Javelinas take advantage of big frame

Peoria parlays seven-run fifth inning into win over Surprise

By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com

Justin Turner batted .298 in 111 games across two levels during the ’08 season. (Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

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Reds infield prospect Justin Turner smacked a two-RBI single that keyed Peoria’s seven-run fifth inning and the Javelinas held on to edge the Surprise Rafters, 8-7, in Arizona Fall League play Wednesday.

Heading into the fith, Peoria (2-0) trailed, 5-0. Rhyne Hughes (Rays) and Angel Salome (Brewers) drew consecutive walks to start the frame, Chris Valaika (Reds) delivered a ground-rule double to score one run and Greg Halman (Mariners) plated another with a single. Turner (Reds) followed with a line drive to center and crossed the plate on a single by Austin Jackson (Yankees).

Turner, who went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, was Cincinnati’s seventh-round pick in 2007. He was a Midwest League All-Star in 2007 after hitting .311 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs over 117 contests for the Class A Dayton Dragons. The 23-year-old second baseman followed that up by hitting .316 in 33 games with the Class A Advanced Sarasota Reds of the Florida State League this year. After being promoted to Double-A, Turner batted .289 with eight homers, 42 RBIs and 45 runs scored in 78 games for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League.

Valaika was a 2008 Futures Game Selection after hitting .317 with 18 homers, 28 doubles, 78 runs and 81 RBIs in 129 games between Class A Advanced Sarasota and Chattanooga.

Reds prospect Pedro Viola (1-0) started for Peoria and picked up the win, despite allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout over three innings. Jeffrey Marquez (Yankees) fanned two in two scoreless frames of relief, and Carlos Fisher (Reds) pitched a perfect ninth — striking out two — for the save.

John Whittleman (Rangers) hit a three-run homer and Brandon Snyder (Orioles) went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored for Surprise (0-2).

Rafters starter Josh Tomlin pitched three shutout innings, allowing just a pair of singles while striking out five. Fellow Indians farmhand Chuck Lofrgen (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on three hits and three walks while recording only one out.

Turner leads Javelinas’ late rally

Reds prospect ties game, scores go-ahead run in eighth

By Danny Wild / MLB.com

Reds prospect Justin Turner hit .298 with 53 RBIs for Sarasota and Chattanooga in ’08. (Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

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Reds prospect Justin Turner hit a game-tying RBI single and scored the go-ahead run to cap a three-run eighth-inning rally as the Peoria Javelinas beat the visiting Mesa Solar Sox, 9-8, on Thursday.

Peoria trailed, 8-6, after seven innings, but rallied to take the lead in the eighth against Marlins reliever Todd Doolittle. Greg Halman (Mariners) hit an RBI triple to left to plate Rhyne Hughes (Rays) before Turner lined a single off Doolittle’s glove and into left field to score Halman for the tying run.

Turner, who had just five steals during the regular season, swiped second and Kevin Russo (Yankees) followed with a bloop RBI single to left for a 9-8 advantage.

The Javelinas (5-4) took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run single from Hughes. Brewers infielder Taylor Green slugged a two-run homer in the third to give Peoria a 4-2 edge.

Mariners prospect Joe Woerman (1-1) pitched a perfect eighth for the win before Omar Aguilar (Brewers) worked the ninth for his first save.

Milwaukee right-hander Jeremy Jeffress started and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings for Peoria.

Mesa (4-5) scored three in the fifth to snag the lead when Jeremy Slayden (Phillies) hit an RBI double and Braves catcher Tyler Flowers blasted a two-run homer to left for a 6-4 edge. Van Pope (Braves) and Darwin Barney (Cubs) added RBI singles in the seventh.

Doolittle (0-1) recorded just one out and was charged with three runs on four hits to absorb the loss. Luis Marte (Tigers) started and surrendered four runs — three earned — on five hits and a walk over three frames.

