Neighborgall Debuts: Jeff Cook Drives in Five

With four of the six affiliates off on Tuesday the spotlight was there for the taking, and Jeff Cook snagged it in Lancaster; 2005 draft picks shined in Missoula, including the debut of Jason Neighborgall.

Tucson and Tennessee are in their respective All Star Breaks

Modesto 9 @ Lancaster 15

Chad Scarberry got out while the getting was good.  Scarberry allowed three runs (just one earned) in his six innings of work and collected his fourth win of the season.  It was his longest outing, and the first time Scarberry had won, since his June 18^th complete game.

The bullpen however did not fair so well.  Ryan Coffin came on first, lasting just two-thirds of an inning, as he allowed three earned runs on a walk and two home runs.  After Reuben Kerbs came on to retire the final batter of the seventh, Billy Biggs started the eighth, and again lasted only two-thirds of an inning, giving up a walk, three hits and two earned.  Jesus Silva would get the first batter he faced to close out the eighth, and eventually earn the save, but not before allowing a run of his own.

Fortunately for the JetHawk hurlers it didn’t matter, because the bats were going full steam.  Right fielder Jeff Cook had a monster game.  The left hand hitting outfielder broke out of a 2-22 slump with a 3-4 day that featured two doubles, his 13^th homer of the season, three runs scored and a season high five RBI. 

In fact the whole top of the lineup was hitting.  The first four in the JetHawks order (center fielder Steve Garrabrants, Cook, shortstop Stephen Drew and first baseman Chris Carter) were a combined 12-23 with five doubles, a home run, seven runs scored and nine RBI on the day.  Not to be outdone was the five slot hitter, DH Alex Frazier who was 1-4 with his first home run, and first two RBI since coming off the Disabled List over the weekend.

Since Miguel Montero left for the Futures Game and then Double-A, Brian Rose has become the starting backstop, and seems to be doing his best Montero imitation.  Rose was 2-4 Tuesday, and in his last four games is 6-14 with three doubles, two runs scored and four RBI.

Fort Wayne and Yakima were off today

Orem 11 @ Missoula 9

Sixth round pick Greg Smith made his fourth start of the season Tuesday, going five innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs.  He walked two and struck out seven, giving him three straight starts with seven Ks.  Tuesday was the pro debut for the D’Backs third round pick, Jason Neighborgall, a right handed pitcher who’s fastball has been clocked at 100mph.  Neighborgall threw one inning, and despite not giving up a hit, allowed one earned run on three walks.

Luis Lajara got only one at bat in Tuesday’s game, but he certainly made it count.  Lajara came on to replace Edwin Roman after Roman was hit by a pitch and promptly hit a home run over the right field fence.  It was Lajara’s first of the year…Third baseman Rusty Ryal (’05 14^th round) was 2-3 with a walk, a double, a triple and three RBI…Jake Elder (’05 18^th round) had the first multi-hit game of his pro career, going 3-4 with a walk and a run scored.