Around the Farm: May 14

G. Soto

Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Giovanni Soto-SP, Kinston: 7 IP, W (2), 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Soto might be hitting his stride. He hasn't really struggled at all this year, but lately he's been on absolute fire. In his pat three starts, ignoring the rainout he got one out in, Soto has given up just one run in 19 innings. Soto was mowing down the opposition, striking out eight hitters and giving up just three hits. He struck out eight in his first start this season around two runs and took the loss, but in this one, took home his second win. Tyler Sturdevant would finish up the shutout for Kinston with two innings. Soto is now 2-3 with a 2.12 ERA on the year. He's struck out 34 hitters in 34 innings.

• Cord Phelps-SS, Columbus: 0-4, 3 K: Is Cord Phelps in a slump? He has one hit in his last 15 at-bats and took a dreaded three-strikeout game against Indianapolis on Saturday. Phelps got off to an insane start, so his numbers have to balance out in some way, right?
• Jerad Head-RF, Columbus: 1-1, R, 3 BB: Head was impossible to get out for the Indians. He reached base all four times and three times via the walk, which is actually the total of walks he had coming into the game. 
• Jason Kipnis-2B, Columbus: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI: The hit-streak for Jason Kipnis reaches seven and he knocked in both of the Clippers runs yesterday.
• Mitch Talbot-SP, Columbus: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 K: Mitch Talbot made a rehab start for the Clippers and got through five innings with just under 70 pitches. 
• Scott Barnes-RP, Columbus: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K: Bumped from starting due to Talbot's rehab start, Talbot got his work in as a reliever, going the rest of the way. It was his first relief appearance since 2008 when he was in the Giants system playing Rookie ball.
• Juan Diaz-SS, Akron: 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K: Juan Diaz notched his 13th extra-base hit with a double against Bowie and had his second straight mutli-hit game.
• Chun Chen-C, Akron: 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K: Moved down in the order, Chen had a huge game, clobbering a pair of home runs and knocked in three of the Aeros four runs. It is yet another mutli-homer game for the catcher  who is 6-for his last-15.
• Kyle Bellows-3B, Akron: 2-3, 2 BB, SB: If there's anyone who needed a good game it was Kyle Bellows, who is hitting .190 on the season. Bellows was on base four times and stole a base. He didn't factor into any scoring but the game could be a good thing for his confidence moving forward.
• T.J. McFarland-SP, Akron: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K: Thanks to a blown lead by Matt Langwell, McFarland didn't pick up the victory, but McFarland turned his his best effort as a starter for the Aeros. He didn't walk a hitter and went the deepest he's even gone into the game as an Aero.
• Nick Hagadone-RP, Akron: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB: Hagadone is back on track after a few showings that were un-Hagadone-like. He walked just a hitter and didn't record a strikeout, but is back to keeping the opposing team off the box score.
• Casey Frawley-SS, Kinston: 2-4, R, 2 RBI: Light-hitting shortstop Casey Frawley has been the run producer these past few games. Frawley knocked in a few more runs and scored another, making him a one-man Fresno wrecking crew these past few games. It's better than 1 hit in his last 26 at-bats coming into the series.
• Bo Greenwell-LF, Kinston: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, K: Greenwell has been scuffling at the plate as of late, but perhaps this one got him out of the funk. He knocked in his first run since May 7th and walked for the first time since May 8th.
• Chase Burnette-1B, Kinston: 1-4, RBI, K: Two straight games with an RBI for Chase Burnette. It seems like every time he gets a hit he has a RBI. He's got just three hits in his last six games and has a RBI in each of them.
• Justin Toole-2B, Kinston: 3-4, R, 2 SB: Maybe Toole should be moved up the lineup when he plays. He's hitting .297 on the season with a .340 on-base percentage. Toole also converted on his eight and ninth steal attempt, making him 8-for-9 on the year.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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