Hughes, Javs outslug Sags

Rays prospect plates four in game featuring 32 hits

By Danny Wild / Special to MLB.com

Rhyne Hughes tripled and homered in the Javelinas’ eight-run second inning. (Michael O’Day)

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Rays prospect Rhyne Hughes drove in four runs and missed the cycle by a double Tuesday as the Javelinas totaled 20 hits and outslugged the Saguaros, 18-11, in the latest Battle of Peoria.

Hughes, who’s batting .404, keyed the Javs’ eight-run second inning with a leadoff triple and a three-run homer. He went 3-for-6, adding an RBI single in the fifth.

“It was pretty big, being down six runs,” Hughes said of the second-inning outburst. “I got an 0-2 pitch in my first at-bat, a slider out over the plate, and I put a good swing on it, hit it down the line and it bounced around down there and kind of got us rolling.”

The 25-year-old was one of six Javelinas with at least two hits.

“That triple broke the seal that inning, it got contagious,” he said. “That started off the whole game. And coming back around, that home run, I’ve never gotten two hits in an inning, much less an triple and home run, so that was pretty neat.”

The Mississippi native is 19-for-47 with a homer and 10 RBIs in 11 games. He views the Fall League experience almost as a vacation.

“This is one of the funnest times I’ve had playing baseball, it’s like playing in an all-star game every day playing with these guys,” Hughes said. “The weather is a little different — this is the first time I’ve ever been west of Louisiana — but after the first week, you go out and have fun.”

Hughes batted .268 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs for Double-A Montgomery this season and he’s making sure his name is high on the Rays’ list when Spring Training opens.

“I’m making the most of the opportunity I have out here,” he said. “I’m making some new friends, just playing with a great group of guys. Every day you’re going against some great players, so I just try to improve on everything I can and pick up a few things here and there from players and coaches. I know we’ve got about a month left and I’m looking forward to it.”

Every Javelinas player had at least one hit, with eight of the nine starters scoring at least once. Justin Turner (Reds) went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBIs, Matt Spring (Rays) homered and scored three times and Lorenzo Cain (Brewers) added a two-run blast for the first-place Javs (8-5).

Kevin Russo drove in two runs and fellow Yankees prospect Austin Jackson went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs. Reds farmhands Drew Stubbs and Chris Valaika matched Taylor Green (Brewers) with one RBI apiece.

It’s been an especially exciting week for Hughes and Spring, who have watched Tampa Bay make it to the World Series for the first time.

“It’s awesome. My roommate and I, Matt Spring, we’re living together, we’re watching that game and it’s exciting,” said Hughes of the Rays’ Game 7 win in the American League Championship Series. “We’re ridiculously excited, just watching [David] Price finish that game off, it’s a lot more exciting because we know the guys.”

Hughes played with Price when the 2007 No. 1 pick passed through the Southern League; Spring met many of the Rays during Spring Training.

“I’ve got to play with some of those guys and the fact we know them makes it a lot more exciting,” he added. “It’s just amazing what they’re doing. You can’t describe how cool it is. It’s fun to watch and we’re just hoping they can pull it out.”

Reds reliever Sean Watson (1-1) allowed both inherited runners to score but picked up the win after recording the final out of the first and working a scoreless second.

Javs starter Jeremy Jeffress (Brewers) surrendered six runs on three hits and two walks, retiring only two batters in the first.

The Saguaros (8-5) opened a big early lead when Bill Rhinehart (Nationals) slugged a grand slam off Jeffress and Sean Kazmar (Padres) lined a two-run single. Kazmar finished 4-for-5.

Mets prospect Daniel Murphy went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored to raise his average to .412 for the Sags.

Padres reliever Wilton Lopez (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits and recorded just one out to suffer the loss. Saguaros starter Lucas Harrell (White Sox) was charged with six runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Henry caps Javs’ rout of Dogs

Collects four of 21 hits in Peoria’s second straight blowout

By Danny Wild / Special to MLB.com

Sean Henry hit .286 with 11 homers, 69 RBIs and 20 steals at two Minor League levels. (Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

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Reds prospect Sean Henry went 4-for-6 with a homer and five RBIs on Wednesday to power the Peoria Javelinas past the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 16-5.Henry hit an RBI grounder in the second inning, singled and scored in the fourth, delivered a run-scoring single in the fifth, singled again in the sixth and slugged a three-run homer, his first of the fall, in the eighth. 

