| 18 April 2010
Tacoma 7, Salt Lake City 10 (ANA - 3)
Here's a game to make you want to bang your head against a wall. RHP David Pauley (4.00) gave up four runs on eight hits (2 HR!), two walks, and a K in seven innings. I can abide by that in a way, because two of those runs came late in the game and aside from this particular start, his strikeout rate has been normal or close to it. I also have no issues with RHP Steve Bray (2.25) allowing a hit in the eighth, because that's really nothing to complain about. What I can't figure out is how RHP Chad Cordero (7.94, BS, L) gave up six runs (five earned) on five hits in the final two-thirds, and why, given the obvious issues, no one pulled him. The Rainiers were leading 7-2 going into the bottom half of the seventh. Gah.
CF Ezequiel Carrera (2 2B, R, RBI, .262) had three hits out of the leadoff spot, which is assuredly something. SS Josh Wilson (R, .350) and DH Tommy Everidge (2B, 2 R, RBI, .303) both had two, C Josh Bard (HR, 3 RBI, .211) hit his first home run of the season, 1B Mike Carp (2B, R, .256) had a double, and RF Gregory Halman (.108) and 2B Travis Denker (.154) both drew two walks. I have to wonder at this point if Halman is developing pitch recognition or is merely well-trained for now. Whatever, he has eight walks. Neither Hannahan nor Langerhans played this one.
Mississippi 11 (ATL - 1), West Tenn 2
RHP Steven Hensley (1.93, L) did indeed get the start, and went four and two-thirds innings with it, giving up three unearned runs on two hits, a hit batter, four walks, and two Ks. I wonder if they've been trying to retool his delivery or something because he's never walked guys like this before, and never shown any indication that he might. RHP Aaron Jensen (0.00) had a similar problem, with three unearned runs scoring against him on three hits in an inning and a third. RHP Josh Fields (2.45) did not escape the defensive troubles, as only one of the three runs against him was earned, and he allowed two hits, a walk, and two Ks in two innings. After that, it was pretty much officially a blowout, so there wasn't much to do except bring in the ringers, in this case, RHP Chris Sorce (27.00), a 26th-round pick last year, who allowed two runs to score on two hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and two walks in two-thirds of an inning before RHP Luis Munoz (0.00) got the final out of the game. Ringers, ladies and gents.
I think I have some right to be peeved about the fact that the defense somehow saw it fit to allow eight unearned runs to score, but even without those, the D-Jaxx still would have lost because the offense wasn't doing much of anything. DH Johan Limonta (2B, RBI, CS, .263) who couldn't have been responsible for anything defensive anyway, and RF Carlos Peguero (2B, RBI, .389) both had two hits in the game and LF Mike Wilson (R, E, .226) had two walks. Liddi made three of the five errors. There were also two passed balls. Ouch.
Lake Elsinore 7 (SD + 1), High Desert 10
RHP Jake Wild (5.52, W) didn't throw all that well, giving up five runs on eight hits (2 HR!), a walk, and eight Ks. I suppose it wasn't a matter of pitching well, so much as that he was not throwing in a manner that was conducive to balls not going over the wall. RHP Blake Nation (1.17) pitched the next inning and two-thirds, allowing a hit and two walks, and then RHP Stephen Penney (1.69) stranded all three and had an inning and a third of perfect relief. RHP Steven Richard (8.44) gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth, and is not long for the closing role if he keeps doing that. Stop it.
3B Nate Tenbrink (R, PO, .419), CF Denny Almonte (HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .302), and 2B Edilio Colina (2B, R, RBI, .296) all logged three hits in the game. That's the first home run this season for Almonte, though I thought he had more. DH Rich Poythress (HR, 2 RBI, .283) and RF Johermyn Chavez (2B, 2 R, .314) both had two hits, with Chavez drawing a walk. I am quite pleased by the third home run off the bat of Poythress, and strangely intrigued by Chavez' continued walking. He's running a 6/5 K/BB through 35 at-bats and by all accounts, he wasn't supposed to be doing that, but you can usually chalk it up to our man Jack to pick up some throw-in that ends up being better than we anticipated.
Clinton 0, Beloit 3 (MIN + 1)
I wasn't wild about his outings at first, but seriously, give it up for LHP James Gilheeney (2.89, PO), who pitched six and two-thirds, permitting just three hits and two walks while striking out eight. It's a shame he wasn't in line for the win, what with the offensive struggles on both sides. Unfortunately, the usually solid RHP Brandon Josselyn (2.35, L) let three runs (two earned) score on two hits and a walk in the next inning and a third and that was that. Can't say I know why he was being brought in for such a situation, but perhaps Tamargo took this as some kind of must-win.
The offense struck out eleven times. They logged four total hits. The fielders made a couple of errors. There were a couple of stolen bases, but I feel like in this case that would be digging a bit much. I'm phoning this one in. Except for one note: Franklin got pulled after one at-bat and I have no idea why.
Monday's Games:
Tacoma: LHP Luke French, at Salt Lake City, @ 6:35 pm PDT
West Tenn: RHP Dan Cortes, in Jackson, @ 5:05 pm PDT
High Desert: RHP Kenn Kasparek, in Adelanto, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Clinton: LHP Anthony Vasquez, in Clinton, @ 4:30 pm PDT
Organization Record:
Tacoma Rainiers: 5-6, .455, 1 GB in PCL Pacific Northern
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 4-6, .400, 4 GB in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 6-5, .545, T-1st in CAL South
Clinton Lumberkings: 5-6, .455, 4 GB in MWL Western
Overall Record: 20-23, .465
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