8-1 CUP O' JO

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Yesterday's Pearls:

JOEY GOMES (DH, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League IND):
7-31: 1 for 3 at DH with a single, a run scored, an RBI, a walk and a K in Joliet's 8-3 win over Schaumberg. .282 avg. Joliet (33-32) is 6 and 4 in their last 10 with a 1 game win streak, 8 games back, but only one game out of 2nd place.

Joliet hosts the League leading Fargo Moorhead Redhawks for a three game series beginning today. The head to head matchup gives Joliet a chance to bust loose of the tightly knotted middle of the pack and make some headway against Fargo with one month to go in regular season play.

CHAD FILLINGER - P, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League - IND:
7-31: Struck out 2, no walks, and gave up 2 hits and 3 earned runs including a home run in 2 innings pitched. 3.25 ERA.

LOUIS OTT (DH/INF Detroit Tigers Organization - Lakeland Flying Tigers, A):
LOUIS TRANSFERRED TO BACK TO CLASS A LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS ON 7-26-08 AFTER SUCCESSFUL STINT WITH AA ERIE BATTING .238
7/31: 0 for 3 at 3B with a walk in an 0-1 loss to Sarasota .267 Avg. Lakeland is 5-5 in their last ten with a 1 game losing streak in second place, 4.5 games back of Dunedin.

Flying Tigers Chatter: The Detroit Tigers 2008 first round draft pick (21st overall), Ryan Perry, joins the Flying Tigers in time for tonight's game.

TOMMY EVERIDGE (1B, Oakland A's Organization - Midland Rockhounds, AA):
7-31: 1 for 4 at 3B with a sac fly, a single, 2 RBIs and 2Ks as the surging Rockhounds swept Division Leading Frisco with a 9-6 win. .268 avg. The Rockhounds overtook San Antonio for second place and and are just one game back of Frisco. Midland is 8-2 in their last ten with a seven game win streak. They face last place Corpus Christi in a 4 game series beginning tonight so look for Midland at the top of the standings by Monday morning!

KONRAD SCHMIDT (C, Arizona Diamondbacks Organization - Visalia Oaks, High A):
PROMOTED TO CLASS A ADVANCED VISALIA OAKS 7-11-08
7-31: Konrad went yard for the first time in AA against Bakersfield last night. His two out bomb was one of only 4 hits and not enough "o" to get past The Blaze who came away with a 2-1 win. At DH, Konrad was 1-3. .362 avg. The Oaks are 2-8 in their last 10 with a 1 gamea losing streak. At 6 games back of Division leading Modesto, the Oaks have sunk to last place.

STEPHEN PEARSON (1B, American Assn-Wichita Wingnuts, IND):
7-31: 2 for 4 at 1B/RF with a run scored in the Wingnuts 7-6 win over St. Paul. .288 Avg. Wichita is in the cellar, 4-6 in their last ten with a 1 game win streak, 5 games behind Lincoln, the Northern Division leader.

JONNY GOMES (DH, Tampa Bay Rays):
7-31: Day off for the Rays. Next up: The Tigers come to town for a three game series.

Rays Chatter: The Rays made a play for Jason Bay at the deadline, but ducked out when the price got too high. In the end, Bay ends up in Boston, Manny goes Hollywood, the Pirates come out smelling like a rose with prospects and decent replacement parts and the Red Sox are not a tough as they were 24 hours ago. The Yankees, on the other hand, got better during the last week and the Rays will have to step up the offense to stay on top of the AL East.

If you're wondering how trades work after "The Deadline", check out Paul DePodesta's Blog. The former Dodgers GM, now front office assistant for the San Diego Padres, breaks it down and his blog is always an interesting read.

BRANDON MORROW (P, Seattle Mariners):
7-31: Did not pitch in last night's 8-5 win over the Rangers.
7-28: Save number 10 for Brandon as the Mariners edged the Rangers 7-5 in Texas. Brandon allowed no runs, one hit and a walk and notched one strikeout in the four batters he faced. 1.51 ERA.

PTOWN's UP AND COMERS:

DJ GENTILE (OF, Mat-Su Miners (Palmer, AK), Alaska Baseball League, Amateur):
7-31: 2 for 4 at DH with two singles as the Peninsula Oilers shut out the Miners last night, snapping their 7 game win streak on the final day of the season. The Miners ended the season with a 25-15 record finishing in second place, two games back of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. DJ finished the season with a .361 avg.