Kane County starter Brad Keller has put together a fine season and he showed off his stuff again Saturday with 5+ shutout innings on a hit and a walk. Keller only turned 20 a year ago and is working his way up the team's prospect list. he may be in the Top 20 by now and moving up.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Peter O'Brien, Reno 3 for 3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 TPL, 3 RBI
2 Stars: Brad Keller, Kane County 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 ER, W (7-8)
1 Star: Cameron Smith, Missoula 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 ER, W (6-1)
0 Stars: Nick Sarianides, Visalia 1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 ER, BS, L (1-3)
AAA: Reno 6 @ Tacoma 3. Jhoulys Chacin gave up 3 runs in the 1st inning but was stellar after that not allowing another run through 7 innings. The offense made him a winner with a big 4-run 6th that featured a bases-loaded triple by Peter O'Brien. O'Brien finished with a perfect 3 for 3 night and those 3 big RBI. Danny Dorn also had 3 hits with a double and Nick Buss added a double and a triple.
AA: Mobile 9 @ Chattanooga 3. Edgar Garcia threw a nice game allowing 2 runs over 6 innings and the offense made him a winner in a game that was close until a 5-run outburst in the 9th sealed it. Socrates Brito drove in 3 runs on 2 hits including a triple and Ronnie Freeman added 3 hits and scored 3 runs. Evan Marzilli and Jack Reinheimer each had 2 RBI.
A+: Visalia 3 Inland Empire 5. The Rawhide was clinging to a tight 3-2 lead until Nick Sarianides got beat up for 3 runs in the 9th and took the loss. Anthony Banda was solid allowing 2 runs over 6 innings with 6 strikeouts. The offense had a so-so night led by Daniel Palka's 2-hit game including a double.
A: Kane County 5 @ West Michigan 0. Brad Keller was terrific giving up no runs on a hit and a walk in 5.2 innings. Four relivers completed the shutout with Zac Curtis getting the final out for his 26th save. The offense cranked out 13 hits with 3 by Cody Regis and 2 each by Chuck Taylor, Ikdemarro Vargas, Colin Bray and Victor Reyes.
A-: Hillsboro 2 Boise 1.Newly-acquired Brett Shankin got off to a good start with the organization by tossing 6 strong innings allowing one run with 9 strikeouts, though to be fair his new assignment is a drop in class from his previous stint in the Seattle organization. Three relievers followed with 3 shutout innings to maintain a 1-1 tie game which they won in the 9th on a walk-off error. Kevin Simmons got the win as the middling offense got 2 hits from Trevor Mitsui.
R: Missoula 4 @ Grand Junction 1. Cameron Smith was very good again with 7 innings of one-run ball which was good enough for his 6th win against one loss.Isan Diaz paced the offense with a single, double, home run, walk, 3 RBI and a stolen base.
AZL: Dbacks 4 @ White Sox 5. Justin Donatella had his longest outing to date with 3 shutout innings to start the game. None of the 4 relievers who followed were all that effective as they eventually lost in 10 innings. Jacy Cave had 2 hits, 2 walks and a double to lead the offense. Max Brown had 2 hits and Jeff Smith drove in 2 runs.