AAA Edition
Week 21: Aug. 18-24
By Rick Mariotti
Minor Leagues Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Cape Hatteras, N.C. – Believe it or not, the Carolina Flight are within striking distance.
With 11 games left in their AAA Rupert Horn Memorial League Schedule, Carolina has closed to within 1 game of the GL East Coast Division lead. After a 7-1 week (thanks to a doubleheader), they are tied for second place with Annapolis for second place and are breathing down the neck of Brooklyn.
“Our guys have been playing their hearts out,” said manager Jeff Matthews. “Now, we just have to see if we can close the deal here in the last two weeks of the season.”
Week 21 Results
At Ashland
08-18: Carolina 7, Ashland 1
08-19: Ashland 8, Carolina 1
08-20: Carolina 4, Ashland 1
At Carolina
08-21: Carolina 4, Commerce 3
08-22: Carolina 6, Commerce 4
08-23: Carolina 7, Commerce 5
08-24 (GM 1): Carolina 5, Orlando 3
08-24 (GM 2): Carolina 8, Orlando 0
Record as of August 24
W-L Record for Week 21: 7-1
Overall Record: 69-64, .519
Position in Standings: Tied for 2nd place with Annapolis in the GL East Coast Division, 1 game behind Brooklyn.
Position Players of Interest
| Player | Slash Line | OPS | HR | RBI | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Hillson, C | .247/.367/.366 | .734 | 4 | 43 | 1.8 |
| Emilio Lugo, 1B | .270/.350/.509 | .860 | 27 | 80 | 1.1 |
| Clarence Terry, DH | .249/.342/.419 | .761 | 10 | 41 | 0.2 |
| José Silva, 2B | .262/.332/.433 | .765 | 10 | 65 | 1.8 |
| Juan Lozano, SS | .224/.310/.303 | .613 | 3 | 48 | 1.0 |
| Manuel De Los Santos, LF**** | .247/.328/316 | .644 | 0 | 31 | 0.5 |
| Jim Lorenzen, OF ** | .224/.311/.404 | .715 | 7 | 27 | 0.4 |
| Arturo Mendoza, OF*** | .317/.346/.599 | .945 | 8 | 28 | 0.8 |
| Ricardo Torres, OF * | .100/.240/.150 | .390 | 0 | 2 | -0.2 |
** Promoted to Chicago on 05-19
*** Traded to Calgary organization on 06-02
**** Promoted to Chicago on 6-15; Demoted back to Carolina on 7-21
Pitchers of Interest
| Pitcher | ERA | W-L-SV | IP | K's | BB's | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José López, SP | 4.90 | 8-8-0 | 165.1 | 124 | 52 | 1.9 |
| Felipe Méndez, SP | 4.56 | 11-6-0 | 160.0 | 123 | 55 | 1.5 |
| Derrek Terry, SP | 3.96 | 9-9-0 | 166.0 | 149 | 53 | 3.3 |
| Ángel Díaz, RP | 5.40 | 5-5-8 | 58.1 | 56 | 24 | 0.0 |
| Weston Etheridge, RP | 3.16 | 6-2-2 | 51.1 | 46 | 30 | 0.4 |
| Andrés Ortega, RP * | 5.72 | 4-8-0 | 107.0 | 43 | 38 | 0.3 |
| James Matarazzo, CL | 3.33 | 5-5-27 | 51.1 | 44 | 17 | 1.1 |
The Week Ahead
2 Games vs Orlando at Carolina
3 Games at Gotham
1 Game vs Kalamazoo at Carolina