Mariner Minors
Game Recaps (5/28/05)
Tacoma 2, Fresno 9 (SF)LHP Andrew Lorraine (6.18, L) wasn’t fooling anyone tonight, as he gave up runs in every inning he pitched, eight of them total in five innings of work after ten hits (HR), three walks, and two strikeouts. RHP Jeff Heaverlo (8.44) followed with two innings where he allowed a run on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout. After that, LHP Jared Thomas (3.12) loaded the bases on two this and a walk, but got out the jam safely. 3B Hunter Brown (2B, R, .240) had another two hits for the Rainiers, but it was C Bryce Terveen (HR, 2 RBI, .232) hitting his first home run of the season that did the only scoring for the team.
Wichita 6 (KC), San Antonio 1LHP Thom Oldham (3.71, E, L) had a rough outing, going six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits (HR), two walks and two Ks. RHP Renee Cortez (4.29) took it through the last three, giving up a pair of runs after four hits and a walk. RF T.J. Bohn (2B, .300) had two hits in the game, but he was pretty much the only hitter to do something worth noting.
High Desert 6 (KC), Inland Empire 15LHP Miguel Martinez (6.18) still isn’t used to the starting gig, going four innings tonight and giving away five runs (three earned) on six hits, a wild pitch, and a walk against five strikeouts. RHP Nibaldo Acosta (5.96, W) followed with three scoreless frames, allowing runners to reach on a hit and a walk while he punched out five. LHP Chris Key (1.80) only pitched two-thirds of inning, allowing an unearned on a balk and a strikeout, before he was ejected by the home plate umpire for as of yet unknown reasons, so RHP Mike Steele (2.96) took it the rest of the way, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out two. One of the reasons behind Key’s ejection and the ejection of a Mavericks pitcher might be the four hit batters by the High Desert staff, most likely in retaliation for the Sixers offense showing them up in almost every game so far. The Sixers were not deterred, however, as seven of them, 2B Michael Garciaparra (R, 2 E, .282), DH Matt Rogelstad (2B, R, RBI, .330), CF Wladimir Balentien (2B, R, 2 RBI, .301), LF Carlos Arroyo (2 R, .379), 3B Erick Monzon (2B, 2 R, .315), RF B.J. Garbe (2 R, 2 RBI, .255), and C Luis Oliveros (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .167), all had two hits apiece. Monzon was pinch-hit for in the seventh by PH-3B Matt Hagen (2B, .196), but I don’t know yet if that was related to Monzon’s recent injury (he was not one of the four hit by pitches either).
Wisconsin 1, Quad Cities 7 (STL)LHP Casey Abrams (5.70, L) gave up four runs on eight hits, three hit batters, and two walks against a lone strikeout in six innings tonight. RHP Ivan Blanco (0.00), who is apparently replacing Roman Martinez on the roster (DL), pitched the seventh and gave up a hit and a walk. LHP Eric O’Flaherty (6.33) gave up three runs on four hits in the eighth and his ERA continues to climb after a hot start. I’m starting to get a little worried about the kid. CF Josh Womack (.273), C Rob Johnson (.306), and LF Sebastien Boucher (RBI, CS, .299) all had two hits, and SS Asdrubal Cabrera (2B, R, .339) had a double and a walk in the game.
No report on the day’s games out of Venezuela today.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: RHP Felix Hernandez, at Fresno, @ 2:05 pm PT
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith, at San Antonio, @ 2:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: LHP Jason Mackintosh, at San Bernadino, @ 2:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: RHP Mumba Rivera, at Quad Cities, @ 5:00 pm PT
Aguirre: Off day
Tacoma Rainiers: 24-24, .500, 2.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 26-23, .531, 5 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 21-27, .438, 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 28-21, .571, 0.5 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 7-2, .778, 1st in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 105-94, .528
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Game Recaps (5/27/05)
Tacoma 8, Fresno 2 (SF)RHP Cha Seung Baek (3.31) had a solid game, going seven innings and allowing a hit for each and striking out four. RHP Chris Buglovsky (4.76) followed with an inning and a hit given up, but RHP Oliver Arias (18.00), recently promoted to fill a spot on the roster, left a few pitches hanging and gave up a couple of bombs. The Rainiers and the Grizzlies had the same amount of hits in the game, but the Rainiers were also given four walks where Fresno had none. C Ryan Christianson (HR, 4 RBI, .298) led the team with three hits and four RBI, while SS Michael Morse (R, .253) and DH Greg Jacobs (HR, 2 RBI, .205) had two each. 2B Ramon Santiago (HR, 2 RBI, .229) also hit his fourth home run of the season, and it’s only the end of May. He’s only had more than two during any given season once in his career. What the heck has gotten into that guy?
