Playoff Game Recap (9/9/06)

Lake Elsinore 1 (SD), Inland Empire 2 (eleven innings)
While the M’s were doing their own extra-inning thing, the Sixers were doing the same. LHP Justin Thomas (0.00) gave up five hits and a walk and struck out ten through six innings of work. RHP Mumba Rivera (0.00) followed suit, giving up two hits and striking out two in two innings, but then LHP David Asher (---) gave up a hit and was pulled in favor of RHP Jose de la Cruz (0.00, BS), who let that run score while giving up two hits and ringing up two in a couple of frames. RHP Joe Woerman (0.00, W) struck out two in the eleventh and picked up the win.
Eleventh inning went like this…

Inland Empire Bottom 11th
· Pitcher Change: John Thomas replaces Matt Varner, batting 6th, replacing Sean Kazmar.
· Casey Craig flies out to center fielder Adam Bourassa.
· Omar Falcon singles on a line drive to center fielder Adam Bourassa.
· Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jack Arroyo replaces Omar Falcon.
· Reed Eastley singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Crosta. Jack Arroyo to 2nd.
· Josh Womack strikes out swinging.
· Jeffrey Dominguez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Skip Adams. Jack Arroyo scores. Reed Eastley to 2nd.

Not much in the way off offense, but RF Casey Craig (2 SB, .333) had a hit and two walks, SS Jeff Dominguez (R, SB, .000) had just the two walks, and CF Brent Johnson (RBI, SB, .250) had a hit and a walk.

RHP Andy Baldwin, tomorrow, San Bernardino, @ 6:11 pm PDT

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posted by Jay Y. @ 11:16 PM

  Affiliation News (9/9/06)

Every year, tens of baseball reams change their affiliations and I spend the better part of the season trying to memorize them again, sometimes with success, sometimes without. Again, we are coming up to that time, with the signing period starting up on the 16th and lasting until the 30th.

I've never had to cover one of the home town affiliates switching places, but that may be ending soon as the SBSun is reporting that the Dodgers have their eye on the Cal League again.

A few years back, the Dodgers decided to move a few of their affiliations further east around where their training complexes are in Florida, so as they departed San Bernadino and San Antonio, the M's affiliates, previously located in Lancaster CA (bandbox) and New Haven CT, rolled in and snatched them up. I thought it was a little stange for the Dodgers to abandon their Cal League post, but as long as it suited us, I was fine with it.

But if the Dodgers do have their sights set on Inland Empire, the M's will be hard pressed to find another affiliate in the Cal League that plays like a pitcher's park, a trend they've tended towards since Safeco opened. Lancaster and High Desert are available, but both are among the most hitter-friendly parks in all of minor league baseball. Visalia is only other one that's open, and it's only slightly better. Inland Empire is rated as the best pitcher's park in the league, and that's the main reason why I hope they retain it.

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posted by Jay Y. @ 1:46 AM

  Game Recap (9/6/06)

Everett 5, Vancouver 0 (OAK + 2)
Well, if there was any team it’d wanted the Sox to beat in the last days of the season, it was Vancouver, and if there was a pitcher I would’ve wanted to see a dominant outing from (and a first win for), it was LHP Tony Butler (2.76, W). Check, and check. Butler dominated Vancouver, allowing just three runners through seven innings via a hit, a hit batter, and a walk, while he rung up nine. To be honest, I can’t recall ever seeing a high school pitcher drafted by the M’s who was as dominant as Butler has been statistically, but it’s a refreshing change and something I’d like to get used to. RHP Kameron Mickolio (2.78) gave up a hit in the next inning and RHP Doug Fister (2.25) did the same in the ninth.
CF Kevin Reynolds (2 2B, R, RBI, .242) had three hits out of the leadoff spot, DH Jair Fernandez (2B, R, .230) had a double, and C Chao Kuan Wu (2 R, .236) and 3B Leury Bonilla (RBI, .230) both had a hit and a walk.

And just like that, the season is over, save for however deep the Sixers go in the playoffs. I’ll get the Saturday and Sunday recaps in, but after that, I’m going on vacation for a week and whatever happens, happens. It’s been an interesting year in minor league ball, as we’re finally seeing the results of aggressive promotions and solid drafting. In the previous years, we would’ve seen more playoff teams, but those teams wouldn’t have been as prospect-laden and I don’t know that I miss it if this is the alternative. The dynamic of the system is shifting and the switch one director to the next will be about complete by the end of next year. There are some prospects to talk about before we roll around to spring training, a few calculations to do here and there once I find my TI-83, and some winter ball to cover throughout. I hope you’ve enjoyed the season as much as I have, though the records weren’t always exceptional, it’s been another fun year in prospect watching.


Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: Season over, second place
San Antonio: Season over, fourth place
Inland Empire: Playoffs (TBA, in San Bernardino, on Saturday, @ 7:11 pm PDT)
Wisconsin: Season over, seventh place
Everett: Season over, fourth place
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place

Tacoma Rainiers: 74-70, .514, 7 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 33-37 (60-78), .471, (.435), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-37 (73-67), .471 (.521), 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-43 (54-86), .386 (.386), 15.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 31-45, .408, 23.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 396-430-5, .480

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posted by Jay Y. @ 8:01 PM

  Game Recap (9/5/06)

Marwin Vega is the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. Woot!

Everett 4, Vancouver 6 (OAK + 3)
LHP Steve Uhlmansiek (4.07, L) finally got on the mound, but the results were less than pleasant as he let six runs score on nine hits, a hit batter, a wild pitch, two walks, and two Ks in three and two-thirds innings. RHP Justin Souza (3.99) gave up a couple of hits, hit a batter, and struck out three over the next two and a third innings, and LHP Jose Suriel (3.89) was perfect in the last two, punching out five of the six batters he faced.
The offense had two hits apiece from 2B Marcos Villezcas (R, .215), LF Bryan Sabatella (2B, R, 2 RBI, SB, .261), and 3B Leury Bonilla (HR, 2 R, .227), and a hit and a walk from 1B Manelik Pimentel (.256).


Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: Season over, second place
San Antonio: Season over, fourth place
Inland Empire: Playoffs (TBA, in San Bernardino, on Saturday, @ 7:11 pm PDT)
Wisconsin: Season over, seventh place
Everett: TBA, at Vancouver, @ 1:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place

Tacoma Rainiers: 74-70, .514, 7 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 33-37 (60-78), .471, (.435), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-37 (73-67), .471 (.521), 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-43 (54-86), .386 (.386), 15.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 30-45, .400, 24 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 395-430-5, .479

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posted by Jay Y. @ 10:38 PM

  Game Recaps (9/4/06)

Tucson 2 (ARI + 27), Tacoma 3
RHP Francisco Cruceta (4.38) gave up two runs on seven hits (HR) and two walks while punching out ten through six innings of work. RHP Scott Atchison (2.34) struck out two in the next two innings and ended up with the win. LHP Cesar Jimenez (4.36, S) gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth.
1B Jon Nelson (HR, 2 RBI, .284) had his fourteenth home run at triple-A. RF T.J. Bohn (.283) and C Jeff Clement (R, RBI, .257) had two hits apiece and LF Alex Gary (SB, .143) had a hit and a walk.

Lake Elsinore 9 (SD + 5), Inland Empire 5
RHP Justin Jordan (5.19, L) gave up eight runs on nine hits (HR), two walks, and a K through four and a third innings. RHP Ivan Blanco (3.66) let one of those score, along with one more on two hits (HR) and two Ks in two and two-thirds innings. RHP Joe Woerman (2.67) had a perfect inning and RHP Jose de la Cruz (2.97) struck out one in the ninth.
DH Chris Colton (2B, R, 2 RBI, .239) had three hits in the game, 2B Luis Valbuena (2B, .252), 1B Johan Limonta (R, .462), and SS Jeff Dominguez (2 RBI, .245) had two apiece, and CF Brent Johnson (.284) had another night where he had a single and a walk.

The first playoff game for the Sixers will be at 7:11 pm PDT on Saturday.

Wisconsin 7, Clinton 6 (TEX - 26)
LHP David Asher (4.31) closed out his season and kept the T-Rats from having their all-time worst record by going seven innings and giving up three runs on eight hits (HR), two wild pitches, two walks, and six Ks. RHP Roman Martinez (3.98, BS) almost blew it by giving up three more runs after two hits, a hit batter, and two walks in the eighth, but RHP Brain Kappel (1.61, W) salvaged it, pitching two innings without allowing another baserunner while he struck out three.
The top five in the order, 2B Ron Garth (2B, R, RBI, .275), LF Jeff Flaig (2 R, .220), SS Chris Minaker (2 R, RBI, .315), DH Adam Moore (HR, 2 RBI, .267), and C Curtis Ledbetter (2B, 2 RBI, .247), all had two hits. The AZL grads in 1B Gerardo Avila (RBI, .159) and 3B Alex Liddi (R, .184) also had a hit apiece. Garth scored the winning run after he doubled and Minaker drove him in on a single.

