Storm Notebook: Quakes keep their suspended player
By: ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | ∞
LAKE ELSINORE ---- Three days after the Padres organization released outfielder Kervin Jacobo, who had been one of 38 minor leaguers suspended for violating baseball's drug policy just before the season started, Rancho Cucamonga activated another of those 38.
Baltazar Lopez joined the Quakes in Lake Elsinore on Monday after serving his own 15-game suspension. Lopez, a native of Sonora, Mexico, hit .314 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in Low-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) last season and went 1-for-4 and scored a run while batting third and playing first base Monday.
Lopez took the roster spot vacated by Ransel Melgarejo, who was suspended by the team for 30 days.
Melgarejo started the season as the Quakes center fielder and leadoff hitter but struggled at the plate and in the field. He was hitting just .178 in 13 games and misplayed several balls in the outfield.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old Cuban broke in on a ball that landed well behind him, and was pinch hit for two innings later. Monday, the team suspended him for "disciplinary reasons," according to manager Ty Boykin.
Melgarejo split time between Low-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) and Rancho in 2002 and 2003 and spent all of last season with the Quakes, where he hit .282 and stole 20 bases in 74 games.
"I think he's in a situation where he feels like he has to prove himself," Boykin said. "He thought he had a shot at making Double-A out of spring training, and I think the frustration of being back in this league and not hitting messed with his head."
Boykin said he hopes Melgarejo uses the time off to adjust his attitude.
"He has to realize the team doesn't revolve around one person," Boykin said. "Everyone here has issues, but when you put the uniform on, it's about the team."
Giant sweep
The San Jose Giants went 6-0 last week and earned both Cal League awards for the week.
Reliever Justin Hedrick won Pitcher of the Week honors, and catcher Eliezer Alfonso was named Offensive Player of the Week.
Hedrick pitched in three of San Jose's wins, allowing one hit in 3 2/3 innings and striking out five of the 11 hitters he faced to earn two saves.
Alfonzo began the Giants' week by going 5-for-5 with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in a win over High Desert and later hit two homers in a win over Modesto. He also threw out two of three would-be base stealers.
On the season, Alfonzo leads the Cal League in slugging percentage (.787) and ranks fourth in home runs (five), sixth in average (.383) and eighth in RBIs (13).
Wells OK
A day after Jared Wells left his start because he hurt his knee fielding a bunt; the right-hander said the injury is not serious.
"It's a little tight, but other than that, no worries," Wells said.
Wells said he had surgery on the same knee after dislocating it in 2000, so he knows this injury is not too bad. He iced the knee after Monday night's game and before batting practice on Tuesday, but it shouldn't require any further treatment and Wells expects to make his next start Saturday.
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