Game Recaps (5/15/08)
Tucson 5 (ARI -15), Tacoma 2
RHP Sean White (5.08, L) allowed four runs to score on seven hits and three walks against two Ks through six innings. White is only striking out 4.26 per nine innings, but he’s getting 2.65 groundouts for every fly, so he’s managing so long as he can avoid the walk and get solid defensive play behind him, neither of which happened tonight. LHP Jake Woods (4.87) let one more run score on two hits, a walk, and a K in the seventh, and then RHP Scott Shoemaker (1.72), absent since May 3rd, showed some rust by walking three and striking out just one in the final two innings.
RF Victor Diaz (2 2B, R, RBI, .319) helped power the offense again with a couple of doubles. LF Charlton Jimerson (2 SB, .275) also had his two hits, but both were singles, and DH Shawn Garrett (2B, RBI, .298) had one double. The Rainiers have been piecing together their offense with castoffs since Clement and Balentien were promoted, and if not for Salt Lake City running away with the division (best record in baseball), I’d say they were still able to get a playoff spot eventually. Assuming they don’t continue to lose to last place teams, of course.
High Desert 4, Bakersfield 1 (TEX + 8)
The Mavs narrowly avoided series sweep today behind a strong pitching performance by RHP Kyle Parker (3.29, W), who ran his record to 4-0 by pitching seven innings and allowing just one run to score on three hits and four walks while striking out three. LHP Michael Wagner (3.43) allowed a hit and threw a wild pitch, but recorded strikeouts for all four of his outs, and RHP Shawn Kelley (0.00) walked one over the final two-thirds of an inning.
There was some help from the bottom of the lineup in this one, as CF-RF Kuo-hui Lo (R, SB, 2 CS, .216) had three hits batting seventh and C Jose Yepez (2B, .237) had two batting eighth. Shame about the poor baserunning on Lo’s part. LF James McOwen (R, .277) had a single and a walk leading off.
Burlington 2 (KC - 8), Wisconsin 7
The T-Rats are now 8-5 in May after going 9-14 in April. RHP Juan Ramirez (3.98, W) picked up the win in this case, but he wasn’t dominating as we’ve come to expect of him, going seven innings and allowing the two runs to score on four hits, a hit batter, and a walk, but only striking out three. RHP Jake Wild (2.53) had an uneventful eighth, and then RHP Rob Harmon (11.93) had a hit, a walk, and a strikeout to his line in the ninth.
It was a group effort for the lineup, as all but one of them had a hit. SS Juan Diaz (3B, R, RBI, .266) and LF Gavin Dickey (R, SB, .373) both had two, 2B Edilio Colina (2B, R, RBI, .306) doubled, and CF Maximo Mendez (R, .211) and 3B Alex Liddi (2 R, SB, .220) both had a single and a walk. Surprising as a it is to see given his average, Mendez has been one of the hottest hitters on the team lately, hitting .297 through his last ten games, and if you scale it back to eight, it’s .379.
VSL Astros 5 (0), Aguirre Mariners 4
Two days after being called in for one out at the end of a game, LHP Kervin Montbrum (12.00, L) started and gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, two walks, and two Ks through two and two-thirds innings. RHP Mayckol Guaipe (0.00, PO) went three after that, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four, and then RHP Gerardo Esparza (2.25, E) allowed one hit and struck out four going the rest of the distance.
