The Visalia offense keeps cranking along and it was 3 long balls that did it last night. Gerson Montialla hit a 3-run shot in the 2nd, Domingo Leyba clubbed a solo bomb in the 6th, and Stweart Ijames delivered the game winner, a 2-run blast in the 7th.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Ethan Elias, Kane County 6 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 R, 0 ER
2 Stars: John Omahen, Mobile 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 ER
1 Star: Gerson Montilla, Visalia 1 for 2, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 HR (6), 3 RBI
0 Stars: Blake Perry, Visalia 3.1 IP, 4 H, 7 BB, 4 K, 6 ER
AAA: Reno 5 Nashville 4. A big 4-run 5th inning that featured a 3-run homer by Todd Glaesmann proved the difference in a close game. Caleb Clay was solid allowing 2 runs (one earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks in 5+ innings. Keith Hessler allowed 2 runs that made the game close but Kaleb Fleck went the final 2 innings for his 6th save. Phil Gosselin went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Brandon Drury added a pair of singles.
AA: Mobile 1 @ Biloxi 2. Pitching ruled the day and the BayBears eventually lost it in 11. John Omahen was very good going 6 innings and allowing just one run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. J.R. Bradley and Silvino Bracho combined for 4 shutout innings before Jimmie Sherfy took the loss in the bottom of the 11th. The offense had 9 hits with both Socrates Brito and Ganriel Guerrero garnering 2 hits with a triple each.
A+: Visalia 9 @ Bakersfield 7. Starter Blake Perry's wildness problems continued as he walked 7 in 3+ innings and left in the 4th having given up 6 runs. The offense saved the day via the long ball. Gerson Montilla hit a 3-run homer in the 2nd that sliced the lead to one. Domingo Leyba hit a solo shot in the 5th that cut the lead to one again. And Stewart Ijames hit a 2-run shot in the 7th that gave them a lead they would not relinquish. Montilla also had 2 walks. Kevin Cron went 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a double, an RBI and 3 runs scored.
A: Kane County 2 @ Beloit 3. Ethan Elias was terrific with 6 strong innings giving up just an unearned run on 2 hits, no walks and 7 strikeouts. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as Luis Ramirez gave up the tying run in the 8th and Jose Martinez took the loss in the bottom of the 10th. The offense had just 5 hits with 2 by Colin Bray.
A-: Hillsboro 1 Tri-City 5. Carlos Hernandez wasn't his best giving up 5 runs in 4 innings and the offense wasn't up to the task. They did garner 9 hits with 2 each by Sergio Alcantara, Dansby Swanson and Josh Anderson. Swanson is 8 for 20 in his last 5 games and has his average up to .289 after a slow start to his pro career.
R: Missoula 4 @ Billings 6. The Osprey kept battling for the lead early on but gave it up for good in the 7th when Scott Schultz got roughed up for 3 runs. Junior Garcia was okay starting giving up 3 runs in 5 innings. The offense stopped hitting after the 5th with just 6 total hits, 2 by Austin Byler and a solo home run by Tyler Humphreys.