Wichita 6 (KC), San Antonio 2Pretty much the opposite of the Rainiers game. RHP Juan Sandoval (4.04, L) seems to be back to his old routine of giving up hits in the bunches, and allowed nine of them (and one walk) to turn into five runs in four innings. He struck out just two. LHP Tim Rall (3.78) followed with one of his best outings, and went three scoreless frames allowing two to reach, one by being plunked and one via the free pass, and struck out three along the way. RHP Emliano Fruto (3.18) gave up a run on a couple of hits, a walk, and a strikeout in the eighth, then LHP Cesar Jimenez (2.60) struck out two in the ninth. 3B Jesus Guzman (R, .289) and LF Jaime Bubela (2B, RBI, .266) had a couple of hits for an otherwise weak offense. PH Casey Craig (.000) is in town, but struck out in the ninth on his only appearance. Haven’t caught yet what brought him up, though I did read in the paper today that Jon Nelson had an encounter with the drinking fountain recently, and it won.
High Desert 0 (KC), Inland Empire 12The Sixers have found the cure for RHP Brandon Moorhead (4.63, W) and his starting blues: score early, and score often. ‘Head went six innings today, allowing just the four hits and two walks, and struck out five. RHP Aaron Looper (0.00) followed with two innings where he struck out three, and RHP Brian Stitt (6.17) finished it off with a strikeout in the ninth. Sure, 3B Erick Monzon (2B, R, .307) had four hits in his return game, but the gameball is going to CF Wladimir “Hammer” Balentien (2 HR, 6 RBI, .297), who had three hits and sent two of them on a one-way out of the park. Factor in that performance and he’s now slugging .586. But, he wasn’t the only guy in the lineup who had a second helping of Mavericks pitching tonight, as SS Adam Jones (2 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 E, .294), 1B Bryan LaHair (2 R, 2 RBI, .294), and RF B.J. Garbe (2 2B, RBI, .248) had three hits and DH Matt Rogelstad (2B, 3 R, RBI, .330) had two.
Wisconsin 12, Quad Cities 5 (STL)RHP Jason Snyder (3.60, W) went six innings tonight and gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits (HR), two wild pitches, and a hit batter against four strikeouts, but the one tater he gave up went to Rick Ankiel. RHP Stephen Grasley (4.22) took the next two and allowed an unearned on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts, then RHP Cibney Bello (1.74) gave up a run on two hits (HR) and a walk in the ninth. Everyone in the lineup was hitting tonight, seventeen of them total and more than half of them for extra bases. C Rob Johnson (2B, R, RBI, .300) and 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .279) both had three, and 2B Oswaldo Navarro (2 2B, R, .291), CF Josh Womack (R, RBI, 2 E, .268), DH Asdrubal Cabrera (2B, 2 RBI, .339), and 3B Yung-Chi Chen (2 R, RBI, .266) had two each. LF Sebastien Boucher (HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .288) also added his first professional home run.
Aguirre’s game was cancelled due to weather. It happens sometimes.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: LHP Andrew Lorraine, at Fresno, @ 7:05 pm PT
San Antonio: LHP Thom Oldham, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: LHP Miguel Martinez, at San Bernadino, @ 7:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: LHP Casey Abrams, at Quad Cities, @ 5:05 pm PT
Aguirre: TBA, at Tronconero, @ 6:30 am PT
Tacoma Rainiers: 24-23, .511, 2.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 26-22, .542, 4 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 20-27, .426, 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 28-20, .583, T-1st in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 7-2, .778, 1st in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 105-94, .528
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Game Recaps (5/26/05)
Memphis 0 (MIL), Tacoma 2LHP Damian Moss (2.70, W) still walked four against four strikeouts over six innings tonight, but when you give up just three hits, and only one of them goes for extra bases, that doesn’t matter quite as much. RHP Jeff Harris (0.00) went the next inning and two-thirds and gave up a couple of hits, and then RHP Masao Kida (3.86, S) had a hit and a strikeout on his way to picking up the save. If you told me a month ago that Kida was going to be the Rainiers closer at any point in time, I don’t know how I would’ve reacted. There were three hits by 3B Hunter Brown (2 2B, R, .231), who reached base safely all four times he was up, and two more from CF Jamal Strong (2 2B, R, RBI, .295). That was all the offense the Rainiers needed.
