Erie On Top Despite Losses

The Angels’ double-A farm club in Erie, Pa. started the season with a standout starting pitching rotation that included Ramon Ortiz, Brian Cooper and Seth Etherton.

Ortiz, however, was called up to triple-A Edmonton July 4 and has since been called up by the Angels. Cooper followed Ortiz to Edmonton on Aug. 10, and Etherton moved up on Aug. 20.

Despite that talent drain, Erie (73-55) has been able to hold on to first place in the Eastern League’s Southern Division, 3 1/2 games ahead of Harrisburg.

The starting rotation has been revamped with Paul Morse (7-4), Steve Green (1-1), Scot Shields (2-3), and Elvin Nina (3-0). Morse, a knuckleballer, has 3.05 ERA is 12 games, 11 of them starting assignments.

First baseman Larry Barnes is one of the leaders on offense with 19 home runs and 98 runs batted in while hitting .287 through 127 games. Third baseman Shawn Wooten (.297) has 17 homers and 78 RBIs.

Edmonton (56-71)--Etherton made his triple-A debut Sunday, but lasted only 2 2/3 innings and gave up five runs in a 9-4 loss. The Trappers also lost the second game of the doubleheader, 6-5. Cooper started that game and pitched well, giving up two unearned runs on four hits in six innings, but Mike James took the loss in relief. Catcher Bret Hemphill continues to have a solid year. He is batting .321 with seven homers and 27 RBIs through Sunday.

Lake Elsinore (28-39 in the second half)--Left-hander Douglas Bridges is 2-0 after his first two starts with the Storm. Bridge was called up from Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League after posting a 15-5 record with a 3.59 ERA. Juan Rodriguez is batting .309 with six homers and 48 RBIs through Sunday.

Cedar Rapids (24-32)--Third baseman Mike Christensen has 16 homers and 62 RBIs. Pitcher Jeff Hundley (8-9, 4.03) leads the league in complete games with six and is fourth in strikeouts with 135.

Boise (34-28)--Robb Quinlan, batting .342, leads the Class-A Northwest League in RBIs with 64. John Lackey, the Angels’ first pick in the June draft, is 5-2 with a 4.34 ERA.