Cruz went hitless in Oklahoma's 3-2 loss to Round Rock, dropping his batting average to .313. Cruz has been on a tear in recent days, carrying a six-game hitting streak into Wednesday's game.
The 6-foot-3, 230 pound Cruz was part of a trade that sent Carlos Lee to the Rangers from Milwaukee in 2006. He played 96 games with the Rangers last season. His stats weren't bad. Cruz hit nine home runs in Texas, but he also struck out 87 times, not including 34 more in his time in Triple-A with the RedHawks.
In a dramatic reversal, Cruz has struck out just four times in 32 at bats and two of those came Wednesday night. His plate discipline, something scouts questioned in the past, is improving.
"My swing is good,” the 27-year-old Cruz said. "You can wait longer to see better pitches. You don't want to swing at a bad pitch like I used to.”
After struggling to find a comfort zone, the Dominican Republic native is finding one with the RedHawks.
"I'm here every day hitting,” he said. "It makes you feel more comfortable and see the ball better. Hitting is a day-to-day thing.”
Center fielder Brandon Boggs plays next to Cruz most games. Boggs, who is in his first season of Triple-A, is impressed with his outfield neighbor.
"He has a lot of power,” Boggs said. "He's a big strong guy and he's fast and he has a great arm. He's an all around great athlete.”
Boggs said Cruz's laid back demeanor is part of what makes him a good player.
"He's fun,” Boggs said. "He's loose. He likes to joke around and I'm sure that contributes to a lot of his success.”
Whether or not that success takes him back to Arlington remains to be seen. Either way, he's just trying to improve.
"I am here to play hard,” Cruz said. "I have to do whatever I can to get back to the big leagues.”
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The American League will forever be a bogus league as long as it has the designated hitter rule. This will keep the real athletes who train to play a position also in work. Less need for steroids since real fans know what they are watching realize a zero on the scoreboard in the direct result of hard work and outthinking you opponent. Not a needle in the a$$ of an overweight "semi-athlete" who can't conceive the idea of outworking some other athlete to have your position so you have the right to swing a bat. It will improve the fans, the game, and those who love and work in Professional baseball. The piss poor pitching last night in the Yankees-Red Sox draws out games too long. If you like slugfests watch the college game, or screw the league all together and let the pros use aluminum bats. Then you can have football scores and records smashed daily.
•Storyline: Round Rock starter Jack Cassel cruised through seven innings, allowing just one earned run and seven hits with five strikeouts. It was only the third time in 14 games this season Oklahoma was held to two runs or less.
•On the mound: Despite taking the loss, RedHawks starter Sidney Ponson (0-2) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He struck out three with two walks. At one point, Ponson retired 10 consecutive hitters.
•Next up: Round Rock (Fernando Nieve, 1-1, 1.00 ERA ) at RedHawks (Elizardo Ramirez, 2-1, 3.38 ERA), 7:05 p.m.
By Matt Patterson
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.