Stars of the Day: May 9

Oklahoma starter Eric Hurley (1-3;  6.54) righted his ship with a tough seven-inning performance, holding Sacramento to three runs, two earned, on five hits, a walk and an HBP while setting eight down on strikes, but it wasn't enough as the RedHawks fell by a 5-2 count.

One of the hits Hurley surrendered was a homer to Travis Buck, who was Oakland's top rookie last year, but who has battled shin splints this year and finds himself on rehab assignment with the Rivercats. 

After the game, Buck told the Daily Oklahoman's Matt Patterson:  "Hurley is an unbelievable pitcher. He's got a bright future. So it was finally good to have some quality at-bats against a good pitcher."

In Bakersfield, two young men less than a year from their last collegiate appearances continued their excellent seasons.  

The Rangers third first round pick in the 2007 draft,  Julio Borbon (.327 / .374 / .425)  extrended his 14-game hitting streak with another outstanding game, doubling twice in four trips from the top of the order.    When Borbon sustained a minor injury to his foot a month ago, he was hitting  .214 / .207 / .250.  In spite of missing that time,  Borbon ranks fifth in the Cal League with 11 two-baggers and sixth on the circuit with 11 thefts.

Starter Tommy Hunter (4-4;  3.75), the Rangers  fifth and final  first rounder in the 2007 draft,  scattered nine hits and three walks over seven innings for the Blaze, holding Stockton to just two runs while batterymate Manny Pina (.288 / .337 / .338) went 1-2.  The 20 year old Pina has now hit safely in ten of his last eleven games.

Clinton's co-MWL Players of the Week -- Renny Osuna (.305 / .395 / .442) and Engel Beltre (.273 / .304 / .402) -- delivered multi-hit performances in Clinton's 7-6 win over Peoria at Alliant Energy Field.    

The 23 year old Osuna doubled, tripled and walked in a 3-4 outing to drive in three runs while Beltre singled twice from the one hole, joining  the consistent Tim Smith (.327 / .379 / .491)  with a 2-5 outing.  Smith hit his third triple of the year and drove in three.

Finally, in a rare blowout loss, the RoughRiders got another ho-hum 2-3 outing from the great Maxamiliano Ramirez, who bumped his batting average above .400 and smacked his eighth double of the year.    

Ramirez -- the league leader in OBP, slugging percentage and, of course, OPS -- has collected multiple hits in eight of his last ten games and 12 of his last 16.

A postscript: I can't help myself, but you heard it here first:   http://rangersfarmreport.mlblogs.com/archives/2007/07/shhh_brandon_bo.html