Diamondbacks Farm Round-Up 8/11: Sleeper Pitchers Edition

On a day that Jarrod Parker was set to start, his outing - although plenty good - wound up being either fourth or fifth best in the stateside minor-league D-backs-affiliated action.  That would be thanks to a trio of less-heralded lower-level arms that all excelled on Thursday night, as is plain to see from the following lines:

Snakelet of the Day:

Diogenes Rosario (Hi-A): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8:1 K:BB, 8:0 GO:AO

Michael Bolsinger (Low-A): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 8:1 K:BB, HR, 4:5 GO:AO

Raymond Hernandez (Advanced-Rookie): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 9:0 K:BB, HR, 3:3 GO:AO

Triple-A: The Aces had a day off, picking up action Friday at New Orleans.

Double-A: Mobile 4, Mississippi 2.  (69-47)  After a one-game hiccup his last time out, top prospect Jarrod Parker came back out with a vengeance on Thursday, striking out four and walking just one in six innings of work, giving up five hits and a run with a 6:4 GO:AO ratio.  The outing was much more in line with his 1.93 ERA in August than the five-inning, six-run outing he had in his first August outing, which included five walked batters.  Parker still has a classic power pitcher's profile: mid-90's fastball, plus slider with bite, hard-fading change-up, and now a nice two-seam fastball to compliment his four-seamer and induce a few ground balls when needed based on the game situation.  Still tons to be excited about here, folks.

The BayBears offense received big-time power contributions from the older bats in the lineup.  Daryle Ward and Taylor Harbin homered for the BayBears, while Kyle Greene chipped in with a pinch-hit double.  Fun fact: Daryle Ward put up a .963 OPS in 2007 primarily working as a pinch-hit bat.  Just four years ago, Ward was one of the best in baseball at what he did... now, he's getting by in Double-A.  Fascinating.  Adam Eaton and Ryan Wheeler each also showed off their patience on Thursday night, drawing a pair of walks apiece.

Hi-A: Visalia 4, Inland Empire 0.  (53-63)  One swing of the bat from shortstop Chris Owings provided all of the necessary offense in this game, as Owings crushed a three-run home run in the third inning to give the Rawhide their first lead of the game, and they would never give it back.  Starting pitcher Diogenes Rosario was utterly phenomenal, racking up eight strikeouts to just one walk in seven shutout innings on the rubber, while also posting an uncharacteristic - and amazing - 8:0 GO:AO ratio.  Just an all-around utterly dominant start.  David Nick and Ryan LaPensee had two-hit nights, although it seems like Nick has a pair of knocks every other day with how well he's hit the ball this year.

Low-A: South Bend 1, Lansing 3.  (55-60)  Starting pitcher Michael Bolsinger had yet another phenomenal outing, striking out eight with just one walk, one single, and a first-inning solo home run in six innings of stellar work.  Ever since moving into the Silver Hawks' starting rotation, Bolsinger has been lights-out, with this game following a start where he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.  Unfortunately, the offense couldn't pick up their starter, as the South Bend bats notched just six singles and a pair of walks all game.

Short-Season-A: Yakima 3, Vancouver 1.  (19-35)  Garret Weber and Kerry Jenkins each doubled and scored a run for the Bears, and a typical, underwhelming offensive night from Yakima turned into a win because of a great start from Adam Kudryk.  Fanning seven in five innings, Kudryk allowed three walks while not allowing a single run to score.  Reliever Miles Reagan had some difficulties sealing up the win, but Sammy De Los Santos notched his ninth save of the year by recording one out.

Advanced-Rookie: Missoula 5, Helena 2.  (32-18)  Slugging first baseman Jonathan Griffin notched his 11th home run on the season with the Osprey on  Thursday night, receiving help from Stephen Cardullo and Eric Groff, who each doubled for Missoula.  Best of all, though, was the masterful starting pitching performance spun by right-hander Raymond Hernandez on Thursday.  Hernandez threw seven fabulous innings, allowing just four hits (with a home run) and no walks while striking out nine.  Yes, that is extremely awesome.

Low-Rookie: D-backs 4, Reds 7.  (13-28)  Rehabbing Triple-A infielder Ed Rogers hit a double and walked for the AZL D-backs, while Wagner Mateo crushed a triple to lead the offense.  Unfortunately, Ross Gerdeman's unfortunate start, in which he had allowed five runs earns over five innings, proved to be the difference in the game.  Gerdeman had posted a 3:1 K:BB ratio in his five measly innings, while also racking up an 8:2 GO:AO ratio recently.