Round Rock overpowered Tacoma, 6-4. I'm still unsure why the organization will quickly sour on guys like Dan Reichert and then fill in the gaps with washups like Albie Lopez. While not a fossil, Lopez really shouldn't be pitching anymore. He took home more than $10m from major league teams over a decidedly unimpressive ten-year ML stint. Everyone knows Rafael Chaves has a helluva job in keeping Felix on track and healthy, but could a small side project like Dan Reichert or even Melvin Pizarro really hurt? Would it inhibit the time he spends with other arms? Face it, there's nothing Chaves can teach that's going to change Albie Lopez and turn him into a ML-viable arm. So, if the team needs filler, why not make it interesting filler? Why Albie Lopez? Andrew Lorraine? Masao Kida? Sure, I completely understand the need to compete in the PCL, but while Lorraine has been passable, Lopez and Kida haven't and shouldn't be expected to. So, it's a moot point cutting live, young arms for old ones when the outcome is essentially the same either way. The team has nothing to gain in such a situation and potentially something to lose.
On that note, you can tell I wasn't entralled with Lopez's performance this afternoon. Take a look for yourself:
Chris Burke homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
Luke Scott homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
Mike Coolbaugh strikes out swinging.
Carlos Rivera doubles (7) on a fly ball to right fielder Chris Snelling.
Humberto Quintero grounds out, third baseman Hunter Brown to first baseman Aaron Rifkin.
Danny Klassen singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chris Snelling. Carlos Rivera to 3rd.
Royce Huffman singles on a ground ball to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Carlos Rivera scores. Danny Klassen to 2nd.
Pitcher Change: Chris Buglovsky replaces Albie Lopez.
Yeah, thanks Albie. That was with Tacoma holding onto a slim 3-2 lead in the 6th. Rich Dorman got the start and while not sparkling, wasn't smashed with vigor, either. Dorman went five innings giving up two runs on five hits while walking three against two strikeouts. Aaron Rifkin continues to hit well and had a multi-hit game along with Jamal Strong, Chris Snelling, Hunter Brown and Greg Jacobs (who, incidentally, looks like a truck driver to Jeff). Jacobs was particularly impressive in his first game back from his steroid suspension as he doubled and hit a bomb.
Notables:
Rich Dorman: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
Jamal Strong: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Shin-soo Choo: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 BB.
Aaron Rifkin: 2-5, 1 RBI.
Chris Snelling: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Mike Morse: 0-5.
Greg Jacobs: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Hunter Brown: 2-4, 1 2B.
San Antonio handled Springfield, 4-1. All bow to King Juan. Just kidding. Still, Juan Sandoval had a nice night on the mound for the Missions as he went eight innings giving up a single run on nine hits while fanning five and giving up no free passes. The San Antonio offense was pretty dry, but it got the job done as Yuniesky Betancourt picked up two hits and Jamie Bubela doubled to mark down the Missions only XBH.
Notables:
Juan Sandoval: 8.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
Yuniesky Betancourt: 2-4.
Nate Espy: 0-3, 1 BB.
Jon Nelson: 1-3, 1 BB.
Jamie Bubela: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI.
Jesse Hoorelbeke: 1-3, 2 RBI.
Ismael Castro: 0-3.
Lancaster edged Inland Empire, 5-4. Brandon Moorhead didn't really help his cause in searching for his first win of the season. Moorhead went five innings giving up four runs on five hits. Three of those five hits were homeruns as Moorhead was doing his best Octavio Dotel impression. Both Adam Jones and Bryan Lahair (batting in the 7-spot tonight) blasted homeruns to lead the 66'er offense.
Notables:
Brandon Moorhead: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 HR.
Matt Rogelstad: 2-5, 1 2B. (.372/.415/.430, by the way)
Adam Jones: 2-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
Bryan Lahair: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Chris Collins: 1-4.
Wisconsin tamed West Michigan, 4-1. Jason Snyder was dominant as he went eight innings giving up a single unearned run on just two hits while striking out seven. The Rattlers collected only five hits, but it was more than enough as Snyder just couldn't be stopped.
Notables:
Jason Snyder: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
Oswaldo Navarro: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI.
Yung Chi Chen: 1-4.
Asdrubal Cabrera: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Matt Tuiasosopo: 1-4.
Omar Falcon: 0-3, 1 BB.
On the docket:
Tacoma: Felix Hernandez at Round Rock, game time is 5:05pm PDT.
San Antonio: Off.
Inland Empire: Shawn Nottingham at Lancaster, game time is 12:30pm PDT.
Wisconsin: Casey Abrams vs. West Michigan, game time is 4:35pm PDT.