- Today's recap will be light on content. Below are the dates of the last games of each team's respective season, among teams still playing this season. An (x) denotes teams that will, or are likely to, make the postseason, and will play some extra games once their regular season slate ends.
AZL Mariners: August 29
Pulaski Mariners (x): August 29
Everett Aquasox: September 3
Wisconsin T-Rats: September 1
High Desert Mavs: September 1 (what could be the last Mavs game in High Desert is August 29)
West Tenn DIAMOND JAXX (x): September 1
Tacoma Rainiers: September 1
- The Battle of the Hanns began with Philip Hann (Everett) ahead of Cheyne Hann (AZLMs) on the depth chart, but with a fine performance in Peoria, Cheyne has roared ahead, landing in Wisconsin, where he debuted with three scoreless relief innings in yesterday's 4-0 loss to the Quad Cities. Granted, this could be nothing more than a congratulatory cup of coffee for Cheyne, but he's probably a few good season-closing performances away from solidifying his position for 2009.
- Carlos Triunfel got himself ejected in the 9th inning of the Mavs' 5-1 loss to San Jose last night. Phenom did not concur with home plate umpire Masaki Nonaka's strike zone, and advised him of this perspective gap after swinging and missing strike three to lead off the top 9th. Nonaka did not appreciate the criticism and sent him to the clubhouse a little early. While Triunfel could have had legitimate issues with the strike zone, one has to imagine he's frustrated with being held back from a rumored promotion to AA after his groin injury last weekend.
- He returned to AA and had three good starts, but Joe Woerman finally got lit up last night against the Montgomery Biscuits (which, incidentally, are the Rays' AA affiliate). Most of the damage came in a big 7th inning, from which Woerman got chased. He began and ended his start by giving up too many line drives for comfort, and the fateful 7th inning was a meltdown of walks and line drives. So you could say it was an effective 6 inning start that just went on a few batters too long. Woerman should take a page from Jarrod Washburn and learn how to give his manager the 100 Pitch Stare. (That, however, is all he should take from Jarrod for what I hope are obvious reasons)
1st: Bunt groundball, strikeout (swing), line drive, line drive, hit batter, strikeout (swing)
2nd: Pop up, flyball, groundball
3rd: Groundball, strikeout (swing), strikeout (called)
4th: Pop Up, flyball, groundball
5th: Strikeout (swing), strikeout (swing), groundball
6th: Groundball, groundball, groundball, groundball
7th: Line drive, line drive, walk, walk, line drive
Groundballs: 8 (plus 1 bunt)
Flyballs: 2
Line Drives: 5
Pop Ups: 2
Walks: 2 (plus 1 hit batter)
Strikeouts: 6
Doug FISTER exacerbated the issue by allowing all three of Woerman's inherited runners to score before getting out of the frame, wiping out a 7-2 DIAMOND JAXX lead.
Fortunately, the DIAMOND JAXX had a rally or two left in them. Greg Halman blasted off on Roger Deago with nobody out and a man on in the bottom 7th to give West Tenn a 9-7 lead, and Adam Moore atoned for a gaffe I'll get to in a bit with an RBI single in the 8th to pile on. FISTER was allowed to finish the game, vulturing the win (with his FIST) from Woerman.
- For his well developed skills, Adam Moore lets a lot of balls get by him. He passed his 23rd ball of the season in the 1st inning of last night's game, and the passed ball was costly, as it came with the bases loaded, allowed a run, and moved the runners up a base. (Joe Woerman fortunately struck out the next batter to end the frame)
Stats below the jump.
Rk-AZL: Mariners 14, Rangers 12
AZLMs: 10-13... AZL Rangers: 13-10
(League: 263/345/374... 4.38 ERA)
Brandon Maurer: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 walks, 3 K, hit batter (4 GS +3, 3.26 ERA, 19.1 IP, 1 HR, 8/19 BB/K)
Randy Castillo: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER (HR), K, wild pitch (11 app, 5.06 ERA, 21.1 IP, 1 HR, 9/12 BB/K)
Eddy Hernandez: two outs, 6 H, 7 ER, K, wild pitch (13 app, 12.23 ERA, 17.2 IP, 1 HR, 14/11 BB/K)
Richard Ortiz: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, wild pitch (15 app, 3.04 ERA, 23.2 IP, 1 HR, 11/22 BB/K)
Cesar Fuentes: 2-6, triple, R, 3 RBI, 2 K, SB (271/322/376)
