This year's 3rd round draft pick Daniel Palka had another big slugging night with a double and a home run, raising his SLG to .516 on the year. Palka hit 41 home runs for Georgia Tech the last three years prior to joining the Dbacks and has six so far this year for Missoula to go along with 14 doubles. Palka fit one of the organization's need as a power-hitting first baseman and so far he isn't disappointing with a .904 OPS. And just as importantly, he's not striking out at an obscene rate which lots of young power hitters are wont to do. His K-rate of 18.4% is more than acceptable and the hope is that he's a left-handed Goldschmidt.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Daniel Palka, Missoula 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (6), 2 RBI
2 Stars: Sean Jamieson, Visalia 3 for 4, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 TPL, 1 RBI
1 Star: David Holmberg, Mobile 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 ER
0 Stars: Mark Serrano, Mobile 2/3 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 3 ER, BS
Triple A: Reno 1 @ New Orleans 5.Nate Adcock allowed 3 runs over 6+ innings, and Chase Anderson allowed 2 more over the next inning, and that was more than the offense could deal with. Matt Davidson had a double and an RBI to lead the 5-hit attack.
Double A: Mobile 1 Jackson 3. David Holmberg had a fine start tossing 5 shutout innings on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. But as the night before with Andrew Chafin, Holmberg was replaced after just 80 pitches. Mark Serrano followed and couldn't get out of the 6th before surrendering 3 runs and taking the loss. The offense produced just one run on a solo home run by Dustin Martin in the 2nd.
High A: Visalia 5 Rancho Cucamonga 4. Keith Hessler pitched 6 mostly solid innings allowing 4 runs (just 1 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks. The bullpen followed with 3 shutout innings giving the offense time to rally with 2 runs in the 8th and another in the 9th for the walkoff win. Sean Jamieson delivered the game winner on a single in the bottom of the 9th as part of his 3-hit night. Jake Lamb had 2 singles and 2 RBI. Seth Simmons earned the win with a clean 9th inning.
Low A: South Bend 5 @ Bowling Green 4. Blake Perry was less than stellar allowing 4 runs in 5 innings. Bt the offense and the bullpen bailed him out. Three relievers pitched 4 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts capped off by Enrique Burgos' 15th save. Brandon Drury had 2 doubles and an RBI and Alex Glenn hit his 10th home run to lead the offense.
Short Season A: Hillsboro 0 @ Vancouver 4. The Hops offense continues to struggle mightily as they came up with just 7 hits, all singles in another shutout loss. Ross Gerdeman was so-so allowing 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings.
Rookie: Missoula 8 Billings 6. Felipe Perez is starting to come to earth a little as he got roughed up again for 6 runs on 9 hits over 7 innings. He was headed for a loss until the offense rallied with 4 runs in the 8th to stun Billings 8-6. The big blow in the inning was a 3-run homer by Jake Mayers. Daniel Palka went 3 for 4 with a double and his 6th home run.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 2 @ Angels 5. Starter Jose Gonzalez only got through 2 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. That was more than the offense could overcome which had just 6 hits, 2 by Joel Thys.