Bad times, part I:
SEATTLE 8TH
-M Cameron doubled to deep right center.
-R Winn grounded out to first, M Cameron to third.
-M McLemore struck out looking.
-J Mabry hit for D Wilson.
-J Mabry grounded out to second.
Bad times, part II:
ANAHEIM 8TH
-B Molina fouled out to first.
–M White relieved J Mateo.
-S Spiezio flied out to right.
-J Davanon walked.
–D Eckstein homered to left, J Davanon scored.
-D Erstad grounded out to first.
Minor League Highlights for Monday, June 23
New Orleans 5, Tacoma 4. Despite a gutty complete game effort from LHP Craig Anderson (9 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) and a 4-0 3rd inning lead, the Rainiers dropped their third straight game to New Orleans. C Pat Borders, DH J.R. Phillips, RF Kenny Kelly and 2B Mickey Lopez each had two hits, including two doubles for Lopez and one each from Borders and Kelly. CF Chad Meyers added a pair of steals, a hit and a run scored on the night.
Arkansas 6, San Antonio 2. RHP Kevin Olore, recently promoted from Inland Empire to fill Rett Johnson’s spot in the starting rotation, was battered around (5 1/3 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) and took his first San Antonio loss of the year. 1B A.J. Zapp, who the Mariners might want to seriously consider promoting to Tacoma, had three of the team’s seven hits. The Missions, who won the first half title going away, are now 2-3 for the second half.
Inland Empire had the day off, as California League played its All-Star game against a team made up of players from the Carolina League. 66ers who made the trip to Rancho Cucamonga for the game were OF Greg Jacobs and LHP Ryan Ketchner, with the former getting the nod as starting DH.
Peoria 6, Wisconsin 3. Despite homers from RF T.J. Bohn and 1B Jon Nelson, the Timber Rattlers dropped an ugly game in which they committed six errors. 3B Matt Hagen was the primary culprit with three misques in the game. Despite all those errors, only two of the runs scored off RHP Juan Sandoval (7 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) were unearned.
Spokane 10, Everett 1. The AquaSox managed just four hits in the game, all singles, and didn’t score their run until the top of the 9th when the contest had been long decided. LHP Victor Ramirez, who got the win on opening night, took the loss for Everett (5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). DH Jeremy Dutton drove in 2B Nick Orlandos for the team’s lone tally.
Mariners 14, Angels 7. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen rookie league boxscores, which often involve more players than a spring training game. Where to begin? The M’s pounded out 14 hits, of which DH John Denny and LF Matthew Ware each had three. CF Jamal Strong, working his way back from shoulder surgery early in the year, had another good game, going 2-4 with a walk and two steals (but keep in mind what sort of competition he’s up against). LHP Kendall Bergdall, the M’s 5th round pick in 2002, picked up the win (5 UP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K).
Minor League Highlights for Tuesday, June 24
New Orleans 3, Tacoma 1. The Rainiers managed just five hits in the game — four singles and a double — as New Orleans completed a four-game sweep. RHP Brian Sweeney (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) took the loss, though he pitched well save for a three-run 6th inning. Seattle’s favorite whipping boy, RHP Giovanni Carrara, worked two scoreless frames (2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K).
San Antonio 2, Arkansas 1. Trailing 1-0 after two innings, the Missions rallied for a late victory with one in the 7th and one in the 8th to make a winner of LHP Randy Williams (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) in relief of LHP Bobby Madritsch (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). Three of San Antonio’s six hits were doubles, with one each from SS Jose Lopez, DH Chris Snelling and LF Jaime Bubela. Lopez led the offense with a 2-3 night that included a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Inland Empire had the day off again, as the Cal League played its All-Star Game. The Carolina League All-Stars won the game 5-3, but Inland Empire’s Greg Jacobs was named MVP of the California League squad.
Peoria 7, Wisconsin 4. SS Tim Marritt went 4-5 with a double and a stolen base, but he alone was not enough to carry the Timber Rattlers to victory. Neither was 1B Jon Nelson, who homered for the second straight game. RHP T.A. Fulmer started and took the loss (6 1/3 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) for Wisconsin, who made two more errors after having made six the game before.
Spokane 7, Everett 1. Just as they did the night before, the AquaSox fell behind early only to manage a lone run in the final inning. RHP Audy Alcantara (3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss, and currently sports an ugly 10.57 ERA. He also plunked Spokane 1B Christopher Alexander three times. Offensively, Everett was led by two hits each from LF Brian Lahair and C Brock Griffin.
Rangers 11, Mariners 2. Nothing much to report here, other than two hits each from 2B George Sandel and RF Michael Wilson. The M’s managed just six hits in the game, which is a pretty pathetic effort for an Arizona League game. LHP Vance Hall started and took the loss (3 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 4 K).