Bobby Borchering was promoted to Mobile and now takes over left field for the Bay Bears. He was actually promoted the day before yesterday and made a pinch-hit appearance before starting in left and batting 5th yesterday. I was a little surprised at the move considering his fairly awful K-rate at Visalia. But I guess the club needs to find out what it has in Borchering sooner or later. He hasn't lacked for power or run production and Mobile has been in need of an outfielder since Alfredo Marte went down with an injury back on June 23rd. Another move was made by the organization when they sent Wagner Mateo to Yakima, apparently in order to find a spot where he could play everyday at 1B. He was only getting occasional starts for Visalia what with Jonathan Griffin manning first base there. They have not given Mateo any OF starts yet so I was a little surprised that the Borchering promotion didn't earn Mateo those starts in left field. There must be some kind of issue there about him being able to play the outfield.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Jake Elmore, Reno 4 for 5, 1 R, 1 TPL, 2 RBI
2 Stars: Anthony Meo, Visalia 7 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 2 ER
1 Star: Derek Eitel, Mobile 6 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 HR, 4 K, 2 ER
0 Stars: John Pedrotty, South Bend 1/3 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 WP, 0 K, 7 ER
Game summaries after the break.
Triple A: Reno 4 @ Col Springs 19. This one was ugly from the get-go with the Sky Sox scoring 10 runs in the first 3 innings. Zack Kroenke got tagged for 13 hits and 10 runs in those 3 innings. Taylor Sinclair gave up 8 runs of his own in just 2/3 of an inning. Jake Elmore did what he could with a 4-hit night including a triple and an RBI. A.J. Pollock added 3 singles.
Double A. Mobile 2 @ Montgomery 8. This game was tied at 2 through 6 innings as Derek Eitel had a very good start with 6 innings pitched while allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits and 4 Ks. But the Mobile bullpen imploded as they surrendered 6 runs in the 7th and 8th innings. Bobby Borchering got his 1st start as a member of the Bay Bears and went 0 for 4. Evan Frey went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored and Kyle Green had a couple of singles. Matt Davidson hit his 18th home run of the year, a solo shot in the 4th.
High A: Visalia 5 @ Lancaster 2. Anthony Meo led the Rawhide with his 2nd sharp outing in a row as he completed 7 innings with 2 runs allowed on 7 hits, 2 walks and 8 Ks. He's posted a very solid first half with an ERA of 3.69, a 1.29 GO/AO, and a 2.2 K/BB ratio. We'd like to see the walk numbers start to decrease but we've certainly seen enough to think he'll be pitching in Mobile next year and has officially passed some people on the prospect list. Yazy Arbelo was the hitting star with a double and a home run for a 4-RBI night. Hot-hitting Ender Inciarte was promoted to the leadoff spot and promptly went 3 for 5.
Low A: South Bend 4 @ Dayton 17. Hot and cold John Pedrotty was really cold in this outing as he couldn't escape the first inning after allowing 8 runs on 7 hits and a walk before being mercifully removed. Dayton scored 4 more in the second and this one was over before it started. Two hits each by Marc Bourgeois and Ryan Court were the only highlights.
High Rookie: Yakima 0 @ Spokane 2. Daniel Watts had another solid start with 4 innings pitched while allowing 2 runs ( 1 earned) on 5 hits, a walk and 4 Ks. But the opposing pitcher Abel De Los Santos, a Texas prospect, was even better with 5 shutout innings. The South Bend offense could muster just 6 hits with 2 of those coming from new arrival Wagner Mateo.
Low Rookie: Missoula 5 @ Great Falls 9. Missoula battled back a couple of times from deficits but eventually the bullpen couldn't keep it close and they fell 9-5. Chris Pack started and got into the 6th but gave up 6 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks. Yosbel Gutierrez led the offense with a double, a homer and 2 RBI. Pedro Ruiz, Jake Lamb and Breland Almadova all had two hits each. Ruiz stole his 7th base.