Despite the opportunities afforded to them by some solid bullpen work, the offense couldn’t quite bridge the gap. SS Roberto Velasquez (2B, R, RBI, E, .462), LF Rigoberto Rangel (R, 2 RBI, .471), and 2B Jetsy Extrano (RBI, .250) all had two hits, 1B Cesar del Rio (2B, R, .250) and C Franklin Diaz (2B, E, .250) both doubled, and 3B Jorge Agudelo (R, .333) walked twice. All four runs came in the third inning.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Ryan Feierabend, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
West Tenn: RHP Doug Fister, in Jackson, @ 5:05 pm PDT
High Desert: RHP Ricky Orta, at Rancho Cucamonga, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Edward Paredes, in Appleton, @ 4:35 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Phillies
Tacoma Rainiers: 21-18, .538 10 GB in PCL Pacific North
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 24-16, .600, 5 GB, in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 18-23, .439, 1 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 17-19, .472 9 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 2-2, .500, 2 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 82-78, .513
Game Recaps (5/14/08)
West Tenn 3, Birmingham 1 (CHW + 4)
…And so, the series is not a total loss. LHP Ryan Ketchner (4.54) pitched seven and a third innings, giving up an unearned run on six hits, a walk, and three Ks. RHP Brodie Downs (4.74) got the final out of the eighth, and then RHP Craig James (2.53, S) picked up his first save, allowing a hit and striking out one in the ninth.
CF-LF Prentice Redman (HR, 3 RBI, .270), DH Luis Oliveros (R, .422), and 3B Jeff Dominguez (R, CS, 2 E, .233) all had three hits, with Redman getting the big one, a two-run home run in the sixth to put the D-Jaxx ahead. 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, .353) doubled.
High Desert 2, Bakersfield 7 (TEX + 9)
Bakersfield would be running away with the Southern Division if they played there. RHP Anthony Varvaro (6.51, L) gave up four more runs on seven hits, a walk, and four Ks through five innings. He finally stopped walking so many guys, but the hits came at inopportune times. RHP Aaron Cotter (3.93, E) took over in relief and had an unearned run score against him on a hit, a wild pitch, and a walk, though both outs he recorded were Ks. LHP Julio Santiago (2.76) and RHP Bryan Harris (7.71) both pitched an inning after that and both had one run score against them, Santiago on two hits, a walk, and a K, Harris on a hit and a K. LHP Michael Wagner (3.66) was the only one the Blaze didn’t score on, but he did throw a wild pitch to score Harris’ runner, an unfortunate strikeout/wild pitch combo that left him needing to record the final out again, this time on a grounder.
CF Gregory Halman (HR, A, .265) brought his system leading home run total to nine, AND he didn’t strike out once in the game. C Jose Yepez (.218) went 3-for-3 in his plate appearances. Also of note, 2B Anthony Phillips (RBI, E, .333) was called up from extended and went 1-for 3. No word yet on whom, if anyone, he’s replacing.
Burlington 1 (KC - 7), Wisconsin 3
RHP Michael Pineda (0.63) keeps logging quality starts, even if he did give up a run for the first time since April. This time around, he went five+ innings and let a run score on seven hits and three walks while he struck out six. RHP Keith Meyer (2.70) then allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three over two and two-thirds innings, leaving LHP Jose Escalona (9.00, W) to escape from a bases loaded situation to end the inning, which he did, earning the win. Escalona recorded another out in the ninth, and then gave way to RHP Justin Souza (4.32, S) for the final two outs, one of which was a K.
Making an appearance at first, 1B Joe Dunigan (2 2B, R, .245) had three hits in the game and now has a 1.240 OPS in May, albeit in 45 at-bats. SS Edilio Colina (R, RBI, .309) and 2B Alex Meneses (.250) both had a couple of singles, LF Calvin Beamon (3B, R, .229) tripled, and CF Maximo Mendez (.206) and C Israel Nunez (.333) both had a single and a walk. Colina’s RBI accounted for the go-ahead run in the eighth. Dickey struck out three times.
Aguirre Mariners 8, VSL Carindals 2 (- 2)
RHP Jesse Nava (6.00, PO) went three innings in the start, giving up two runs on three hits, two hit batters, a walk, and a couple of strikeouts. RHP Angel Raga (0.00, W), who was signed late in 2006 but soon went down with Tommy John surgery, finally made his debut and walked three, threw a wild pitch, and struck out three in three frames of work. A recent signing, RHP Ricardo Pereira (0.00) had a hit, a walk, and a strikeout in one inning of work, and then RHP Nolan Diaz (0.00) allowed two hits and struck out three in the final two innings.
