Off-season acquisition A.J. Schugel had a fine first start for his new organization striking out 9 in 5 innings in Mobile's 2-1 win over Mississippi. The 24-year-old right hander didn't fare well in AAA last year with a 7.02 ERA in 19 starts. So the Dbacks started him out in AA where he has had success in the past. He allowed 3 hits and a run in his 5 innings. Schugel isn't a big guy at 5-11 and 210 and he currently rates as a fringe prospect, but he's still only 24 years old so he can't be completely written off yet. If he has some extended success in Mobile he will likely get another crack at AAA down the road and maybe he can get over the hump in a second go-around.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: A.J. Schugel, Mobile 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 ER, W (1-0)
2 Stars: Rudy Flores, Visalia 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR (1), 3 RBI
1 Star: Mike Freeman, Mobile 2 for 2, 2 BB, 1 DBL, 2 RBI, 1 SB
0 Stars: Jesse Darrah, Visalia 1.1 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 7 ER
Triple A: Reno 2 Albuquerque 4. Bo Schultz made his first start of the year and wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either. He went 5 innings allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. The offense only came up with 6 hits, 2 from Mike Jacobs. Didi started at shortstop (Ahmed played 2B) and delivered a triple. Cody Ross went 1 for 3 with an RBI playing left field.
Double A: Mobile 2 @ Mississippi 1. In the makeup game from the weekend's rain out, A.J. Schugel was stellar with 9 Ks and one run allowed in 5 innings. The deep Mobile bullpen came through with Patrick Schuster, RJ Hively and Jake Barrett sealing the deal with 2 innings of perfect relief with 4 strikeouts. It was Barrett's second save. The offense managed only 5 hits with Mike Freeman leading the way with 2 hits, 2 walks, a double and 2 RBI.
Double A: Mobile 0 @ Mississippi. The Bears were shutout on one hit in the first game of the two 7-inning games. Bryan Woodall started and was terrific throwing 5 shutout innings on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts. Bradin Hagens relieved Woodall in the 6th but a Gerson error led to 4 unearned runs and the loss.
High A: Visalia 14 Modesto 12. Not much pitching in this one as both offenses exploded for 26 runs on 37 hits. Jesse Darrah started and got blasted and Daniel Watts followed with more of the same. The rest of the bullpen was pretty good as Henry Garcia came on and gave 3 shutout innings. Jimmie Sherfy got the save while striking out the side in the 9th. Seven of the Rawhide's nine starters had multiple hits and home runs were added by Rudy Flores, Alex Glenn and Socrates Brito. Brandon Drury, Flores and Glenn each had 3 RBI.