It's late because I'm doing some writing today for Slog.
Meanwhile, the Rainiers went to a baseball game in Colorado Springs and a football game broke out... the DIAMOND JAXX get a masterful pitching performance against Huntsville... the Mavs get shut down by a different masterful pitching performance... and the VSLM's LOL w/1337 hi77in6 5ki11z against the VSL Mets bullpen.
Rk: VSL Mariners 9, VSL Mets 4
Leonardo Rodriguez: 3.2 IP, 7 H, (4 R) 3 ER, 2 walks, 3 K, wild pitch
Oberth Guanire: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 walks, 3 K
Mayckol Guaipe: 1 IP, 1 H, walk, K
Terry Serrano: 2-4, R, 2 walks, SB
Jose Rivero: 2-5, double, R, 2 RBI, 2 K
Humberto Espinoza: 2-3, double, 2 R, 3 RBI, walk
Cesar Fuentes: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 walks
Rigoberto Rangel: 1-5, double, R, RBI, K
Eduardo Garcia: 1-4, double, RBI, walk, K
The VSLM's did fall behind during a 2 run 4th by the Mets but they blew up like the Godfather in the 5th and 6th innings, scoring 3 and 4 runs respectively to not only come back and take the lead, but put this game away.
A: Wisconsin's game with Kane County was postponed. They'll try again today with Kyle Parker at 5:05 pm PDT, and the T-Rats will do a doubleheader Saturday.
A: Stockton 5, High Desert 1
Jose Escalona: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER (HR), 4 walks, 3 K
Roman Martinez: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (HR), walk, 3 K
Nicholas Allen: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER (HR), K
Adam Moore: 1-4, solo HR (.283)
rest of Mavs lineup: 1-25, 4 walks, 15 K
While Stockton threw some runs on the board against Jose Escalona and, later, Roman Martinez, Vincent Mazzaro absolutely mowed the Mavs, striking out 12 and only allowing a solo HR over 7 innings, easily the best performance by the erratic starter this year. A strong wind helped the Ports hit 3 home runs, one off each Mavs pitcher that appeared. Escalona had control problems the whole way and was dubiously pulled after 3 innings, leaving Roman, once a starter and pretty much an all purpose mop up guy at this point, to get the Mavs into the later innings.
NEXT: Marwin Vega's turn in Stockton at 7:05 pm PDT.
AA: West Tenn 6, Huntsville 0
Justin Thomas: 8 IP, 3 H, 2 walks, 6 K
Mumba Rivera: 1 IP, K
Charlton Jimerson: 2-3, 2 solo HR (DAMN, Charlton), walk, K (.261)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 0-4 (.294)
Prentice Redman: 2-4, R (.286)
Brent Johnson: 2-4, 2 doubles, K (.290)
Rene Rivera: 2-4, double, 2 R, RBI (.197)
Luis Valbuena: 2-4, RBI (.221)
Chris Minaker: 1-2, 2 RBI (.241)
Despite a strong wind out to left, the Stars hitters couldn't do anything against Justin Thomas, who pitched 8 awesome shutout innings while only allowing 5 baserunners, inducing 10 groundouts to go with his 6 K's. Meanwhile, Charlton Jimerson has officially freaked out, as he had another 2 home run game yesterday. I wonder how long this crazy power is going to continue. If the Huntsville pitching staff is any indication, probably the rest of this series, at least.
NEXT: Andrew Baldwin, aka That Guy We Got in the Moyer Trade, goes against Huntsville at 5:05 pm PDT.
AAA: Colorado Springs 23, Tacoma 11
Jake Woods: 5 IP, 13 H, 10 ER (3 HR), 3 walks, hit batter
Juan Sandoval: 0.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER (3 HR), wild pitch
Jamie Cerda: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 walks, 3 K
Byron Embry: 1.1 IP, 3 H, (3 R) 2 ER (HR), walk, K, wild pitch
Yes, SEVEN home runs.
Gookie Dawkins: 3-5, double, R, 2 RBI (.269)
Jeremy Reed: 1-5, R, 2 K (.280)
Adam Jones: 4-5, double, solo HR, 2 run HR, 3 R, K (.302)
Bryan LaHair: 1-5, 2 run HR, 3 RBI, 2 K (.261)
WLAD: 2-4, 2 doubles, R, walk, K (.311)
Jeff Clement: 0-4, R, walk (.249)
Rob Johnson: 0-2, R, 2 walks (.254)
Ronnie Prettyman: 1-4, double, R, 2 RBI, K (.213)
Oswaldo Navarro: 1-4, R, RBI (.228)
A 3rd quarter touchdown put this game out of reach for the Rainiers, as despite 300 yards passing, they only managed a touchdown and field goal due to 4 turnovers, 3 off of backup QB Jamie Cerda.
What's amazing is that the Rainiers scored 8 runs in the 4th and midway through the 5th, they held a 10-4 lead, which is safe in places not named Albuquerque or Colorado. The Sky Sox beat down Jake Woods for 4 in the 5th to make it 10-8, then after the Rainiers added a run in the 6th to make it 11-8, the Sky Sox blew up for 8 runs of their own in the bottom half to make it 16-11, chasing Jake Woods, then giving Juan Sandoval the Jeff Weaver treatment, hitting THREE home runs off him in the 6th before he was mercifully pulled for Jamie Cerda. Then they added 5 more off Cerda and Byron Embry in the 7th to make it an absurd 21-11. At that point, you may as well send in Brant Ust or somebody, because it's clear that pitching doesn't matter.
Seriously, the Rockies need to get the Sky Sox a humidor.
NEXT: Brad Thomas' turn to jump into the fire at 6:05 pm PDT tonight. What he ought to do is, since pitches don't sink in the thin air, he might as well just throw it shin high and instead of leaving his pitches up in the zone, they'll just be around the knees, and maybe he'll hold the Sky Sox to 11 runs. And you thought the Cal League was bad....