Tacoma lost to Portland, 8-4. An early 1-0 lead didn't hold up, as Cha Baek allowed five runs before getting yanked in the third inning. Later on, Clint Nageotte tossed a sparking two innings of relief, but Cesar Jimenez came in and allowed a pair of home runs to put the game well out of reach - one of them to Wilson Valdez. Ramon Santiago and Yuniesky Betancourt led the way with two hits apiece, while Ryan Christianson's two-run single in the ninth was the biggest hit of the day for the Rainiers. Notables:
Baek: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Nageotte: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Choo: 0-4
Betancourt: 2-4
Santiago: 2-4, 1 2B
Strong: 1-5, 1 2B
San Antonio smashed Springfield, 13-3. Renee Cortez lasted four innings in a spot start, but he left with a 4-0 lead that would only grow as the Missions pounded out 17 hits. Four of them belonged to Adam Jones, who rocks, and three to Jaime Bubela, who might rock, although I doubt it. Five other Missions - Rivera, Harris, Nelson, Guzman, and Bohn - had two-hit days, with Bohn going deep twice, Jones once, and Hoorelbeke walking four times. Notables:
Cortez: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Jones: 4-5, 1 2B, 1 HR
Bohn: 2-4, 2 HR, 1 BB
Guzman: 2-4, 1 BB
Hoorelbeke: 0-1, 4 BB
Rivera: 2-4, 1 2B
Harris: 2-5, 1 2B
Inland Empire lost to Modesto, 6-3. Asdrubal Cabrera and Wladimir Balentien had RBI hits in the first inning, but Brandon Moorhead lost it in the second, allowing three consecutive bases-loaded singles to cough up the lead. Part of the problem, for what it's worth, was Luis Oliveros having a Miguel Olivo moment and letting Randy Blood reach via catcher's interference. Moorhead would last just 3.1 innings, watching his ERA rise above five, while Cabrera was the real bright spot, doubling twice and reaching base three times. Balentien also reached base three times, while Michaels Nesbit and Garciaparra each tripled. Notables:
Moorhead: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 6 K
Cabrera: 2-3, 2 2B, 1 BB
Balentien: 1-2, 2 BB
Garciaparra: 1-3, 1 3B, 1 BB
Nesbit: 1-5, 1 3B
Wisconsin was clipped by Quad Cities, 3-2. The T'Rats wasted a half-decent/half-lucky outing by Aaron Jensen but managing just four hits (one for extra bases) and eight baserunners on the day. Rob Johnson had the double, reaching another time courtesy of a HBP, while no other T'Rat reached more than once. Jon Lockwood tossed another shutout inning in the ninth. Notables:
Jensen: 6 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
R Johnson: 1-3, 1 2B
Navarro: 1-3
B Johnson: 1-3
Chen: 1-4
Tuiasosopo: 0-4
Everett lost a sloppy one to Vancouver, 4-2. The Aquasox committed five errors in all - each by a different player - leading to three unearned runs that made the difference in the game. The killer? Bottom 8:
Jeffrey Baisley pops out to first baseman Reed Eastley in foul territory.
Haas Pratt singles on a line drive to center fielder David Hall. Michael Massaro to 2nd.
Ty Bubalo strikes out swinging.
Chad Boyd walks. Michael Massaro to 3rd. Haas Pratt to 2nd.
With Shawn Callahan batting, wild pitch by Edgar Guaramato, Michael Massaro scores. Haas Pratt scores. Chad Boyd to 2nd. Missed catch error by catcher J. Tucker.
Shawn Callahan flies out to center fielder David Hall.
Justin Thomas went 6.2 without getting an earned run charged to his name, lowering his ERA to 2.92, while Michael Saunders led the way with two of Everett's five hits. David Hall and Alex Gary each had a double. Notables:
Thomas: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R (0 ER), 4 K
Saunders: 2-3
Gary: 1-3, 1 2B
Hall: 1-4, 1 2B
Valbuena: 0-3, 1 BB
Prettyman: 0-4
Coming up: Bobby Livingston for Tacoma, Juan Sandoval for San Antonio, a guy for Inland Empire, Ivan Blanco for Wisconsin, and Robert Rohrbaugh for Everett.
**Note**
Jorge Campillo, Scott Atchison, and George Sherrill all made rehab appearances for Peoria tonight.
Campillo: 2 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
Atchison: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
Sherrill: 1 IP, 1 K