Everett 1, Vancouver 2 (OAK + 2)
RHP Ricky Orta (5.20, L) gave up two runs on four hits while he rung up five. RHP Joe Kantakevich (2.48) had a hit, a walk, and a K to show for the eighth.
3B Leury Bonilla (R, CS, .221) had three hits in the game and 1B Joe White (RBI, .254) walked twice.


Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: Season over, second place
San Antonio: Season over, fourth place
Inland Empire: Playoffs (TBA, in San Bernardino, on Saturday, @ 7:11 pm PDT)
Wisconsin: Season over, seventh place
Everett: TBA, at Vancouver, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place

Tacoma Rainiers: 74-70, .514, 7 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 33-37 (60-78), .471, (.435), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-37 (73-67), .471 (.521), 5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-43 (54-86), .386 (.386), 15.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 30-44, .405, 23 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 395-429-5, .479

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posted by Jay Y. @ 1:33 AM

  A New Spin on the Old "Hidden Ball Trick" or Why I Love Minor League Baseball Cruising around various websites in attempt to kill time before I'm obligated to be in one place or another, I came across this little gem of a story concerning a backup catcher for the 1987 Williamsport Bills of the double-A Eastern League.

After hitting .141 through 51 games, with his team in last place, Dave Bresnahan came up with a novel idea: would a potato, peeled into the shape of a baseball and thrown into left field, be enough to dupe a runner on third into breaking for third while he still held on to the actual ball?

The full story can be found at The Baseball Report. |

posted by Jay Y. @ 3:43 PM

  Two More '06 Draft Signings

Baseball America has it in their most recent Transaction Update that the Mariners have signed a couple more players in LHP Greg Moviel (26) and 1B Brandon Fromm (41).

Moviel is out of Vanderbilt, but there isn’t much of a track record to go on for him. He only pitched 22 innings in his entire career there, and almost half of them came as a freshman, when he gave up a couple runs on three hits, FOURTEEN WALKS, and eight Ks through ten and a third innings. Coming out of high school, he was highly regarded, and BA had him as their 50th best HS prospect following his junior year, it’s just that he hasn’t done much in the past few years due to various injuries. Left-hander, with potentially good stuff, but slipped off the radar due to various circumstances. This is the kind of signing the M’s have loved to make in the past few years.

Fromm spent his time at San Jose State and saw more time there, with 435 at-bats worth of info, though only 83 of those came this season. He’s a left-hander, is praised throughout the conference for his on-base skills, has flashed some solid power on occasion, and is supposedly a good defender. He’s done pretty well, but the teams he’s been on have been somewhat mediocre with a couple of standouts here and there. It seems like he’d translate to a low-average guy with decent peripherals.

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posted by Jay Y. @ 1:21 PM

  DSL Ms Advance!

Riding their steller starting staff, the Santo Domingo Norte Mariners advanced to the DSL championship series yesterday, beating the San Cristobal Tigers 2-0.

LHP Richard Ortiz went the distance, giving up 4 hits and 5 walks against 8 ks. The offense did next to nothing for the second day in a row, and again scored 2 runs thanks to Detroit´s poor defense. Juan Diaz and Luis Peguero had the only hits of the day. Still no production out of Welington Dotel, but he´ll get at least 2 more chances to do something against the DSL Yankees 1 in the finals.

Gregorio Rosario pitches against the Yankees in Boca Chica in game 1.

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posted by JH @ 12:35 PM

  Game recaps (9/3/06)

Tucson 7 (ARI + 28), Tacoma 6
RHP Rich Dorman (4.55, L) gave up five runs on eight hits (HR), a balk, two walks, and four Ks. RHP Jason Snyder (1.50) pitched three after that, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits, a hit batter, and two walks against a K. RHP Kyle Parker (0.00) and RHP Rocky Collis (0.00) both turned in perfect, but uneventful innings.
2B Ismael Castro (2B, R, RBI, E, .304) had three hits in the game, 3B Greg Dobbs (HR, .314) had a home run, and 1B Hunter Brown (.262) had a hit and two walks.

