Weather Wreaks Havoc On Minor League Schedule

Cold weather was the rule in the Midwest League (Class A) Friday night. Six of seven scheduled contests were postponed on account of either cold or snow. And the one game that was played -- between the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) and the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks) -- began in 28 degree weather with 628 fans in the stands. And today's game between those two teams has already been called off.

Two games in the South Atlantic League (Class A) were postponed, too, due to snow.

At the Double A level, four of six Eastern League games were postponed for cold, snow, or wet fields due to snow. A Texas League doubleheader was also postponed.

Triple A lost five games. In the International League, four games, including a makeup doubleheader were postponed for snow or cold. The Pacific Coast League also had one game postponed because of cold weather.

Minor League Roundup for April 5

The top team pitching performances in the minor leagues Thursday night were all combined 2-hitters.

In Nashville, New Orleans Zephyrs (Mets) pitchers Philip Humber (WP, 1-0; 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4K), Jose Santiago (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2K), and Lino Urdaneta (S, 1; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R) combined to shut down the hometown Sounds (Brewers), 4-1 in a Pacific Coast League (AAA) game. [more: New Orleans Zephyrs]

Four Bowie Baysox (Orioles) pitchers combined to shut out the Trenton Thunder (Yankees), 1-0. Beau Hale (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K), Rommie Lewis Jr. (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K), Jim Miller (WP, 1-9; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), and Jim Hoey (S, 1; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) combined to keep the Thunder scoreless in the Eastern League (AA) contest. [more: Bowie Baysox]

Not all two-hitters were wins, however. Four pitchers on the Florida State League (A Advanced) Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) staff combined to hold the Sarasota Reds (Reds) to two hits and no earned runs. But two errors allowed the Reds to score two unearned runs, and the Reds staff held Fort Myers to three hits and no runs. Kyle Waldrop (5 IP, 0R, 7K), Jay Rainville (L, 01; 2/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB), Yohan Pino (1-1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 K), and Kyle Aselton (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) did all they could do, but the Reds' Carlos Fisher (W, 1-0; 7 IP 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K), Ramon Ramirez (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K), and Josh Roenicke (S, 1; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K) proved more than up to the task. [more: Sarasota Reds]

Townsend Returns From Surgery With Win

Photo by Philip Wartena / Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

After sitting out the 2006 season with Tommy John surgery, Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Wade Townsend returned to action Thursday night, pitching 5 innings of two-hit ball, en route to a 6-1 win for his Columbus Catfish (South Atlantic League).

Townsend (1-0), the eighth overall pick in the 2005 draft, allowed two hits and a walk while fanning six en route to his first professional victory. The 6-foot-4 right-hander went 0-4 in 12 games (10 starts) during his debut season with Hudson Valley of the New York-Penn League.

It was Townsend's first appearance since blowing out his right arm in an Arizona Fall League start in 2005. He admitted he had some butterflies.

More: MinorLeagueBaseball.com

Townsend was pulled after facing two batters in the 6th inning for hometown favorite Brian Baker, who shut down a rally by the visiting Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox).