Tacoma took care of Salt Lake, 5-3. Not the prettiest of starts for Clint Nageotte, as he walked as many batters as he struck out (three), but he limited the Bees to just two hits and one run in five innings to get the win. The offense was supplied by Greg Dobbs, Guillermo Quiroz, and Asdrubal Cabrera, who drove in all five of Tacoma's runs, with the difference-maker being Quiroz's two-run single in the top of the seventh. TJ Bohn reached base three times from the #2 slot to set things up for the heart of the order, while Cabrera and Hunter Brown each doubled. The losing pitcher? None other than ex-Mariner HOTT!! PROSPECT Jeff Heaverlo. Notables:
Nageotte: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Bohn: 2-3, 1 BB
Cabrera: 2-4, 1 2B
Brown: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Quiroz: 1-4
Snelling: 0-3, 1 BB
Choo: 0-4, 1 BB
San Antonio got creamed by Wichita, 7-1. As long as we're talking about interesting opposing pitchers, the Wranglers sent Zack Greinke to the hill today, and he took care of the Missions for five innings, allowing just one run. Jason Mackintosh was arguably the better starter, but he was done in by a Bryan LaHair fielding error that led to two unearned runs crossing the plate. A close game into the eighth, Jon Huber made sure to remove all doubt by giving up a four-run inning to put it out of reach. The good news is that the 7-through-9 hitters in the SA lineup went 7-11; the bad news is that the top of the order went 0-12. Notables:
Mackintosh: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R (1 ER), 4 K
Oliveros: 3-4
Arroyo: 2-3, 1 BB
Castro: 2-4
Monzon: 1-3, 1 BB
LaHair: 1-4
Inland Empire was blanked by Rancho Cucamonga, 2-0. Despite doubling the Quakes in hits (8-4), the 66ers were unable to push anyone across the plate against the previously miserable Micah Posey, tagging Aaron Jensen with the loss despite his pitching four effective innings. Perhaps the lone highlight of the game was Ryan Rowland-Smith coming back and tossing two perfect innings out of the bullpen. Brent Johnson, Matt Tuiasosopo, and Ron Prettyman all had two hits apiece, but when you don't score any runs, what's it really matter? Notables:
Jensen: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Rowland-Smith: 2 IP, 2 K
Prettyman: 2-3, 1 BB
Tuiasosopo: 2-4
Johnson: 2-4
Chen: 1-4
Womack: 1-4
Wisconsin stormed past Clinton, 8-2. Justin Thomas tossed a spectacular six shutout innings, whiffing nine, and received more than enough support in the form of a six-run seventh inning, turning a nail-biter into more of a laugher. Observe:
* Robert Hudson reaches on fielding error by third baseman David Peterson. Robert Hudson to 2nd.
* Jeffrey Dominguez singles on a ground ball to left fielder K. C. Herren. Robert Hudson to 3rd.
* Casey Craig singles on a line drive to left fielder K. Herren. Robert Hudson scores. Jeffrey Dominguez to 2nd.
* Luis Valbuena walks. Jeffrey Dominguez to 3rd. Casey Craig to 2nd.
* Curtis Ledbetter hit by pitch. Jeffrey Dominguez scores. Casey Craig to 3rd. Luis Valbuena to 2nd.
* Chao Kuan Wu reaches on force attempt, fielding error by first baseman Freddie Thon. Casey Craig scores. Luis Valbuena to 3rd. Curtis Ledbetter to 2nd.
* With Bryan Sabatella batting, wild pitch by Juan Carlos Garcia, Luis Valbuena scores. Curtis Ledbetter to 3rd. Chao Kuan Wu to 2nd.
* Bryan Sabatella grounds out, shortstop Matt Smith to first baseman Freddie Thon.
* Eddy Hernandez reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by first baseman Freddie Thon. Curtis Ledbetter scores. Chao Kuan Wu to 3rd.
* Pitcher Change: J. B. Diaz replaces Juan Carlos Garcia.
* Jairo Hernandez pops out to catcher Alberto Martinez in foul territory.
* Robert Hudson doubles (8) on a fly ball to left fielder K. C. Herren. Chao Kuan Wu scores. Eddy Hernandez to 3rd.
* Jeffrey Dominguez flies out to right fielder John Mayberry.
Wu led all batters with three hits on the day, while Casey Craig chipped in with a single, a double, and a walk. Notables:
Thomas: 6 IP, 5 H, 9 K
Wu: 3-5
Craig: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB
Sabatella: 1-4, 1 2B
Garth: 1-2, 1 BB
Hudson: 1-4, 1 2B
On the docket:
Tacoma: Cruceta, 6:05pm PDT
San Antonio: Feierabend, 5:00pm PDT
Inland Empire: Rohrbaugh, 7:05pm PDT
Wisconsin: Fagan, 5:05pm PDT