As if we didn't already know it, but Trevor Bauer is ready for the show. Bauer shut out the Tucson Padres for 7 innings on 5 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts Friday night, lowering his era for Reno to 1.97 and raising his record to 3-0. What else does he need to do? As far as I'm concerned all he's doing now is wasting bullets, bullets that could be better spent helping right the ship for the major league club. All that's left to be done is for the front office to make room. I'll be surprised (and disappointed) if that doesn't happen sooner rather than later. Reno won again (of course) and has now won 10 of their last 11. Our other "ready for the show" prospect pitcher had a pretty good outing himself as Tyler Skaggs notched another win for Mobile. Visalia and South Bend were losers.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Trevor Bauer, Reno 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 11 K, 0 ER
2 Stars: Tyler Skaggs, Mobile 6 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 ER
1 Star: David Nick, Mobile 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 HR (1), 1 RBI
0 Stars: Ray Hernandez, Visalia 6 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 10 R, 4 ER
Game summaries after the break.
Triple A: Reno 4 @ Tucson 0. Bauer happened again and he was electric in shutting out the Padres for 7 innings, reemphasizing his readiness for the big club. It's only a matter of time. Ryan Wheeler, Mike Jacobs, A.J. Pollock and Taylor Harbin each had two hits in support of Bauer with only Harbin garnering an extra base hit, a double and an RBI. Adam Eaton went 0 for 3 but walked twice and stole his 18th base of the season. Jake Elmore had a single and 2 RBI. The Dynamic Duo is sliding steadily away from the .400 marks they held just a few days ago. And, uh, Stephen Drew didn't play.
Double A: Mobile 4 Huntsville 2. Tyler Skaggs was overshadowed by Bauer last night but he was plenty good in his own right. He went a solid six while striking out 7 and allowing 5 hits and 2 runs, just one of which was earned, to get the 7-inning win and improve to 5-3.. David Nick hit his first home run of the season as the hitting star in going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Yazy Arbelo also had a pair of singles. Evan Marshall continues to make his own case for promotion by pitching a scoreless 7th for his 13th save of the year. The second game of the scheduled double-header was postponed.
High A: Visalia 1 Lake Elsinore 11. The Rawhide got smoked again by Lake Elsinore as they've hit a bit of rough patch. Ray Hernandez did not have a good start, though to be totally fair his defense let him down a lot. Hernandez got through six innings but not before giving up 10 runs (4 earned) via 9 hits, 3 walks and 4 defensive errors. He did strike out 8. Garrett Webber and Michael Freeman had two singles each and Bobby Borchering hit another solo homer, his 11th of the year. He's getting his power stroke going now he needs to work on his consistency and average and he'll re-enter the rising prospect mode we've all been waiting for.
Low A: South Bend 0 Great Lakes 2. Sadly the story was Dodgers prospect Ralston Cash who pitched 6 innings of 1-hit ball to completely stymie the South Bend lineup. Tyler Green was effective as the Silver Hawks starter going 4 innings and allowing just a single run on 5 hits and 2 walks. Red hot reliever Seth Simmons surrendered his first run in over a month but it was unearned and he lowered his ERA to 0.87. Gerson Montilla got 3 of the team's 4 hits including a double.