Stars of the Day: May 13

First off, let me say that this is a freakin' beautiful game.  It's especially so when your team is playing it the right way.   Baseball, played well, is magical.   David Murphy's catch.  Ian Kinsler executing the sac fly to right.  Gabbard efficiently giving the club 5+ innings on a strict pitch count.  Laird taking the extra base when Ibanez let him have it.  Eddie G thowin' like it's 2002.

Way to go Rangers.

Congrats to old friend Edinson Volquez, who became the third pitcher in MLB history to allow one or fewer earned runs in each of his first eight starts.   Here at the Farm Report, we honor our alumni.

Here's how nasty Volquez is right now:   "He's got good stuff, man," said Florida second baseman Dan Uggla, who struck out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning. "I was sitting on a slider, and that's what he threw me, but it was almost impossible to hit. I could've been more patient."

"It was a changeup," Volquez said. "That might have been the best pitch I threw the whole game."

Good hitters like Uggla are so baffled, they don't even know what it is that they are unable to hit.

"I couldn't recognize the rotation [of the ball],"  outfielder Alfredo Amezaga said. "His arm was the same on every pitch. Nothing was straight."

"His arm speed, you can't tell," said Jeff Brantley, a former Reds & Rangers pitcher and current broadcaster for Cincy. "I have to look at the gun. I've never had to do that. That's how good it is.

"I know when Pedro's throwing the changeup."

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On to the important stuff.......

Kasey Kiker (2-0;  5.57) held the High Desert Mavs to two runs on two hits -- both solo homers -- and one walk while punching out three in seven frames as Bakersfield improved to 24-15 with an 8-2 victory.

Julio Borbon's 17-game hitting streak came to an end, but he walked, took one  for the team, drove in a run, stole three bags and scored once.    Borbon (.318 / .373 / .419) is one of those guys who is going to make a significant impact on the game every day, somehow, some way.

Grant Gerrard (.294 / .349 / .485) drove in five of Bakersfield's runs with a fifth inning grand slam and a walk in four trips and Johnny Whittleman (.284 / .407 / .455) remained hot, going 2-4.   

Marcus Lemon (.304 / .431 / .468)  homered, singled and drew a pair of walks.   

Matt Harrison (2-1;  3.95) delivered another solid start in Frisco's 8-4 victory,  holding Midland to a run on five hits and a walk, setting five down on striked in 5.1 frames while Ben Harrison (.324 / .422 / .581) homered and walked in a 2-3 outing to drive in a pair.

Max doubled for his only hit in four trips while CD went 0-3 but drew another walk.

The DMN's  Evan Grant  reports that "the club has had catching prospect Max Ramirez, who began the week second in the Texas League in hitting, start taking ground balls at first base.   I saw Ramirez take some balls at first during spring training as well.   Don't be surprised to see him on the bag in Arlington before the season is over.

Elvis Andrus (.26.8 / .323 / .309) went 1-5 from the top of the order, driving in two.   Here's an interesting fact about Andrus that may or may not be meaningful:   the shortstop is hitting .171 / .171 / .244 from the top of the order and .326 / .402 / .360 in the two hole.  He's hitting .147 / .171 / .265 when leading off an inning and .313 / .361 / .343 with runners on base. 

If they can just get Joaquin Arias back to the other side of second base, he just might salvage his career.   The tantalizingly gifted shortstop has seen virtually all of his action at second base this year as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury that cost him the entire 2007 season.   After last night's 3-4 outing that included a double, a triple and three RBIs, Arias is hitting .324 / .350 / .400 for Oklahoma.   He's even drawn five walks in 120 plate appearances.

Clinton prevented a system-wide sweep but you can't blame starter Neftali Feliz (2.70 ERA) who dominated Beloit for five innings, blanking the Snappers on two hits and a walk over five frames, punching out four.   The L-Kings bullpen struggled and Beloit posted a 7-5 victory.    White hot middle infielder Renny Osuna (.324 / .406 / .491) went 3-5 with a double.