Written by Jay Yencich | 27 May 2010

This update is coming to you from the public library. Around 9:30 last night, my desktop got infected by a trojan. Incidentally, this was just after I had taken my laptop in to the shop to check on a possible hardware issue. I ended up spending the better part of last night identifying and combating the thing (which conveniently blocks my internet access, not that I was keen on using any passwords anyway). I may have squelched it this morning, but I know well enough that you need a good week or so before you can be reasonably certain it’s gone, so until I get my laptop back (tomorrow?), recaps might be irregular.

Tacoma’s game was suspended after four innings, what with the rain. The second game I believe was canceled, but there’s a doubleheader today.

West Tenn 2, Carolina 6 (CIN - 2)
LHP Mauricio Robles (3.77, L) only made it through four innings, with five runs scoring on seven hits (HR), a balk, three walks, and five Ks. This is the adjustment period. LHP Edward Paredes (2.87) had a hit and a walk without result in the sixth, and RHP Luis Munoz (3.66) pitched the next two with a run scoring on three hits and a walk. RHP Anthony Varvaro (3.10) had one K in the ninth.
2B Dustin Ackley (.203) walked another three times, and now has a 11/16 K/BB for May. Hitting more would be lovely too, of course. 3B Alex Liddi (.274), C Jose Yepez (.304), CF Kuo-hui Lo (2B, R, .238), and DH Scott Savastano (RBI, .235) all reached twice, Liddi with two walks, Yepez with two singles, and the last two with a hit and a walk apiece. Liddi has roughly the same number of at-bats as he did last month now, but has walked six more times. Progress! Tenbrink was hit by a pitch, walked, and struck out his other two times in his double-A debut.

Modesto 3 (COL + 3), High Desert 18
Drubbing! RHP Maikel Cleto (3.45) wasn’t going to get the win because he was limited to only three innings, with a run scoring on five hits, a walk, and four Ks. LHP Bobby LaFromboise (4.34, W), who pitched the final six, did, after letting two runs (one earned) to plate on six hits, a couple of wild pitches, two walks, and six Ks.
Every starter’s going to get a mention here, but I’m going to single out DH Dennis Raben (2 HR, 4 R, 5 RBI, 1.000), for hitting two home runs and walking his other four times at the plate. LF Jake Shaffer (2 HR, 4 RBI, .295) also had two home runs in the game, but I don’t think that takes anything away from Raben. Others with three hits included 3B Edilio Colina (3 R, .333), 1B Rich Poythress (2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, .289), and RF Johermyn Chavez (3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, .295), who had a walk too. The ones who had a couple of hits were 2B-3B Kyle Seager (2 R, .316), CF Denny Almonte (HR, .301), and SS Juan Diaz (R, .302). C Travis Scott (HR, 3 RBI, .262) had the one remaining home run, and a walk as well. So, yes, six home runs in the game. Not to be a total buzzkill, but there was a 23 mph wind blowing out to center.

Burlington 1 (KC - 14), Clinton 6 (seven innings)
In the first game of the DH, LHP James Gilheeney (2.22, W) came within an out of throwing a complete game, with a run scoring on five hits, two walks, and four Ks. LHP Jose Jimenez (1.69) instead came in for the final groundout. They must be rather strict about the pitch count because I don’t think the L’Kings were in any danger of losing it, despite a runner on third from a RBI triple.
The offense featured two hits apiece from 1B Vinnie Catricala (2B, R, 2 RBI, CS, .269) and 3B Mario Martinez (HR, .237), who drew a walk as well. It was the fourth home run by Martinez. He’s very quietly posting quality numbers in May, batting .286/.349/.481. More of that, please. RF James Jones (R, SB, .207) had three walks batting second in the order, and has four more walks now than he did in April, and DH Kalian Sams (R, RBI, .191) had a single and a walk. That was only the seventh single for Sams. Seven is the number of double and triples combined he has, and four fewer than his number of home runs.

Burlington 1 (- 15), Clinton 7 (seven innings)
So they swept the DH too. RHP Tyler Blandford (3.67) came off the DL to make the start and struck out four without walking anyone or allowing any hits. Awesome. LHP Brian Moran (1.96, W) pitched the next two and two-thirds innings and gave up a run on four hits, a wild pitch, a walk, and three Ks, then RHP John Housey (2.25) took it through the sixth. In the seventh, RHP Daniel Cooper (5.12) came up and allowed one hit while striking out one.
The offense starts out looking rather similar, with 1B Vinnie Catricala (2B, 2 R, RBI, .276) and 3B Mario Martinez (2B, 2 R, SB, .237) both with two hits again, Martinez also walking, but this time they were joined by 2B Gabriel Noriega (R, RBI, .198). LF Kalian Sams (R, .189) also had two walks, which is nutty, and RF James Jones (CS, .209) and DH Tim Morris (2 RBI, .333) both had a single and a walk.

Thursday’s Games:
Tacoma: TBA, in Tacoma, @ 6:30 pm PDT
Second Game: LHP Luke French?
West Tenn: RHP Michael Pineda, at Carolina, @ 4:15 pm PDT
High Desert: LHP Anthony Vasquez, in Adelanto, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Clinton: RHP Taylor Lewis, in Clinton, @ 4:00 pm PDT
Second Game: LHP Jonathan Hesketh
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre

Organization Record:
Tacoma Rainiers: 21-21, .500, 1 GB in PCL Pacific Northern
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx: 23-22, .511, 4.5 GB in SL North
High Desert Mavericks: 28-18, .609, 2.5 GB in CAL South
Clinton Lumberkings: 26-20, .565, 1.5 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 4-3, .571, 1 GB in VSL
Overall Record: 102-84 .548

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