The offense did well, collecting twelve hits and eight walks in the game, and a number of the hitters managed to do both. SS Roberto Velasquez (2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI, .500) had three hits leading off, 3B Jorge Agudelo (RBI, .417) and RF Rigoberto Rangel (R, 2 RBI, .500) both had two hits, and LF Eduardo Garcia (2B, R, .200) doubled. Of that group, Rangel walked twice and Velasquez and Agudelo both walked once. 2B Jetsy Extrano (RBI, SB, .111) also drew two free passes and CF Rafael Torrealba (2 R, .200) and C Franklin Diaz (R, .250) both had a single and a walk.
Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Sean White, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
West Tenn: Off day
High Desert: RHP Kyle Parker, at Bakersfield, @ 7:15 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Juan Ramirez, in Appleton, @ 4:35 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre
Tacoma Rainiers: 21-17, .553 9 GB in PCL Pacific North
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 24-16, .600, 5 GB, in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 17-22, .425, 2 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 16-19, .457 9 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 2-1, .667, 1 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 80-76, .513
Game Recaps (5/13/08)
Tacoma 4, Omaha 1 (KC - 3)
LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (5.66) pitched through five and two-thirds innings, allowing a run to score on four hits, two walks, and two Ks. Just for the hell of it, let’s compare Rohrbaugh’s rate stats from last year to this one. In 2007, he was going about 6.2 IP per start, he gave up about a hit per inning, had 2.74 walks per nine and 5.17 Ks per nine, and this is all in Tacoma. This year, he’s averaging five innings per start, has 10.8 hits per nine, 3.86 walks, and 4.89 strikeouts. RHP Andy Baldwin (5.56) came in with the bases juiced, but scored none of his inherited runners and gave up one hit and one walk over an inning of work. LHP Jake Woods (4.66) gave up one hit, threw a couple of wild pitches, and rung up a pair over an inning and two-thirds after that, and RHP Roy Corcoran (4.76) recorded the final two outs.
LF Shawn Garrett (HR, 3 RBI, .302) was the hero for the second time in the past three games, doing it again with a three-run home run in the ninth to put the Rainiers ahead. The other home run of the game came from last night’s hero, RF Victor Diaz (HR, 2 R, .310), who was 2-for-3 with a walk.
West Tenn 2, Birmingham 4 (CHW + 5)
One more game of this… LHP Justin Thomas (5.17) continued his struggles, going five innings and allowing all four runs to score on seven hits, five walks, and six Ks. Thomas has had a walk at least every other inning for his first seven appearances of the year. RHP Travis Chick (2.45), on the other hand, was perfect through three and struck out a couple of batters.
C Luis Oliveros (R, .405) collected three hits in the game. I’d make more of his average, but he’s only played in eleven games so far. CF Prentice Redman (2B, 2 RBI, .263) and LF Jon Nelson (CS, .299) both had two hits, with Nelson drawing a walk, and 3B Jeff Dominguez (2B, R, .214) had a double and a walk. Redman is hitting .300/.375/.500 in May after hitting .235/.398/.397 in June. Saunders and Valbuena both struck out three times.
High Desert 1, Bakersfield 4 (TEX + 8)
Well, if I had said I was eagerly anticipating a match up of RHP Keith Renaud (7.32, PO, E, L) and Kasey Kiker, I would’ve been lying. Renaud had an early 2-0 lead that he eventually lost after giving up six runs (five earned) on three hits (HR), seven walks, and three Ks through five innings. LHP Steve Uhlmansiek (3.00, PO) took on the next two frames and allowed a solo home run along with one other hit, and then LHP David Asher (6.00) had a run score against him on two hits and a walk in the eighth.
The one good bit of news that came out of the game was that CF Gregory Halman (2 HR, .265) had two home runs, giving him eight total on the year and the system lead. It doesn’t quite compensate for striking out every third at-bat, but he still has some time to make adjustments.
Burlington 4 (KC - 6), Wisconsin 6
The T-Rats had a little more trouble with their star pitchers than they normally do, but still pulled out the win. LHP Donnie Hume (2.02) went five and a third innings, scoring two runs on six hits and a hit batter as he struck out seven. LHP Travis Mortimore (0.77) came in for the final two outs of the sixth, and then it was RHP Phillippe Aumont (0.87, BS, W) the rest of the way. Aumont would strikeout three, but give up two runs on four hits and two wild pitches, his first earned runs of the season.