Scott Savastano: 1-4, solo HR, 3 R, walk, SB (274/338/384)
Alfredo Mateo: 1-5, R, 2 RBI, 3 K (241/333/355)
Henry Contreras: 3-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, K, SB (349/369/413)
Randy Molina: 2-5, R, 2 K (230/294/295)
Joel Mendez: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, walk (280/304/335)
Peter Whatley: 1-4, double, R, 2 RBI, walk
Rk+: Pulaski 5, Burlington Royals 3
PMs: 38-26... BUR: 24-39
(League: 262/332/388... 4.14 ERA)
Brooks Mohr: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 walks, 5 K (13 GS, 3.27 ERA, 63.1 IP, 3 HR, 28/52 BB/K)
Brandon Pullen: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (HR), 3 K (16 app, 5.22 ERA, 29.1 IP, 5 HR, 4/32 BB/K)
Philip Roy: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 walks, K, wild pitch (17 app, 2.22 ERA, 28.1 IP, 1 HR, 10/30 BB/K)
Dwight Britton: 1-3, solo HR, 2 R, SB (258/313/421)
Gabriel Noriega: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, walk, SB (245/273/301)
Mario Martinez: 2-4, R (326/350/473)
Juan Fuentes: 2-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI (343/416/473)
Blake Trinkler: 1-3, double, 2 K (216/329/328)
A-: Vancouver 8, Everett 3
EVE: 27-38... VAN: 27-38
(League: 256/345/373... 4.21 ERA)
Aaron Brown: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER (HR), 6 walks, 3 K (10 GS +4, 5.54 ERA, 50.1 IP, 2 HR, 42/38 BB/K)
Bradley Reid: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER (HR), 2 walks, K, wild pitch (13 app, 7.00 ERA, 18 IP, 4 HR, 10/9 BB/K)
Philip Hann: 2 IP, 3 H 1 ER, 4 K, wild pitch (19 app, 4.55 ERA, 29.2 IP, 1 HR, 10/23 BB/K)
Robbie Dominguez: 1 IP, walk, K (16 app, 6.39 ERA, 25.1 IP, 1 HR, 17/21 BB/K)
Luis Nuñez: 2-4, double, R (297/313/390)
Travis Howell: 1-4, double, R, 2 RBI, 2 K (303/410/434)
Brandon Fromm: 2-4, double, K (251/311/371)
Manny Pimentel: 1-3, RBI, K (219/335/292)
Welington Dotel: 2-4, K, SB #12 (269/326/419)
A: Quad Cities 4, Wisconsin 0
WIS: 21-40... QC: 31-30
(League: 252/323/373... 3.70 ERA)
Keith Meyer: 5 IP, 3 H, 4 ER (2 HR), walk, 6 K, 2 hit batters (41 app, 2 GS, 4.75 ERA, 66.1 IP, 7 HR, 27/66 BB/K)
Cheyne Hann: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Jeff Dunbar: 1 IP, K (14 app, 3.12 ERA, 17.1 IP, 6/12 BB/K)
Edilio Colina: 3-4, double (302/359/396)
rest of T-Rats lineup: 2-26, 2 walks, 12 K
A+: San Jose 5, High Desert 1
Mavs: 22-40... Little Giants: 37-25
(League: 273/340/412... 4.53 ERA)
Justin Souza: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 walks, 5 K, wild pitch, hit batter (11 app, 4 GS, 4.01 ERA, 33.2 IP, 3 HR, 12/34 BB/K)
Bryan Harris: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 walks, hit batter (39 app, 6.93 ERA, 49.1 IP, 6 HR, 12/30 BB/K)
Nick Hill: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, K (33 app, 10 GS, 4.67 ERA, 90.2 IP, 10 HR, 31/66 BB/K)
Fernando Encarnacion: 1-3, RBI (231/262/308)
res of Mavs lineup: 3-28, 8 K
AA: West Tenn 10, Montgomery 7
WTN: 26-34... MON: 32-28
(League: 264/342/401... 4.21 ERA)
Joe Woerman: 6 IP, 6 H, (7 R) 5 ER, 2 walks, 6 K, hit batter
Doug FISTER: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 K, hit batter (23 GS +6, 5.44 ERA, 132.1 IP, 12 HR, 45/99 BB/K)
Noah Old Sox Hall: 4-5, 2 doubles, R, RBI (258/374/371)
Mark Kiger: 2-3 double, R, 2 RBI, walk (217/348/285)
Johan Limonta: 1-5, RBI, K (308/377/529)
Mike Wilson: 2-4, double, solo HR, 2 R, walk, K (279/388/564)
Adam Moore: 3-4, 2 R, walk, K (316/397/500)
Greg Halman: 2-4, 2 run HR, 2 R, walk, K (286/333/498)
Matt Mangini: 1-5, RBI, K (196/243/243)
Jeff Dominguez: 3-3, R, RBI SB #17 (204/268/265)
AAA: Tacoma 11, Portland 1
TAC: 72-62... POR: 68-66
(League: 277/347/443... 4.84 ERA)
Rich Dorman: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 walks, K (7 GS +3, 4.13 ERA, 32.2 IP, 4 HR, 8/26 BB/K)
Denny Stark: 3 IP, 1 H, walk, 6 K (6 app, 2.30 ERA, 15.2 IP, 1 HR, 2/14 BB/K)
Justin Thomas: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER (HR), walk, K
Jon Huber: 1 IP, 2 K (48 app, 6.44 ERA, 65.2 IP, 6 HR, 21/51 BB/K)
Shawn Garrett: 2-5, 3 run HR, 2 R, K (297/336/443)
Victor Diaz: 2-5, R, 2 K (281/365/520)
Craig Wilson: 1-4, GRAND SLAM, K (261/376/479)
Jon Nelson: 1-4, triple, R, RBI (293/310/488)
Kevin Howard: 2-3, 2 run HR, sac fly RBI (267/356/462)