Snake Stars
3 stars: Francis Christy, Missoula - 3-for-4, three R, two HR (4), two RBI
2 stars: Cody Reed, Hillsboro - 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
1 star: Isan Diaz, Missoula - 3-for-5, two R, DBL, HR (10), two RBI, SB
0 stars:Brent Shankin, Visalia - 2.2 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, L (0-2).
Triple-A Reno 4, Nashville 7. After nine starts for the Aces, A.J. Schugel's ERA is still in double digits. It did tick slightly lower tonight, giving up five runs over five innings on nine hits and a walk with four strikeout, but he couldn't retire a batter in the sixth, and the four-run inning which ensued sealed Reno's fate. DH Nick Evans had two of their seven hits, with C Blake Lalli singling and walking, but the Aces were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Kevin Vance tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief, striking out a pair.
Double-A Mobile 0 @ Biloxi 9. Even less of note to report here, as the BayBears were on the receiving end of a two-hit shutout from the Shuckers. Starter Johnny Shuttleworth managed only 4.1 innings, scattering six hits and three walks, leading to four runs (three earned), with a pair of K's. LF Socrates Brito and 3B Garrett Weber each singled for Mobile's only active offense; CF Evan Marzilli walked, for their only other base-runner. It wasn't a good game for our pitchers, who walked seven hitters while fanning just four.
High-A Visalia 6 @ Bakersfield 9. This one was over by the time starter Brett Shankin was lifted with two outs in the third, and the Rawhide eight runs down. While three of those were unearned, Shankin didn't help himself with eight hits and three walks, including three homers. Credit the Visalia offense, who did make the score more respectable. There were home-runs from 1B Kevin Cron and RF Daniel Palka, who maintained their personal battle for the HR crown, each hitting #26; Cron and DH Gerson Montilla both homered and doubled. Jamie Westbrook reached base four times, with two hits and two walks.
A-ball Kane County 2 @ Beloit 6. SS Ildemaro Vargas homered to lead off the top of the first, but it was pretty much downhill thereafter. The Cougars managed only two other hits. CF Colin Bray had one of those and walked, while also stealing three bases, giving him 23 for the season. Brent Jones gave up seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings, without a strikeout and four earned runs allowed. Nick Baker worked 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. That's about all the positives I've got here.
A-shirt Hillsboro 3, Tri-City 0. Hooray! A victory! Cody Reed and three relievers combined on a two-hit shutout, and Trevor Mitsui's three-run homer with one out in the first inning was all the offense the Hops would need. Which is fortunate, because that's all they'd get. Mitsui also singled, while SS Dansby Swanson singled and walked (he has got his average up to .298), and DH Grant Heyman drew a pair of walks. Reed threw 5.1 innings on two hits, with three walks and six K's; Ariel Hernandez cleaned up the sixth, before Justin Donatella tossed two perfect frames and Taylor Clarke a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for the save.
Rookie Missoula 11, Helena 4. The Osprey pounded out 16 hits, led by C Francis Christy, a 7th-round pick who had a solo home-runs in the second and third innings. SS Isan Diaz, who cycled earlier this week, was a triple short of the cycle here, getting three hits, including his tenth home-run, and stole a base. CF Matt McPhearson had a pair of hits and stole three bases, giving him 25, and DH Jason Morozowski went 4-for-5 with a double. Yefrey Ramirez went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with four K's. Aaron Sookee was the pick of the relievers, fanning four of the five batters he faced and retired.
AZL D-backs 2, Athletics 3 (11). The D-backs scored twice in the eighth to force extra innings, but allowed the A's to walk off winners, as Erbert Gonzalez allowed two walks then a one-out RBI single. Emilio Vargas started, and allowed an unearned run over four innings, on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Rafael Pujols tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief, while on offense, SS Alvaro Rondon and CF Maik Ehmcke each singled and walked, the former also stealing a base.