Tacoma destroyed Colorado Springs, 21-7. If you don't normally check out the box, do it anyway (especially the game log). The game was nuts. Tacoma pounded out nine runs in the first and didn't allow Jason Young to record a single out. Felix Hernandez took the hill for the Rainiers and was effective albeit a bit wild as he walked four in five innings. There were so many offensive stars in this one it's tough to single anyone out, but we'll go with Ryan Christianson. Christianson, as you may or may not know started the season riding the pine as he had to serve a 15-day suspension for engaging in illegal drug activity. On Saturday night, he started his 2005 campaign on the right note with a 3-3 outing. Tonight, it was more of the same as he went 5-5 with a double and a homerun. It's nice to see a former legit prospect turned flameout turned comeback story start off hot. Let's see if it continues.
Notables:
Felix Hernandez: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.
Jeff Heaverlo: 0.2, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K. (He just isn't fooling anyone anymore.)
Jamal Strong: 2-6, 1 2B, 1 3B 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Chris Snelling: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 RBI.
Abraham Nunez: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Justin Leone: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI.
Aaron Rifkin: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 RBI.
Ryan Christianson: 5-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI.
Mike Morse: 1-6, 1 2B, 2 RBI.
Ramon Santiago: The only Rainier to not collect at least one hit. But hey, he had no problems picking it it up and throwing it. (Damnit, the joke just doesn't get old for me. Sorry)
Midland smashed San Antonio, 7-2. Thomas Oldham got touched up for four runs on eight hits in his six innings of work. The Mission offense was pretty anemic other than a pair of T.J. Bohn doubles and a Jamie Bubela homerun.
Notables:
Thomas Oldham: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Ismael Castro: 1-4.
T.J. Bohn: 2-4, 2 2B.
Nate Espy: 0-3, 1 RBI.
Jamie Bubela: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Inland Empire shutout Visalia, 4-0. Shawn Nottingham was excellent en route to his second win on the season. Nottingham went a strong seven and didn't give up a run on four hits with five strikeouts. Greg Wear came in to close it out with two scoreless, hitless innings moving his season ERA down to 0.90. Juan Gonzalez, Wladimir Balentien, B.J. Garbe and Erick Monzon all had multi-hit nights. Matt Rogelstad, however, didn't reach base which drove his average down to a paltry .412.
Notables:
Shawn Nottingham: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 9 BB, 5 K.
Juan Gonzalez: 2-4.
Matt Rogelstad: 0-4.
Adam Jones: 1-4.
Wladimir Balentien: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI.
Erick Monzon: 2-4, 1 2B.
B.J. Garbe: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
Beloit blanked Wisconsin, 6-0. 19-year-old Jay Rainville was tough on the Timber Rattler hitters this evening as he allowed only two hits in 5.1 innings of work. Jason Snyder's night wasn't as fantastic as he allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits in six innings. The six Wisconsin hits came from three batters including Josh Womack, Yung Chi Chen and Mike Wilson, all of whom had two singles apiece.
Notables:
Jason Snyder: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Oswaldo Navarro: 0-5.
Josh Womack: 2-3, 1 BB.
Yung Chi Chen: 2-4.
Matt Tuiasosopo: 0-3, 1 BB.
Mike Wilson: 2-3, 1 BB.
Starters for April 26th:
Tacoma: Andrew Lorraine vs. Colorado Springs, 6:05pm PDT.
San Antonio: Ryan Rowland-Smith (?) vs. Midland, 9:05am PDT.
Inland Empire: Jason MacKintosh vs. Visalia, 6:35pm PDT.
Wisconsin: Casey Abrams vs. Beloit, 4:35pm PDT.