Like the Mariners, the Rainiers and T-Rats took the night off. But don't think for a second that the DIAMOND JAXX bats took the night off, as a strong wind blowing in stifled both their offense and Montgomery's... and the pitchers dueled in Visalia. Did the Mavs come out ahead?
Okay, first off, the VSL (Aguirre) Mariners: the recaps of these games will be short, as these are largely unknown 17-19 year old kids playing glorified academy ball, and most of us know absolutely no one on this roster. If anyone knows of a notable prospect on the team, I'll be happy to list his line daily. If a hitter gets 2 hits or goes yard, he'll get listed, as common sense say the guys to watch will be the guys who show up more often than others. Pitchers will get listed as long as they throw an inning. For example, today, two other pitchers recorded outs for the VSLM's but only one out apiece. You're not gonna see their names.
VSL Mariners 8, VSL Cubs/Twins 6
Yoervis Medina: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 walks, 5 K
Edlano Seco: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 walks, 3 K, wild pitch
Manuel Campos: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, walk, 3 K, wild pitch
Terry Serrano: 3-4, R, RBI, K, SB
Jorge Agudelo: 2-5, triple, R, 2 RBI, K
Jose Rivero: 2-3, double, R
Cesar Del Rio: 2-4, triple, solo HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K
You know it's Rookie Ball when you see consolidated teams.
High Desert 3, Visalia 2
Aaron Cotter: 7.1 IP, 8 H, (2 R) 1 ER, 2 walks, 3 K, wild pitch
Austin Bibens-Dirkx: 1.2 IP, 2 H, walk, K
Casey Craig: 1-4, K (.303)
Michael Saunders: 2-4, triple, RBI (.285)
Johan Limonta: 1-4, K (.323)
Adam Moore: 1-4, solo HR (.274)
Josh Womack: 2-3, solo HR, 2 R, K, SB #7 (.234)
I mentioned it briefly in the Mariners game thread last night, but yeah, the Mavs snuck away with one against the Oaks. Granted, it wasn't looking good against Anthony Cupps, who went ahead and pitched one of those Games Of His Life against the Mavs, pitching into the 8th and allowing only 6 hits. The end result was a pitching duel with Aaron Cotter, who also had one of the best games of his short career.
The Oaks struck first in the bottom 5th. Leyson Septimo led off with a lined single to center... but tried to steal 2nd and got gunned down by Adam Moore for one out. Jerome Milons drew a walk, as did Frank Curreri. Mayo Santana grounded to short for two outs to move the runners ahead. Greg Thomson grounded to 1st, but Johan Limonta misplayed it, allowing Milons to score and make it 1-0.
But with one out in the top 6th, Josh Womack took Cupps deep (yes, JOSH WOMACK) to tie the game at 1, Womack's first HR of the season. Back to back singles by Casey Craig and Michael Saunders followed, but Cupps got Limonta and Moore to end the threat.
Aaron Cotter allowed a leadoff double to Bryan Byrne in the bottom 6th, but Adam Moore gunned HIM down stealing 3rd and the Mavs soon escaped. Jerome Milons led off the bottom 7th with a bunt single that stymied Cotter, and even made it to 3rd with two outs, but Greg Thomson flied out to end the inning.
In the top 8th, Josh Womack singled with one out, and stole 2nd with Casey Craig batting. Casey flew to left for one out, but Michael Saunders roped a laser into right that scored Womack to give the Mavs a 2-1 lead as Saunders slid into 3rd with a triple. That was it for Anthony Cupps, who ceded to a recently untouchable Forrest Cory: coming in, the only two earned runs he surrendered were off solo HRs, and his BABIP is astoundingly low. MiLB splits shows that he has had incredible fortune with his groundballs: only 2 of the 23 went for base hits, ridiculous for single A with its traditionally terrible infield defenses.
A pitch got by catcher Frank Curreri and Michael Saunders bolted for home, but Curreri got the handle, threw to Cory at home and got Saunders for the 3rd out.
Aaron Cotter came out for the 8th, the farthest he had worked all season. Derek Bruce flied to right for one out, but Bryan Byrne lined a single to center and Cyle Hankerd singled to right to move Byrne to 2nd. That was it for Cotter, and in came the hyphenated sidearmer Austin Bibens-Dirkx.
Rusty Ryal lined a single to left to load the bases, one out. Leyson Septimo lifted one into left field, and Casey Craig caught it for two outs but Byrne tagged up and scored to tie the ballgame, as Hankerd tagged up and took 3rd. 2-2, two outs.
Jerome Milons drew a walk to reload the bases... but Frank Curreri grounded to 2nd to end the inning.
With one out in the top 9th, Adam Moore took Forrest Cory deep to straightaway center to give the Mavs a 3-2 lead! It's Moore's 9th HR of the season and only the 3rd run (and go figure, 3rd solo HR) surrendered by Cory all season. Dominguez and Colton grounded out to end the inning, and ABD got another chance to slam the door.
ABD got Mayo Santana swinging for one out. Greg Thomson grounded to short, and Juan Diaz couldn't make the play in time. Derek Bruce grounded to 2nd for two outs. Bryan Byrne popped up to short and that was it.
NEXT: HEY, we actually know who's gonna start tonight in Visalia: Marwin Vega!
A: Wisconsin had the day off! Nathan Adcock starts the home series with Lansing today at 4:35 pm PDT.
AA: West Tenn 2, Montgomery 0
Joe Woerman: 7 IP, 2 H, 4 walks, 5 K
Mumba Rivera: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 walks, K
Craig James: 0.2 IP
Prentice Redman: 1-4, triple (.272)
Charlton Jimerson: 1-4, solo HR, K
Chris Minaker: 2-2, R, walk, SB (.258)
Luis Oliveros: 2-3, double, RBI (.389)
There wasn't a lot of scoring from the DIAMOND JAXX, and there didn't need to be, as Joe Woerman joined the party and pitched seven shutout innings. He was a bit off and hardly dominant, but had the right combination of made pitches, opponent hitting struggles, and an oppressive 18 mph wind in from left. Somehow, someway, Charlton Jimerson managed to hit his 1st HR as a DIAMOND JAXX anyway in the 2nd inning. With the wind blowing in, it was clearly going to come down to who could squeeze in the most runs, and the DIAMOND JAXX were able to squeeze in all they needed.
NEXT: DAY OFF, SPRING BREAK WOOOOOO!!!
AAA: Tacoma had the day off! They're on their way home to play a series with the Tucson Sidewinders.