Corpus Christi 7 (HOU 0), San Antonio 0
LHP Ryan Feierabend (4.28) gave up a solo home run, hit one, walked one, and struck out three in three innings. After that, RHP Chad Fillinger (3.44) got kicked around, giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits (HR), a walk, and a K. LHP Jason Mackintosh (3.38) gave up one hit and punched out two in the next three innings, and RHP Stephen Kahn (6.23) gave up a run on three hits and struck out one in the frame following that. RHP Craig James (2.61) struck out one in the ninth.
3B Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, .185) had a couple of hits, including a double, so he’ll end the year with five extra-base hits in double-A, with 12.5% of hits going that way. Hope he rebounds next year. Wlad didn’t walk.

Lake Elsinore 11 (SD + 4), Inland Empire 4 (eleven innings)
LHP Jared Thomas (4.10) had an awesome start go for naught, as he gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits, a wild pitch, and three walks while he struck out eleven in six and two-thirds innings. During his Cal League tenure this year, he struck out about nine and a half per nine innings. LHP Rollie Gibson (0.00) walked one before recording the final out of the seventh. RHP Cibney Bello (3.94) came in for some relief work, but gave up a run on a hit, a wild pitch, and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Aaron Trolia (4.80) gave up two hits and struck out one in an inning and a third after that. By the time it got to extras, the relief corps were pretty much done for, so for giggles, they brought in RHP Jack Arroyo (31.50, L), who turned it into a real laugher by giving up seven runs on three hits (HR) and five walks in the final two innings, though his tenth went pretty quickly.
1B Johan Limonta (3B, 2 RBI, .435) and SS Jeff Dominguez (2B, E, .239) had a couple of hits, 3B Alex Meneses (2B, R, 2 RBI, .265) had a double and a walk, DH Andy Hargrove (R, .226) walked twice, and CF Brent Johnson (2 R, .284) had a single and a walk. A good amount of offense, but not enough.

Wisconsin 4, Clinton 3 (TEX - 25)
RHP Marwin Vega (5.40, E) pitched a good one, going five innings and giving up an unearned run on four hits and a wild pitch while he struck out four. Vega has also more than doubled his IP total from last year, but his old single-season high was 53.2 in Aguirre back in 2004 and there’s no way he’s going to get double that this season. RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.74) didn’t do so well in the next inning, giving up two runs on three hits (HR) while striking out one, but he did tie Mike Hrynio in the record for relief appearances in a single season at 54, which Chris Mehring has been keeping track of. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1.95, W) struck out two in the next two innings and RHP John Sullivan (0.00, S) gave up a hit and punched out two in the ninth.
It’s tempting to pass the gameball to DH Curtis Ledbetter (R, RBI, .243) for going 3-for-3 with a sac fly to tie the game in the eighth, but credit should also go to CF Eddy Hernandez (RBI, .246) for singling in the winning run in the top of the ninth. 2B Robby Hudson (2B, R, E, .270) also doubled and SS Chris Minaker (R, .310) had a hit and a walk.

Vancouver 20 (OAK + 1), Everett 7
If not for the seven-run outburst by the Sox, this game would be very difficult to recap. RHP Mike Schilling (6.25, L) gave up seven runs on four hits (2 HR), a wild pitch, and three walks with only one K. RHP Stephen Richard (6.08) gave up four runs on five hits in the next two-thirds of an inning, and RHP Aaron Solomon (3.06, E) let two (one earned) score on a hit, a wild pitch, two hit batters, and two walks in two-thirds of an inning after that. RHP Ari Kafka (4.66) gave up four runs on four hits (HR) and a hit batter against three Ks in the next three innings, and RHP Doug Fister (2.31) let on of those score along with two of his own on two hits (HR), two walks, and two Ks in an inning and two-thirds. RHP Matt Vogel (9.00) had to come in for the ninth and gave up a solo home run.
· Everett scored ALL of their runs in the bottom of the fifth. Curiously, it was the only inning in which Vancouver didn’t score any runs.

