Quakes attack is bolstered

Fresh off a 2-1 victory over the 66ers, the Quakes found out after the game Thursday night that two players would be returning to the team: catchers Flint Wipke and Brian Walker.

It’s part of the trickle-down effect with the activation of Angels catcher Mike Napoli from the disabled list, and possibly another player.

Walker was batting just .179 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 40 games with Double-A Arkansas, but hit .283 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 42 games with the Quakes in the first two months of the season.

Wipke was batting .278 with three home runs and five RBI in 10 games for Arkansas, and hit .265 with three homers and 19 RBI in 27 games with the Quakes.

Both should help: the Quakes current backup catchers C.J. Bressoud and Alberto Rosario (who are both going to low Single-A Cedar Rapids) were batting .161 and .218, respectively, this season.

Hank Conger is catching again, but probably only a few days per week, leaving a good opportunity for one of the other two to DH when Conger catches or catch when Conger DHs.