Low A short season Hillsboro kicked off their 2014 campaign last night with a roster littered with recent draftees and one former retiree. Todd Glaesmann, who as everyone remembers retired shortly after being traded to the Diamondbacks from the Rays, has apparently un-retired and joins Hillsboro for the opener playing DH and hitting a 2-run homer.
The pitching staff is headlined by recent top 10 draftees Zac Curtis, Brent Jones and Scott Schultz. Top 10 position draftees on the roster include outfielder Grant Heyman and shortstop Justin Gonzalez. Other notables include Ben Eckles, who started the opener, Cesar Carrasco, Pedro Ruiz, Ryan Doran and Tommy John recoveree John Pedrotty.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Evan Marzilli, Mobile 4 for 4, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 HR (1), 5 RBI
2 Stars: Jake Lamb, Mobile 3 for 5, 1 BB, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (11), 3 RBI
1 Star: Sean Furney, South Bend 5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 R, 0 ER
0 Stars: Bradin Hagens, Mobile 1.1 IP, 11 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 10 R, 9 ER
AAA: Reno 4 @ Memphis 3. Andrew Chafin had an acceptable start by PCL standards allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 6 innings with 4 strikeouts. All three runs allowed were in his final 6th inning which tied the game at 3-3. The bullpen won the battle when Roger Kieschnick singled home Nick Ahmed in the 9th inning to make a winner of Kevin Munson who pitched 2 shutout innings in relief. Matt Stites finished it off in the 9th for his 10th save. Ahmed went 3 for 5 and scored twice. Kieschnick and each of the Marte boys had 2 hits apiece.
AA: Mobile 13 Pensacola 14. A pitcher's duel it was not as the Bay Bears got into a deep hole with Bradin Hagens getting tagged for 10 runs in the first 2 innings. The offense continued to chip away throughout the game and actually got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th after plating 2 runs to cut the lead to 14-13. But that was as close as they could get. Evan Marzilli had a big game going 4 for 4 with his first home run for Mobile and 5 RBI. Jake Lamb continued to rake with a 3 for 5 night that included a double and his 11th home run. That brings his OPS on the season up to a whopping 1.002. He's 23 for 48 in June with 15 extra base hits and 19 RBI in just 12 games.
A+: Visalia 1 @ Inland Empire 3. Braden Shipley started and had a big performance going with 6 shutout innings that featured 9 strikeouts. But he stumbled in the 7th after getting the first 2 outs when he surrendered a single followed by a 2-run homer, then another single that eventually scored. But it was still an encouraging outing as we are seeing Shipley continue to progress and grow into a more polished pitcher. The offense couldn't get Shipley off the hook as they managed just 1 run on 5 hits. Brandon Drury drove in the lone run with a triple.
A: South Bend 2 West Michigan 4. Sean Furney had a terrific start allowing 1 unearned run in 5+ innings on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7. Unfortunately the offense and the defense let him down to keep him from being the winner. The game went all the way to the 11th inning before reliever Bud Jeter gave up 2 runs that weren't matched. Stryker Trahan led the offense going 2 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI.
A-: Hillsboro 3 @ Everett 4. Ben Eckles started Hillsboro's opening game after being demoted a few weeks ago when he couldn't handle the Midwest League. He was very good too allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and a walk over 6 innings. Eckles was robbed of the win when Dustin Loggins got rocked for 3 runs in the 7th and 8th innings. The offense was only able to provide 2 hits though they did walk 10 times. 2 of the 3 runs came via a 2-run homer by un-retired Todd Glaesmann. Glaesmann is probably just getting some ST-type work in Hillsboro and should be ticketed for a higher league in pretty quick time.