Marcos Villezcas doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Lorenzo Macias.
· Julian Henson singles on a line drive to right fielder Lorenzo Macias. Marcos Villezcas to 3rd.
· Leury Bonilla homers (6) on a fly ball to left field. Marcos Villezcas scores. Julian Henson scores.
· Ogui Diaz singles on a ground ball to third baseman Samuel Hernandez.
· Kevin Reynolds doubles (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Jermaine Mitchell. Ogui Diaz to 3rd.
· Gavin Dickey out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Andre Piper-Jordan. Ogui Diaz scores.
· Joseph White singles on a line drive to right fielder Lorenzo Macias. Kevin Reynolds to 3rd.
· Bryan Sabatella lines out to third baseman Samuel Hernandez.
· Manelik Pimentel homers (10) on a fly ball to center field. Kevin Reynolds scores. Joseph White scores.
· Marcos Villezcas flies out to left fielder Andre Piper-Jordan.

RF Bryan Sabatella (.256), 1B Manelik Pimentel (HR, 3 RBI, .259), C Julian Henson (R, PB, .300), 3B Leury Bonilla (HR, 3 RBI, .210), and SS Ogui Diaz (2B, R, .242) each had two hits, with Henson and Bonilla adding walks. CF Kevin Reynolds (2B, R, .A, .237) had a double.


Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, in Tacoma, @ 1:35 pm PDT
San Antonio: Season over, fourth place
Inland Empire: TBA, in San Bernardino, @ 5:11 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP David Asher, at Clinton, @ 12:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, at Vancouver, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place

Tacoma Rainiers: 73-70, .510, 8 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 33-37 (60-78), .471, (.435), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-36 (73-66), .478 (.525), 4 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 26-43 (53-86), .377 (.381), 15.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 30-43, .411, 23 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 393-427-5, .479

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posted by Jay Y. @ 1:27 AM

  Another Game Recap An independent trainer I've had the pleasure of interviewing a few times was keeping score at yesterday's playoff game between the DSL Ms and the DSL Tigers, so I was lucky enough to get a copy of the official boxscore after the game. I'll try my best to mirror J's recap format, but I'll probably mess up. Bear with me.

DSL Ms 3, DSL Tigers 1

After dropping the first game of the series, the Ms won this do-or-die matchup by sending out their best pitcher (but not best prospect), Eddy Fernandez. Fernandez (0.50 playoff ERA, W) straight-up dominated, going the distance and giving up 4 hits (HR) and one walk while striking out 13. I think it's pretty safe to say he's simply out-classed the DSL at this point. We will definitely see him stateside next year. More on Fernandez's stuff/future after the season ends.

The offense took advantage of 4 Tigers' errors, 3 of them in the first, to get three runs off of Detroit ace Angel Castro, who struck out 12 Ms in 7 innings. The top of the order, Luis Nunez (R, .300), Maximo Mendez (R, .125), and Alfredo Mateo (R, .190) all scored, with Nunez and Mateo getting the only hits of the inning. Hector Mercedez (.267) and Cristian Rijo (.300) added the only other hits of the game.

Some game notes:

-The Ms decided to use Welington Dotel, back from the AZL season, as their ringer. Dotel was hitting cleanup, but didn't do any damage against Castro. He seemed really eager, and seems to have totally abandoned the patient approach he was using during instructional league and early in the AZL season. He's an interesting player, but he might take a few years to develop.

-Several of the Ms' dominican prospects returned from rookie ball and watched the game from the press/family section. Watching them watch the game, it was like they had come back to see their little brothers' play. It was a blast.

-According to Donato Ruiz, Jairo Hernandez is also back in uniform and will play in the final game of the series. I don't know if this is considered cheap or not, but Detroit did not have any of their rookie-ball players on the field.

-The Mariners' academy, on the road to a small town called Yamasa about half an hour north of Santo Domingo, is by far the best place in the Dominican Republic to watch a DSL game. They have the biggest, most passionate fan base, and the players, coaches, and fans care more about the outcomes of these games than at any other academy I've been to (actually, more than any minor league baseball game I've ever been to). It's awesome. |

posted by JH @ 8:46 AM

  Game Recaps (9/2/06)

Tucson 7 (ARI + 28), Tacoma 6
RHP Jeff Harris (5.52, L) gave up five runs on nine hits (HR) while striking out three in four innings of work. RHP Justin Huisman (8.10) gave up a run on five hits and struck out two over the next three innings. RHP Mike Flannery (5.32) gave up another run on a hit and four walks against a K in the next inning, and RHP Scott Atchison (2.44) gave up a hit in the ninth.
RF T.J. Bohn (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .284) had four hits in the game and CF Adam Jones (2B, 2 R, .290), 3B Greg Dobbs (R, RBI, .315), and LF Jon Nelson (HR, 3 RBI, .288) each had two.

