Trevor Bauer showed off some of that ability that has everyone excited about what kind of front-line pitcher he can become at the highest level. All he did last night was toss a complete-game 5-hitter in which he allowed 2 runs and struck out 12. More importantly he only walked one. Bauer surrendered a single run in the first on 2 singles sandwiched around a wild pitch, and a single run in the 9th on a leadoff triple and a groundout. In between he gave up just 2 hits from the 2nd through the 8th and didn't allow a runner to reach second base. These are the kinds of outings we imagine from Bauer, and when he's not walking people he is as near to unhittable as a pitcher can be. In other news...the Diamondbacks signed former major leaguer Brett Tomko who started for Mobile and earned a win. The Rawhide were dealt a crushing defeat by Modesto in their playoff run. And Alfredo Marte reappeared following a semi-prolonged slump.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Trevor Bauer, Reno 9 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 12 K, 2 ER, W (5-1)
2 Stars: Ender Inciarte, Visalia 4 for 4, 3 R, 1 TPL, 1 SB (45)
1 Star: Alfredo Marte, Mobile 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 HR (20), 2 RBI
0 Stars: Brett Lorin, Mobile 4 IP, 12 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 9 R
Game summaries after the jump.
Triple A: Reno 8 Round Rock 2. Trevor Bauer led the Aces to a much-needed win with his complete game 5-hitter in which he struck out 12. The offense was in full support led by Mike Jacobs who went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, his 18th home run and 2 RBI. Adam Eaton did what he always does with 3 more hits including a double and 2 RBI. Eaton refuses to cool off and now has 188 hits on the season with 44 doubles, 41 stolen bases, a 1.006 OPS, a 1.30 K/BB ratio and a .385 BA. He has to be given a spot in our outfield next year and be our primary leadoff hitter.
Double A, Game 1: Mobile 4 Pensacola 1. Former Major Leaguer Brett Tomko, who was actually signed a week ago, started and went 5 innings for Mobile in Game 1 of their doubleheader due to yesterday's rainout. He pitched well too giving up 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2. That was plenty good to get the win as Alfredo Marte got his bat going again with 2 solo home runs to lead the offense. The Bay Bears had just two other hits in the game.
Double A, Game 2: Mobile 2 Pensacola 10. Game two didn't go so well as Brett Lorin got hammered for 9 runs in 4 innings. Alfredo Marte had 2 more hits giving him 4 for the night .
High A: Visalia 6 @ Modesto 7. In game 4 of their 6 consecutive games against 1st place Modesto the Rawhide were dealt a crushing defeat when the bullpen blew a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 9th and then lost it in the 10th. The loss put Visalia 3 games out of first instead of just 1. Starter Bradin Hagens was very good and had the team in position to win with 7 innings pitched allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. The 9th inning disaster was on Seth Simmons who had just been promoted from South Bend last weekend after posting a 1.76 ERA there. A walk, an error and a pair of 2-run homers were what tied the game. Simmons was left in to start the 10th and yielded a walk and a single before he was replaced by Blake Cooper who allowed the game-winning single. Ender Inciarte had a great night going 4 for 4 with a triple and his 45th stolen base. Michael Freeman went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
Low A: South Bend 0 West Michigan 2. Keith Hessler had yet another outstanding start going 6.2 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits and 1 walk. Since being put into the rotation 4 starts ago Hessler has been a revelation with a 1.59 ERA over 22.2 innings with 18 strikeouts and 7 walks. Unfortunately the offense was nowhere to be found and Hessler took the tough loss. The offense mounted an attack of 4 singles and a walk.
Short Season A: Yakima 6 Spokane 1. The Bears' pitching just keeps delivering night after night. Last night it was Derrick Stultz who tossed 5 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Reliable relievers Victor Acosta and Enrique Burgos added 4 shutout innings behind him. The offense banged out 14 hits with 3 each from Yogey Perez-Ramos and Kevin Medrano. Michael Lang added 2 hits with a double and an RBI.
Rookie: Missoula 9 Idaho Falls 11. It wasn't a night for pitchers as this slugfest went to Idaho who blew it open with 6 runs in the 6th off reliever Michael Blake. The Osprey got within 2 in the bottom half of the 6th with 3 of their own but couldn't do anything against the Idaho relievers after that. Michael Perez paced the offense with two hits, 2 runs scored, a double, an RBI and 2 runners thrown out attempting to steal. Hot-hitting Socrates Brito added 2 more hits including a triple and an RBI.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 12 @ Royals 5. Ben Eckels wasn't his usual dominant self but he was good enough to earn the win as the offense poured it on with 12 runs. Eckels got through 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 10 hits with 4 strikeouts. Jose Munoz was the feature on offense with a 3 for 5 night with 3 runs, 2 doubles and 2 RBI. After an extremely extendedly slow start Munoz is starting to come around and show why he was drafted so high. He's hitting .369 in August with 8 RBI and a huge reduction in his strikeout rate. Phildrick Llewellyn also had a huge night with 3 hits including a double, a triple and 3 RBI. Stryker Trahan went 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored. He did throw out a runner attempting to steal, though two others were successful. Andrew Velazquez went 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 more stolen bases, giving him 19 on the year.