Tacoma handled Las Vegas, 8-6. Jeff Harris didn't really have a smashing debut as a Rainiers starter as he went four innings giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits while walking four and fanning five. Luckily, the white-hot Rainier offense bailed him out with rehabbing Wiki Gonzalez picking up four baseknocks including a double. Abraham Nunez also did his part by finishing up with three hits and a homer and Miguel Olivo also smoked three hits.
Notables:
Jeff Harris: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Jamal Strong: 2-4, 1 BB. (Anyone notice his Winnish .311/.396/.407 line?)
Shin-soo Choo: 1-5.
Abraham Nunez: 3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
Wiki Gonzalez: 4-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI.
Miguel Olivo: 3-5, 2 RBI.
Justin Leone: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Yuniesky Betancourt: 0-3, 1 RBI.
San Antonio jumped out early to beat Midland, 9-5. After the RockHounds managed to get one off of Ryan Rowland-Smith in the first, the Mission offense came out and pecked away at Midland started Matt Lynch for five runs in the bottom of the frame. It was probably the most unlikely of innings as well as the scoring summary is quite bizarre:
Jesus Guzman strikes out swinging. Jaime Bubela steals (16) 2nd base.
With Thomas BohnJr. batting, Jaime Bubela steals (17) 3rd base.
Thomas BohnJr. reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Matt Lynch to third baseman Francis Gomez. Jaime Bubela out at home. Thomas BohnJr. to 2nd.
Nathan Espy singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brian Stavisky. Thomas BohnJr. scores. Nathan Espy to 2nd on the throw.
Gary Harris walks.
Jesse Hoorelbeke walks. Nathan Espy to 3rd. Gary Harris to 2nd.
Brian Moon singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brian Stavisky. Nathan Espy scores. Gary Harris scores. Jesse Hoorelbeke to 3rd. Brian Moon to 2nd on the throw.
Ismael Castro singles on a line drive to center fielder Steve Stanley. Jesse Hoorelbeke scores. Brian Moon scores.
Eriberto Menchaca grounds out, shortstop Omar Quintanilla to first baseman Matthew Allegra.
So, they make three outs, one at the PLATE and come away with five runs. Improbable.
Rowland-Smith (c'mon Ryan, pick one name and be happy) never really found a groove but wasn't smashed either as he picked up his third win on the season. Everyone in the starting lineup with the exception of T.J. Bohn got at least one hit and Jamie Bubela finished with three. 11 Mission hits - 0 Mission XBHs.
Notables:
Ryan Rowland-Smith: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Jamie Bubela: 3-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Jesus Guzman: 1-5, 1 RBI.
Nate Espy: 1-3, 2 BB, 1 RBI.
Ismael Castro: 2-4, 3 RBI.
San Antonio now heads into the Texas League All-Star Break. Jesus Guzman (.268/.332/.429), T.J. Bohn (.292/.356/.408) and Bobby Livingston (6-3, 2.59) will be representing the Missions.
Lake Elsinore edged Inland Empire, 10-9 (11). Somehow Mumba Rivera lasted 6.2 innings as he gave up five runs on ten hits while walking one and striking out five. Rivera also allowed three bombs and threw two wild pitches. The only things the bullpen did for the 66'ers in this one was blow leads as Inland Empire came into the ninth up 9-7 only to watch Aaron Trolia and Michael Steele throw it away. A Jordan Pickens double off Greg Wear in the top of the 11th proved the be the game-winner and heart-breaker. Offensively, seven players had multi-hit games including the 1-6 in the lineup. Bryan Lahair went deep and scooped up four RBI on the night and Chris Colton doubled for the only other XBH of the night, that's right, 15 hits and 13 singles.
Notables:
Mumba Rivera: 6.2, 10 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 3 HR.
Little Garciaparra: 2-6.
Matt Rogelstad: 2-5, 2 RBI.
Bryan Lahair: 2-6, 1 HR, 4 RBI.
Carlos Arroyo: 2-5, 1 BB.
B.J. Garbe: 2-5, 1 BB, 2 RBI.
Chris Colton: 1-5, 1 2B.
Wisconsin beat up on Beloit, 13-8. Would you believe Casey Abrams had a great start? Neither would I, that wouldn't make any sense. So, of course, Abrams was Abrams and gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings. He also walked five, threw a wild pitch and gave up two homeruns...but hey, he struck out two batters. Luckily for Casey, the offense was firing on all cylinders and recently noticed Thomas Hubbard (or should we be calling him Marshall, like we did last season?) had another night to remember. Hubbard, for the second time this season, went deep twice and collected four RBI, he was 5-5 on the night altogether. Hubbard, who just turned 23, is duking it out with Chris Snelling to see who can have the best year in the Mariners system. At this juncture, Hubbard is batting an outstanding .329/.423/.575 which puts him fourth in the Midwest League in BA, third in OBP, third in SLG and fifth in HR. He all of a sudden has a shiny checkmark next to the words "legit prospect" on his scouting report. He'll need to move quickly though as it can't be overlooked that he's 23 and in low-A. So, how has he been rewarded for a downright fantastic season thus far? He was left off the All-Star team for guys like Josh Freakin' Womack and Cibney Bello, a goddamn middle reliever who isn't any good. I'm infuriated, to say the least.
Notables:
Casey Abrams: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2 K , 2 HR. (K/BB Update: 31:50. That's our Casey!)
Yung Chi Chen: 3-6, 1 2B, 4 RBI.
Matt Tuiasosopo: 1-4, 2 BB, 1 RBI.
Thomas Hubbard: 5-5, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI.
Oswaldo Navarro: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI.
Brent Johnson: 3-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI.
Like I mentioned, Wisconsin heads into the Midwest League All-Star Break. T-Rat reps will include Asdrubal Cabrera (.318/.407/.474), Yung Chi Chen (.292/.327/.427), Chad Fillinger (2-3, 3 SV, 53:13 K/BB, 2.70 ERA), Robert Johnson (.288/.325/.488), Matt Tuiasosopo (.296/.372/.427), Josh Womack (.262/.341/.343) and Cibney Bello (2-0, 1 SV, 28:33 K/BB [I'm serious], 4.42 ERA)
On the docket:
Tacoma: Damian Moss at Las Vegas. Game time is 7:05pm PDT.
San Antonio: ASB.
Inland Empire: Ryan Feierabend vs. Lake Elsinore. Game time is 7:11pm PDT.
Wisconsin: ASB.