COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. -- Former Bradley pitcher Patrick Cooper has excelled in his first two starts since being called up to the Midwest League's West Michigan Whitecaps last week. A 14th-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in June, Cooper is still looking for his first Midwest League decision, but sports a 1.80 earned run average in his first two starts for the White Caps.
After allowing one run on four hits in 5.0 innings July 29 at Lake County, Cooper allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits in 5.0 innings Tuesday night in his home debut versus Great Lakes. The right-hander has struck out seven and allowed three walks in his first 10.0 Midwest League innings. Since signing with the Tigers organization in June, Cooper is 2-1 overall with a 3.27 earned run average in seven combined appearances for the Whitecaps and the New York-Penn League's Connecticut Tigers.
Dan Brewer extended his hitting streak to six games for the Trenton Thunder last night by going 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a run batted in. Playing for the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, Brewer also has scored at least one run in five consecutive games. An eighth-round pick by the Yankees in 2008, Brewer leads Trenton with 27 doubles and ranks second with 97 hits and 54 runs batted in.
Rob Scahill remains on a roll for the Modesto Nuts in the Class A Advanced California League, most recently picking up his eighth win of the season by striking out eight and allowing only one run on two hits in 6.0 innings of Saturday's 9-6 win at Stockton. The Colorado Rockies prospect is 8-5 overall this season with a 5.06 earned run average, but is 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA in his last 10 starts.
Brian Shouse remained perfect in his assignment with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, the Class A Advanced Florida State League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-handed reliever continues to work toward his return to the Major Leagues and has yet to allow a run in his five appearances for the Stone Crabs. Shouse got the final six outs in Tuesday's 5-0 win against Dunedin, and with two strikeouts in the outing he now boasts nine strikeouts and no walks in 11 combined appearances for the Gulf Coast League Rays and Charlotte.
