Since the initial disaster debut for Reno Aaron Blair has put together back-to-back good starts. He threw 6 very good innings allowing an unearned run on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 5. He's really to the point where he's now just waiting for the call to take over a spot in the big league rotation. The Dbacks unfortunately have a pile of the middle-of-the-road pitchers camped in front of him so he could be waiting for a little while.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Ethan Elias, Kane County 5 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 7 K, W (7-3)
2 Stars: Bo Takahashi, Missoula 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 ER, W (3-0)
1 Star: Micth Hainger, Visalia 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (2), 4 RBI
0 Stars: Yoan Lopez, Mobile 3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 5 ER, L (1-3)
AAA: Reno 5 Fresno 2. Aaron Blair kept the Fresno offense at bay with 6 strong innings allowing an unearned run on 5 hits and a walk. The Aces blew open a close game with a 4-run 5th inning capped off by Garrett Webber's 2-run homer. Brandon Drury had 2 doubles and drove in a run. Jamie Romak went 2 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly, and Nick Evans went 2 for 4 with a double. Addison Reed made his first appearance for Reno pitching a perfect 7th.
AA: Game 1. Mobile 4 Tennessee 5. In the first of two, Tennessee took a 5-3 lead with a 3-run 4th inning off Yoan Lopez and the offense couldn't recover. Lopez wasn't very sharp allowing 5 runs in 3+ innings. Mobile scored 3 runs in the 1st on Zach Borenstein's 3-run homer but could only manage one more run after that. Raul Navarro had 2 hits with a double.
AA: Game 2. Mobile 7 Tennessee 3. Braden Shipley started the nightcap and pitched pretty well except for a couple of long balls that mussed up his line. He finished with 3 runs allowed over 5 innings on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5. The offense did all their damage early with 4 runs in the 1st and 3 more in the 2nd. Jack Reinheimer went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. Socrates Brito went 2 for 3 with a walk, a triple, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Sean Jamieson went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored. His average is up to .308.
A+: Visalia 4 @ High Desert 3. The Rawhide trailed most of the game until Mitch haniger blasted a 3-run homer in the top of the 0th to erase a 3-1 deficit and snack victory from the jaws of defeat. Brandon Sinnery made his first start since being demoted from Mobile and was okay allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings. The bullpen trio of Johnny Shuttlesworth, Mason McCullough and Joey Krehbiel was perfect in not allowing a hit and striking out 4. McCullough got the win and Krehbiel the save. Haniger was 3 for 5 on the night adding a double and another RBI to his huge blast in the 9th. Kevin Medrano and Fidel Pena each added 2 hits.
A: Kane County 3 @ Peoria 0. In a game shortened due to weather Ethan Elias was dominating pitching 5 shutout innings on 3 hits while striking out 7. The offense did its job with a 3-run 4th on RBI by Marty Herum, Michael Perez and Henry Castillo. Ildemaro Vargas and Cody Regis each had a pair of hits.
A-: Hillsboro 2 @ Vancouver 6. Tyler Bolton started and was outstanding with 6 mostly dominating innings allowing just one hit but 2 runs (one earned) with 6 strikeouts. Unfortunately Mike Cetta followed and allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and an outfield error that ruined the game. Stephen Dezzi provided the only offense with a 2-run homer that tied the score briefly.
R: Missoula 5 Billings 0. Bo Takahashi was outstanding with 7 shutout innings on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 3. He's sporting a 1.42 ERA in the tough Pioneer League and is likely due for a promotion before long. Zach Hoffpauir provided the lumber with a big 3-run homer in the 3rd inning. Jason Morozowski added a 3-hit game with a double.
AZL: Dbacks 0 @ Athletics 4. The Dbacks got shut out in spite of getting 8 hits, none with RISP. Oliver Polanco started and went 3 innings allowing one run though he walked 4. Merkis Montero followed with 2 shutout innings. Joshua Smith wasn't so good allowing 3 runs on a hit and 2 walks. Jose Herrera and Ramon Hernandez each had 2 hits.