Wichita (KC) 1, San Antonio 3The Good Doctor was operating again today, as LHP Bobby Livingston (3.08, W) went eight innings and allowed just one run on a solo shot, with three hits overall and five strikeouts. RHP Sean Green (3.09, S) notched another save in the ninth with a hit, a wild pitch, and two Ks. C Rene Rivera (2B, 2 RBI, .292) had two hits in the game, but I’d like to give props to SS Yuniesky Betancourt (3B, R, SB, .277), who tripled and stole home in the sixth. I’m liking this guy more and more.
Wisconsin 6, Kane County 3 (OAK)RHP Aaron Jensen (4.02, W) had a decent outing, going six innings and allowing three runs on five hits (HR), a wild pitch, a hit batter, a walk, and a strikeout. RHP Chad Fillinger (2.51) followed him with three frames of work where he only allowed two to reach via a hit and a walk and struck out five. Finally grabbing onto something and stopping his free fall, DH Yung-Chi Chen (HR, 3 RBI, CS, PO, .261) had three hits in the game, though the only one he wasn’t picked off on was his second homer of the season. 3B Asdrubal Cabrera (R, .336) added two hits to the mix, and C Rob Johnson (2B, R, .291) doubled. CF Brent Johnson (R, .229) went 0-1, but managed to walk three times.
Aguirre 9, Ciudad Alianza 7 (BOS-SD)All of the runners that reached against P Kervin Montbrum (2.57, 2 E), three hits and a hit batter, scored today, but none of them as earned runs. He also struck out three in four innings of work. P Edlando Seco (0.00) had mixed results in his inning and a third of work, allowing a hit and two walks, but striking out three, and RHP Jorge Acosta (5.59) went two and two-thirds after him, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk against three strikeouts. One of those would score after LHP Hugo Castro (0.00, S) gave up a hit when he came in, but after that he only allowed one other to reach via a walk. C Franklin Tua (2 R, 2 RBI, .409) had another three hits in the game, while DH Humberto Espinoza (2 R, RBI, CS, .556), 1B Gerardo Avila (2B, 2 R, .297), and LF Rayon Lampe (2B, R, CS, .233) had two hits each. It seems like both teams were practicing their base stealing skills in this one, with lackluster results, as there were as there were five successful swipes and five who were caught.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: RHP Cha Seung Baek, at Fresno, @ 7:05 pm PT
San Antonio: RHP Juan Sandoval, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: RHP Brandon Moorhead, at San Bernadino, @ 7:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: RHP Jason Snyder, at Quad Cities, @ 5:05 pm PT
Aguirre: TBA, at Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PT
Tacoma Rainiers: 23-23, .500, 3.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 26-21, .553, 4 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 19-27, .413, 6 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-20, .574, 1 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 7-2, .778, T-1st in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 102-93, .523
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Game Recaps (5/25/05)
Memphis 3 (STL), Tacoma 2Limited game time left RHP Jorge Campillo (2.98) just a little bit rusty tonight, as he went seven innings and allowed two runs on nine hits and a walk against just two strikeouts. RHP Jeff Heaverlo (8.76, L) followed for two innings and was decent but ended up giving the tie-breaking home run, and two hits, one walk, and two strikeouts overall in that span. There were two hits apiece by DH Jamal Strong (RBI, SB, .288), RF Chris Snelling (RBI, E, .402), CF Abraham Nunez (.263), and 2B Ramon Santiago (.230), but the offense was kind of yawn tonight.