It was Henry’s most productive game since he drove in four runs for Class A Advanced St. Lucie on May 25, 2007.

The 23-year-old second baseman split the regular season between Double-A Chattanooga and Class A Advanced Sarasota, hitting .286 with 11 homers, 69 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He had been mired in a 3-for-14 slump to start the Arizona Fall League campaign.

Peoria (9-5) totaled 21 hits and scored in every inning but the seventh and ninth. Rays first baseman Rhyne Hughes, who drove in four runs on Tuesday, went 3-for-6 with two RBIs to raise his average to .415.

Desmond Jennings (Rays) went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in the sixth and Reds farmhand Justin Turner had his second straight four-hit performance, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs.

Brewers catcher Lou Palmisano plated two runs, while Carlos Triunfel (Mariners) and Drew Stubbs (Reds) each collected three hits and an RBI for the Javelinas.

That was plenty of support for former Rays’ first-round pick Wade Townsend (2-0), who allowed five runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win.

Phoenix (6-8) scored in the third on a two-run triple by Rusty Ryal (Diamondbacks) and a sacrifice fly by Sean Doolittle (Athletics). Pinch-hitter Adrian Cardenas (A’s) hit a two-run bloop single an inning later.

Starter Brooks Brown (0-2), a Diamondbacks’ Minor Leaguer, suffered his second loss after surrendering five runs on seven hits and two walks over three frames.

Danny Wild is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Drew Stubbs led all Reds prospects with 33 stolen bases across three levels this season. (Michael O’Day)

PEORIA, Ariz. — There are certain debates that may rage through the ages.

Certs: Candy mint or breath mint?

Miller Lite: Tastes great or less filling?

Cincinnati Reds center field prospect Drew Stubbs: power prospect with wheels, or speed whiz who will hit for big power?

The jury may still be out on that one for the club’s first-round pick from 2006, but Stubbs, currently playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, has his own thoughts on the matter.

“I think speed is the one thing you can bring out to the park every day,” said Stubbs, who led all Cincinnati farmhands in stolen bases this past season, with 33 compiled across three Minor League stops. “You’re not always going to hit well, and you’re going to make some errors on defense, but speed is something that will be a consistent part of your game, and it’s what I build my foundation on.”

When the Reds took Stubbs with the No. 8 overall pick in ’06 out of the University of Texas, he was widely regarded as one of the top collegiate power hitters and one of the top collegiate baserunners, after he hit .342 with 12 homers and 26 steals in 62 games for the Longhorns. Not a bad combination.

In his pro career thus far, the power potential has not yet translated into home run numbers, but many people think that will come, in time, for the 24-year-old.

“I do think I have the ability to hit for some power,” he said, “and I’m working on using the whole field.”

In his pro debut in 2006 at Class A Short-Season Billings, Stubbs hit .252 with six home runs and 19 steals in 56 games. The next summer, spending the entire year at Class A Dayton, he batted .270 with 12 homers, 43 RBIs and 23 steals.

This year, though, the Reds were more aggressive when it came to moving him up the ladder. He started the summer at Class A Advanced Sarasota, hitting .261 with five homers, 38 RBIs and 27 steals, entrenched in the No. 5 spot in the batting order. It was an up-and-down campaign, as he batted .337 in April before hitting a rocky stretch in May and June. But a .321 start to July earned him a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga right before the big-league All-Star break.

With the Lookouts, he stayed in gear, hitting .315 over 26 games, but did not go deep at all.

Stubbs’ travelogue was not yet over. In mid-August, as a result of the trickle-down effect of the trade of Adam Dunn to Arizona and the subsequent callup of outfielder Chris Dickerson to the big leagues, Stubbs was promoted to Triple-A Louisville. There he batted .293 with two home runs and 10 RBIs over the last few weeks of the International League season.

