We had some good pitching, some bad relief pitching, some wins, some losses, and I have a word about Campillo pitching in mile high climes and Adam Jones' big weekend.
Rk: VSL Mariners 15, VSL Tigers 6
Jessie Nava: 5 IP, 0 H, 2 walks, 4 K
Edlando Seco: 2.2 IP, 5 H, (6 R) 3 ER, 3 walks, K
Jose Jimenez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, hit batter
Rafael Torrealba: 1-6, 3 RBI
Terry Serrano: 3-4, double, 3 R (.273)
Carlos Ramirez: 1-4, double, 3 R, 2 walks (.333)
Rigoberto Rangel: 4-6, triple, 2 R, 5 RBI (.254)
Cesar Fuentes: 2-3, R, RBI (.296)
Jose Rivero: 2-3, double, 2 R, RBI (.272)
6 runs in the 1st put this game in the bag for the VSLM's, but they added 3 in the 4th, another in the 5th and 5 in the 6th just in case the VSL Tigers didn't get the hint. Jessie Nava threw 5 innings of no hit ball, and Edlando Seco got hit a bit but did fine until he imploded in the 8th. Even then, when he left with two outs he still had a big lead, even after inherited runners came in to score.
A: Kane County 8, Wisconsin 6
Anthony Varvaro: 3.2 IP, 5 H, (6 R) 2 ER, 4 walks, 4 K, 2 wild pitches
Drew Fiorenza: 2.1 IP, 3 H, (1 R) 0 ER, walk, 3 K
Ricky Orta: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, walk. Good to see you again... or not.
Joe Kantakevich: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Trevor Lawhorn: 1-4, double, 2 R, 2 K
Danny Santin: pinch hit double (.197)
Gerardo Avila: 3-4, double, triple, 2 R, 2 RBI, K (.260)
Kalian Sams: 2-4, solo HR, 2 RBI, 2 K (.205)
Ogui Diaz: 1-4, RBI (.186)
Anthony Varvaro got bombed out of the 3rd inning with a 5 run Cougar rally that forced the T-Rats to play catch up the rest of the way. Cougar runs in the 5th and 7th innings helped prevent the T-Rats from coming all the way back. Ricky Orta came back after a month off from finger herpes to pitch an inning.
NEXT: Can Tony Butler not pitch like a robot today at 5:05 pm PDT in the Quad Cities? Let's see how he's progressed since that feature I mentioned yesterday ran.
A: High Desert 6, Stockton 4
Chris Tillman: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 walks, 4 K
Nicholas Allen: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER (HR), walk, K
Austin Bibens-Dirkx: 1 IP, K
Casey Craig: 2-5, double, solo HR, K (.329)
Michael Saunders: 3-5, double, solo HR, 3 run HR, 2 K (.308)
Jesus Guzman: 1-4, double (.280)
Johan Limonta: 1-5, solo HR, 2 K (.305)
Reed Eastley: 2-2, double, 3 walks (.265)
Now THAT is more like it for Chris Tillman, who rebounded somewhat from a bad slump that dated back to while he was with Wisconsin... though he did run into trouble in the 7th before getting a timely hook. In the end, he still only allowed 2 hits, no home runs, six baserunners, half of which came in the 7th where he was likely tired and done for the night anyway. The results of his batters faced, though, shows us quite a variety:
Groundballs: 6
Flyballs: 5
Pop Ups: 4
Line Drives: 3
Walks: 3
Strikeouts: 4
It's not quite time to jump for joy just yet, as the mix of results shows that he was hardly dominant. But it indicates significant progress towards returning to form, let alone getting out of that crappy slump he's been in for the last month. Also, it was 6-0 Mavs going into the 7th, so he clearly had quite a bit of room to work.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Allen cracked and let the inherited runner score to give Tillman 3 ER on the night, but only allowed one more before getting out of the frame with a 6-4 lead. The bullpen would not allow another run (thanks, ABD! ABD, BTW, was named the Mavs Pitcher of the Month for May. Not sure if the prize is a free dinner at TGI Friday's or a Starbucks Gift Card. I'll have to get back to you on that.).
NEXT: Happy Cibney Day! 7:05 pm tonight.
AA: Huntsville 6, West Tenn 1
Joe Woerman: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 walks, 5 K
Mumba Rivera: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, walk, K, wild pitch
Aaron Troila: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, K
Sebastien Boucher: 1-5, triple, R, K (.207)
Charlton Jimerson: 3-4, RBI (.272)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 0-3, 2 K (.288)
Rene Rivera: 1-4 (.200)
Joe Woerman came to play tonight, but so did crappy Huntsville starter Steven Hammond, who pitched the game of his life into the 5th and only allowed one run. Huntsville's bullpen held the fort, and Woerman went 6, but Mumba Rivera melted down and gave up two runs in the 7th. Still, it was a 3-1 ballgame, until Aaron Troila came in and showed us why Rene Rivera doesn't need to wear a welders mask to catch him, as he imploded in surrendering 3 runs to make it a wash. The DIAMOND JAXX hadn't done much at the plate all night and they weren't about to start in the bottom 9th.
NEXT: Travis Chick?!?!?!?! Looks like they're gonna actually try and salvage his SP career. This should be interesting. 5:05 pm PDT.
Tacoma 12, Colorado Springs 5
Jorge Campillo: 6 IP, 10 H, 5 ER (HR), walk, 3 K, wild pitch
Ryan Rowland-Smith: 3 IP, walk, 4 K
Gookie Dawkins: 2-6, 3 R, K (.265)
Jeremy Reed: 2-5, R (.298)
Adam Jones: 4-5, triple, R, 4 RBI, K (.318)
Bryan LaHair: 1-5, double, R, K (.254)
WLAD: 1-3, triple, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 walks (.311)
Jeff Clement: 0-2, R, sac fly RBI, 2 walks, K (.251)
Rob Johnson (DH): 1-5, 3 run HR (.247)
Ronnie Prettyman: 2-5 (.225)
Oswaldo Navarro: 2-5, solo HR, 2 R (.228)
Two things:
- You may be surprised at how well Campillo did (and yes, 5 ER in Colorado Springs over 6 is 'well'... most of the damage coming in a 4 run 2nd inning) in light of how badly his teammates got shelled, but realize that before the Mariners signed him, he was a star pitcher in Mexico, in dry climes 7000 feet above sea level. That he learned how to throw breaking and offspeed stuff successfully despite that climate speaks volumes... and explains why pitching reasonably decent in Colorado Springs wasn't too far of a reach for him. Also, it's amazing that RRS threw 3 no-hit relief innings after that.
- It's curious to me how people have gone on over the weekend about how well Adam Jones is hitting during this series... while neglecting to mention (notice?) that he's having these big games in Colorado Springs, which is like the Rockies playing without their humidor in Citizens Bank Park, if CBP were in Colorado. Context, guys. Hell, Oswaldo Navarro went deep last night. If Jones were doing this in Fresno, or at Cheney, or at Round Rock, then yes, it's an awesome performance and I'd be just as excited. As it stands, he's good, he's ready for the majors, and these were good nights... but he had plenty of help. Also, I'm wondering why Jeff Clement only had one good night in the entire series.
NEXT: Justin Lehr will be the first to go as the Rainiers head to grand ol PGE Park for a series with the Outdated Genitalia Euphemisms.