Tulsa 8 (COL), San Antonio 5RHP Jon Huber (5.36, L) got kicked around in this one, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on eleven hits and a walk against three strikeouts in just four innings. RHP Phil Wilson (3.86) would allow two of those runs to score, but was otherwise solid over the next four, giving up just three hits, a wild pitch, a balk, and striking out five. Coming back down from Tacoma, LHP Tim Rall (4.61) struck out two in the ninth. SS Yuniesky Betancourt (R, SB, .278) had another three hits, and Tulsa’s about the middle in terms of hits given up. Hmmm… RF Gary Harris (R, .269) had two hits too, but eh… not much here either.
Inland Empire 4, Rancho Cucamonga 5 (ANA)Another game lost late. LHP Ryan Feierabend (5.91) went five and two-thirds, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, a wild pitch, and three walks against six Ks. LHP Nick Bourgeois (3.00, L) followed and went two and two-thirds innings, striking out five and allowing just a hit, a hit batter, a walk, but despite allowing just the three baserunners, two runs would score against him when RHP Greg Wear (2.75) gave up a double with one out in the ninth. DH Michael Nesbit (2B, R, .308) had a couple of hits, as did LF Carlos Arroyo (2B, 2 RBI, .411), surprise, surprise. However, there were a few odd things, like 2B Matt Rogelstad (HR, 2 RBI, .326) hitting a home run and CF Wladimir Balentien (R, .287) going 0-2 with a couple of walks. Cue Twilight Zone music.
Wisconsin 5, Kane County 3 (OAK)RHP Mark Lowe (5.11, W) was dealing tonight, going six innings and giving just four hits while punching out seven. LHP Eric O’Flaherty (5.31) followed him and almost gave it away, with three runs on four hits, a hit batter, and a walk against two strikeouts over an inning and two-thirds, but RHP Craig James (0.00) remained automatic and struck out two on his way to finishing up the game. DH Marshall Hubbard (HR, 2 RBI, .262) and LF Sebastien Boucher (SB, .290) both had three hits in the game, and RF Mike Wilson (2 R, RBI, .236) and C Omar Falcon (2B, .333) both had two, but beyond that there was only one other hit in the lineup.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: LHP Damian Moss, at Tacoma, @ 6:05 pm PT
San Antonio: LHP Bobby Livingston, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: Day off
Wisconsin: RHP Aaron Jensen, at Kane County, @ 4:05 pm PT
Aguirre: TBA, at Cuidad Alianza, @ 7:00 am PT
Tacoma Rainiers: 22-23, .489, 3.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 25-21, .543, 4 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 19-27, .413, 6 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 26-20, .565, 2 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 6-2, .750, T-1st in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 98-93, .513
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Game Recaps (5/24/05)
Memphis 5 (STL), Tacoma 6 (eleven innings)Extra-inning games were the flavor du jour, but this was the only one where the M’s team came out with the win. LHP Andrew Lorraine (5.12, PO) only lasted three and two-thirds innings in this one, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks against four Ks. RHP Chris Buglovsky (4.94) followed up with an inning and a third plus in which he gave up two hits and a walk, and then RHP Masao Kida (4.00) got through the next two and two-thirds innings only walking one batter. LHP George Sherrill (2.18) blew the save in the ninth after giving up a run on two hits, but he did have strikeouts for all three of his outs, and RHP Jeff Harris (0.00) took it the rest of the way, giving up a hit and two walks.
The TNT is reporting that Sherrill left when he suffered an apparent triceps injury. I’m pleased to note that, while there were five inherited runners in this game, all of them were stranded. RF Chris Snelling (3B, 2 R, RBI, .402) went 1-3 with a couple of walks and scored the walk-off run with a triple and a passed ball by the Memphis catcher, but also worth note were LF Shin-soo Choo (2B, CS, .301), with three hits, and CF Jamal Strong (R, 2 RBI, .283) and DH Abraham Nunez (2 RBI, CS, .255), who each had two.
While Snelling finally got back on the field today, Jose Lopez was not so lucky and had to be placed on the DL, retroactive to Saturday. This comes after he jammed his good hand on a check swing, but I imagine both hands are hurting to some extent. Eric Blakeley was called up from Inland Empire to replace him.
