David Holmberg rebounded from a sub-par start in his last to post 7 solid innings while allowing just 1 unearned run in Mobile yesterday. He didn't put up a gaudy strikeout total as he notched just 3 but he was very effective in allowing 8 hits and only two walks. As a 20-year-old starter in AA he is holding his own and cut his ERA to a tolerable 4.05. He's sporting a solid 3.8 K/BB ratio, though his BAA is quite high at .297. The Mobile offense and relief corps let him down though and it cost him what would have been a well-deserved win. Reno squared off against 49-year-old Jamie Moyer and didn't help his cause to get back into the majors by tagging him for 7 runs in 6 innings. Cody Wheeler had another superb start for Yakima and shouldn't be far away from taking a step up.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: David Holmberg, Mobile 7 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 R, 0 ER
2 Stars: Cody Wheeler, Yakima 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 ER
1 Star: Jacob House, Yakima 2 for 4, 1 DBL, 1 TPL, 3 RBI
0 Stars: Alex Capaul, Visalia 2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 4 ER
Game summaries after the jump.
Triple A: Reno 7 Las Vegas 3. The ageless one Jamie Moyer took the hill for Las Vegas as he tries to work his way into the Toronto rotation, but it didn't go well as Reno scored 4 in the 6th and 3 in the 4th to knock him out after he started the game with 4 shutout innings. Barry Enright was effective as he completed 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. Ryan Wheeler got his two hits as usual including a double and an RBI, his 82nd. Jake Elmore had two singles and 2 RBI and Taylor Harbin had a pair of doubles.
Double A: Mobile 2 Mississippi 3. David Holmberg had a very solid start getting through 7 innings with a lone unearned run allowed. He had the team in front 2-1 when he left but reliever Matt Gorgen couldn't hold it as he allowed 2 runs on a walk, a double and a sac fly to make Mobile a 3-2 loser. The Mobile offense managed just 3 hits with 2 of those coming off the bat of Kyle Green who had 2 RBI.
High A: Visalia 4 Inland Empire 2. Starter Braden Hagens pitched 5 shutout innings surrendering just 2 hits, though he did walk 5 and struck out only 1. But it was more than enough as the Visalia relief corps posted 3 shutout innings to end the game. The Rawhide offense had just 6 hits but they added 5 walks and stole 4 bases to collect 4 runs and the victory. Only Ender Inciarte had multiple hits with a single, a double, an RBI and two stolen bases. He has 5 steals in his first 12 games for Visalia and 23 overall for the year.
Low A: South Bend 3 Lansing 11. J.R. Bradley was a little off his game yesterday but it wasn't a disaster and his defense didn't help him much. He only managed 5 innings and allowed 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and a walk. While Bradley seems to be learning how to pitch and developing some consistency he's still not missing enough bats with only 34 Ks in 75 innings. Ryan Court was the lone bright spot on offense with a double and two singles.
High Rookie: Yakima 5 Spokane 0. Cody Wheeler had another outstanding start in just his 4th game since Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2011 season and he's clearly fully recovered. He went another 5 shutout innings with 6 Ks and just 3 hits allowed. I expect him to get moved to South Bend before too long. Frank Santana pitched 2 excellent innings in relief with 5 Ks. Jacob House had a double, a triple and 3 RBI to lead the offense, and Josh Parr hit his 5th home run of the year, his 4th in the last 9 games.
Low Rookie: Missoula 4 Billings 10. A rough 3rd inning by starter Ross Gerdeman in which he allowed 6 runs was all it took for Missoula to go down to defeat. Not much good news to report other than a 3-run homer by Ty Linton. 2012 8th-round pick Evan Marzilli made his professional debut with a pinch-hit single in the 9th. Marzilli just signed after an extended college season at South Carolina that saw him play in the College World Series final against Arizona.
AZL Rookie: D-backs @ Padres 8. Austin Platt had a decent start going until a Padres' 4-run 6th inning did him in. Stryker Trahan had a good night at the plate with a double, a single, a walk, and an RBI. Bubu Garcia (love that name) pitched in with a pair of singles.