Minor Issues: K-Tribe Sweep Awards Again, House Wins First

WHAT'S THE NEWS

A few awards to hand out to the minor leaguers.

Matt LaPorta's hot hitting earned him the International League Player of the Week award. He went 13-25 with two jacks and six RBI.

The second sweep for the K-Tribe in Carolina League Awards just happened.

Lonnie Chisenhall took home the player of the week, after his two-grand slam performance. While Eric Berger took home the Carolina League pitcher of the week award. Congrats to all the three of them.

Tony's latest piece at IPI is about David Huff and the help he gets from his coaching brother.

Last year I remember talking about a nice story on host families for minor league players. Well this woman isn't a host family for players, but everyone knows her because she does a lot. She's "Grandma Z" and she bakes for the players.

''She is out there every game I throw, good luck charm or not,'' Lofgren said. ''She is a very spiritual person and I like having her around.''

''They are kids away from home and they need somebody to sort of look after them,'' Zabarsky said. ''It's been a lot of fun.''

Great to see stories like this. That's the beauty of minor league ball.

COLUMBUS

Columbus had a late charge fall just short to Toledo, 9-6.

Michael Aubrey kept his average back afloat with a 2-4 day, also hitting a two-run home run and scoring twice.

Stephen Head hit a solo home run as well.

Josh Barfield now has nine RBI after a double and two RBIs. Barfield's double was one of five for the Clippers, with Wes Hodges, Luis Valbuena, Aubrey, and David Dellucci getting the others.

Dellucci also went 3-4 with a run scored. He's hitting .458 for the Clippers and I'll say his bat is definitely ready. Not sure about everything else though. He still hasn't played in the field.

Kirk Saarloos is just.. Yeah just awful. Five innings, eight runs, only six of them were earned, but just.. 10 hits and 2 walks. Bad. He also had two wild pitches.

John Meloan pitched three solid, giving up one run.

AKRON

The Aeros got a much needed off-day. Their pitching staff could use it after all the innings they've pitched.

KINSTON

The K-Tribe were also on an off-day.

LAKE COUNTY

T.J. House lead the Captains to a win, but he also got some run support.

House went six strong, giving up one run off just four hits and four strikeouts. He picked up his first win of his career, hopefully first of many.

Steve Smith picked up save number three.

The offense though, finally got some things going.

Donnie Webb was on base three times, scored one run, stole number six of the year, and knocked in a run as well.

Karexon Sanchez hit number four of the year in the ninth inning.

Nate Recknagel knocked in three with a double in the sixth inning.

Everyone on the Captains team scored a run except for Recknagel and everyone got a hit minus Abner Abreu. Mark Thompson knocked in a run and had two hits and Chris Nash had two hits.

Finally a solid offensive outing all around for the Captains.

In bad news, Abreu struck out four times.