We were one Mumba Rivera inning away from an org sweep, but Mumba got hit and the Carolina Mudcats beat the DIAMOND JAXX. Still, 7 out of 8 ain't bad, which includes the VSLM's holding on for the win in their season finale.
On to the wrap-up!
VENEZUELA~! SEASON FINALE: VSL Mariners 3, VSL Tigers 2
VSLM's: 48-23... VSL Tigres: 37-33
Reynaldo Sabala: 1.1 IP, 2 walks, 2 wild pitches, 2 hit batters
Edlando Seco: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 walks, 4 K
Leonardo Rodriguez: one out, 1 H, K
Jose Jimenez: 1 IP, K
Yidid Batista: 1-5, RBI (.284/.376/.327)
Humberto Espinoza: 2-5, double, RBI (.310/.423/.414)
Jose Rivero: 2-3, solo HR, walk (.300/.410/.504)
The VSLM's staked a 3-0 lead, but once the Tigres rallied in a 2 run 8th, they went and whoever they could to put it out, and that whoever was SP Leonardo Rodriguez, who allowed a hit but also got the big strikeout to end the 8th and kill the rally. Jose Jimenez, who if you hadn't noticed has been the closer all season, came in and convincingly locked this ballgame down to finish the 70 game season with 16 saves.
VSLM's team batting, 267/370/365 = 735 OPS (3rd in VSL)
Average: 4th
OBP: 2nd
SLG: 4th
VSLM's team pitching: 628.1 IP (2nd most), 544 hits, 10 HR allowed (Least in the VSL!), 294 walks (2nd most), 461 K (3rd most), 8 shutouts (most in VSL).
Top producers.
- Jose Rivero (LF/RF): 240 ABs, 300/410/504, 25 walks, 74 K.
- Rigoberto Rangel (OF): 232 AB, 280/385/444, 33 walks, 54 K.
- Cesar Fuentes (IF): 242 AB, 314/405/397, 28 walks, 38 K.
- Carlos Ramirez (IF): 184 AB, 266/366/364, 25 walks, 30 K.
- Humberto Espinoza (1B/DH/PH extraordinare): 145 AB, 310/423/414, 24 walks, 5 K.
Leonardo Rodriguez: 5-0, 1.82 ERA, 69.1 IP, 50 H, 1 HR, 24 walks, 34 K.
Jose Rios: 7-1, 3.09 ERA, 64 IP, 66 H, 0 HR, 24 walks, 45 K.
Yoervis Medina: 4-2, 3.42 ERA, 50 IP, 64 H, 1 HR, 19 walks, 36 K.
Danny Cruz Ayala: 5-5, 3.13 ERA, 46 IP, 34 H, 0 HR, 32 walks, 43 K
Rhonny Acosta: 6-3, 0.67 ERA, 40.1 IP, 21 H, 1 HR, 15 walks, 39 K
Oberth Guanire: 4-0, 2.84 ERA, 38 IP, 40 H, 0 HR, 8 walks, 27 K
Jose Jimenez: 16 SV, 1.57 ERA, 28.2 IP, 16 H, 1 HR, 12 walks, 23 K
More on this later. Often times, guys who wouldn't statistically warrant a promotion often get it thanks to their skillset, so later I'll take a look at last year's roster and study who ended up in North America the next season.
Dominican: Mariners 5, AthleticsDos 1
DSLM's: 30-20... DSLA2's: 7-44
Jose Perdomo: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K, hit batter
Michael Pineda: 4 IP, 4 H, (1 R) 0 ER, K, balk
Angel Echevarria: 2 IP, 2 H, walk
Amelis Carvajal: 1-4, R, RBI, walk, 2 K (.229/.413/.333)
Victor Ozuna: 1-4, RBI, K (.267/.431/.267)
McyQuin Lora: 1-3, double, R, walk, K (.143/.262/.196)
The A2's are horrible. An example of why: While allowing 4 earned runs over 4 innings and walking 5, A2's pitcher Victor Diaz uncorked FIVE wild pitches! His 7.83 ERA is not a fluke.
