David Holmberg had another sharp outing for Mobile in their 1-0 win over Jackson. Holmberg tossed 7 scoreless innings on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Holmberg has been consistently good all year and is sporting a 2.66 ERA with 130 hits allowed over 152 innings and 115 strikeouts versus 47 walks. Holmberg is a guy who does pitch to contact and he's not exactly a ground ball pitcher either with a 0.88 GO/AO ratio. So I do wonder a little how he'll respond against better hitters who make better contact. I'm not prepared to say he's a slam dunk middle of the rotation starter just waiting for the call. He will have an adjustment period adapting to better hitters which is why I think a stint in Reno might be good preparation for him. We'll see what the organization plans to do with him as his next step.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: David Holmberg, Reno 7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 ER
2 Stars: Sean Jamieson, Visalia 3 for 5, 1 R, DBL, HR (11), 4 RBI
1 Star: Austin Platt, Hillsboro 7 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 ER, W (3-3)
0 Stars: Michael Perez 0 for 4, 1 BB, 3 K
Triple A: Reno 5 Salt Lake 3. Zeke Spruill was very sharp throwing 7 strong innings while allowing just a solo home run. He gave up 6 hits and a walk and struck out 3. David Hernandez got the final 2 outs to earn the save, though he did walk 2. Juan Rivera and Mike Jacobs provided the offense with each hitting a 2-run homer.
Double A: Game 1. Mobile 1 Jackson 0. David Holmberg sparkled with 7 shutout innings on 3 hits and 2 walks. He didn't get the win though as the game was toed when he left. Blake Cooper pitched the final 2 frames for the victory when Ender Inciarte singled home Justin Greene in the bottom of the 9th for the walk-off win. Inciarte went 3 for 5 with a double and the game winner.
Double A: Game 2. Mobile 2 Jackson 1.The BayBears got the sweep as three relievers pieced together the 1-run 7-inning outing with Bryan Woodall going 3+, Steve Garrison going 2+ and getting the win, and Jake Barrett pitching the 7th for his 11th save. Garrett Webber and Nick Evans each went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
High A: Visalia 6 Modesto 9. Andrew Barbosa had a rough start allowing 6 runs in 6 innings and the offense couldn't quite overcome that. Anthony Meo struggled in relief again and the relief conversion hasn't exactly gone according to plan yet. Sean Jamieson had a big game going 3 for 5 with a double and a 3-run homer, his 11th. David Peralta went 3 for 5 with a double and a 2-run homer.
Low A: South Bend 6 @ Fort Wayne 7. The Silver Hawks lost a wild one that went 15 innings and included several comebacks by Fort Wayne. Robert Coe started and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 7 innings. Then the bullpen came on and was sharp with 6 shutout innings. In the 14th South Bend scored twice but Fort Wayne matched it in the bottom of the 14th then won it in the bottom of the 15th. Michael Lang went 3 for 6 with a double and a home run, and Brandon Drury added a pair of doubles.
Short Season A: Hillsboro 2 @ Eugene 1. Austin Platt was outstanding with 7 shutout innings on 2 hits. Jose Jose pitched the 9th with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts for his 3rd save. George Roberts provided all the offense with a 2-run homer in the 8th inning.
Rookie: Missoula 4 @ Grand Junction 8. Anderson Pacido wasn't his best nor was his defense as he allowed 7 runs (4 earned) over 4 innings. Michael Blake pitched 2 shutout innings of relief with 4 strikeouts. Chuck Taylor led the offense going 2 for 5 with a triple and 2 RBI.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 4 Cubs 3. The Dbacks rallied with 3 runs in the 7th to overcome a 3-1 deficit in support of Bobby Hillier's 5 innings of shutout relief with no hits allowed and 7 strikeouts. It was his first professional win. Yeisson Rosario led the offense going 2 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI.