The org gives you some good news after a bad night for the M's. I'll give you a clue: ORG SWEEP.
Yeah, I don't do suspense well, do I?
It was a kinda-sorta org sweep, because the T-Rats were idle, but the other three teams held serve.
The Mavs did need a late rally and some extra inning firepower to seal a victory against Lake Elsinore.
And we now run into the Southern League Conundrum of West Tennessee playing Tennessee. The Tennessee Smokies are the Cubs' AA affiliate. Either way, there was no confusion, when Doug FISTER was pitching, whose FIST was in control of this ballgame.
And a couple of your Rainier favorites powered the offense to a big lead in the series opener in Tucson. Sean White held the fort until a scary line drive ended his night early. No word yet on the injury or his condition, but the Rainiers held up despite a Sidewinders comeback attempt.
On to the wrap-up!
A: Wisconsin had the day off. They are home in Appleton and start a series with Beloit tomorrow.
Some bad news from Rattler Radio: hot hitter Daniel Carroll took a pitch off his hand and has been DL'd. Gavin Dickey also got hurt earlier this week and was also DL'd.
Replacing both for the time being is Maximo Mendez, who didn't do too bad in Peoria last year (252/372/428) but was being held out until now, and Kevin Reynolds, the minor league vet who got in a bit of work last year, mostly with High Desert (328/363/384 overall). Not a bad choice of placeholders, and a closer look at the BAD DOG wrap-up from yesterday shows they're already getting action in the lineup. Get well soon, to the injured.
A+: High Desert 7, Lake Elsinore 4
Kyle Parker: 7.1 IP, 3 H, (3 R) 2 ER, 2 walks, 7 K, wild pitch
David Asher: no outs recorded, 1 H, 1 ER, walk (intentional), hit batter
Aaron Cotter: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Michael Wagner: 1.1 IP, walk
Carlos Triunfel: 1-5, 2 K
Chris Minaker: 2-4, double, 2 R, walk
Carlos Peguero: 2-4, R, walk, K
Greg Halman: 2-5, R, RBI, 3 K
Matt Mangini: 1-5, double, RBI, 3 K
Kuo Hui Lo: 1-4, R, RBI, K
Johan Limonta: 3-3, double, R, RBI
Jose Yepez: 2-4, double, 2 RBI, K
Leury "Latin Campaneris" Bonilla watch: started at 1B, went 0 for 1 with a walk, got lifted for Johan Limonta in the 7th.
This was actually a pretty pedestrian game for 6 innings, thanks to some dominant pitching from Kyle Parker, who seems impervious to the hitter-friendly conditions of the Cal League. The Mavs got an insurance run in the 7th when Jose Yepez of all people drives in a run to make it 2-0.
But Parker started running into trouble, immediately coughing up a single to Cedric Hunter, then a lined double from Eric Sogard to put runners in scoring position. Jeremy Hunt tapped back to the mound for one out. Mike Baxter grounded to Triunfel at 2nd, and they took the easy out as Cedric Hunter scored to cut the lead to 2-1 and Sogard took 3rd. Rayner Contreras drew a walk to put runners at the corners, but Mitch Canham popped out to end the threat.
The Mavs added a run in the 8th on a Matt Mangini double (and almost had another but Chris Minaker got thrown out at the plate). Parker went back out for the 8th, as it appeared the coaches wanted him to go as long-distance as possible. He struck out Tom King... on a wild pitch, so epic fail for everyone and King takes 1st. Jodam Rivera grounded into the force at 2nd for one out, but Javis Diaz walked, and that was it for Kyle Parker after a long but effective outing.
Groundballs: 10
Flyballs: 4
Line Drives: 3
Pop Ups: 2
Walks: 2
Strikeouts: 7
David Asher came in to pitch. Cedric Hunter grounded to Triunfel at 2nd, who threw YIKES AND AWAY towards 1st, allowing a run to make it 3-2 and putting runners in scoring position with one out. Eric Sogard stroked a single to right to cash in Diaz and make it 3-3 as runners got back into scoring position. Asher intentionally passed Jeremy Hunt to load the bases and create a force at any base for Mike Baxter... except Asher then plunked Baxter and the only force involved was a run being forced in to make it 4-3 Lake. Asher got the hook and in came Aaron Cotter for one of his bigger 2008 tests.
And he answered the bell, striking out Rayner Contreras and getting Mitch Canham to pop out to end the threat, but now the Mavs needed a run with only three outs to go.
With one out, Johan Limonta smoked a single up the middle, and Jose Yepez woke up again, lining a double to left to cash in Limonta and TIE THE BALLGAME at 4. Jamie McOwen and Triunfel went down in short order, but we headed to extra frames.
And the Mavs blew up in extra frames. Chris Minaker led off with a double to left. Carlos Peguero lined a single to center, Minaker outran a throw to 3rd and Peguero took 2nd on the throw. Greg Halman smoked a grounder into LF to cash in Minaker and put runners at the corners with no outs and a 5-4 lead. Mangini struck out for the 1st out, but Kuo Hui Lo sac flied Peguero home to make it 6-4, and Johan Limonta doubled in Halman to make it 7-4... though Limonta got greedy and got thrown out at 3rd. Limonta is not particularly fast, so he probably should have held at 2nd, but okay then.
Michael Wagner came on to finish, and there would be little drama, as aside from a walk, Lake went down in short order to seal the deal.
AA: West Tenn 2, Tennessee 1
Doug FISTER: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K, wild pitch
Jason Mackintosh: 2 IP, K
Mumba Rivera: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 walks
Michael Saunders: 1-5, double, K
Marshall Hubbard: 2-4
Ronnie Prettyman: 2-4, solo HR, K
Doug FISTER did watch a run come around to score in the 3rd on some bad fortune, but he got through six innings only allowing that one run in an excellent outing:
Groundballs: 10 (plus 1 bunt)
Flyballs: 2
Line Drives: 2
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 5
Unfortunately, the DIAMOND JAXX gave him no offense until the end of his night in the top 7th, and only on a bases loaded groundout from Luis Valbuena when the 2B took the easy out at 1B.
The DIAMOND JAXX took the lead in the 9th when Ronnie Prettyman led off with a solo shot. Mumba Rivera came on for the 9th and allowed a leadoff walk, took a sac bunt for one, and gave up a single to put runners at the corners. Mumba got a pop out, but walked Kyle Reynolds to load the bases. Fortunately, Steve Clevenger's liner found 3B Ronnie Prettyman to end the ballgame.
So anyway, according to FSN, Mark Kiger is (Banner Bank's) Building To The Future with a SIX GAME HITTING STREAK.
Mark Kiger's season numbers: 186/329/286
Mark Kiger's age: 27
Mark Kiger's career numbers: 271/372/391
Mark Kiger's career games played above AA in his 7 year minor league career: 83
If the Future the Mariners are building to is 110 losses from a gutted roster, then yeah, I suppose so.
AAA: Tacoma 6, Tucson 3
Sean White: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER (HR), K
Jake Woods: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 walks, 2 K
Cesar Jimenez: 2 IP, 2 H, hit batter
Jeremy Reed: 4-4, 2 doubles, solo HR, 2 R
Jeff Clement: 2-4, 3 run HR, 2 K
Bryan LaHair: 1-4, double, R, K
Yung Chi Chen: 1-3, R, RBI, SB
Rob Johnson ("DH"): 1-4, RBI, K
Sean White gave the Rainiers a functional outing as the Rainiers poured on more than enough offense, building a 6-1 lead by the 5th... until a Josh Whitesell liner hit him and knocked him out of the game. No further word for the moment on exactly where he took the liner. In any case, I hope he's alright.
Groundballs: 12
Flyballs: 3 (1 HR)
Line Drives: 5
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 1
Mystic Tan came in and immediately allowed White's run to score on a double from Trot Nixon (HEY), and did allow another run in the 7th, but the Sidewinders would get no closer.