Old role suits Hirsh
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes in minor league baseball.
Jason Hirsh (St. Francis High, 2000) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees: After a brief and arduous stint in the bullpen, Hirsh returned to a starting role with the Yankees and delivered.
He tossed five innings of one-run ball en route to a 7-3 victory against the host Gwinnett Braves on Sunday.
In his first start since May 23, he got the win, allowing one run in the first inning and five hits throughout, while striking out five to one walk.
It was a welcomed outcome for the former Golden Knight, as he had allowed five runs over 3 2/3 innings in two relief appearances during his previous two appearances. Not to mention, his May 23 start resulted in a loss in which he gave up five runs in five innings.
For the season, Hirsh is 5-5 with a 4.22 earned-run average over 64 innings, having struck out 41 to 23 walks.
Hirsh’s victory was the Yankees’ last heading into Thursday competition, as they’ve lost three in a row and sit at 33-27, tied for second behind Syracuse in the International League’s North Division.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is the triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
Bill Spottiswood (Glendale Community College, 2005) Visalia Rawhide pitcher: The Rawhide reliever posted consecutive wins in appearances on June 3 and Tuesday.
Both were scoreless appearances, but the more impressive outing came on June 3, as he held Stockton without a hit over 2 2/3 innings. His only blemish was one walk, which came against four strikeouts.
Spottiswood, who posted an 18.69 ERA over two appearances at the onset of the season with double-A Reno, has settled in brilliantly with Visalia.
Having bounced back from a stretch in which he was the losing pitcher in consecutive outings with the aforementioned two straight wins, Spottiswood has a 4-2 mark and a 2.05 ERA in 14 appearances with the Rawhide. He’s also struck out 31 batters to just six walks in 26 1/3 innings.
Heading into Thursday night’s action, Visalia, the class-A advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is 29-31 and in third place in the California League South Division.
Brandon McCarthy (Glendale native) Oklahoma City RedHawks pitcher: In his quest to get back to the Texas Rangers’ big club, the Glendale-born McCarthy has done well on the hill as a starter and in his recent role out of the bullpen.
McCarthy has made relief appearances on June 3 and Saturday, throwing a scoreless inning each time, the former resulting in a victory against Memphis.
On the season, he’s 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA.
He’s given up just 21 hits in just over 30 innings and tallied 19 strikeouts to five walks.
His last start came April 24 against Memphis. He notched a no-decision after seven innings in which he allowed three runs.
Entering Thursday, Oklahoma City, the Rangers’ triple-A club, was 32-26 and sitting atop the Texas League’s Southern Division.
Fernando Valenzuela, Jr. (St. Francis High, 2000) Leones de Yucatan designated hitter: The former Glendale Community College standout continues to hold his own south of the border.
Heading into Thursday, he was riding a six game hitting streaking in which he’s gone 10 for 25 (.400 average) with six runs batted in and five runs scored.
For the season, Valenzuela, Jr. is hitting .308 with 23 walks, 31 runs batted in and 24 runs scored.