During a day off for the big club... High Desert experiences something new: low scoring conditions in Rancho Cucamonga... Ricky Orta implodes as the T-Rats hitters join Carlos Triufel in taking a day off.  Too bad they still had a game against West Michigan to play... once Doug FISTER was done dueling with Alvis Ojeda, the DIAMOND JAXX relievers can't find the plate while Jacksonville's relievers racked up the K's, and Rene Rivera had a shockingly effective game (save for a game-ending gaffe) in a dubious extra inning affair... and Tacoma and Salt Lake bust out their whooping sticks in a wild ballgame in Utah.

A:  Rancho Cucamonga 2, High Desert 1

Jon Lockwood:  5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER (HR), 2 walks, 7 K
Jose Escalona:  2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER (HR), 3 K
Casey Craig:  0-4 (.301)
Michael Saunders:  0-4, 3 K (.258)
Jesus Guzman:  2-4, double, K (.325)
Ronald Garth:  1-3, RBI, walk, K (.200)
Chris Colton:  1-3, triple, walk (.245)

Where were the runs?!  The top of the order went a combined 2 for 12 as the Mavs managed 6 hits against a surprisingly effective Quakes pitching staff.  Mavs pitching was pretty effective itself, their only two runs surrendered coming off solo HRs in the 5th and 8th innings.  High Desert attempted a rally in the top 9th.  Johan Limonta walked with one out against Kevin Jepsen, and back to back singles from Jeff Dominguez and Ronald Garth plated a run.  But with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Chris Colton killed the rally dead by grounding into the 6-4-3 game ending double play.  He, folks, is your MARINER IN THE MAKING.

NEXT:  Aaron Cotter, Rebel Against Ridiculous Pitching Conditions, goes tonight at 7:05 PDT against Rancho Cucamonga.

A:  West Michigan 6, Wisconsin 3

Ricky Orta:  1 IP, 2 H, (3 R) 2 ER, 2 walks
Natividad Dilone:  3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 walks, 3 K
Rollie Gibson:  2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, walk, K, 2 wild pitches
Robert Harmon:  1 IP, 1 K
Justin Souza:  1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
Greg Halman:  2-4, HR, 2 RBI (.224)
Kuo Hui Lo:  1-3, RBI, K (.129)
rest of T-Rats lineup:  0-22, 2 R, 3 walks, 8 K

Carlos Triunfel had the night off, and it appears the rest of the T-Rats went ahead and took the night off as well.  Ricky Orta didn't feel right at all and left the game after facing one batter in the 2nd, having allowed 2 runs (an inherited runner would score in the 2nd).  A platoon of relievers piece-mealed the rest of the game, and the T-Rats surprisingly plated 3 runs to tie it at 3: Greg Halman's 2 run bomb in the 3rd and Kuo Hui Lo, after two straight wild pitches by Lauren Gagnier, hit a pop up that 2B Scott Sizemore couldn't catch, allowing Alex Liddi on 3rd to score.

Rollie Gibson fared badly in the 5th to give the Whitecaps a 5-3 lead, and Justin Souza came in to pitch the 8th and... was Justin Souza, to make it 6-3.  The T-Rats weren't doing anything with their bats anyway, so the game was in the bag for the Whitecaps.

NEXT:  The T-Rats take a day off to celebrate their 3-12 start, before starting a home series with Fort Wayne on Thursday.  I'm guessing that GREAT SEATS are still available.

AA:  Jacksonville 5, West Tenn 3, 13 innings

Doug FISTER:  6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER (HR), walk, 3 K
Mumba Rivera:  2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 walks, 2 K
The Aircraft Carrier:  3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 walks, 1 K
Juan Sandoval:  2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 walks
Sebastien Boucher:  1-6, double (.151)
T.Marshall Hubbard:  1-5, double, RBI, 3 K (.282)
Matt Tuiasosopo:  1-6, R, 4 K (.333)
Jeff Frazier:  2-5, double, 2 K (.176)
Rene Rivera:  2-4 (!!!), solo HR (!!!!!), walk (.231)

The comical difference in K:BB between Jacksonville's hitters/pitchers and the DIAMOND JAXX hitters/pitchers once the starters left the game reeks of heavily biased umpiring towards the Suns in the later innings, but that's just paranoid me.

Alvis Ojeda was his usual dominating self while Dougie Fistball kept up despite needing substancially more help from his defense.  The game was tied 1-1 after 6 innings, but the DIAMOND JAXX took the lead in the 7th on a solo homer by- HOLY FISTBALLS, RENE RIVERA!!!  Quick, Mariner-like outs despite a Sebastien Boucher double meant no more runs would come in, but West Tenn had the 2-1 lead.

