4/8 Minor League Wrap-Up

Weather wiped out a game for one team and another had a scheduled off-day, so we're gonna be a little light on coverage today.  Thankfully, what little news I have is good news for org fans, with encouraging efforts from starting pitchers and some other useful individual efforts, from games that went better than yesterday's.

On to the wrap-up!

A:  Wisconsin's game with Clinton was postponed due to SNOW.  Yes, snow.  They'll try to play two tomorrow.

A+:  High Desert 5, Rancho Cucamonga 2

Kyle Parker:  6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 walks, 9 K
Nick Hill:  1.2 IP, 1 H, (1 R) 0 ER, 2 K, hit batter
Austin Bibens-Dirkx:  no outs, hit batter
David Asher:  1.1 IP, walk, 2 K
Jamie McOwen:  2-5, double, R, RBI, K, SB
Johan Limonta:  1-4, RBI, 3 K, SB
Greg Halman:  1-4
Matt Mangini:  1-3, RBI
Kuo Hui Lo:  3-4, double, R, 2 RBI, K

This was MUCH better.  Kyle Parker owned today.  The only inning where he saw anything resembling trouble was the 3rd, where two line drives produced a whopping run.  It would be the only run he allowed in a 6 inning start where he struck out the side twice, only allowed two hits and five balls-in-play in the air, and struck out 9 total.

Groundballs:  7
Flyballs:  1
Line Drives:  3
Pop Ups:  1
Walks:  2
Strikeouts:  9

Kuo Hui Lo and Jamie McOwen hit back to back doubles in the th to plate and a run, and Johan Limonta singled to knock in another.  In the 7th, Kuo Hui Lo cashed in Travis Scott from 2nd with 2 outs on a grounder through the hole into center.

Interesting appearance for Austin Bibens-Dirkx, as he relieved Military Man Nick Hill with a runner on 3rd and one out in the bottom 8th with a 3-1 lead.  ABD plunked Wilberto Ortiz, then got Mark Trumbo to ground to short, except Ogui Diaz misplayed it, allowing one of Hill's runners to score.  ABD was then pulled for David Asher, without recording an out or getting credited with a walk, hit or run.

But the Mavs added insurance runs in the 9th.  With runners on the corners and one out, Matt Mangini smoked a grounder to 2nd, hot enough for 2B Tadd Brewer not to have a play, cashing in Chris Minaker and moving Travis Scott to 2nd.  The next batter, Kuo Hui Lo, capped a great game by singling to right to cash in Scott and make it 5-2, which held up as David Asher worked a 1-2-3 9th inning for the save.

AA:  The West Tenn DIAMOND JAXX had today off.  They play their home opener tomorrow against Huntsville to kick off a 5 game series.

AAA:  Tacoma 6, Fresno 2

Ryan Feierabend:  6 IP, 3 H, 2 walks, 6 K, wild pitch
Jake Woods:  1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 walks, K
Jon Huber:  1.1 IP, walk
Greg Norton:  2-4, double, R, RBI, K
Bryan LaHair:  2-4, double, R, 3 RBI
Jeff Clement:  1-3, RBI, walk
Matt Tuiasosopo:  0-2, 2 walks

Now this was also MUCH better.  The Rainiers pounded away early for 5 runs before the end of the 3rd, more than enough for Ryan Feierabend, as Feier put forth another solid effort in shutting out the Not Good Enough For The Giants over six innings and only allowing five baserunners, though he did allow three stolen bases as well.  Fortunately, none of the basestealers came around to score.  His BIP mix was a grab bag, but given he's a flyball soft-tosser in general, we'll take it.

Groundballs:  5
Flyballs:  3
Line Drives:  3
Pop Ups:  4
Walks:  2
Strikeouts: 6

Jake Woods, meanwhile, has a nice artificial tan.  And Jon Huber may be better cut out for closing in Tacoma than that false idol Cesar Jimenez.

Given we had such a short recap, I want to link to J from Mariner Minors, as he has a heads-up on org players who are currently on the DL, c/o Baseball America.  Notables include SP Nolan Gallagher, the lost Gallagher brother, currently recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs and will probably need a few more weeks... reliever Stephen KAAAAAAAAAHN whose injured knee could sideline him for a lengthy and indefinite period... and Arthur Rhodes, obviously, but not necessarily because of his rehabbed elbow but other minor ailments.