Hirsh picks up International accolade
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes playing minor league baseball.
Jason Hirsh (St. Francis High, 2000) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees pitcher: The right-hander and California Lutheran University graduate has recently come up big on the mound for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, the triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
His last two trips to the mound led to him picking up victories and an accolade – International League Pitcher of the Week.
On Sunday, Hirsh, 26, went a season-best eight innings to help power Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to a 12-3 road win against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Hirsh, who is 3-0 in his last three starts, struck out a season-high nine batters to improve to 8-7 and bring his earned-run average below 4.00 for the first time since late May.
On Aug. 3, Hirsh threw five shutout innings against the Syracuse Chiefs in the Yankees’ 5-3 road win. Hirsh scattered three hits, struck out five and walked a pair.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is 68-47 through Sunday and in first place in the North Division. Hirsh, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Colorado Rockies last season, has struck out 92 in 115 1/3 innings. He sports a 3.98 ERA in 24 appearances, 17 of which he started.
Bryan Longpre (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, GCL Blue Jays: The Cal State Northridge graduate recently suffered his first loss of the season with the Blue Jays, who are 20-22 and in fourth place in the Rookie League’s North Division. Longpre, a reliever who signed a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization on June 16, gave up three runs and three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 3-2 loss to the Gulf Coast Yankees on Aug. 3.
However, the right-hander, rebounded in his next appearance on Saturday. Longpre pitched a scoreless inning — despite allowing a hit and a walk — in the Blue Jays’ 3-1 defeat against the Gulf Coast Phillies.
Longpre, a former All-Area member, has posted seven saves and is 1-1 with a 3.52 earned-run average in 15 1/3 innings. In 13 appearances, all in relief, Longpre has struck out 15 and allowed 10 runs (six earned).
Bill Spottiswood (Glendale Community College, 2005) Visalia Rawhide pitcher: The right-handed reliever has struggled lately with the Rawhide, who are the class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his last four outings, spanning July 28 through Sunday, Spottiswood has allowed five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Spottiswood recorded six strikeouts and five walks.
In his latest trip to the mound, Spottiswood allowed one run and one hit and struck out two in Visalia’s 5-3 victory against the Modesto Nuts on Sunday.
Through Sunday, Spottiswood is 5-5 with three saves and a 4.26 earned-run average. In 27 appearances, including three starts, Spottiswood has struck out 56 and yielded 69 hits in 57 innings for the Rawhide, who are 19-24 and are in last place in the California League’s North Division.
