On Friday it was all about the hitters. On Saturday is was all about the pitching. No fewer than 5 starters around the minors posted quality starts yesterday and even the two starters who didn't bring their A games weren't horrible. Charles Brewer was really good for Reno in his start, though his bullpen couldn't hold it. Taylor Siemens was sharp for Visalia in their victory. Daniel Watts was the best of the bunch in a Yakima shutout. Austin Platt threw 7 innings of 1-run ball for the AZL Dbacks. Ross Gerdeman was decent for Missoula and kept the team in the game before the hitters could get it going. The two worst starts came from two of our bigger names in Mobile's David Holmberg and South Bend's J.R. Bradley. Holmberg's defense really let him down as 3 of his 6 runs allowed were unearned. And J.R. Bradley was cruising through 4 innings but got touched for 3 in the 5th and a couple more in the 6th. All the stars were earned by pitchers this day as there weren't many stellar hitting performances.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Daniel Watts, Yakima 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 ER
2 Stars: Charles Brewer, Reno 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 R, 2 ER
1 Star: Taylor Siemens, Visalia 6 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 ER
0 Stars: Wagner Mateo, Yakima 0 for 4, 4 K
Game summaries after the jump.
Triple A: Reno 3 Salt Lake 4. Charles Brewer had the Aces in perfect position for another win over their division rival with 7 innings of 2-run ball. But in the 8th Ryan Wheeler's throwing error let the leadoff runner aboard. Joe Patterson replaced Brewer to face two consecutive lefties and after a sacrifice bunt surrendered a 2-run homer to Paul McAnulty. Game over. Josh Bell drove in two runs with a triple and a single. Adam Eaton had 2 hits and stole his 23rd base. And Cole Gillespie chipped in 2 hits with a double.
Double A: Mobile 0 @ Montgomery 6. David Holmberg started and immediately got roughed up in the 1st inning on 4 singles, a double and 2 errors to put the Bay Bears in a 4-0 hole. A Matt Davidson error led to 2 more unearned runs in the 6th. Holmberg got through 5.2 innings allowing 6 runs (3 earned) on 10 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Chris Owings and David Nick paced the offense with a couple of singles each. Davidson went 1 for 4 with a double and Borchering went 1 for 4 with a single.
High A: Visalia 8 @ San Jose 3. Taylor Siemens was the star in this one as he completed 6 innings of 1-run ball with 8 strikeouts. The offense did plenty in support led by Michael Freeman's 3-hit night that featured a triple and an RBI. Raywilly Gomez and Carter Bell added a couple of hits each and Yazy Arbelo had a 2-run RBI single.
Low A: South Bend 3 @ Clifton 5. J.R. Bradley had it going early with shutout innings through the first 4. But in the 5th after a walk and a lineout double play, he surrendered 2 doubles and 2 singles sandwiched around an error. The 6th featured 2 more runs allowed after getting the first 2 batters out. He finished with 5 runs allowed (4 earned) on 11 hits and 4 walks and no strikeouts. CF Chris Ellison had a nice night with 2 doubles, and Matt Helm added 2 singles and 2 RBI.
High Rookie: Yakima 4 Salem-Keizer 0. Daniel Watts was masterful with 7 shutout innings on 2 hits and a walk while striking out 4. The 32nd-round lefthander out of Jacksonville St. has yet to post a poor start in 6 outings and is sporting a sparkling 0.95 ERA. He's only walked 3 in 28 innings with 15 Ks. He'd probably be starting for South Bend if there was room at the inn, but he'll have to wait his turn to get into that solid rotation.The offense provided enough with Joseph Loftus clouting a 2-run homer in the 4th and an RBI single in the 8th. Josh Parr and Michael Lang also had a pair of hits each.
Low Rookie: Missoula 4 Orem 2. Ross Gerdeman had runners on base all day as he allowed 7 hits and 4 walks in 5+ innings. But he also induced 4 double-play grounders to escape several jams. Rudy Flores hit a 2-run double in the 6th to break a 2-2 tie for the game-winner. Jake Lamb added 2 hits with a triple and an RBI.
AZL Rookie: D-backs 4 Royals 2. Starter Austin Platt tossed another gem, his 4th solid start in 5 outings. He allowed just a solo run on 4 hits and a walk in 7 innings of work. Phildrick Llewellyn (in a rare start at catcher due to the presence of Stryker Trahan) had 2 hits, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Andrew Velazquez hit his first professional home run and then was removed from the game after 2 at bats for reasons unknown. Trahan was given the night off.