| 13 April 2010
Sacramento 10 (OAK + 1), Tacoma 7
The Rainiers were perhaps lying about their rotation, but I can excuse it because Petit, the scheduled starter, is now on the DL, and it was RHP Andy Baldwin (2.25) who took the mound. Baldwin pitched five innings and let two runs score on five hits (HR) and four Ks. Incidentally, the spot start, which usually does not go all that well, comprised the better part of the game. RHP Luis Munoz (27.00), who was called up to take Petit's spot on the roster, pitched an inning+ and gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits, three walks, and a K. After that, RHP Steve Bray (6.75, BS, L), ordinarily quite solid, scored three of those and three more of his own after a walk, followed by a pop up, a batter reaching on error, and one fateful grand slam. He struck out the next guy, then walked one before recording the final groundout. His eighth inning, by comparison, was rather ordinary. In the ninth, RHP Mike Koplove (4.50) let one final run score on three hits and a K.
As I speak of the offense, bear in mind that all the scoring came before the fifth inning. There was some fight in the Rainiers, but not enough fight back. DH Tommy Everidge (2B, R, RBI, .357), C Eliezer Alfonzo (2B, R, RBI, .429), and SS Josh Wilson (2B, RBI, .200) all had two hits in the game, with Everidge adding a walk, and CF Gregory Halman (HR, 2 R, .118) and 3B Matt Mangini (2B, R, RBI, .222) both had extra-base hits, with Halman adding a walk, and another two Ks, maintaining that strangely extreme 2/1 K/BB. He also has no singles. Imagine that.
West Tenn 1, Jacksonville 2 (FLA - 1)
The game lasted under three hours and both teams combined for only five hits, so one could make the argument that two teams were rather eager to start their off-day-and-a-half a bit early. RHP Michael Pineda (0.00) was held to sixty-six pitches, walking three, throwing a wild pitch, and striking out six in three and a third innings. I think this is more unusual for how he would ordinarily take a few weeks to walk three, than for the six strikeouts, which seem almost normal in my crazed mind. LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (0.00) had a hit and a K over the next inning and two-thirds, and then RHP Aaron Jensen (0.00) allowed one hit over the next two innings. RHP Mumba Rivera (5.79, BS, L) took his second loss after giving up two unearned runs on a hit, a wild pitch, a hit batter, three walks, and two Ks in the final inning and two-thirds, and while there was an error behind him, you can see where I might be a little less sympathetic about it than I might be otherwise given how wild he was.
RF Carlos Peguero (HR, .421) and 3B Alex Liddi (2B, E, .250) had the only two hits for the D-Jaxx, productive though they were. The lineup also drew three walks. I'm grasping here.
High Desert 4, Inland Empire 3 (LA + 1)
The fifth starter in the rotation is indeed LHP Bobby LaFromboise (1.50, W), who pitched six innings and let a run score on five hits and a walk while striking out seven, but the other candidate I was thinking of, LHP Ryan Feierabend (0.00), went after him and pitched two perfect frames in which he struck out four. RHP Steven Richard (9.00, S) logged a nail-biting save in the ninth, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and three Ks.
The hitters managed to get the job done, despite only walking twice and striking out eleven times. Notably, SS Juan Diaz (2B, R, RBI, .SB, 238), 1B Nate Tenbrink (2 RBI, E, .364), and CF Maximo Mendez (R, CS, .400) all had two hits in the game, with Mendez walking once. Limited sample-size there, as you might also remember Mendez starting out strong last year for the Lumberkings and then not getting it done later, but he could hit his way into the lineup (if he doesn't run himself out of the game entirely), and ultimately move up to the leadoff spot, or second, if the need arises. They'd probably rather reserve those extra at-bats for better prospects though. RF Johermyn Chavez (HR, .188) hit his first home run and additionally drew a walk. Though his average is pretty pathetic right now, he isn't striking out that often, which is a good sign. 2B Kyle Seager (2B, R, .333) had a double out of the leadoff spot.
Clinton 7, Wisconsin 4 (MIL + 1)
RHP Taylor Stanton (4.50, W) had an effective, though not particularly impressive outing, pitching six innings and letting three runs score on five hits (HR), a walk, and three Ks. Really, the only major flaw is the excess of runs scored, but I could quibble a bit with the lack of strikeouts. LHP Nick Czyz (0.00) had a hit, a walk, and two strikeouts over the next two innings and RHP Chris Kirkland (3.00) let a run score on two hits and a walk in the ninth.
I guess the "story of the game" for me would be that LF Kalian Sams (HR, 3 RBI, E, .389) hit his third home run and also drew a walk. I would be nice if he managed to get higher than the Midwest League this season, and having him and Chavez in the same Mavericks lineup would be worth the price of admission. CF Daniel Carroll (R, SB, .222) and 3B Vinnie Catricala (2B, 2 R, RBI, .353) had two hits apiece.
Tuesday's Games:
Tacoma: RHP David Pauley, in Tacoma, @ 7:00 pm PDT
West Tenn: Off day
High Desert: RHP Jake Wild, at Inland Empire, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Clinton: LHP James Gilheeney, at Wisconsin, @ 4:35 pm PDT
Organization Record:
Tacoma Rainiers: 2-3, .400, 1 GB in PCL Pacific Northern
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 3-2, .600, 1 GB in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 3-2, .500, T-1st in CAL South
Clinton Lumberkings: 3-2, .600, 1 GB in MWL Western
Overall Record: 11-9, .550
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