Tulsa 6 (COL), San Antonio 5 (ten innings)A painful loss, not quite as painful as Inland’s though. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (4.32) pitched a good game, going six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. RHP Renee Cortez (4.00) was solid over the next two, with just a walk and a strikeout of note, but RHP Sean Green (3.22, L) would get the blown save and the loss as he gave up three runs, one earned, over the next two innings on two hits, two walks, and a strikeout. SS Yuniesky Betancourt (2B, HR, .268) had three hits and came up a triple shy of the cycle, and LF Jon Nelson (HR, 2 RBI, .257), 1B Jesse Hoorelbeke (2B, RBI, .241), and 2B Ismael Castro (2B, .220) all supplied extra-base knocks. I’d note 3B Jesus Guzman (2 R, 3 E, .288) and his two hits as a contribution, but I think the three errors outweighs that. There was one cool thing to note about this game though, and that is that all three of the outfielders had an assist. I don’t imagine that happens often.
Inland Empire 7, Rancho Cucamonga 8 (ANA) (eleven innings)Quite a heartbreaker, this one, as the Sixers gave up a five-run lead going into the ninth and lost the game in extra innings. RHP Aaron Trolia (4.57) was effective through six innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits, two hit batters, and a walk with just a couple of Ks. RHP Aaron Looper (0.00) followed for an inning, gave up a hit, and struck out a batter, but it went downhill from there. RHP Nibaldo Acosta (6.75) had an easy eight in which he struck out a batter, but then gave up four consecutive hits to open the ninth, which immediately led to two runs. RHP Mike Steele (3.13, L) followed him and allowed the other two runners to score, along with one of his own in that inning and in the eleventh, as he gave up four hits (HR) and two walks against a pair of strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. LHP Chris Key (1.84) would give up the two-out hit that scored the walk-off run. The Sixers had twelve hits in this one, but also had the chance to capitalize on nine walks, so it’s a little surprising that there wasn’t more scoring. LF Michael Nesbit (2 R, 2 SB, 2 BB, .299), 3B-2B Matt Rogelstad (R, RBI, BB, .330), CF Wladimir Balentien (2B, 3 RBI, .290), and C Chris Collins (2B, RBI, 2 BB, .291) all had two hits apiece, and DH Carlos Arroyo (R, 2 BB, .404) was one of three with multiple walks. On the injury front, I may have something to note later, because it looks like 2B Hyung Cho was pulled with one out in the Quakes half of the first.
Wisconsin 7, Kane County 3 (OAK)RHP Mumba Rivera (2.52) went six innings and allowed a couple of runs on six hits and three walks against a couple of Ks, and was spared his first loss of the season by a seven-run rally in the ninth. Why can’t the M’s have a few of those? Anyway, LHP Kendall Berdall (3.00) went the next inning and allowed a run after a hit and two walks, but his K/BB ratio was spared some ugliness due to the fact that all three of his outs came via the K. Coming in for the last two innings and the win was RHP Ivan Blanco (0.00, W), who walked one and struck out two. Blanco’s one of my favorites in the lower levels, but he missed time last season with an injury. I thought he’d start out in Everett, so I’m still searching for a corresponding move on this one, but he has the stuff to start if/when he gets stretched out. As for the offense, I don’t usually play around with game logs and block quotes, but I have to in this instance…
Wisconsin Top 9th
· Pitcher Change: Scot Drucker replaces Rob Semerano.
· Robert Johnson walks.
· Matt Tuiasosopo triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Chris Tritle. Robert Johnson scores.
· Michael Wilson hit by pitch.
· Pitcher Change: Connor Robertson replaces Scot Drucker.
· Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Michael Wilson to 2nd.
· Thomas Hubbard called out on strikes.
· Yung Chi Chen pops out to second baseman Kevin Melillo.
· Sebastien Boucher walks. Matt Tuiasosopo scores. Michael Wilson to 3rd. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.
· Joshua Womack walks. Michael Wilson scores. Asdrubal Cabrera to 3rd. Sebastien Boucher to 2nd.
· Oswaldo Navarro singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jose Pineda. Asdrubal Cabrera scores. Sebastien Boucher scores. Joshua Womack to 2nd.
· Pitcher Change: Steven Sharpe replaces Connor Robertson.
· Robert Johnson singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jose Pineda. Joshua Womack scores. Oswaldo Navarro to 3rd.