Of the players available to give the T-Rats the lead in this one, I would not have thought right away, RF Denny Almonte (HR, .250), but sure enough, he hit a home run in the eighth to put them ahead 5-4. The other run came when CF Maximo Mendez (2 2B, 2 R, .200) singled, and was driven in on a double by 2B-3B Edilio Colina (2B, R, 2 RBI, .300). Both of them had three hits in the game. LF Gavin Dickey (2B, R, 2 SB, .390), who has not slowed down one step since coming off the DL, added two more hits, and C Blake Ochoa (.255) singled and walked.
VSL Pirates 3 (- 1), Aguirre Mariners 5
The M’s made five errors and were trailing 3-0 going into the ninth and they still won it. On the pitching side of things, RHP Leonardo Rodriguez (0.00, E) gave up an unearned run on a hit and a walk against three Ks through four innings. RHP Reynaldo Sabala (0.00, PO) would then give up two hits and a walk while striking out two over the next three and two-thirds innings. RHP Yoervis Medina (9.00) had two runs, one of them earned, score against him on two hits in an inning’s worth of work. LHP Kervin Montbrum (0.00, W) allowed a hit, threw a wild pitch, and intentionally walked one before recording the final out of the ninth.
The credit for the win here goes to 1B Cesar del Rio (HR, 4 RBI, 2 E, .250), who hit a grand slam in the bottom half of the ninth to give the M’s a walk-off victory. Elsewhere in the lineup, 3B Jorge Agudelo (2 2B, R, .375) and LF Rigoberto Rangel (3B, R, RBI, .500) both had two hits, CF Mario Yepez (2B, .375) and 2B Jetsy Extrano (2B, E, .167) both doubled, with Extrano drawing a walk, and C Michael Acevedo (PB, E, .500) had a hit and two walks.
I’ve been comparing the two rosters between this year and last year and it looks like LHP Jose Rios, RHP Jean Tome, LHP Jose Jimenez, RHP Carlos Sanchez, IF Cesar Fuentes, IF Humberto Espinoza, OF Jose Rivero, 1B Jonathan Loasiga, and OF Terry Serrano are all promoted or gone, though Rios, Loasiga, and Tome could have shifted to the DSL. Espinoza and Sanchez have been released, Serrano seems like he should be, and Rivero is the most likely to show up in the states when short-season ball opens up, and he, Tome, and Jimenez were all instructional league attendees this past winter.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: Off day
West Tenn: LHP Ryan Ketchner, at Birmingham, @ 10:05 am PDT
High Desert: RHP Anthony Varvaro, at Bakersfield, @ 10:30 am PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Michael Pineda, in Appleton, @ 10:05 am PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Cardinals
Tacoma Rainiers: 21-17, .553 9 GB in PCL Pacific North
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 23-15, .605, 4 GB, in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 17-21, .436, 1 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 15-19, .441 10 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 1-1, .500, 1 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 77-75, .507
Game Recaps (5/12/08)
Tacoma 6, Omaha 4 (KC - 2)
The Rainiers had the system’s only win for the night, so try to enjoy it. RHP R.A. Dickey (3.38, PO, W) gave up four runs (three earned) on ten hits (HR), a walk, a wild pitch, and four Ks through six and two-thirds innings. Passable, but I could go for the ’07 PCL Pitcher of the Year version. LHP Cesar Jimenez (6.00) allowed a hit and struck out three in the next inning, and RHP Roy Corcoran (5.40, S) walked one over the final four outs for the save.
RF Victor Diaz (2 HR, 3 RBI, .298) deserves a large chunk of the credit for the win as he hit two longballs in the game, one in the third and one in the fifth. SS Oswaldo Navarro (RBI, .326) added three singles and a walk, 3B Yung-chi Chen (.257) and 1B Shawn Garrett (R, .308) also had two hits, and 2B Tug Hulett (2B, R, .167) and C Rob Johnson (2B, R, PB, .239) both had doubles, with Hulett also drawing a walk.