The Suns quickly responded in the top 8th against Mumba Rivera.  Luke Allen led off with a walk, and ceded to pinch runner Wilkin Ruan, who stole second base.  A.J. Ellis himself drew a walk, and Chin Lung Hu sac bunted both runners ahead for one out.  Then here came another dubious play: Luis Maza flew out to right, and both runners tagged up.  Ron Prettyman took the relay throw, saw that Wilkin Ruan was going to make it home but felt he could get A.J. Ellis at 3rd, and threw to 3rd to gun down A.J. Ellis for the 3rd out.  However, because Ruan came home and the 3rd out wasn't a force play, Ruan's run counted, and we were tied at 2-2.  The game log homorously called Maza's flyball a 'sacrifice double play.'

Marshall Hubbard, Tui and Ron Prettyman went quietly in the bottom 8th, and Jacksonville tried to take the game in the top 9th.  Xavier Paul led off with a walk, and Mumba Rivera was yanked for The Aircraft Carrier.  Paul stole second base against the sizeable reliever, but John Lindsey swung at strike three for one out.  De La Cruz went ahead and walked Cory Dunlap, then escaped by allowing flyouts to Marshall McDougall and Anthony Ragliani.

Jeff Frazier, Rene Rivera and Louis Valbuena went quietly in the bottom 9th and we went to extras.

The Suns went for it again in the top 10th.  Wilkin Ruan lined a single to left, and A.J. Ellis sac bunted him to 2nd for one out.  Chin Lung Hu snuck a grounder down the middle to score the speedy Ruan, 3-2 Jaxtown.  Chin Lung stole 2nd base, and went Willie Mays Hayes for 3rd, but Rivera... THREW HIM OUT AT 3RD?!?!  That's twice that Rene Rivera shocked the world last night.  2 out.  Luis Maza went quietly for 3 outs, but the DIAMOND JAXX needed at least a run or they were done for.

Jonathan Meloan came in to wrap it up for the Suns, and got Boucher to ground to 2nd for one out.  Chris Minaker walked, but Prentice Redman flew out for two outs.  Marshall Hubbard, with the game on the line, doubled deep to left to score Minaker and tie the ballgame at 3!  Hubbard was lifted for the fleeter-a-foot Brent Johnson, but Tui flied out to right to end the inning.  The ballgame continues.

Jacksonville once again went for gold in the 11th.  Xavier Paul snuck one through the left side for a hit, and John Lindsey walked.  Cory Dunlap laid down a bunt, but the Aircraft Carrier shows off surprising agility and guns down Paul at 3rd for one out.  Marshall McDougall flew out (which would've scored another run if not for the Aircraft Carrier's heady play) and Anthony Ragliani popped out to end the threat.

Brian Akin came in to pitch for the Suns and no West Tenn batter could put the ball in play.  Prettyman struck out, Frazier struck out, Rene Rivera walked (that had to be a complete accident), and Valbuena struck out.

Juan Sandoval came in to work the 12th, and A.J. Ellis hit a one out double to once again put pressure on, but Chin Lung Hu's liner was gloved by Ron Prettyman at 1st, and Prettyman threw to 2nd to double off A.J. Ellis for the 3rd out.

Boucher, Minaker and Prentice Redman went quietly in the bottom 12th.

Sandoval plunked Luis Maza to lead off the 13th.  Xavier Paul bunted Maza to 2nd, but Rene Rivera finally realized who he was and threw it YIKES AND AWAY to give Paul 1st base and move Maza to 3rd.  John Lindsey popped out for one out.  Cory Dunlap drew another walk and the bases were now loaded, one out.  Marshall McDougall took ball four, and the Suns plated the go-ahead run, 4-3.  Sandoval lost his control at this point and uncorked a wild pitch that scored Xavier Paul, 5-3 Jaxtown.  So what does Juan do?  He intentionally walks Anthony Ragliani: THE MATEO METHOD.  Thankfully, Wilkin Ruan and A.J. Ellis took sympathy and popped out to end the threat.

The 2 run hill proved too much to climb for the DIAMOND JAXX, as Brent Johnson, Tui and Prettyman went quietly to end the ballgame.

NEXT:  Joe Woerman as they go again in Jacksonville.  Actually, as of this posting, they are in progress.

AAA:  Tacoma 12, Salt Lake 11

Jim Parque:  4 IP, 9 H, (7 R) 4 ER (HR), walk, 2 K
Sean Green:  3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, walk, 4 K, WP
Brad Thomas:  0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, walk
Jon Huber:  1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, WP
Byron Embry:  0.1 IP, walk
Adam Jones:  2-6, R, RBI, 4 K: the Golden Sombrero (.312)
Jeremy Reed:  2-6, double, 3 R, RBI, K (.257)
WLAD:  4-5, 2 HRs, 2 R, 5 RBI (a beastly .380)
Bryan LaHair:  0-3, sac fly RBI, walk, K (.230)
Mike Morse:  3-4, solo HR, 2 R, walk (.286)
Jon Nelson:  1-5, R, K (.267)
Rob Johnson:  3-5, R (.254)
Gookie Dawkins:  3-4, double, triple, R, 3 RBI, walk (.255)

So many runs were scored that LL listeners seriously thought the game was being played in a launchpad like Las Vegas, rather than simply offense-friendly Salt Lake City.  The Rainiers scored the first 5 runs before the end of the 2nd, WLAD driving in two in each frame.  His 2 run bomb in the 1st kicked off the scoring and extended his hitting streak to (lots of) games, and his 2 run single ended the 2nd (he was thrown out trying for 2nd).  Salt Lake opened the bottom 2nd with 3 straight singles that plated a run, then after Parque picked off the runner at 1st, a 4th single plated another to make it 5-2, but Parque got a GIDP to escape the inning.