· With Matt Tuiasosopo batting, wild pitch by Steven Sharpe, Oswaldo Navarro scores. Robert Johnson to 2nd.
· Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out to first baseman Eddie Kim.
Aguirre 4, Tronconero #1 1 (PHI)RHP Alfredo Venagas (0.00) was pretty brilliant in his start, going four innings and allowing just four hits while striking out six. RHP Alejandro Gutierrez (1.35, W) followed him and got the win, going three frames and giving up a run on three hits, a wild pitch, and a walk while punching out five, and then RHP Dionny Gaetano (0.00, S) picked up the save, pitching the last two innings and allowing a hit and a strikeout. Leading the team with three hits was 1B Franklin Tua (2 RBI, .333), but I’m not too sure what to think of his early success, as he’s one of the older players on the team and just debuted this year. 2B Humberto Espinoza (2B, 2 R, .571) did earn another start, and got two hits out of it. DH Gerardo Avila (2B, R, RBI, .273) also added another double. The Mariners regained possession of first place with this game, but are only half a game ahead of the second place team.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: RHP Jorge Campillo, at Tacoma, @ 6:05 pm PT
San Antonio: RHP Jon Huber (?), at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: LHP Ryan Feierabend, at Rancho Cucamonga, @ 10:30 am PT
Wisconsin: RHP Mark Lowe, at Kane County, @ 10:05 am PT
Aguirre: Day off
Tacoma Rainiers: 22-22, .500, 2.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 25-20, .556, 3 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 19-26, .422, 6 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 25-20, .556, 3 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 6-2, .750, 1st in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 97-90, .519
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Game Recaps (5/23/05)
System sweep again, second time in four days. We’ve got some good baseball going on right now in the minors.
Memphis 0 (STL), Tacoma 4What more needs to be said about RHP Felix Hernandez (2.63)? Well, in this case I might as well tell you that he went seven innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out nine, but I was without radio feed for the duration. RHP Jeff Heaverlo (9.13) strung another good outing on the line, going an inning, giving up a hit, and striking out a batter, then LHP George Sherrill (1.83) struck out two in the ninth. That’s almost thirteen Ks per nine innings now. CF Jamal Strong (R, .281) and RF Abraham Nunez (R, SB, .250) both had two hits in the game, SS Michael Morse (2 RBI, .261) had two RBI and a walk, and 3B Hunter Brown (2B, .217) and 2B Ramon Santiago (HR, .219) had extra-base hits, but as far as the lineup goes, I’m still waiting on Snelling, Lopez, and Leone to get back.
Jeff Harris fans, and Jim Thomsen who wanted his interview, rejoice! I’ve
caught word that Harris is headed for Tacoma, and LHP Tim Rall’s going back to the Missions.
Tulsa 2 (COL), San Antonio 7LHP Thom Oldham (3.53) wasn’t exactly on his game in this one, going four innings and allowing two runs on four hits, two hit batters, and five walks against just Ks. Oldham opened up the fifth by giving up two walks and a single to load the bases, but fortunately, RHP Emiliano Fruto (3.00, W) dug him out of it, allowing only one of the runs to score and going three innings total, walking and striking out a pair. LHP Cesar Jimenez (2.70) went the final two, allowing a hit and a walk while punching out a batter. Getting back into the swing of things was C Rene Rivera (RBI, .283), who had three hits and picked off a runner at third. Also impressive were CF Gary Harris (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB, .273) and DH Jon Nelson (HR, .258), who had two hits each, and 1B Nate Espy (2B, 2 RBI, .274), who went 1-3 with two walks.
Rancho Cucamonga 4 (ANA), Inland Empire 5LHP Jason Mackintosh (2.63) pitched well enough against a tough team, going six innings and giving up two hits on six hits and three walks as he struck out seven, but RHP Brian Stitt (6.45, W) gave up two (one earned) over the next two frames on four hits against four Ks. The Sixers offense wasn’t having any of that, and rallied back immediately, leading to a tense ninth in which RHP Greg Wear (2.75) gave up a hit in two-thirds of an inning and LHP Chris Key (1.84, S) struck out the final batter, former first-round pick Brandon Wood. DH Carlos Arroyo (3 RBI, .427), who doesn’t look like he’s learning much of anything in his second tour of duty in the league, had another two hits in this game. I’m reaching for another notable, but I’ll give additional props to a guy who’s done well of late, 1B Bryan LaHair (R, RBI, .297), and his going 1-3 with a walk.
