Flashback: August in the Texas League

With the 2005 season in the books, MiLB.com takes a month-by-month look back at the biggest stories of the year in each league.

Aug. 4 -- Pitcher of the Week Ryan Baerlocher hurled a three-hit shutout to lead the Wichita Wranglers past the Tulsa Drillers, 11-0. In his previous start, the 6-foot-5 right-hander pitched a seven-inning complete game against Arkansas.

Aug. 5 -- Highly touted prospect Yorman Bazardo won his Texas League debut as the San Antonio Missions pounded the Corpus Christi Hooks, 13-1. The 21-year-old Venezuelan allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over seven scoreless innings.

Aug. 6 -- Pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel, recalled from Class A Quad Cities four days earlier, belted his first Double-A home run, a three-run shot, to lead Springfield past Arkansas, 8-4. Before the promotion, he hit .270 with 11 homers in 185 at-bats.

August's Players of the Week Week of Aug. 1 Aug. 8 Aug. 15 Aug. 22 Aug. 29 Offensive Player Howie Kendrick (ARK) Jeremy Brown (MID) Brian Stavisky (MID) Kendry Morales (ARK) Mitch Maier (WIC) Pitcher Ryan Baerlocher (WIC) Randy Leek (SPR) Rich Dorman (SA) Enmanuel Ulloa (TUL) Tim McClaskey (COR) Complete Players of the Week archive Marlins prospect Yorman Bazardo pitched seven scoreless innings to win his Texas League debut. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Aug. 11 -- Major League veteran Alan Benes, recently signed as a free agent by Springfield, won his only game of the season, but it wasn't pretty. In 1 2/3 innings, the 33-year-old right-hander allowed a solo homer and three walks while uncorking two wild pitches. The Cardinals edged the RockHounds, 11-10, on Rick Ankiel's two-run, 13th-inning walk-off homer.

Aug. 12 -- Jeremy Brown became the second Texas Leaguer in 2005 to slug three homers in a game as Midland pounded Springfield, 17-3. The 25-year-old catcher of Moneyball fame went 4-for-6 with four RBIs en route to winning the Offensive Player of the Week award.

Aug. 14 -- Pitcher of the Week Randy Leek tossed a three-hit shutout as the Cardinals blanked the RoughRiders, 6-0. The 28-year-old southpaw retired the first 10 batters and allowed just two runners to reach second base.

Aug. 17 -- Billy Butler's first Double-A home run was one to remember. The 19-year-old left fielder capped a 10-run sixth inning with a grand slam as the Wranglers defeated the Missions, 13-5, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Aug. 19 -- In his Texas League debut, Pitcher of the Week Rich Dorman tossed six hitless innings and fanned a career-high 11 as the Missions edged the Drillers, 1-0. After the 26-year-old right-hander reached his pitch count, relievers Chris Key and Renee Cortez combined to allow five hits over the final three frames.

Aug. 20 -- Howie Kendrick went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 20 games as the Travelers beat the RoughRiders, 12-7. Kendrick's streak, the second-longest in the Texas League in 2005, ended the next day with an 0-for-3 performance.

Aug. 21 -- With his seventh multi-hit performance in the last eight games, Offensive Player of the Week Brian Stavisky led the RockHounds past the Cardinals, 10-6. For the week, the 25-year-old left fielder went 16-for-33 (.485) with two homers and 11 RBIs.

Aug. 24 -- Kendry Morales went 5-for-5 with a homer and six RBIs as the Travelers pounded the Wranglers, 15-7. In six games, the Offensive Player of the Week went 18-for-27 (.667) with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.148 slugging percentage.

Aug. 24 -- Enmanuel Ulloa limited the Cardinals to three hits and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings to pitch the Drillers to a 5-2 win. Ulloa, named Pitcher of the Week for his effort, helped himself by smashing a two-run homer for his first professional hit.

Aug. 31 -- Colorado Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes went 2-for-5 in his final rehab game as the Drillers beat the Wranglers, 8-3. In eight Double-A contests, he went 11-for-34 (.324) with a double, a stolen base and six runs scored.