DOWN ON THE FARM: No. 21 for Joey Gallo

[Bob Of Burleson]

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 2, Carolina (CLE) 0
Record: 36-17, +9.5, magic number 6, 7-game win streak.

By Scott Lucas
The Newberg Report

Texas's 14th rounder from South Aiken high school in South Carolina has never pitched better than during the last two months. Andrew Faulkner faced two over the minimum in seven resplendent innings, allowing two singles and a walk while striking out seven. Faulkner is fourth in the league with a 2.28 ERA and third with 58 strikeouts. In March, I watched Faulkner retire two of eight batters and allow two homers. He hasn't permitted a homer during the regular season.

Fresh off watching his Clemson Tigers bow out of the NCAA Regionals in two games, Will Lamb issued two walks and struck out his other four opponents.

Joey Gallo (.322/.460/.764) crushed a high fastball for his 21st homer. In his next at-bat, with a runner on first, he was "unintentionally" walked on four pitches. Catcher Jorge Alfaro (.287/.347/.500 in May) doubled and walked.