The D-backs finally get to leave Pittsburgh after a rough three-game set against the Pirates, but at least we salvaged the last game of the series. There's more good news down on the farm today, as the team's best prospects continue playing spectacularly, particularly at the talent hotbed of Double-A Mobile. Yet another SotD comes from the BayBears today, courtesy of this delightful pitching line:
Snakelet of the Day:
Patrick Corbin (Double-A): 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10:1 K:BB, 6:5 GO:AO
But there was another stellar performance in the late-night game in Rancho Cucamonga tonight, and I really can't determine which effort is more impressive. So I'm going to have to give another one to:
Snakelet of the Day:
David Nick (Hi-A): 4-5, 2B, HR
Triple-A: Reno 6, Colorado Springs 13. (36-25) A solid day on the mound from Matt Torra was spoiled by Torra being sent back out for a seventh inning after giving up just three runs through six innings. Torra finished the seventh inning, but gave up three more runs in doing so giving him the unsightly line of seven innings pitched and six runs allowed on nine hits and two homers, although with a nice 5:0 K:BB ratio. Granted, the bullpen didn't fare much better, as Rafael Rodriguez gave up two runs and put a runner on second before recording the first out of the eighth inning, and five runs in the 2/3 of an inning he worked, putting the game out of reach. At the plate, Wily Mo Pena hit his 18th home run of the year, Brandon Allen added two doubles and a walk, and Collin Cowgill went 4-5 with a double of his own.
Double-A: Mobile 4, Birmingham 1. (36-25) The star of the day was Corbin, whose work on the pitcher's mound has been absolutely dominant since a rough outing on May 19. Since that start, Corbin has now pitched 27.2 shutout innings over four starts, with an incredible 30:6 K:BB ratio in that span. With this latest start, Corbin lowered his ERA below 4 to 3.96 in 12 starts, with a 66:16 K:BB ratio on the year in 72.2 innings pitched. With Charles Brewer out with a broken hand and Jarrod Parker on strict innings limits, Corbin may be seventh on the organization's starting pitching depth chart behind the current starting five and Micah Owings. Your Daily Goldschmidt: Goldschmidt Happened yet again, with Paul clobbering his 21st home run of the season in the top of the first inning to give Mobile a quick 2-0 lead that Corbin would never relinquish. Goldschmidt also bothered to steal a base while he was at it as part of a double steal in the fifth inning. Paul finished the night 1-2 with that homer and a pair of walks, one of which was intentional. A.J. Pollock, Jacob Elmore, and Ed Easley each had doubles, and Easley chipped in a pair of singles to boot.
Hi-A: Visalia 3, Rancho Cucamonga 4. (27-32) The star of the night for the Rawhide was the second baseman Nick, who was responsible for two of the three runs scored by the Rawhide. Jon Mark Owings also added a solo homer on the same night that his brother Micah notched a key base hit in the bigs. Unfortunately, starter Eric Smith only went five innings, somehow surrendering just two runs (one earned) in spite of a 2:4 K:BB ratio and allowing a home run. His saving grace was his 9:1 GO:AO ratio, but relievers Victor Capellan and Taylor Sinclair eached allowed a run in 1.1 and 1.2 innings of work, respectively, to give the Quakes the win.
Low-A: South Bend 5, Burlington 0. (31-29) Another fantastic start from left-hander David Holmberg, who gave up just two hits in six shutout innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Holmberg lowered his ERA to an incredible 2.87 with this start, and has officially proved just about all he can in Low-A ball. I'd be shocked if he wasn't at Hi-A after the minor-league all-star break. The Silver Hawks also got a rare offensive outburst, as Zach Walters went 1-3 with a double - his 16th of the year - and a walk, Ramon Castillo hit his fourth home run of the year and stole a base, and Raywilly Gomez went 2-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
DSL: D-backs 6, Cubs1 3. (3-5) 19-year-old second baseman Jesse Liriano went 3-4 with a double to lead the DSL-backs offensive punch, and the bullpen worked 5.2 scoreless innings of relief.