I arrived at the Carpenter Complex and prepared to watch Cord Sandberg, Trey Williams, Luis Encarnacion on Ashburn Field.  Adam Loewen was warming up for the start, so I walked over to see who would start for the GCL squad on Roberts Field.  Miguel Gonzalez and Cameron Rupp were to be battery mates, and I was going to watch this game instead.

Gonzalez started off with 2 fast balls for balls. They were low and at 92 and 93 mph.  He rallied with 3 consecutive strikes and got the batter swinging.  The next batter grounded out on a first pitch fast ball.  After falling behind the third batter 3-1, he gave up a single.  He retired the final batter on a fielder’s choice.

Gonzalez’ fast ball stayed in the 92-94 range for the 4.2 innings he pitched.  His curve ball was at 80-81 mph.  He retired the three batters he faced in the second inning on ground balls.  The third inning brought a lead off single, hit-and-run ground ball out, infield pop up, ground ball.  The fourth inning started with a hit batsman, fly ball, fly ball, ground ball. He faced 3 batters in the 5^th inning – full count ground out, ground ball double inside the third base line, fly ball.

At his point, Rupp signaled the dugout and Gonzalez’ day was over.  By my count, he threw about 53 pitches, 33 for strikes.  He was still throwing 92-94 in the 5^th, but he was beginning to leave his pitches up.  And the ground balls had been replaced by fly balls.  His line was – 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  Overall, he looked good.  There was some talk about his moving his rehab to the Threshers’ soon, maybe this week.  That would be a Thursday appearance, we calculated.  We’ll see.

Rupp looked good as well.  In addition to catching, he batted twice.  His first AB was a fly ball to deep center.  I was impressed with the carry on a ball that he caught off the end of his bat with a flick of his wrists.  The center fielder had to catch the ball on the run in front of the batter’s eye.  He laced a line drive single to left in his second AB.  As he left the Complex later, he remarked that it felt good to be on the field again.

Roman Quinn batted 3 times against a left-handed pitcher.  He pushed a bunt past the pitcher in his first AB, but the second baseman must have expected it.  He charged and threw Quinn out at first.  He popped out his second AB and grounded out to short his third.

I saw Jose Pujols single and strike out in 2 AB.

Hugo Arrocha singled in 2 AB, but was thrown out trying to stretch one into a double.

Herlis Rodriguez singled and popped out to short.

Venn Biter had a single in the one AB I saw.

Back on Ashburn, Miguel Nunez was taking the mound.  He was recently sent down from the Threshers to work on his mechanics.

Jorge Serrano also pitched an inning and induced 3 ground balls.

I saw only one AB by Sandberg.  Against a pitcher who was throwing at 97, he stroked a ground ball double down the left field line. It was a great piece of hitting, but not quite the driven ball we are all waiting for.

Bryan Martelo blooped a single over the infield in the 1 AB I saw.

I saw Zach Green watching this game from the stands.

Ethan Stewart pitches tonight for the Threshers.