UofL losses marathon pitchers’ duel; Green sent to AAA

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday’s lone Kentucky college baseball game as well as the latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

After playing the equivalent of almost two complete scoreless games, the University of Louisville surrendered one run in the bottom of the 18th inning to suffer a 1-0 loss to Seton Hall. Freshman right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson took the loss after surrendering one unearned run on two hits in two and one-third innings. Freshman center fielder Adam Engel was 3-7 in the game, while the rest of the UofL offense was just 1-49. Junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self accomplished the rare feat of pitching over nine innings but not being credited with a complete game. Self surrendered seven hits in nine and one-third innings while striking out two batters and walking none. Freshman right-handed pitcher Chad Green pitched five and two-third innings of relief. (Box Score)
Guy Curtright of MLB.com reports the Milwaukee Brewers have optioned Louisville native and former UofL right-handed pitcher Sean Green to AAA Nashville.
Jonathan Kleppinger of the Jessamine Journal reports the lawyers for Lexington native and Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns filed a motion in Jessamine County to dismiss the drunk-driving charges against Kearns resulting from his Feb. 12 arrest because the Lexington police officer who pulled him over was out of his jurisdiction.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports the Texas Rangers scratched Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb from his scheduled Thursday start in extended spring training, option to have the former Cy Young award winner work on his mechanics during a bullpen session instead.

Jacob Rhodes named OVC player of week; Alex Meyer projected as first-round pick; Corey Hart frustrated by injury

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Corey Hart; Photo by Steve Paluch via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Murray State University junior catcher Jacob Rhodes was named the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week. Rhodes was also the BluGrass Baseball player of the week.
Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA lists the University of Louisville among his 25 teams to watch outside the PG top 25.
David Rawnsley of Perfect Game USA has posted his latest mock draft and has the Tampa Bay Rays taking University of Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer with pick No. 32.
Tom Haudicourt and Todd Rosiak of the Journal Sentinel reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart still has no timetable to start a minor league rehab assignment.
Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb was unhappy with his control during a live batting practice session on Monday.
Josh Jackson of MLB.com lists one-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis and Louisville Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco among the prospects to watch in the International League early in the season.
Greg Johns of MLB.com reports Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke was rattled by base runner Coco Crisp during his MLB debut.
Matt Pignataro of 7 Train to Shea has posted a Q&A with Lexington native and Rangers prospect Robbie Ross.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com has an excellent column about Lexington native Austin Kearns and his decision to return to Cleveland in part because of the treatment his autistic son could receive at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Autism.

Lueke eagerly awaits MLB debut; Kearns to platoon in left

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Greg Johns of MLB.com talks with Highland Heights native Josh Lueke about his impending MLB debut, and Lueke reminisces about attending Reds’ games as a teenager.
Jordan Bastian and Zack Meisel of MLB.com reports Lexington native Austin Kearns will split time in left field with Travis Buck until Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore returns from injury.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports the Phillies have released Louisville native Matt Anderson, who was attempting to make a comeback with the team after several years away from professional baseball.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Cardinals are not rushing Louisville native Zack Cox, who might have been able to handle AA in his first full professional season.

Joe Blanton leads Kentucky major leaguers in salary

Major League Baseball

Joe Blanton; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

With Opening Day upon us its time for the annual look at the contracts of each of Kentucky’s major league players. The group added two new members in Josh Lueke and Nathan Adcock this season, but is still dominated by the familiar names. Check out the full list of 2011 salaries below with contract data via USA Today‘s MLB salary database:

Joe Blanton (Phillies) — Franklin-Simpson HS, UK — $10.5 million
Aaron Cook (Rockies) — Born in Ft. Campbell — $9.875 million
Dan Uggla (Braves) — Born in Louisville — $9.15 million
Corey Hart (Brewers) — Greenwood HS — $6.833 million
Mark Reynolds (Orioles) — Born in Pikeville — $5.333 million
Scott Downs (Angels) — PRP, UK — $5 million
Jon Rauch (Blue Jays) — Oldham Co. HS, Morehead St. — $3.5 million
Brandon Webb (Rangers) — Paul Blazer HS, UK — $3 million
Trever Miller (Cardinals) — St. X HS — $2 million
Austin Kearns (Indians) — Lafayette HS — $1.3 million
Sean Green (Brewers) — Male HS, UofL — $875,000
Tyler Clippard (Nationals) — Born in Lexington — $443,000
Jonny Venters (Braves) — Born in Pikeville — $429,500
A. J. Ellis (Dodgers) — PLD HS — $421,000
Nathan Adcock (Royals) — North Hardin HS — $414,000
Josh Lueke (Mariners) — Scott HS, NKU — $414,000

No significant differences were discovered. Race does not influence the length of enrollment in adult literacy programs.

