Okay, sorry about yesterday. What was funny is that I almost turned last night's non-recaps into a theme of fictional wrestling promos, but decided after writing a couple of them that the idea was dumb and that making it not-dumb would've taken more time and effort than it was worth.
So meanwhile, I'll reward your continued attention the conventional way... with actual recaps.
On to the wrap-up.
Arizona: Mariners 3, Royals 1
AZLMs: 17-11... AZL Royals: 16-12
Fabian Williamson: 5 IP, 1 H, 2 walks, 8 K
Gregory Moviel: 1 IP, 2 K
Julio Santiago: 3 IP, 3 H, (1 R) 0 ER, 2 K
Tyson Gillies: 1-4, RBI, 2 K (.221/.337/.302)
Luis Nuñez: 1-4, RBI, K (.261/.300/.339)
Jonathan Arias: 2-3, double, K (.196/.352/.250)
I think it'd be funny if the Royals' short season A ball team actually played in Grass Creek, WY.
Also, Fabian Williamson's fabulous day pretty much put the Royals bats to sleep, and they didn't wake up until their token 9th inning rally.
But the regular season is over, and the AZLMs, who won the 1st half championship, play the 2nd half champ AZL Giants in a one game playoff TONIGHT for ARIZONA LEAGUE SUPREMACY.
a: Eugene 10, Everett 2
EVE: 31-38... EUG: 32-37
Doug Salinas: 3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER (HR), 4 walks, 5 K
Mark Pettis: 3 IP, 3 H, walk, K
Will Brown: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER (2 HR), walk, K, hit batter
Craig Deaver: 1 IP, 2 walks, 2 K
Edilio Colina: 1-3, double (.281/.337/.371)
Gregory Halman: 1-4, triple, 2 K (.299/.365/.590)
Joe Dunigan: 1-4, solo HR, 3 K (.231/.291/.324)
Doug Salinas got beat up early and often, and this game was over before the Aquasox could get started.
Some good news: Gregory Halman and Edward Paredes made the NWL postseason all-star squad, so congratulations.
A: Clinton 6, Wisconsin 3
WIS: 27-37... CLI: 27-38
Ricky Orta: two outs, 1 H, 2 K, 2 hit batters
Justin Souza: 2.1 IP, 5 H, (4 R) 1 ER, K
Tom Ellis: 1 IP
Rollie Gibson: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER (HR), K
Andrew Barb: 2 IP, 4 K
Joe White (a HITTER): 1 IP, 1 H, (1 R) 0 ER
Calvin Beamon: 2-5, solo HR, 2 R, K (.254/337/.338)
Kuo Hui Lo: 2-5, 2 K (.287/.364/.421)
James McOwen: 1-5, 4 K: The Golden Sombrero (.270/.296/.323)
Round 2 of the battle for the division cellar goes to Clinton, though after the T-Rats' win on Tuesday, Clinton still remains in the cellar by half a game, with two games to go in this series. No word on why Ricky Orta took an early exit... maybe back spasms. But as a result, the T-Rats had to empty their bullpen to finish the game, and 1B Joe White, benched today to rest, ended up pitching the 9th.
Some awesome news: the expected T-Rats starter for today's game is Family Warrior Harold Williams! The journey back from family-hardship related exile takes another step forward... we hope! He still has to do a decent job on the hill.
A+: High Desert 2, Rancho Cucamonga 1
Mavs: 22-43... Quakes: 32-33
Chris Tillman: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 walks, 13 K
Aaron Cotter: 1 IP, 1 H
Roman Martinez: 1 IP
Aaron Jensen: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER
Jesus Guzman: 1-3, solo HR (.290/.363/.522)
Alex Meneses: 2-3 (.190/.327/.214)
In what may be his 2nd to last start of the season, Chris Tillman made it count with a bang, pwning the Quakes for 6 innings and striking out 13 of the 22 batters he faced. Like Fabian Williamson in Peoria, Tillman's performance left the Quakes batters with a hangover that they never really shook. Tillman will likely be the closing day starter on Monday against deadly Lancaster.
AA: The DIAMOND JAXX got rained out last night. With the end of the season approaching and that game being the last against Huntsville, it's been decided that the game won't be made up. They are on their way home for their final 5 games of the season, all against the Chattanooga Lookouts. LOOK OUT! END OF SEASON APPROACHING!
AAA: Las Vegas 6, Tacoma 3
TAC: 66-73... LVG: 63-76
Cha Seung Baek: 5 IP, 7 H, (5 R) 4 ER (HR), 3 K, 72 pitches, 49 strikes
Justin Lehr: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, K
Juan Doñe: 1 IP, 1 H, walk, K
Nick Green: 3-5, R, 2 K (.340/.388/.612)
Bryan LaHair: 3-5, 2 doubles, R, RBI (.279/.333/.437)
WLAD: 3-5, double, RBI, 2 K (.295/.366/.522)
Jeff Clement: 2-5, RBI, 2 K (.274/.370/.501)
Rob Johnson: 2-5 (.268/.331/.372)
Ronnie Prettyman: 2-3, R, walk (.251/.293/.359)
Seeing Cha Seung Baek stretch out to 72 pitches and work the minimum was encouraging, and you can even chalk up getting hit around to the offense-friendly environs of Cashman Field. However, the 4 runs the 51's got in the first two frames were enough by themselves to seal the win.
I did call the notion of promoting Nick Green a joke, but really, I wouldn't consider it the end of the world to give that guy a September promotion and maybe have him spell Jose Lopez for a game or four to see if his Rainiers success was a giant flash in the pan. Sometimes, guys adjust and get better. Usually they don't, but how would you know if you didn't try, eh?
Meanwhile, the best explanation I can conjure up for Justin Lehr's shift to the bullpen is preparation for a possible September callup to work out of the pen... though don't quote me on that.