Just yesterday we were talking about Jonathan Griffin's terrific season and the fact he was promoted to Mobile. He played his first game there last night and in his first at bat he hit a home run. He went 3 for 5 on the night so a great start for him at AA. As a result of his arrival Ryan Strieby was sent to Reno so Griffin can play full time. Ollie Linton was sent to Mobile a couple of days ago after missing almost all of this season and homered last night. Josh Collmenter pitched 4 shutout innings in another rehab assignment for the AZL Dbacks and Willie Bloomquist also started again at shortstop. Both should be called up to the Dbacks soon so some roster decisions will have to be made there. And then there's the weekly Bauer news. He had a solid outing for Reno last night giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 in 6 innings. He did not figure in the decision as the Aces lost in 12 innings. Their efforts to clinch a playoff spot are starting to get a little shaky.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Kevin Medrano, Yakima 4 for 5, 3 R (.349)
2 Stars: Blake Perry, Yakima 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 ER, W (5-1)
1 Star: Jonathan Griffin, Mobile 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR (27), 1 RBI
0 Stars: Tyler Bortnick, Reno 0 for 5, 2 K
Game summaries after the jump.
Triple A: Reno 3 @ Fresno 4. Trevor Bauer started and had a very good outing going 6 innings while allowing 2 runs. He left the game trailing 2-1. The Aces rallied in the 8th to take a 3-2 lead on a Josh Bell RBI single and a Taylor Harbin RBI double. But Jensen Lewis surrendered a solo home run to the Giants' Brett Pill, who then homered again in the 12th to win it. A.J. Pollock went 3 for 5 with an RBI and his 20th stolen base. The loss cut Reno's division lead to 3 games with 7 to play.
Double A: Mobile 5 @ Tennessee 6. Bradin Hagens had a good outing going and a 3-1 lead entering the 7th but ran into trouble and reliever Eric Smith made it worse as Tennessee scored 4 to take a 5-3 lead. David Nick hit an RBI single in the 8th (with Griffin being thrown out at home) and Ollie Linton tied it with a solo homer in the 9th. But Kevin Munson allowed a walk-off home run in the 10th. Jonathan Griffin had a nice debut for Mobile going 3 for 5 with a home run in his first at bat. Chris Owings hit his 17th homer of the year.
High A: Visalia 6 @ Bakersfield 10. The Rawhide hit four home runs but Anthony Meo was off his game again and it wasn't good enough. Meo only got through 4 innings allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts. Bakersfield won the battle of the bullpens as Victor Capellan allowed 4 runs in the 7th and 8th innings. Tyson Van Winkle hit 2 solo home runs, Gerson Montilla hit a 2-run shot, and Keon Broxton added a 2-run homer as part of his 2 for 4 night, his 19th of the year.
Low A: South Bend 4 Bowling Green 6. Andrew Barbosa was only so-so on the hill as he yielded 3 runs on 2 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings while striking out 7. Jesse Darrah came on and posted an identical pitching line with the exception of 4 Ks instead of 7. The offense couldn't quite match up with 4 runs on 9 hits. Eric Groff went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
Short Season A: Yakima 9 Vancouver 1. A terrific all-around game for the Bears as Blake Perry had a stellar start and the offense had it all working. Perry went 5 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and a walk. Four relievers came after and did not allow a hit or a run. Kevin Medrano just keeps hitting as he posted a 4 for 5 night. Yogey Perez-Ramos went 3 for 5 with a double and C Ronnie Freeman clubbed a bases-loaded double for 3 RBI in the 1st inning.
Rookie: Missoula 6 Great Falls 4. Missoula got a much-needed win to stay with 1 game of division leader Billings in their quest for the playoffs. Chris Pack had one of his better starts going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts to get the win. Yosbel Gutierez went 2 for 3 with a 2-run homer. Breland Almadova went 2 for 4 with a double, Andrew Velazquez had 2 hits and a stolen base, and Michael Perez added an RBI single. Six of Missoula's last 8 games are against Billings so they have their fate in their own hands. It should make for an exciting finish to the season.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 6 @ Cubs 4. In the Dbacks next-to-last game of the season Josh Collmenter made another rehab start and tossed 4 shutout innings while allowing 3 hits and walking none with 6 strikeouts. Willie Bloomquist also started and went 1 for 2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. William Castillo had a 3 for 4 night to raise his season average to .303.