Donnels, Dukes Get Homer-Happy

Chris Donnels and almost everyone else on Albuquerque’s roster made themselves at home in Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium last weekend.

The triple-A Dukes hit 13 home runs in a three-game sweep. Donnels had three, including two July 8. Angel Pena and Chris Prieto each hit two. Pena’s came in consecutive at-bats July 7.

Of the 13 home runs, 11 came with the bases empty. The Dukes also made the least with the most April 13, when they hit six home runs, all with the bases empty, against New Orleans.

Donnels leads the team with 26 home runs and 78 runs batted in. He is also hitting .351. Where it will get him is unknown. He plays first base, and it doesn’t look as if Eric Karros will be leaving the Dodgers anytime soon.

The recent power surge could be a sign that Pena has begun to turn his season around. The 25-year-old catcher showed up at spring training weighing 262 pounds, nearly 34 pounds above his listed playing weight, but he lost much of his excess weight before camp broke. He is hitting .291 with eight home runs in 47 games.

San Antonio left-hander Randey Dorame seems to have made a smooth transition to double A. He is 2-1 with a 1.66 earned-run average in 22 innings since being promoted from Class-A Vero Beach. He was 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA at Vero Beach.