NewsLucroy paces Javelinas' attack
Brewers catcher homers, drives in three in 5-4 win
By Robert Emrich / Special to MLB.com
10/30/09 7:30 PM ET
Jonathan Lucroy's focus and positive attitude are beginning to pay dividends, as Friday's performance showed.Lucroy homered and drove in three runs as the Peoria Javelinas held on to defeat the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 5-4, on Friday.
The Brewers prospect staked the Javelinas to an early 1-0 lead, homering in the second inning off former Orioles third-round pick Brandon Erbe. Lucroy, who splits time at catcher with Dodgers farmhands Lucas May and Jesse Mier, later added a decisive two-run single for first-place Peoria.
"I go into the cage between games," said Lucroy, Milwaukee's third-round selection in the 2007 Draft. "I don't take my days off lightly, they're just days I'm not catching. I just try to stay positive and stay focused."
Lucroy's focus is on reaching the Majors sooner rather than later. He was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2008 for Class A West Virginia, and made the Southern League All-Star team in 2009 with Double-A Huntsville, batting .267 with 66 RBIs. That success, however, isn't enough for him.
"I don't know what the Brewers plans are for me, but I'm just going to work hard," Lucroy said. "I'm not going to settle for being in the Minor Leagues next year, I want to be in the big leagues."
Fellow Brewers prospect Lorenzo Cain reached base three times and picked up his fourth stolen base. Angels outfielder Andrew Lambo, batting .404 in Arizona, drove in a run, singling twice as the designated hitter batting cleanup.
Chris Marrero (Nationals) homered for the Desert Dogs and collected his sixth multi-hit game of the season while Brad Snyder, Baltimore's first-round pick in 2005, doubled and drove in his 16th run, good for third best in the league.
Phillipe Aumont, Seattle's top pick in the 2007 Draft, was credited with his first win for the Javelinas despite giving up four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
Peoria starter Scot Drucker (Tigers) allowed three hits in four innings, fanning two.
Erbe was charged with one run on three hits in 4 1/3 frames. He whiffed five before Paul Phillips (Rays) allowed four runs on five hits in 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss.
Robert Emrich is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
