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:00:16 -0000

Columbus 6, Norfolk 3
Toru Murata was called up to take Zach McAllister's spot in the rotation, and he went 3.2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. But the Clippers pounded Norfolk starter Dontrelle Willis (yes, he's still around) for 4 runs in 2.2 innings. Russ Canzler went 1-for-3 with a walk, and Ezequiel Carrera, Matt LaPorta, and Jared Goedert each had two hits.

Akron 7, Erie 1
Brett Brach held the SeaWolves to just 1 run on 4 hits in 7 innings. He did walk 4, though. Thomas Neal continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.

Myrtle Beach 3, Carolina 2
Mike Rayl went 7 innings, allowing just 2 runs, but the Mudcats lost late. Jesus Aguilar hit his 19th double.

Lake County 9, West Michigan 7
The Captains won a wild game with a walk-off home run by Jerrud Barourin in the ninth. Leonardo Castillo had two doubles, and Luigi Rodriguez went 2-for-5.

Mahoning Valley 6, State College 5
Jairo Kelley went 3-for-5 with a home run in the Scrapper one-run victory. Tyler Naquin went 1-for-4 with a walk.

AZL Indians 14, AZL Dodgers 8
22 runs were scored between the two teams. The AZL Tribe had 6 extra-base hits, including a Dorssys Paulino home run. Paulino went 4-for-5 on the day. Tyler Booth (13th Round, 2012) went 3-for-5 with a double.

Transactions

Columbus: RHP Zach McAllister promoted to Cleveland; RHP Designated for Assignment; DH Travis Hafner assigned on rehab

Akron: RHP Toru Murata promoted to Columbus (AAA); Placed OF Jeremie Tice on Temporary Inactive List; Activated IF Kyle Bellows from the Disabled List

Lake County: RHP Felix Sterling and C Patric Tolentino demoted to Mahoning Valley (SSA)

Mahoning Valley: RHP Louis Head promoted to Lake County (A-)

Minor League Recap: June 20, 2012

Ryan — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:00:20 -0000

Columbus 5, Charlotte 3
David Huff pitched OK, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) in 5.1 innings of work. But his overall body of work in AAA just hasn't been very good; he's given up 60 hits in 48.2 AAA innings, and I think he's behind McAllister, Seddon, and Kluber on the starting pitching depth chart right now.

Tim Fedroff went 4-for-4 last night, and has been mashing the ball since his recent promotion from Akron. Between AA and AAA, he's hitting .305/395/.441, with a nice strikeout/walk ratio of 38/36. Unfortunately he hits left-handed, which isn't exactly in demand in Cleveland right now.

Akron 2, Binghamton 0 (Game 1)
T.J. House threw a 7-inning complete game shutout, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks. The 2008 18th Rounder struck out 4.

Binghampton 5, Akron 1 (Game 2)
Francisco Jimenez came up from Carolina to get a spot start and got roughed up, allowing 5 runs on 7 his in 3.2 innings. Loek Van Mil, who the Indians claimed on waivers from the Angels earlier in the season, threw another 2.1 shutout innings. Van Mil had been pitching in the PCL, but had been struggling, so it looks like the Indians dropped him down to AA to either work on something mechanical or get his confidence back. Whatever the reason, he's having success, and should be in AAA shortly.

Both Carolina and Lake County were off for their league's All-Star Breaks. They'll both back in action tonight.

Mahoning Valley 2, Jamestown 1
Tyler Naquin made his professional debut, and had a very good night, going for 3-for-4 with a double. The 2012 1st Round pick started in center field, which is where the Indians seeing him play.

On the pitching side Luis DeJesus threw 5 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk. DeJesus was selected in the 11th round in 2011, and had been struggling in Lake County, so he was dropped to the NYPL.

AZL Reds 11, AZL Indians 6

At least the Reds beat the Indians in one matchup this week. Dillon Howard made his professional debut, and got hit hard; he gave up 6 runs (4 earned) in 3 innings. Dorssys Paulino led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with a double. Jorge Martinez hit a home run.

Transactions:

Akron: LHP Francisco Jimenez promoted from Carolina (A+)

Akron: RHP Toru Murata placed on Disabled List (left calf strain)

Minor League Recap: June 16, 2012

Ryan — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:30:05 -0000

Columbus 6, Gwinnett 1

Chris Schwinden went 7 innings and allowed just 1 run on three hits, and Russ Canzler provided much of the offense, driving in five runs on a home run and a double.Matt LaPorta went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Schwinden was picked up by the Indians off waivers from Toronto a couple weeks ago, and last night was his third start with the Clippers. He started the season with the Mets, and was claimed by Toronto just four days before the Indians nabbed him. He's 25 years old, and has a decent minor-league track record (7.7 SO/9, 2.2 BB/9, 9.1 H/9).

Reading 2, Akron 1 (Game 1)

Geovanni Soto went the full six innings (in the minors the road time bats 7 times in a doubleheader game), striking 9 and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. The Akron offense managed only one extra-base hit, a Nick Weglarz (who passed through waivers) double.

Akron 6, Reading 4 (Game 2)

Weglarz and Thomas Neal both went deep as the Aeros won Game 2. It was a bullpen game for the Aeros, as Toru Murata made the start and went 3 innings.

Salem 8, Carolina 6

Will Roberts (5th Round, 2011 Draft) allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 innings of work. Ronny Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a triple.

Lake County 11, Dayton 2
The Captains turned the tables on the Dragons on Saturday, blowing them out. Mason Radeke (35th Round, 2011 Draft) got the win thanks to five on-run innings in relief. Francisco Lindor (1st Round, 2011 Draft) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, Luigi Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with a home run, and Todd Hankins (15th Round, 2011 Draft) went 2-for-5 with a double and a homer.

Transactions

Columbus: Placed 3B Andy LaRoche on the 7-day Disabled List (shoulder)