Kentuckians on MLB Opening Day rosters

Major League Baseball

You can always see the list of Kentucky MLB players on the “Ky. in the Majors” page here, but with Opening Day upon us I thought it would be a good idea to post the list on the home page. Check out the Kentuckians starting the 2011 season on MLB rosters below:

National League

RHP Aaron Cook — Born in Ft. Campbell — Colorado Rockies (15-day DL)
C A. J. Ellis — PLD — Los Angeles Dodgers
OF Corey Hart — Greenwood HS — Milwaukee Brewers (15-day DL)
2B Dan Uggla — Born in Louisville — Atlanta Braves
RHP Joe Blanton — Franklin-Simpson HS, UK — Philadelphia Phillies
LHP Jonny Venters — Born in Pikeville — Atlanta Braves
RHP Sean Green — Male HS, UofL — Milwaukee Brewers
LHP Trever Miller — St. X HS — St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Tyler Clippard — Born in Lexington — Washington Nationals

American League

OF Austin Kearns — Lafayette HS — Cleveland Indians
RHP Brandon Webb — Paul Blazer HS, UK — Texas Rangers (15-day DL)
RHP Jon Rauch — Oldham Co. HS, Morehead St. — Toronto Blue Jays
RHP Josh Lueke — Scott HS, NKU — Seattle Mariners*
3B Mark Reynolds — Born in Pikeville — Baltimore Orioles
RHP Nathan Adcock — North Hardin HS — Kansas City Royals*
LHP Scott Downs — PRP, UK — Los Angeles Angels (15-day DL)
RHP Shawn Kelley — Ballard HS — Seattle Mariners (60-day DL)

* — Lueke and Adcock are MLB rookies and will make their MLB debuts with first appearance in 2011.

Spring roundup: Lueke surrenders one run in two innings

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

Stats and highlights from a rain-shortened schedule of Monday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Lexington native Austin Kearns was 1-4 with one RBI for the Cleveland Indians.
Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke surrendered one run on three hits in two innings of relief for the Seattle Mariners.
Offseason Louisville resident Matt Maloney surrendered three hits but no runs in one and one-third innings of relief for the Cincinnati Reds.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-4 with one double and one run scored versus the Tigers.

Spring roundup: Austin Kearns reaches base four times; Trever Miller, B. J. Rosenberg post scoreless outings

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Sunday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Lexington native Austin Kearns was 3-3 with one walk and one run scored for the Cleveland Indians.
Louisville native Trever Miller was credited with a hold after pitching a scoreless inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock was credited with a hold despite surrendering two runs in two innings for relief for the Kansas City Royals.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After being added to the MLB roster for the game former UofL right-handed pitcher B. J. Rosenberg pitched two scoreless innings for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-2 versus the Phillies.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-4 versus the Red Sox.

Spring roundup: AJ Ellis, Mark Reynolds, Dan Uggla homer; Sawyer Carroll, Chris Dominguez, Shawn Roof see action

Major League Baseball

A. J. Ellis; Photo by frankat1stbase3 via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Kentucky Spring Training action:

PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 1-2 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lexington native Austin Kearns was 0-4 with one RBI for the Cleveland Indians.
Former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll was added to the San Diego Padres’ roster for Thursday’s game and was 1-2 with one RBI.
Former UofL third baseman Chris Dominguez was added to the San Francisco Giants’ roster for Thursday’s game and struck out in his only at-bat.
St. Mary High School alum Shawn Roof was called up from Detroit Tigers minor league camp for Thursday’s game and appeared as a defensive replacement but did not get an at-bat.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, struck out two batters in two scoreless innings.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 2-4 with a home run, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-3 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored.

Spring roundup: Austin Kearns homers; Sean Green pitches scoreless inning; Cory Wade struggles in relief outing

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and recaps from Tuesday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Lexington native Austin Kearns was 1-2 with a home run, two RBI, one run scored and one walk for the Cleveland Indians.
Louisville native and former UofL right-handed pitcher Sean Green pitched a scoreless inning for the Brewers.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis walked in his only plate appearance for the Dodgers.
Former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade hit a setback in his attempt to make the Ray’s roster after surrendering three runs on three hits in one and two-third innings.
After being added to the MLB roster from minor league camp for the game, former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll flew out in his only at-bat to end the game for the San Diego Padres.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 0-3 with two strikeouts versus the Yankees.

Spring roundup: Nathan Adcock continues scoreless spring

Major League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Saturday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for the Kansas City Royals and has yet to surrender a run this spring.
Lexington native Austin Kearns was 1-3 with two RBI for the Cleveland Indians.
Former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade surrendered one run on two hits in one and two-third innings for the Tampa Bay Rays.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-2 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After being assigned to the Arizona Diamondbacks from minor league camp for the game, Lexington native and former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 0-2 versus the Reds.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, surrendered one run while just recording one out.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-2 with one walk.
Braves right-handed pitcher Michael Broadway, who was born in Paducah, struck out one batter in a scoreless inning of relief.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-2 with one RBI.