Arizona: Mariners 5, Brewers 0
AZLM's: 5-3... AZL Brew Crew: 1-5
Robbie Dominguez: 5 IP, 2 H, 3 K, wild pitch
Michael Renfree: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Stephen Bills: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Travis Mortimore: 1 IP, 3 K
Daniel Carroll: 2-4, R, walk, K, SBs #13, #14 and #15 (.341/.431/.424)
Brandon McConnell: 1-4, double, R, 2 K (.266/.356/.422)
Mario Martinez: 2-4, double, 2 R, SB (.258/.280/.336)
Brandon Fromm: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, K (.204/.291/.323)
Luis Nuñez: 2-4, K (.259/.293/.339)
Guy Welsh: 1-2, 2 RBI, walk (.220/.298/.220)
Excellence all around yesterday. Even Michael Renfree had a good day on the mound in relief. Also, Daniel Carroll is making a strong case for promotion to A ball in 2008. It's a little late to warrant a promotion this year but he definitely has a case for moving ahead.
a: Everett 6, Tri City 4
EVE: 20-25... 3C: 18-27
Alfredo Venegas: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 walks, 5 K, hit batter
Ryan Moorer: 1.2 IP, 3 H, (1 R) 0 ER, walk, K, wild pitch
Bryan Harris: 1.1 IP, 1 H
Kris Sanchez: 2-4, 2 run HR, 3 RBI, K (.227/.313/.318)
Kalian Sams: 1-4, double (.190/.281/.347)
Jeff Dunbar: 1-3, 2 run HR, walk, 2 K (.195/.306/.345)
Deybis Benitez: 2-2, walk (.167/.292/.189)
The Aquasox struck quickly with 3 runs in the 1st, powered by a Kris Sanchez home run (!). But the Dustdevils eventually awoke and pounded in 3 runs off Alfredo Venegas and a pair of doubles to tie the ballgame. The Aquasox did capitalize on an error by Tri Cities to net a pair of singles and cash in Beef Roids to take the lead. Then Joe Dunigan came up in the 7th with one on and smacked a 2 run bomb to make it 6-3. A scary 8th inning saw three baserunners reach including DEREK KINZLER on an error, but Ryan Moorer handed over the ball with two outs with only one run allowed, and Bryan Harris got them out of the jam. He also worked a scoreless 9th to seal the deal despite a one out double.
A: Wisconsin 6, Fort Wayne 5, 12 innings
WIS: 14-26... FTW: 15-25
Kyle Parker: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 walks, 5 K
Rollie Gibson: no outs recorded, 2 walks
Drew Fiorenza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, walk, K
Keith Renaud: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 walks, 3 K
LEURY BONILLA?!: pitched! Got last out via K!!!
Calvin Beamon: 1-5, double, R, walk, K (.252/.348/.324)
Alex Liddi: 1-5, double, RBI, walk (.224/.293/.364)
Kuo Hui Lo: 1-5, double, R, walk, K (.279/.346/.375)
Joe White: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 3 walks (.295/.387/.421)
Jamie McOwen: 4-6, 2 doubles, 2 R, RBI (.259/.274/.295)
Israel Nuñez: 2-4, 2 K
Blake Ochoa: subbed in, RBI single
Juan Diaz: 3-6, double, RBI, K (.264/.314/.337)
Leury Bonilla, Roving Infielder (who has also played the corner outfield spots and even catcher in a couple games), was commissioned to pitch with two outs and a one run lead in the 12th after reliever Keith Renaud ran out of gas following a 70 pitch outing that was easily the longets of his pro career. Thanks to Chris Mehring for the details. With no one else available in the pen (the relievers had pitched 16 innings in the last 2 games), Bonilla came in, and though he balked a runner to 2nd, he got the batter to strike out on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame.
Also, welcome to Blake Ochoa, who BTW was the starting catcher in Everett on LL/USSM Night II. He is in Wisconsin to add catcher depth due to another Jair Fernandez injury (which is fine with Everett since he was one of 4 catchers on their roster). Some clarification on Ochoa's arrival: he was not signed away but was part of an obscure, interesting trade that sent Danny Santin to the Marlins org. Also, with Fernandez injured, Israel Nuñez should see a lot more time at catcher: the start yesterday was only his 3rd game of the year.
Jamie McOwen's two doubles were only his 3rd and 4th extra base hits of the season in 112 ABs. All of his XBH's have been doubles.
