7/21 Open Game Thread is underneath this post.
Tacoma rallied past Tucson, 4-3. Cha Baek went six innings in the start, allowing two runs on eight baserunners, but the Rainiers were facing a one-run defecit entering the bottom of the ninth. Enter Ramon Santiago, whose two-run single off Vladimir Nunez with the bases loaded and one out won the game. Masao Kida got the win after retiring both batters he faced in the top half. Yuniesky Betancourt was the only Rainier who had a multihit day, picking up two singles and walking once to up his line to .296/.319/.434. Abraham Nunez also reached base three times. Notables:
Baek: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Santiago: 1-3, 1 BB
Betancourt: 2-3, 1 BB
Nunez: 1-2, 2 BB
Leone: 0-3, 1 BB
Dobbs: 1-4
Choo: 1-3
San Antonio overcame four errors to beat Frisco, 7-4. Ryan Rowland-Smith went five strong in beating Legitimate Prospect Edison Volquez, fanning two while allowing a pair of runs. Jaime Bubela led the offensive attack with four hits and a homer from the leadoff slot, while TJ Bohn contributed with a pair of blasts of his own. Five different Missions had multi-hit days, part of a 14-hit barrage in all. Notables:
Rowland-Smith: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 K
Bubela: 4-5, 1 2B, 1 HR
Bohn: 2-5, 2 HR
Harris: 3-4, 1 2B
Moon: 2-3, 1 BB
Guzman: 2-4, 1 BB
Jones: 1-4
Inland Empire fell to Lake Elsinore, 8-4. A four-run sixth, highlighted by Wladimir Balentien's two-run homer, tied the game for the 66ers, but Nibaldo Acosta, Derrick Ellison, and Michael Garciaparra pissed it away in the top of the seventh, putting Inland Empire behind by three runs. Their best chance to rally (again) came in the bottom of the eighth, when Balentien grounded out as the tying run with two on and two out. His homer was the big hit of the day; Matt Rogelstad and Carlos Arroyo chipped in with two hits apiece. Notables:
Moorhead: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Balentien: 1-4, 1 HR
Rogelstad: 2-4, 1 2B
Arroyo: 2-4
Garciaparra: 0-4
Cabrera: 1-4
Lahair: 0-2, 2 BB
Everett was drilled by Spokane, 8-1. Justin Thomas put his team in an early hole, surrendering six runs in four innings of work, and the Aquasox were just never able to get it going offensively, putting up a sum total of five hits (albeit with six walks). On the plus side, Roman Martinez threw four shutout innings in relief of Thomas, showing no ill effects after being demoted from Wisconsin a few days ago. Reed Eastley had two hits and reached base three times, while Luis Valbuena drew three free passes (18 walks and 10 strikeouts in 106 at bats). Notables:
Thomas: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Martinez: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Eastley: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Valbuena: 0-1, 3 BB
Gary: 1-4, 1 3B
Sabatella: 1-3, 1 BB
Hudson: 1-4
Coming up: Bobby Livingston for Tacoma, Jon Huber for San Antonio, Chad Fillinger for Inland Empire, Aaron Jensen for Wisconsin, and Eric Carter for Everett.