“I was surprised when I got the call to go to Louisville to finish the year, because I was assuming I’d stay the rest of the year in Double-A,” he said. “But when they traded Adam Dunn, it freed up a spot, and I was at the right place at the right time and made the most of the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Stubbs is getting a chance to see some time in both left field and right field, as the Javelinas are stocked with several natural center fielders like himself, such as the Yankees’ Austin Jackson, the Mariners’ Greg Halman and even Tampa Bay taxi squad prospect Desmond Jennings.

And, in true Stubbs fashion, the easygoing Texan is looking at that as a plus.

“That’s giving me some versatility, since I’ve been more exclusively a center fielder,” said Stubbs, who was hitting .158 with a steal after five games. “I’m experiencing some new territory out there and working on my offensive game also.”

SS Chris Valaika was the Reds’ Minor League batting leader this season, hittin .317 between Sarasota and Chattanooga while adding 18 home runs and 81 RBIs. A third-round pick in 2006 out of UC Santa Barbara, he was the Class A Short-Season Pioneer League MVP that summer after posting a 32-game hitting streak at Billings and batting .338. A consistent player with good instincts all around, he played in the Futures Game this past summer at Yankee Stadium, an experience he calls the highlight of his career so far. At Peoria this fall, he was hitting .333 with two homers — both of which came in an Oct. 18 game — and seven RBIs.

2B Justin Turner has been Valaika’s double-play partner for nearly all of their pro careers, the exception being a few weeks in 2007, and continues that partnership with him at Peoria. The seventh-rounder in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton hit .298 with eight homers and 53 RBIs this season between Sarasota and Chattanooga, finishing fourth in the system in batting. He hit .307 with 10 home runs at Dayton in 2007. At Peoria, Turner was off to a slower start with a .190 average in six games, though he had three RBIs.

OF Sean Henry is on hand with Peoria as a taxi squad player, meaning he is only activated twice a week. Originally a 20th-round selection in 2004 by the New York Mets, he was picked up in late 2007 in exchange for veteran Jeff Conine. This year, after opening the season for two weeks at Sarasota, the converted middle infielder moved up to Chattanooga, where he hit .285 with 11 homers, 62 RBIs and 16 steals. In his limited action at Peoria, he was hitting .214 in four games with a pair of steals.

RHP Robert Manuel, in his first campaign as a full-time reliever, had about as good a season as any reliever in the Minors. Spending most of the summer in the Chattanooga bullpen, with brief stints at Sarasota and Louisville, he combined for a 1.25 ERA and walked 18 while striking out 103 in 86 2/3 innings. His .174 combined average against ranked among the Minor League leaders. Originally signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent, he was traded to the Reds in 2006 for veteran southpaw Dave Williams. Over the next two seasons, he split his time between relief and starting, but was always more effective out of the ‘pen. With Peoria, he had a 3.00 ERA in three games, fanning two without walking a batter in three innings.

RHP Carlos Fisher, an 11th-round pick in 2005 out of Lewis and Clark State, was converted from the rotation to relief this past season to make better use of his heavy sinker. He lowered his ERA with a 3.04 in 50 games at Chattanooga, then posted a 1.04 mark in 14 games at Louisville. He allowed just three homers on the season, striking out 67 in 68 innings. For the Javelinas, he had a 3.38 ERA with one save in three games, fanning three over 2 2/3 innings.

LHP Pedro Viola blew away batters in his stateside debut in 2007, when he combined across three levels to post a 1.42 ERA. His numbers were not quite as dominant in his full-season campaign at Chattanooga in 2008, though, as his ERA sat at 4.48 in 52 games there. But he did strike out 84 batters in 82 1/3 innings. With Peoria he had a 7.50 ERA in two games with four strikeouts in six innings. After a rough first start, he recovered to give up just one hit over three shutout frames in his second outing.

RHP Sean Watson was the Reds’ second-round pick in 2006 out of Tennessee. He also made the move from starter in 2007 to reliever in 2008, posting a 4.42 ERA between Sarasota and Chattanooga to go with 13 saves, tied for second in the system. He combined to strike out 75 batters in 55 innings while walking 42. Watson was scuffling in the early Arizona going with a 19.64 ERA, allowing two or three runs in all three of his relief appearances.