Corpus Christi 2 (HOU - 1), San Antonio 7
RHP Jorge Campillo (2.53, W) gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits, a wild pitch, a walk, and a K in five innings. The next four innings carried a common thread for the pitchers in a hit and a strikeout, but LHP Jason Mackintosh (3.48) also threw a wild pitch and walked one in his inning, and LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (2.83) pitched two innings, while RHP Byron Embry (2.31) just got the one inning.
LF Jason Bourgeois (2B, R, RBI, SB, .278) and 2B Jesus Guzman (2B, 2 R, .260) both had a couple of hits and 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, RBI, .289) had a double in his only at-bat. RF Mike Wilson (RBI, .248) added a hit and two walks. CF Wladimir Balentien (R, RBI, E, .231) had another walk, and he only had one to go to double his walks for his career just this season, but he only has tomorrow to do it.

Lake Elsinore 4 (SD + 4), Inland Empire 3 (thirteen innings)
Phew. RHP Brandon Morrow (0.00) got the call and pitched three perfect innings, striking out four. RHP Mumba Rivera (4.19, E) got the next three, and gave up a couple of unearned runs on a hit, two walks, and two Ks, and RHP Aaron Trolia (4.94, BS) gave up another unearned run on one hit while striking out two in the next two innings. RHP Joe Woerman (2.76) balked, hit a batter, and walked two while striking out two in the next two and a third innings. LHP Rollie Gibson (0.00) walked one and struck out one in the next third, and while RHP Jose de la Cruz (3.02, L) got out of a jam with two runners on, he ended up letting the winning run score on two hits and two Ks in an inning and two-thirds. RHP Juan Done (6.83) came in for two-thirds of an inning and struck out one, but by that time, the damage was done.
CF Brent Johnson (2B, R, 2 RBI, SB, .285), 1B Johan Limonta (RBI, .421), and RF Casey Craig (.302) all had three hits and LF Josh Womack (CS, .286) had two.

Wisconsin 4, Clinton 1 (TEX - 24)
RHP Juan Colon (6.04) gave up a run on two hits, a hit batter, four walks, and four Ks in the next three+ innings. RHP Ruben Flores (5.04, E) gave up a hit and a walk and punched out five in three innings after that. LHP Lance Beus (4.46) gave up two hits in the first two-thirds of the seventh, and then RHP Cory Koliscak (3.68, W) gave up two more hits in the inning and a third that followed. RHP Brian Kappel (1.7.3) had an uneventful ninth.
CF Eddy Hernandez (R, .246) had a couple of hits, C Adam Moore (R, .262) had a pair of walks, and SS Chris Minaker (2B, R, .310) and 1B Curtis Ledbetter (HR, 3 RBI, .229) had extra-base hits, with Ledbetter’s bomb giving the T-Rats the lead that stuck in the eighth.

Vancouver 8 (OAK 0), Everett 6
A bit of a bludgeoning for both sides. RHP Chris Tillman (7.98) took the brunt of it for the Aquasox pitchers. Even though he had six hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and a walk through five innings and had struck out nine batters, four of those hits left the park, all in the fifth inning. RHP Justin Souza (5.40) let two more unearned runs score on two hits and struck out three in the next two innings, and LHP Jose Suriel (4.13) gave up two more on three hits (HR) and struck out two in the final two frames.
SS Ogui Diaz (2B, 2 R, SB, .237) busted out four hits while batting ninth in the order. LF Gavin Dickey (HR, 4 RBI, E, .231) had two, including a grand slam in the fifth, and 1B Manelik Pimentel (HR, .256) and C Chao Kuan Wu (2B, R, RBI, .241) both had extra-base hits, with Wu adding a walk.


Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Rich Dorman, in Tacoma, @ 1:35 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Feierabend, in San Antonio, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Aaron Jensen (?), in San Bernardino, @ 6:11 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Marwin Vega, at Clinton, @ 12:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, in Everett, @ 2:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place

Tacoma Rainiers: 73-69, .514, 7 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 33-36 (60-77), .478, (.438), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-35 (73-65), .485 (.529), 3 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 25-43 (52-86), .368 (.377), 16.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 30-42, .417, 23 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 392-423-5, .481

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posted by Jay Y. @ 12:17 AM