West Tenn 2, Birmingham 7 (CHW + 4)
I can’t really complain about not losing another close one here, as the Barons took the lead in the first and never looked back. RHP Denny Stark (6.10, L) had six runs score against him through five and two-thirds innings after nine hits (HR), two hit batters, three walks, and three Ks. RHP Marwin Vega (6.04) let one more score on three hits and a walk going the rest of the way.
The D-Jaxx got two hits from CF Prentice Redman (RBI, .254), a triple from SS Mark Kiger (3B, R, RBI, .190), and two walks from C Adam Moore (.311). There was only one other hit and one other walk from the other six batters.
High Desert 1, Bakersfield 4 (TEX + 8)
LHP Nick Hill (4.26, 2 E, L) took his third loss, allowing all four runs (three earned) to score on seven hits (HR), a balk, a walk, and six strikeouts. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2.58) was perfect through the final two frames, striking out a pair.
Twelve Ks by the Bakersfield pitchers made things a bit difficult for the Mavs. LF James McOwen (2B, RBI, .292) and 1B Erick Monzon (.391) both had a hit and a walk, but Lo got the Hat Trick and Halman wore the Golden Sombrero.
Burlington 1 (KC - 5), Wisconsin 0 (ten innings)
The Rattlers let a fine start by RHP Nathan Adcock (2.90, E) go to waste. Adcock pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while he rung up nine, and he was even back to his old groundball tendencies with a 7:4 ratio on the night. LHP Walter Suriel (7.36, L) went the next three innings and ended up having a run score against him on two hits, four walks, and four Ks. The bases were loaded when RHP Ryan Moorer (2.70) came in and threw a wild pitch to score the runner at third. He would also walk one before recording the final out. The T-Rats would be unable to put anything together in their half of the inning.
For the offense as a whole, there wasn’t much aside from two hits by RF Joe Dunigan (2B, .224). The only other thing of note is that Denny Almonte was called up to the team, replacing Eddy Hernandez on the roster. Hernandez wasn’t doing much of anything anyway, and hasn’t for years now, but I’m not sure how they’re planning on using Almonte just yet. He was used as a pinch runner in the tenth, but ended up getting caught stealing for the final out.
Aguirre Mariners 5, VSL Mets 8
Kicking off the season, RHP Gerardo Esparza (13.50, E, L) got the start, but only lasted two-thirds of an inning as he gave up six runs (one earned) on two hits, two wild pitches, a hit batter, two walks, and a strikeout. Quite a line… RHP Mayckol Guaipe (0.00) allowed three hits, threw a wild pitch, walked one and struck out one over the next three and a third innings. RHP Manuel Campos (9.00) took over after that, pitching two+ frames but giving up two more runs on three hits, three walks, and a strikeout. Nicaraguan RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0.00), a newcomer to the team, scored one of those as he allowed two hits, hit a batter, and struck out one going the rest of the distance.
CF Mario Yepez (SB, .500), LF Rigoberto Rangel (R, A, 500), and C Jose Acevedo (2B, R, .500) all had two hits, with Yepez and Acevedo drawing walks, 1B Cesar del Rio (2B, 2 RBI, .250) doubled, and 3B Jorge Agudelo (R, .250) had a single and a walk. Jetsy Extrano was also in the lineup, playing second after missing last season due to injury.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, at Omaha, in progress
West Tenn: LHP Justin Thomas, at Birmingham, @ 5:05 pm PDT
High Desert: RHP Keith Renaud, at Bakersfield, @ 7:15 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Donnie Hume, in Appleton, @ 4:35 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre
Tacoma Rainiers: 20-17, .541 10 GB in PCL Pacific North
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 23-15, .605, 4 GB, in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 17-21, .447, T-1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 14-19, .424 11 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 0-1, .000, 1 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 74-73, .503
RECENT ARTICLES BY MLB AFFILIATE
ARCHIVE