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Emilio Vargas is an interesting prospect. The Diamondbacks signed him in 2013 out of the Dominican Republic and is pitching his first season in full season ball. He’s had mixed results, although more positive lately. Tonight, he flirted with the Midwest League All-Time Strikeout Record. He wound up recording 17 strikeouts in 8+ innings in a 4-2 win for Kane County. That performance earned him a game score of 95.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: RHP Emilio Vargas (Kane County/A): 8 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 17 K, W (4-6), GS 95
2 Stars: CF Gabriel Maciel (Missoula/Rookie+): 4 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI, R
1 Star: RHP Shelby Miller (Reno/AAA) 8 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K, W (5-1), GS 55
0 Stars: LF Peter O’Brien (Reno/AAA) 0 for 4, 2 K
AAA: Reno Aces 7, Sacramento River Cats (SF) 3: Shelby Miller had a solid, if not spectacular start in this game, allowing 3 runs in 8 innings. Miller allowed 6 hits, walked a hitter, and struck out 6. In AAA he’s 5-1 in 6 starts while sporting a 3.52 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 51/9 K/BB ratio in 46 innings over 7 starts. The Aces fell behind 1-0, but stormed back with a pair of runs in the 3rd and 5th innings to take the lead. After Miller exited the game up 7-3, Kaleb Fleck allowed 2 hits to make this an official save situation. In came Sherfy and retired both hitters he faced, one on a strikeout. AJ Pollock doubled, stole a base, and walked twice in his first rehab game and Jack Reinheimer had 3 hits including 2 triples and 2 RBI.
AA: Mobile Baybears 1, Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) 7: Vicente Campos got blitzed for 5 runs in the first two innings, but settled down to at least give the team 5 innings. The offense wasn’t up to the task either, as the Baybears’ only run scored on a Gabby Guerrero solo homer in the 2nd. Guerrero also added a double and a walk as part of his solid game at the plate.
A+: Visalia Rawhide 2, Modesto Nuts (COL) 6: Alex Young was cruising in the game until the wheels fell apart in the 5th inning, where the Nuts plated 5 runs. Young allowed the first four runs while still in the game and the 5th run charged to him being after he left. Young struck out 7 and only 1 walk, but did surrender two homers in the 5th inning. The Rawhide offense couldn’t get things in gear, although they did score a pair of runs in the 7th to avoid the shutout.
A: Kane County Cougars 4, Quad Cities River Bandits (HOU) 2: The Cougars grabbed a 3-0 lead thanks to a 2-run homer from Fernery Ozuna and an RBI triple from Ramon Hernandez. From there, it was the Emilio Vargas show as he put up an impressive strikeout total from the game. Already boasting a 10K game, Vargas punched out 17 hitters over 8+ innings and was lifted after the first two reached in the 9th. Austin Mason allowed the inherited runner to score thanks to shoddy defense, but closed things down for his first save.
A-: Hillsboro Hops 5, Spokane Indians (TEX) 2: Anfernee Benitez allowed 2 runs over 5 innings, striking out 7 for 6th win of the year. The offense supported him early with a 3-run 2nd while tacking on insurance runs in the 3rd and 5th innings. Alexis Olmeda had 3 hits, including a triple while Connor Owings had 2 hits and a RBI. The bullpen was fantastic the rest of the way, going 4 scoreless collectively with former Arizona Wildcat Kevin Ginkel picking up his first professional save with a scoreless 9th.
Rookie+: Missoula Osprey 7, Billings Mustangs (CIN) 6: The Osprey won a wild and wacky slugfest that included both teams going on a scoring binge. The Mustangs scored the first 5 runs of the game off starter Kai-Wei Lin, who pitched the first 4 innings and allowed 2 homers. After that point, the Osprey scored 7 runs in the 7th and 9th inning combined to take a 7-5 lead. The offense was mainly supported by the 7-9 hitters, who collectively went 8 for 11 with 2 doubles and 6 RBI. Gabriel Maciel picked up half the total numbers by himself, going 4 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI. The Mustangs put up a threat and scored a run in the 9th, but Dean Jackson was able to keep the tying run from scoring.
Rookie-: Dbacks 2, Cubs (CHC) 3 F/7: Offensively, each team traded single tallies. After falling behind 2-0, the Dbacks plated a run to make it 2-1. However, they were not able to tie things up as the Cubs would score an insurance run to make it 3-1. The Dbacks were unable to put together much offense as they only had 4 hits for the game. The game was called after the top of the 7th due to some nasty weather that fortunately didn’t travel southwards towards Gilbert.