Tacoma fell to Fresno, 5-2. With a 2-2 ballgame entering the bottom of the ninth, Mickey Lopez came to the plate with revenge on his mind and blasted a walkoff three-run homer off Masao Kida. Of course, that wasn't the big story of the day - rather, it was Felix Hernandez, who lasted just five innings as the starter while struggling with his control. With today's performance, Felix has walked 28 and fanned 55 in 56.1 innings, not exactly a strong indication that he's mastered AAA. He's got all the time in the world, but he's not as close to being ML-ready as many would lead you to believe. Anyway, on the offensive side of the ball, Tacoma's only two runs came on an error in the top of the eighth. Abraham Nunez was the only Rainier with two hits. Notables:
Hernandez: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Snelling: 1-5
Nunez: 2-5
Choo: 1-2, 3 BB, 1 SB (#9)
Strong: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 SB (#13)
Morse: 1-4
San Antonio lost to Wichita, 4-3. Ryan Rowland-Smith lasted just 5.1 innings in getting his fourth loss of the season, allowing four runs while fanning three. The Missions managed to make it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs to make it a 4-3 game, but Jesse Hoorelbeke was thrown out at home and Gary Harris grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning. They wouldn't threaten to tie it up again. Hoorelbeke led the way with two hits, while the rest of the team combined for four. Notables:
Rowland-Smith: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K
Jimenez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Betancourt: 0-4
Guzman: 1-4
Castro: 1-4, 1 2B
Bohn: 1-4, 1 2B
Inland Empire picked up a walkoff 5-4 victory over High Desert. With two on and one out, Adam Jones drilled the game-winning double off of Stephen Bray, scoring Chris Colton. It was the fourth hit of the day for Jones, who's riding a pretty good hot streak. He's smacking 43% of his hits for extra bases in a difficult hitter's environment, so even with a probable position switch, his bat's coming to life and might be able to carry him to the upper levels. BJ Garbe added a two-hit day of his own, while Jason Mackintosh lasted 6.1 rough innings in picking up a no-decision. Notables:
Mackintosh: 6.1 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 6 K
Jones: 4-5, 2 2B
Balentien: 0-4
Garbe: 2-4
Colton: 1-3
Lahair: 1-3
Wisconsin did away with Quad Cities by a score of 9-7. Mumba Rivera was doing pretty well until falling apart in the sixth, but the T-Rats were able to rally for an insurance run just minutes later with just a little help from the opposing defense:
Yung Chi Chen walks.
Omar Falcon singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Michael Ferris. Yung Chi Chen to 2nd.
Sebastien Boucher hits a sacrifice bunt. Yung Chi Chen to 3rd. Omar Falcon to 2nd. Sebastien Boucher to 1st.
Brent Johnson reaches on fielding error by second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir. Yung Chi Chen scores. Omar Falcon to 3rd. Sebastien Boucher to 2nd.
Jack Arroyo grounds into a force out, third baseman Jacob Mullinax to catcher Brady Toops. Omar Falcon out at home. Sebastien Boucher to 3rd. Brent Johnson to 2nd. Jack Arroyo to 1st.
Oswaldo Navarro strikes out swinging.
Joshua Womack grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Jacob Mullinax. Brent Johnson out at 3rd.
Five T-Rats had two-hit days, with Michael Wilson and Young Chi Chen reaching base three times and Jack Arroyo drilling a three-run triple. Asdrubal Cabrera left the yard for the third time on the season, to boot. Notables:
Rivera: 5 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Wilson: 2-4, 1 BB
Cabrera: 1-5, 1 HR
Navarro: 2-5
Boucher: 2-4, 1 2B
Chen: 2-4, 1 BB
Falcon: 2-5, 1 2B
Coming up: Jorge Campillo for Tacoma, Jon Huber for San Antonio, Aaron Trolia for Inland Empire, and Mark Lowe for Wisconsin.