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[Note: The wee lads in Idaho Falls and Burlington start this week! If there's a player you want us to keep an eye on in this space, please say so in the comments below, or tweet names to @minda33.]
LEXINGTON:
Shortstop Humberto Arteaga hit two doubles and a triple on in the Legends' win on Thursday, which accounts for almost half his XBH on the season. .228/.249/.266. Lexington struggled on the whole this weekend, losing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
WILMINGTON:
Christian Binford pitched well again this weekend, throwing 6 shutout, walk-free, 5-strikeout innings against Carolina on Friday. On Saturday, Sean Manaea piled up 65 pitches in just 3 innings, but didn't let any runs come in. Mark Peterson picked up two saves on the weekend, bringing him to 13 on the season. In his first year in the Carolina League, Peterson is putting up nice numbers. I'd expect him to be on the move soon.
Hunter Dozier had a 5-hit weekend, including two doubles and his 4th home run of the season. Bubba Starling only had one hit on the weekend, a double on Friday.
Sunday was the final game of the first half for Wilmington, who finished in third place and 4.5 out of first place. The 2nd half starts on Thursday
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS:
Ethan Chapman had a productive weekend at the plate, with a pair of multi-hit games. The outfielder, drafted in 2012 (and former college teammate of fellow farmhand Aaron Brooks), is doing a decent job of getting on base in his first year at AA, but has hit for almost zero power, leaving him with this line: .258/.338/.266 in 49 games.
Chelsor Cuthbert is still in a bit of a slide. His slash stats in his last 10 games, incidentally, are .229/.229/.229. No walks, no extra bases. Do with that as you will.
Jason Adam had an odd line on Saturday, going 7.1 innings with 8 Ks and no walks, but three solo home runs. In fairness, it was a windy night in Springfield.
Tim Melville - remember Tim Melville? - had a nice outing on Sunday night, with 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K.
OMAHA:
The Chasers were victorious in all their games this weekend, highlighted by the bats of...everyone, kind of. Paulo Orlando's road-game hit streak ended on Friday, but he's still having a terrific season, adding 5 hits this weekend for a line of .324/.365/.432. Brian Bocock had 3 hits on Thursday and Friday, plus another trio in Saturday's double-header. Triple-A newcomer Whit Merrifield is hitting like his hair is on fire, piling up 9 hits over the weekend, along with a walk and only two strikeouts. Justin Maxwell had a similar weekend, but with the added oomph of 3 homers and a triple.
Ryan Verdugo had the best performance among Omaha starters, going 6.2 shutout innings with no walks and 9 strikeouts. In relief, Spencer Patton added another 3.2 scoreless innings, with five Ks but three walks.