Sorry in advance, folks. It's 1:15 as I begin to write this introduction, and I'm fresh off a 4:15 a.m. night last night with a Philosophy debate on the metaphysical possibility of resurrection on the agenda at 9:30 tomorrow morning. If there isn't the kind of razor-sharp, insightful analysis in this report as you're used to, well... you've been warned. A lot of candidates for Snakelet of the Day today, but the honor ultimately went to a player who made a lot of noise in just a few plate appearances during the first half of a doubleheader yesterday.
Snakelet of the Day:
Alfredo Marte (Double-A, game one): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI
Triple-A (11 innings): Reno 7, Fresno 6. (5-9) Despite missing one of their most potent bats in A.J. Pollock, the Aces put together one of their finer offensive performances of the year, collecting 12 extra bases in this 11-inning marathon contest. Jake Elmore and Randy Ruiz each led the way with three hits, while Elmore and Evan Frey each reached base four times. Elmore and Frey also collected the only extra-base hits on the night, with Elmore doubling and Frey tripling. Adam Eaton - Pollock's replacement - also joined the Aces offense late in this one, collecting a pinch-hit single and manning center field afterwards. Starter Zach Kroenke allowed four earned runs in five-plus innings on the mound (though he had given up just one run at the end of the fifth), while reliever Mike DeMark allowed two earned runs of his own while collecting just two outs and allowing an inherited runners (from Kroenke) to score. Thankfully, Sam Demel, Mike Zagurski, and Jonathan Albaladejo threw 5.1 scoreless innings of relief after DeMark left the game, giving the bats enough time to come back and seal the victory.
Double-A (game one, seven innings): Mobile 3, Montgomery 1. Right fielder Alfredo Marte basically was the offense in this game, doubling and homering while scoring two runs and driving in one (himself, of course). That proved enough for the BayBears, as the pitching trio of Chase Anderson, Eury De La Rosa, and Kevin Munson combined to shut down the Biscuits, allowing just two hits (both from Anderson) and four walks in this shortened seven-inning contest while striking out seven. Anderson, making his first start in nearly a calendar year after missing most of last year with an elbow injury, worked four-plus innings and surrendered two hits and one run, striking out five, walking three, and hitting another. This game also saw the BayBears debut of Brent Clevlen, brought aboard by the BayBears to replace Adam Eaton.
Double-A (game two, seven innings): Mobile 2, Montgomery 6. (9-5) Mobile didn't have as much luck in game two of the double-header, particularly on the mound. Starter Derek Eitel was roughed up in his four innings of work, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits - including a homer - and two walks. Eitel gave up a home run and did not strike out any batters, though he did generate nine ground-ball outs. Reliever Brett Lorin worked the final two innings for Mobile, allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout. On the offensive end, the BayBears collected just two hits, but managed to make them count, as they were each solo home runs from Raoul Torrez and Matt Davidson. First baseman Yazy Arbelo debuted for the Baybears in this game, having been just called up from Hi-A Visalia.
Hi-A: Visalia 4, Bakersfield 6. (6-7) Starter Andrew Chafin had his first outing that could possibly be called anything less than "stellar", allowing two runs in 4.1 innings. However, Chafin still struck out nine Blaze hitters and generated four ground ball outs, so he's still doing plenty of things right. Reliever Diogenes Rosario struck out five batters in his 1.2 innings of relief, but fellow reliever Blake Cooper - in the midst of a rough start to the year - gave up three earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss. As for the bats, center fielder Keon Broxton had three hits, including a pair of doubles, after being moved down to the sixth spot in the lineup. Bobby Borchering had a pair of hits, including a homer, while Chris Owings added a three-run blast of his own, his third home run in his last five games.
Low-A: South Bend 4, Lansing 3. (6-7) Southpaw John Pedrotty turned in a solid outing for the Silver Hawks, allowing just two runs in five innings on four hits and four walks while striking out five and generating seven ground-ball outs. The relief trio of Keith Hessler, Matt Sample, and Willy Paredes polished things off, allowing just one unearned run in their four innings of relief. Still no home runs for the Silver Hawks offense this year, but the Hawks did receive some power production in this game, with Ender Inciarte tripling and Tom Belza doubling to lead the way. Matt Helm reached base four times on a single and three walks.