It wasn't a particularly good day on the farm, with the three active minor-league affiliates combining to go 0-3 while being outscored 15-7 overall - Double-A Mobile's rain-out was the only non-loss of the day. There were some good performances, certainly, but none truly eye-popping. No big, clutch hits, no dominant (a.k.a. Archie-style) pitching performance, and no 4-4 day with seven total bases.
What there was, however, was a late scratch from the lineup after a player received his long-awaited call to the Show. And hey, if we don't celebrate big-league promotions, why are we caring about the minors? As such, there's an obvious choice for Snakelet of the Day today - congratulations, A.J.!
Snakelet of the Day:
A.J. Pollock (Triple-A): Promoted to the Big Leagues!
Triple-A: Reno 2, Fresno 4. (4-9) Reno played like a team that just had perhaps its best hitter taken out of its lineup, being shut out through eight innings before a two-run homer from Cody Ransom broke the shutout in the top of the ninth. Aces starter Joe Martinez allowed eight hits in his six innings of work while striking out two, but managed to scatter the hits well and only surrendered a single run in his outing. Left-handed reliever Jason Lane finally gave up a run in his inning of work, then also gave up two more runs to boot - the three-run inning from Lane raises his ERA to 3.24. Jensen Lewis worked a scoreless eighth for the Aces.
Double-A: The BayBears were rained out in Montgomery, and will try to play two tomorrow.
Hi-A: Visalia 5, Bakersfield 8. (6-6) Starting pitcher David Holmberg had a rough day on the hill, allowing eight hits - including a homer - and six runs in 4.2 innings of work, though he did strike out six batters and not issue a walk. The outing raised Holmberg's ERA on the year to 4.08, still a solid - though not exceptional - number in the hitter-friendly Cal League. After left-handed reliever Patrick Schuster gave up two earned runs in his 2.1 innings on the hill, fellow lefty Michael Belfiore shined once again out of the bullpen, striking out three and allowing just a single hit in two scoreless innings of relief.
At the plate, the Rawhide were led by shortstop Chris Owings, who singled, doubled, and - wait for it... waaaaaaait for it.... - drew a walk (::gasp!::). Jokes aside, it's nice to see Owings turn things on at the plate for Visalia, and any improvements in approach and patience - though not at the expense of his hitting ability - are warmly welcomed. Keon Broxton hit his first home run of the year, though he's really struggled at the plate thus far.
Low-A: South Bend 0, Lansing 3. (5-7) The Silver Hawks lineup had another rough showing, managing just four hits - all singles - while striking out a combined 13 times in this contest. The complete lack of offense meant that Jeffrey Shields was handed the loss in spite of his solid start, allowing three runs in seven innings with three strikeouts, a walk, and 14 groundouts. Even more frustrating for Shields is the fact that two of the runs allowed by him were unearned, so the position players had a day to forget all-around. D.J. Johnson threw an inning of relief to wrap up this game.