Tacoma fell short of the miracle comeback against Oklahoma, 9-8. Up against Aaron Sele, the Rainiers went into this game with a pretty good chance of running away with it. It looked that way from the beginning as Sele came out and quickly gave up a run in the top of the first. However, Rich Dorman wasn't going to have any of that and got smashed by the Red Hawks offense. After giving up six runs in the first two innings, Dorman's night was over. Probably not how he wanted his first start in a long time (he's been in Peoria) to go. Down 9-6 going into the ninth, Tacoma showed a little Ecksteinish grit:
Greg Dobbs singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Richard.
Miguel Ojeda homers (5) on a fly ball to left field. Greg Dobbs scores.
Pitcher Change: Jose Veras replaces Michael Tejera.
Abraham Nunez pops out to shortstop Drew Meyer.
Hunter Brown singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Richard.
Aaron Rifkin walks. Hunter Brown to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Shin-Soo Choo replaces Aaron Rifkin.
Justin Leone called out on strikes.
Yeah, Justin Leone struck out with the tying run 180 feet away. Not good times. And like the Ecksteinish grit, it sure looked like good hustle and determination, but in the end it still falls short.
Notables:
Rich Dorman: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR.
Jamal Strong: 1-3, 2 BB.
Greg Dobbs: 1-5.
Miguel Ojeda: 4-5, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI. (He wishes he was that good! Ha.)
Abraham Nunez: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI.
Hunter Brown: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 BB.
Justin Leone: 0-5, 1 RBI, goat.
San Antonio beat Wichita, 8-5. Two big innings and a starting pitcher who doesn't get rocked = victory. Juan Sandoval was nothing to write home about, but found a way to get it done despite some control issues. Sandoval went just over the minimum, 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits while walking four and striking out two. Despite the score, the Missions only collected six hits all night, but were helped greatly from a pair of Wrangler errors. Jon Nelson homered as he continues to try and find his stroke.
Notables:
Juan Sandoval: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.
Jamie Bubela: 1-4, 2 RBI.
Adam Jones: 1-4.
T.J. Bohn: 1-3.
Ismael Castro: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB.
Jon Nelson: 1-2, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 RBI.
High Desert hammered Inland Empire, 14-7. A night to forget for Mumba Rivera. Rivera didn't make it out of the first before he was yanked in favor of Aaron Trolia, who after his own three innings, wasn't a whole lot better. It was 7-0 after the first frame, and by the time the 66'ers went to the plate in the 5th, it was 13-2. A rehabbing Bucky Jacobsen managed to hit one out, raising his small sample vitals to .636/.643/1.091 in 11 AB's. Four other IE players went multi-hit in the losing effort including Wladimir Balentien who smacked a round-tripper.
Notables:
Mumba Rivera: 0.2 inning, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
Aaron Trolia: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
Little Garciaparra: 1-5.
Robert Johnson: 2-4, 1 RBI.
Bucky Jacobsen: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI.
Wladimir Balentien: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
Matt Rogelstad: 1-3, 2 BB.
Michael Nesbit: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI.
Wisconsin fell to Cedar Rapids, 7-3. Ivan Blanco managed to sop up some innings, but that's all he was good for as he sure as hell can't seem to pitch effectively. Blanco went 5.2 innings giving up six runs on nine hits while walking three, fanning five and giving up a homer. The T-Rat offense was pretty dry as Chris Colton's homerun was the highlight of the night.
Notables:
Ivan Blanco: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Oswaldo Navarro: 1-5.
Chris Colton: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Yung Chi Chen: 1-3, 1 3B, 1 BB.
Mike Wilson: 1-2, 2 BB.
Matt Tuiasosopo: 1-3, 1 BB.
Jeff Clement: 1-3, 1 BB.
Eugene came back to beat Everett, 6-4. Nothing hurts worse than watching a bullpen blow a game that was started well. Enter Lance Beus. Beus took over in the seventh and quickly relinquished the lead and then completely blew it in the eighth after a throwing error...by him. He didn't record an out in the eighth but everything is credited to him, not Cory Koliscak. Luis Valbuena, Daniel Santin and D.J. Tucker all went multi-hit to lead the Aquasox.
Notables:
Paul Fagan: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
Trevor Heid: 1-5, 1 3B.
Ron Prettyman: 1-4, 1 RBI.
Luis Valbuena: 2-3, 1 3B, 1 BB.
Daniel Santin: 2-4, 1 RBI.
D.J. Tucker: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
On the docket:
Tacoma: Damian Moss at Oklahoma. Game time is 5:05pm PDT.
San Antonio: Thomas Oldham vs. Wichita. Game time is 5:05pm PDT.
Inland Empire: Ryan Feierabend at High Desert. Game time is 7:05pm PDT.
Wisconsin: Mark Lowe vs. Cedar Rapids. Game time is 5:05pm PDT.
Everett: Nick Allen vs. Eugene. Game time is 7:05pm PDT.