I'm not sure where that came from but upon being promoted from Visalia to Mobile, most likely because Mobile needed a pitcher, Josh Taylor threw a complete game shutout on 3 hits and no walks with 5 strikeouts. Taylor hadn't exactly been tearing it up in Visalia with a 5.65 ERA in 78 innings. He is just 23 years old so he's still got some development available but that performance was sure a surprise. Hopefully he can keep it up.
On a more consistent note, Dawel Lugo hit for the cycle in Visalia's win singling in the top of the 9th to cap off the rare feat. Lugo is hitting .476 in his last 10 games with 4 homers and 11 RBI. He's getting on the kind of tear Westbrook did last year for Visalia and has his average up to .310 and his OPS to .857.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Josh Taylor, Mobile 9 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 ER, W (1-0)
2 Stars: Dawel Lugo, Visalia 4 for 5, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 TPL, 1 HR (13), 4 RBI
1 Star: Grant Heyman, Visalia 3 for 4, 1 DBL, 1 TPL, 2 RBI
0 Stars: Taylor Wright, Hillsboro 4.2 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 8 ER
AAA: Reno 3 Tacoma 13. Edgar Garcia got hammered for 10 runs in 5 innings and there wasn't much to see beyond that. The lone bright spot was Jimmie Sherfy's second relief outing for the Aces in which he struck out the side. Sherfy is probably close to getting a a chance with the big club. The offense generated 8 hits with 2 each from Mike Freeman and Carlos Rivero.
AA: Mobile 10 Pensacola 0. Josh Taylor surprised and amazed in his first start for Mobile with a complete game shutout on 3 hits. The offense took the pressure off him early with 7 runs in the first 2 innings. Stewart Ijames drove in 4 runs on 2 hits including his 10th home run. Kevin Medrano and Kevin Cron each had 3 hits with Cron also driving in 2. Oscar Hernandez hit his 5th home run.
A+: Visalia 10 @ Lancaster 6. Dawel Lugo continued his hot hitting by merely hitting for the cycle. He got the home run first leading off the 2nd. Then he tripled home a run in the 4th and doubled home 2 more in the 5th. He ground out leading off the 7th then got one more chance leading off the 9th and promptly singled to center. The offense cranked out 18 hits and took a big 8-1 lead in the 5th that was never truly threatened. Grant Heyman was a home run shy of the cycle and drove in 2. Stryker Trahan had 2 hits including a big 3-run homer in the 5th.
A: Kane County 5 @ Peoria 7. The Cougars got out to an early 3-0 lead but the defense fumbled its way to 5 errors which the pitchers were not able to overcome. Six of the 7 runs scored against KC pitching were unearned. Austin Byler went 3 for 4 with a triple and Joey Armstrong hit his 2nd home run.
A-: Hillsboro 0 Tr-City 9.Starter Taylor Wright got tagged for 8 runs in 4+ innings and that was that. The offense managed just 6 hits. Nothing to see here. Move along.
R: Missoula 4 @ Great Falls 5. Starter Luis Madero dug the team an early 4-0 hole as he got through 5 innings. The offense rallied with 4 runs in the 7th to tie the game capped off by a Billy Endris 2-run double. Great Falls got the go-ahead run in the 8th on an error, a bunt and a single and there was no 9th inning rally. Ryan January had 3 hits and a double to pace the offense,