Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
AVIATORS TOP FIVE OF THE WEEK
1.
Worth the wait: It took two days for the Aviators to finally win their first game on their Texas road trip and halt a season-worst five-game losing streak. Alas, after posting a 13-4 victory in a game they led 10-4 in the seventh inning Thursday when it was suspended because of lightning, the Aviators lost Friday’s regularly-scheduled game at El Paso, 14-4.
2.
Here comes the Bride: Aviators utility infielder (and emergency catcher) Jonah Bride was called up by the Oakland A’s on Tuesday and wasted little time making a nice impression with the parent club, collecting four hits in his first 13 at-bats.
3.
Taking it in stride: After Sheldon Neuse hit a home run for the Aviators in his first game after being sent down by the A’s last week (and added another homer in his second game), Kevin Smith, Oakland’s starting third baseman on Opening Day, went 4-for-5 with two RBIs in a 10-9 loss Tuesday at El Paso in his first game after being demoted.
4.
Minors brawl, majors pay: Whenever minor league teams are involved in a brawl, their major league affiliates will now pay a fine that will double if there’s a second brawl. And so on, if there are subsequent skirmishes. The idea is that the fines might discourage fights, though it probably wouldn’t have much of a deterrent when Billy Martin broke in with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League.
5.
Soft tosses, huge hits: Former Aviators fan favorite Frank “The Tank” Schwindel, normally a first baseman, was summoned for mop-up pitching duty when the Cubs fell behind the Yankees 17-4 on June 12 and promptly served up a 35.1 mph eephus ball that Kyle Higashioka hit into the left-field seats. It was the slowest pitch hit for a home run since MLB began keeping track of such things. Schwindel got the call again on Wednesday in a 19-5 loss to the Padres and allowed three runs in an inning of work.