Wisconsin 7, Kane County 6 (OAK) (ten innings)LHP Casey Abrams (5.66) was knocked out of the game after just an inning and two-thirds, during which time he allowed five runs (two earned) on two hits, four wild pitches, and four walks. Since Grasley wasn’t available because of last night’s game, RHP Cibney Bello (1.50) had to save the game, going four and third innings and striking out a batter, and somehow managing to give up two hits and four free passes without allowing any runs to score. RHP Chad Fillinger (2.76, W) gave up a run on four hits and an intentional walk against three Ks, taking it to the end of the ninth, and then RHP Craig James (0.00) nailed down the save in the ninth with a walk and a strikeout. Though the winning run came on a shot by RF Mike Wilson (HR, 2 RBI, .229), who had two hits total, there were also some solid contributions from C Rob Johnson (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, CS, .298), who had three hits, and 2B Oswaldo Navarro (2B, 2 R, .278), who had two. Nice job on the part of the T-Rats overcoming the four errors in the game.
Venoco #1 4 (HOU), Aguirre 13I knew that the offense in Aguirre was going to be pretty good, but I didn’t know quite how good, so I just had to laugh when I saw them turn out this. But first, for pitching, LHP Jose Escalona (1.17) started and went four innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Escalona’s a guy to watch on this staff. RHP Jorge Acosta (3.68) followed for two and two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. P Carlos Sanchez (1.69, E) got Acosta out of further trouble with out a scratch and went an inning and third overall, giving up a hit and a strikeout, then LHP Hugo Castro (0.00) struck out one in the ninth and hit another. Aguirre got four hits apiece from DH Humberto Espinoza (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, .667), making his first start (think he’s earned another?), and C Jair Fernandez (R, RBI, .462), and two hits from CF Edzul Robles (R, 3 RBI, .273) and RF Greyson Berroteran (2 2B, 2 R, .273). SS Cesar Fuentes (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, .318) and LF Rayon Lampe (2B, 3 R, .182), who also walked, got some good mileage out of their one hit apiece as well. Since I haven’t updated in a little while, I’ll tell you that 2B Jetsy Extrano (R, RBI, E, .250) has been struggling a little lately, and made his fifth error today.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: LHP Andrew Lorraine, at Tacoma, @ 6:05 pm PT
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: RHP Aaron Trolia, at San Bernadino, @ 10:30 am PT
Wisconsin: RHP Mumba Rivera, at Kane County, @ 4:05 pm PT
Aguirre: RHP Alfredo Venagas (?), at Aguirre, @ 8:05 am PT
Tacoma Rainiers: 21-22, .488, 2.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 25-19, .568, 3 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 19-25, .432, 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 24-20, .545, 3 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 5-2, .714, 0.5 GB in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 94-88, .516
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Game Recaps (5/22/05)
Nashville 3 (MIL), Tacoma 7RHP Rich Dorman (5.57, W) took the hill in this one and had a killer outing, going six innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. From the first to through the fifth, Dorman retired fourteen batters in a row. After that, LHP Jared Thomas (3.24) pitched a frame and allowed a run on a hit, a wild pitch, and two walks against a K, and then LHP Tim Rall (9.00) pitched the ninth and allowed another run on a hit and a walk. 1B Aaron Rifkin (2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, .269) led the offense, going 3-3 with a walk and coming up just a tater shy of the cycle. DH Jamal Strong (SB, .273) and LF Shin-soo Choo (.288) added two hits to the mix, and SS Michael Morse (3B, RBI, .260) also tripled.