The Rainiers saw a new pitcher in the 4th, after Jon Rouwenhorst was pulled for being sloppy and horrible.  Chris Resop got Adam Jones on a foul tip for one out, and a Jeremy Reed fly out, but WLAD went ahead and took Resop deep for his second bomb of the game, 6-2 Tacoma.  Bryan LaHair drew a walk but Mike Morse popped out to end the inning.

Salt Lake then realized they were hitting against Jim Parque and erupted.  With one on, one out, Matthew Brown hit his first home run of the season, 6-4 Tacoma.  After Casey Smith tapped back to the pitcher for two outs, Adam Pavkovich singled down the middle and Parque plunked Nathan Haynes.  Then Tommy Murphy grounded to short where, GUESS WHAT, Oswaldo Navarro bungled the play, and the bases were loaded.  Daren Brown finally had enough with navarro's "defense", moving Gookie Dawkins from 2B to SS, and pulling Navarro for Brant Ust, who moved to 2nd.

Brandon Wood then doubled to center and cleared the bases.  7-6 Salt Lake.  A grounder ended the inning, but still, credit Oswaldo with three earned runs.

Parque ceded to Sean Green in the 5th and the Stingers went quietly.  Tacoma busted out the whooping stick in the top 6th.  Brant Ust doubled to lead off.  After Adam Jones swung at strike three for one of his four K's, Jeremy Reed doubled in Ust to tie the game at 7.  WLAD scorched a grounder through the left side to put runners at the corners, and Chris Resop was done hurling for the day, ceding to Jason Bulger.  Bryan LaHair flew out but Reed tagged up and scored to give the Rainiers an 8-7 lead.  The rally went dead when catcher Jeff Mathis took a pitch and threw out WLAD at 1st for the pickoff.

The Stingers picked a bad time to go quiet with the bats, as the Rainiers kept up the assault in the 7th.  Mike Morse snuck a grounder through the left side for a base hit.  After Jon Nelson flew out, Morse turned into Bizarro Morse and STOLE 2ND.  Rob Johnson then singled to move Morse to 3rd.  Gookie Dawkins then hit a Texas Leaguer to left to score Morse and move Johnson to 3rd.  9-7 Rainiers.  Dawkins stole 2nd himself but Ust and Adam Jones went down on strikes.

Sean Green then K'd the side in the 8th because he's incredible.

Marcus Gwyn came in to pitch for the Stingers in the 8th and quieted the Rainiers bats.  Reed, WLAD and LaHair all grounded out.

Brad Thomas relieved Green and promptly surrendered a double to Terry Evans.  Matthew Brown flew out but Evans tagged up and took 3rd.  Casey Smith grounded out but Evans scored to cut the lead to 9-8.  Adam Pavkovich walked and Daren Brown said AW HELL NO, pulling Brad Thomas for... Jon Huber.  After a lengthy discussion on how not to suck, Huber got pinch hitter Nick Gorneault to ground into the inning ending force out.

Understanding the nature of Jon Huber, the Rainiers jumped all over new pitcher Alex Serrano in the top 9th.  Mike Morse went deep to lead off and made it 10-8.  Jon Nelson got his 1st hit of the night, and Rob Johnson also singled.  Gookie Dawkins doubled to right to score both runners, 12-8.  The rest went quietly: Ust flew out, Adam Jones put on the Golden Sombrero and Reed swung at strike three.  Would a 4 run lead be enough?

Tommy Murphy led off the bottom 9th with a double.  Brandon Wood flew out, one out.  Mike Eylward lined a single to right, scoring Murphy, 12-9 Rainiers.  Jeff Mathis doubled to left, but thankfully, Eylward is slow and only reached 3rd.  One out.  Terry Evans grounded to 3rd for two outs, but Eylward scored on the play, 12-10 Rainiers.  With a runner on 2nd and Matthew Brown batting, Huber uncorked a rather needless wild pitch to to move Mathis to 3rd.  Huber got it back over the plate, and Matthew Brown promptly doubled to right to score Mathis easily, 12-11 Rainiers.

Daren Brown had enough of this crap and went to get the Big T-Bone, Byron Embry, to put a stop to this.  Sure, Casey Smith drew a walk, but Adam Pavkovich grounded out to 3rd to end a wild ballgame.

NEXT:  Tacoma takes the day off to celebrate their win by developing flu-like symptoms in time to resume play on Thursday.