By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
Members of the 2000 national Championship LSU baseball team continue to excel in the minors this week.
Brian Tallet, who signed with the Cleveland Indians last week, took the mound for the first time as a professional this week with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Class-A shorted-season New York-Penn League.
He started Thursday’s 8-1 victory over the Auburn Doubledays and went a scheduled three innings allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three batters. Because the game was scoreless when Tallet was relieved by the Scrappers’ Nick Sunderman to start the fourth inning, Tallet did not figure in the decision.
Brad Cresse has heated up once again. His averaged has jumped to .329 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI. He added 10 RBI to his total this past week. His numbers lead the High Desert Mavericks. Cresse was promoted to Class-AA El Paso of the Texas League late Saturday night after spending only 49 days in the “High-A” system.
His teammate Cedrick Harris has picked his game up also. He lifted his batting average up to .270. That’s eight points higher than his average last week. Harris is utilizing his speed and running the bases well with 10 stolen bases on the season.
Brad Hawpe is in a bit of a slump in Portland. His average is down to .294. Previously he had kept his average steadily hovering at about .320 all summer long. After causing such a big stir early on in the Northwestern League, he’s more than likely a marked man. He’s probably not seeing the pitches he saw when he first started which would account for the decrease in batting average. Nonetheless, Hawpe is still getting the job done in Portland.
Blair Barbier and Ryan Jorgensen continue to play consistent baseball in Eugene. Barbier is batting .321 with 19 RBI’s, while Jorgensen is batting .309 with 14 RBI’s.
Barbier seems to have found a home a first base in the minors. Meanwhile, Jorgensen is everything as advertised from a defensive
standpoint. His skills behind the plate are heralded. On the hill, Heath McMurray and Trey Hodges continue to improve.
McMurray earned his third victory of the season this past week. His numbers are 3-2, with a 6.35 ERA, and 12 strikeouts in 17 innings work.
Hodges lowered his ERA again this week to 6.89. He has 15.2 innings work including 10 strikeouts.
Check in next week for another update.