After a very slow start to the season had some wondering if Jamie Westbrook really was "all that" he's coming alive of late with 8 hits in his last 20 at bats including a 3-run homer in Mobile's blowout win over Iowa Monday night. Some were not overly concerned with Westbrook's slow start because he wasn't striking out a lot and was suffering through a low BABIP stretch in the mid .200s. His K rate is actually lower than it's ever been in his minor league career at around 10%. It's his low ISO and Slugging that have made some begin wondering so the home run was a nice sign, though it was his first to go with just 5 doubles. The jump to AA is often a rude awakening for a lot of prospects though so he's to be forgiven the slow start if he starts picking it up, which it seems like he is. Plenty of time for him to work through considering he's still just 20 years old.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Stewart Ijames, Mobile 4 for 4, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (5), 1 RBI
2 Stars: Jamie Westbrook, Mobile 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR (1), 3 RBI
1 Star: Taylor Clarke, Visalia 6 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 ER
0 Stars: Michael Perez, Mobile 0 for 4, 3 K
AAA: Reno 5 Iowa 3. Braden Shipley was effective and gave his team the chance to win with 7 good innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits without a walk while striking out 4. He didn't get the win having left the game with the score tied at 3-3. Dominic Leone got the win pitching a clean 8th before Mike Freeman delivered a 2-out, 2-run double to secure the win. Is Freeman ever going to get his cup of coffee in the Show? All he does is produce. Silvino Bracho came on to collect his 7th save with a perfect 9th. The Aces racked up 14 hits with 3 by Kyle Jensen and 2 each by Freeman, Peter O'Brien, Jack Reinheimer and Braden Shipley.
AA: Mobile 10 Jackson 3. The offense opened up with a 6-run outburst in the bottom of the 1st inning that set the stage for another solid Anthony Banda outing. Gabriel Guerrero and Evan Marzilli each delivered 2-run singles in that inning. Banda was good again with the only a blemish a 3-run 3rd inning that made the game slightly interesting before Jamie Westbrook blew it open with a 3-run homer in the bottom half. Banda ended up going 6 innings allowing just the 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks and he struck out 6. Stewart Ijames had a big day going 4 for 4 including his 5th home run. Guerrero had 3 hits while Ildemaro Vargas and Kevin Medrano each added a couple of singles.
A+: Visalia 3 High Desert 4. Taylor Clarke looked to have his team in line for another win since being promoted to Visalia a couple of weeks ago. He tossed 6 solid innings allowing 2 runs (both on solo home runs) on 6 hits without a walk and 5 strikeouts. He left with the game tied 2-2 before Victor Reyes singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 7th. Things unraveled quickly in the 9th when Luis Ramiez hit the leadoff batter then surrendered a 2-run homer that proved to be the game winner. Domingo Leyba provided the first 2 runs with a 2-run homer in the 3rd, his 3rd of the season.