IL notes: Home not so sweet for Walker

Last year, Christian Walker lifted himself into a spot as one of Baltimore's top prospects by hitting 20 home runs at Double-A Bowie.

This year, he's hit only two homers in 65 games with Norfolk. So is his star falling?

Hardly, said Tides manager Ron Johnson.

"Chris Parmalee had six home runs [in 61 games with us], and in the Majors he hit four in his first five games," Johnson said. "Nolan Reimold had two with us, and he hit two in his first four days with Baltimore.

"If Christian Walker is playing in a normal stadium, he probably has at least 10 home runs. Easily."

Norfolk's Harbor Park has long favored pitchers, and Walker -- who has one homer in 29 home games this season -- said it can be frustrating trying to hit there.

"It plays big to begin with, but it seems as if the wind is blowing in your face every day," he said. "You try to not lose confidence when you get home.

"It does create some good habits: You don't swing for the fences, instead you try to go gap to gap. And when you come to a park where the ball flies, when you hit one, it feels as if it's going to be a double off the wall and instead it flies out."

Johnson agreed that playing in Harbor Park can help make any hitter better.

"It challenges young hitters to stay on top of the ball and really drive the ball," he said. "And it can be about battling some adversity."

Walker admits there have been times this year when he's struggled to remain confident.

"This is the first time I've not experienced great success," he said. "But you can't expect to hit .350 each year with 30 home runs; it's just not realistic.

"I've learned a lot about myself as a hitter, making adjustments and learning what I can think about and what I can't think about. And I'm still learning."

Walker got off to a slow start this season, batting .205 in 20 games in April. But his average has remained steady in the .270 range the past two months, lifting his season totals to .251 with 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 65 games.

"I watch film and I'm happy with my swing and my fundamentals," he said. "But I've been working on the mental [part of my swing], like trying to hit into the right-center gap rather than pulling the ball to left field.

"And this league is tough. It's basically guys who are big league pitchers as well as catchers who are smart. It's a constant battle to stay on top and keep the count in your favor."

Walker also has been working on his defensive play at first base, where he leads the International League in putouts (479), assists (33) and double plays (53).

"Defense is something I know I have to work on and I've worked really, really hard early this year and in the offseason and last year on it," he said. "I'm becoming comfortable with my defense.

"I keep working on everything -- footwork around the bag, handling ground balls, everything. I don't want to be a liability there."

Johnson, who saw Walker at first base for 44 games last season, has noticed some improvement.

"He is a guy who really worked hard on defense the last two years," Johnson said. "Obviously, his bat is what is going to carry him to the big leagues, though. And I have a lot of confidence in his bat."

In brief

Hotter than Motter: There are few IL hitters as hot as Durham OF Taylor Motter, whose 16-game hit streak is the longest in the league this season. The versatile Motter, who has played all three outfield positions and every infield position -- except first base -- for the Bulls, is batting .348 in June to raise his overall average to .291 with three homers and 31 RBIs. He's also tied for third in the IL with 21 stolen bases.

Loewen gets it goin': Lehigh Valley LHP Adam Loewen has a 2.95 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the IronPigs and hasn't allowed a run in 10 of those appearances. If you exclude his May 17 game at Rochester, where he surrendered five runs in 1 2/3 innings, Loewen has a 0.93 ERA this season. The southpaw has given up only three hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts over five scoreless innings in his last three appearances.

He said it: "[The outfield] is new to me. The more I play in center, the more comfortable I get. Right now, [I prefer] second base. I can play center field, but I like second base." -- Gwinnett's Jose Peraza (through interpreter/teammate Jose Yepez) to the Gwinnett Daily Post. Peraza primarily is an infielder who's played nine games in center field in June [and seven at second base]. He's hitting .300 with two homers, 25 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 17 stolen bases in 61 games.

He said it, part II: "I'm really trying to learn from the past and not give away at-bats. Over the long course of a season, that's so easy to do. You're not going to be successful every time, clearly, but I'm trying to learn from each time I do fail." -- Buffalo 3B Matt Hague to the Buffalo News. Hague has not failed much this season: he leads the IL with a .355 batting average, .435 on-base percentage, .484 slugging percentage and 43 RBIs.