San Antonio 2, Corpus Christi 1 (HOU)The Missions won’t see the Hooks again until June 11th, but Hooks fans might wish it were longer than that. RHP Juan Sandoval (3.48, PO, 2 E) started in what became a pitchers duel, going seven innings and allowing a run on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts. The run came in the eighth, after Sandoval gave up a hit and a walk to the first two batters, then RHP Renee Cortez (4.50, W) gave up a hit and an intentional walk (which turned into a DP). It looked like the Hooks might finally win one, leading 1-0 going into the ninth, but it just wouldn’t be so and RHP Sean Green (3.10) picked up the save as their batters couldn’t do a thing against him. As for the first half of that ninth inning, the Corpus Christi pitcher was just one out away from getting a complete game victory, when RF T.J. Bohn (R, .317) and LF Jon Nelson (R, .252) had back-to-back singles. The pitcher was promptly replaced by the bullpen’s relief ace, but that ace served up a triple to CF Jaime Bubela (3B, .264), and just like that, the tides had turned in favor of the Missions.
Inland Empire 9, High Desert 5 (KC)I’m going to do something a little unconventional here and start out with the transactions. First off, now that C Rene Rivera is back in San Antonio, C Luis Oliveros has been sent down to Inland Empire, and C Brian Schweiger is going back to Peoria. Also, Saeger stated that 3B Erick Monzon and 2B Michael Garciaparra should be coming back within the next week, and that’s a plus, I guess. Next we have some mixed news, as LHP Shawn Nottingham, whose turn in the rotation would have come today, does not have a tear in his elbow, but will miss four to six weeks (anyone have a line a “strained flexor bundle?”). Replacing him in the rotation until further notice will be LHP Miguel Martinez (6.08), who struggled his way through four innings tonight and gave up three runs on five hits, a hit batter, and two walks while striking out just one. LHP Nick Bourgeois (2.45, W) pitched the next three and two-thirds to get the win and his line reads two runs given up on a hit, a hit batter, a couple of walks, and a couple of strikeouts, but don’t be misled, as RHP Mike Steele (2.66) gave up a wild pitch and a double to score both of those runs on his way to finishing the inning. His ninth was somewhat less eventful, with only a hit batter and a strikeout of note. The offense was tearing it up in this one, with eight extra-base hits total (and, surprisingly, none of them coming from Wlad). RF Chris Colton (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, .228), of the Mendoza Line Survivors Group in the Sixers lineup, went 4-5 on the night, and one of his friends from that crew, DH B.J. Garbe (2 2B, R, RBI, .244), went 3-5. Also with three-hit performances on the night were SS Adam Jones (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, CS, .287), who also walked, and 1B Bryan LaHair (3B, R, RBI, .297). C Chris Collins (2 R, RBI, .283) added another two hits, and though he’ll probably be losing some playing time to Oliveros soon, I have to admit that the Sixers lineup is looking a whole lot better of late.
Clinton 15 (TEX), Wisconsin 8Despite the crooked numbers, this one was actually pretty close and went back and forth for the majority of the game. RHP Jason Snyder (3.67) wasn’t exactly on today, going five innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, a wild pitch, and three walks with just one strikeout. RHP Roman Martinez (4.81, E, L) went the next inning and a third and would give up two runs on four hits and two walks, but one of those runs would score after RHP Stephen Grasley (4.50) came into the game. Grasley would end up giving away eight runs (seven earned) on six hits (HR) and three walks against three Ks on his way to finishing the game. Everyone in the lineup had a hit today, but for notables I’ll go with the four two-hit performances split between LF Sebastien Boucher (R, RBI, .274), DH Yung-Chi Chen (2B, 2 R, .264), 1B Brandon Green (R, .209), and RF Brent Johnson (R, RBI, .239), the double by SS Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, R, .315), and, perhaps most of all, the two-run shot by 2B Oswaldo Navarro (HR, 2 RBI, .271) which, at the time, gave me some hope that the T-Rats would pull it out and gain a game in the standings.
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Tacoma: RHP Felix Hernandez, at Tacoma, @ 6:05 pm PT
San Antonio: LHP Thom Oldham, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: LHP Jason Mackintosh, at San Bernadino, @ 7:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: LHP Casey Abrams, at Kane County, @ 4:05 pm PT
Aguirre: LHP Jose Escalona (?), at Aguirre, @ 8:05 am PT
Tacoma Rainiers: 20-22, .476, 3.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 24-19, .558, 4 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 18-25, .419, 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 23-20, .535, 4 GB in MWL West
Aguirre Mariners, 4-2, .667, 0.5 GB in VSL Valencia
Organizational Record: 89-88, .503
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