A+: High Desert 3, Inland Empire 2, 13 innings
Mavs: 14-29... Empire: 21-22
Marwin Vega: 8.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K
Aaron Jensen: 1.2 IP, 2 H, walk (intentional), K
Roman Martinez: 3 IP, 2 walks (1 intentional), 4 K
Carlos Triunfel: 1-3, R, walk, K, 3 sacrifice outs (.333/.366/.393)
Jesus Guzman: 3-5, 2 run HR, walk (.294/.363/.519)
Adam Moore: 2-5, walk, K (.304/.370/.548)
Jeff Dominguez: 1-6, RBI, K (.264/.315/.367)
Aaron Jensen, currently the de facto closer, came in to try and finish a magnificent effort by Marwin Vega, who started and pitched into the 9th but had allowed a one out double and was out of gas. But Jensen immediately gave up the game-tying double to Ivan De Jesus. To his credit, he intentionally walked the next batter to set up the force and then got the next two batters to send it to extras. Jensen worked the 10th without trouble, thanks to a baserunner getting thrown out stealing by Travis Scott. Roman Martinez held the fort until the top 13th, where a Johan Limonta walk and two singles cashed in the go-ahead run, and Roman turned on the jets in the bottom 13th, going K, K, flyout to end it.
AA: Carolina 9, West Tenn 8
WTN: 16-26... CAR: 21-21
Doug FISTER: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER (HR), walk, 4 K
Michael Hrynio: two outs, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 walks, K
Juan Sandoval: 1.1 IP, 2 K, hit batter
David Asher: no outs recorded, 2 H, 3 ER, walk
Mumba Rivera: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER (HR), K
Brent Johnson: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, walk, K (.287/.369/.394)
Luis Valbuena: 2-4, R, walk, K (.251/.315/.387)
Marshall Hubbard: 2-3, double, R, 2 RBI, walk, K (.246/.342/.387)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 1-4, double, R, 2 RBI, K (.275/.387/.416)
Michael Wilson: 1-3, triple, R, RBI, walk (.139/.223/.287)
Jesus Merchan: 1-4, double, R in his Mariners org debut. (overall: .331/.403/.491)
A wild game was not what the doctor ordered. Doug FISTER left with a 3-2 lead, but Carolina blew up Michael Hrynio for 3 runs in the 6th to chase him and once they were finished with Juan Sandoval, it was 5-3 Carolina.
But the DIAMOND JAXX got a break against an erratic Scott Tyler in the 8th. Brent Johnson drew a one out walk, Luis Valbuena walked, and Jesus Silva came in to stop this mess. Charlton Jimerson struck out, film at 11, but Marshall Hubbard singled in a run, and Tui finally showed extra base power with a double to center thta cashed in Valbuena and Hubbard to give the DIAMOND JAXX a 6-5 lead! Prentice Redman flew to left and watched LF Frank Moore muff it to put him on and score Tui, 7-5. Then Michael Wilson, freshly shaved and out of his cave, hit his first triple of the season to cash in Redman and make it 8-5 before Jesus Merchan, befuddled by all this humidity in the South, flew out to end the rally.
That was great, except David Asher came in and gave up a bunt single, double and walk to make it 8-6. Mumba Rivera came in and imediately surrendered a game breaking 3 run home run to slugger Lee Mitchell that made it 9-8. He got the next three batters, and the DIAMOND JAXX went quietly in the top 9th to end it.
AAA: Tacoma 3, Memphis 2
TAC: 52-63... MEM: 47-68
Ryan Feierabend: CG, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 K in 95 pitches.
Jeremy Reed: 2-4, R, K (.293/.346/.441)
Mike Morse: 2-4, double, R (.317/.380/.473)
Bryan LaHair: 1-3, RBI, walk (.271/.322/.406)
WLAD: 1-3, RBI, walk, K (.306/.379/.553)
Ronnie Prettyman: 1-4, RBI, 2 K (.273/.304/.372)
Brant Ust: 1-4, double (.252/.307/.365)
Oswaldo Navarro: 1-3, double (.239/.304/.325)
Memphis hit Ryan Feierabend for two runs in the 1st, which was more than they showed in all of LL/USSM Night I, but that was all that Feierabend allowed as he went the distance like his lefty counterpart Robert Rohrbaugh, and the Rainiers slowly tacked on the requisite runs to win this ballgame.