As bad as the major league team played, the disease spread throughout most of their minor league affiliates. Only the Kane County Cougars won tonight out of 6 possible games. The Cougars were on the verge of losing in their game, but used a 5-run 9th to take victory from the jaws of defeat and not put the entire organization in the donut hole.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: RF/1B Joey Armstrong (Kane County) 2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 OF assists
2 Stars: DH Austin Byler (Visalia) 3 for 4, solo HR (2), 2 RBI
1 Star: LHP Andrew Chafin (Visalia) IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K
0 Stars: LHP Daniel Gibson (Reno) 0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), BB, 1/1 inherited runner scored
Reno 1, Salt Lake 9: The Aces fell behind 2-0 in the 2nd and starter Matt Buschmann was able to keep the Bees off the board until a disastrous 6th inning. After Ed Lucas drove in Mitch Haniger with two outs in the top of the 6th, the wheels fell off for Buschmann and the bullpen. Buschmann allowed a run and left a man on base when Daniel Gibson proceeded to give up 2 hits and a walk to the three hitters he faced, putting the Aces in a 5-1 hole with 1 out. Matt Capps proceeded to outsuck Gibson, allowing two inherited runners and two more of his runs to score. That put the Aces in a 9-1 hole which they never recovered from. Ed Lucas was the only hitter that reached more than once with two hits and a RBI in the game.
Mobile 1, Biloxi 5: The Baybears could not solve former Brewers 1st round pick Jed Bradley and Baybears prospect Taylor Clarke could not get out of the 5th inning. Trailing 1-0 going into the frame, Clarke allowed 4 runs to come across the plate before getting lifted for Austin Wright. Domingo Leyba picked up 2 hits and a walk in the losing effort.
Visalia 5, Inland Empire 7: Starter Joel Payamps experienced control problems in the 2nd inning and was lifted for Matt Porbereyko, who allowed 2 inherited runners to score. The Rawhide clawed their way back into the game, scoring twice in the 5th to tie the game and took the lead in the 6th on an Austin Byler home run. Unfortunately, the lead would not last as Gabriel Moya allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score in the 7th inning. The Rawhide tied it immediately in the 7th to take Moya off the hook, but Cameron Gann allowed a 2-run homer in the 9th for the game's final score. Austin Byler led the team with 3 hits, including that home run. Victor Reyes and Colin Bray added triples. Andrew Chafin had 3 strikeouts in 1 inning in another successful rehab performance.
Kane County 9, Wisconsin 6: Sam McWilliams put the Cougars in a deep hole, allowing 4 runs in the first inning and 6 runs overall. The offense responded with a 3-run 3rd that made it a 4-3 game. With two outs the Cougars picked up 3 singles and a walk. In the 5th, the Cougars got closer when Joey Armstrong drove in Marcus Wilson with a double. After two of the first three reached, Armstrong hit his 2nd RBI double of the game to make the score 6-5 and put the tying run at 3rd with less than two outs. After a strikeout and an intentional walk, Sergio Alcantara hit a go-ahead 2-run single followed by an RBI single by BJ Lopez. Two more walks would score the 9th run for the Cougars. Armed with a 9-6 lead, Cody Clark pitched a rather boring inning in terms of drama as he struck out the side in order for his 3rd save. Armstrong and Alcantara both had two hits and two RBI, with Armstrong also walking twice.
Hillsboro 3, Everett 4: Mack Lemieux got lit up a little bit in 3 innings, although he did manage to strike out 5 hitters over his outing. Over the next 4 innings, Trevor Simms gave up a pair of runs with one each scoring in the 5th and 6th innings. Unfortunately that was enough to push the game a bit away from the team. In the 7th inning, the bats made an attempt to get close as Manny Jefferson cranked out a 3-run homer to make it a 1-run game. Simms and Kevin Ginkel pitched a scoreless inning after that homer, but the bats were unable to get the tying run across. Josh Anderson had two hits and Jefferson reached twice as he also walked in the game.
Missoula vs. Grand Junction Postponed, Rain, Makeup Day tomorrow in doubleheader
AZL Dbacks 2, AZL Reds 5: Alex Gunn got ambushed for 4 runs in the first inning, but was rock solid after that. Gunn struck out 9 and didn't walk a hitter as he posted up four consecutive zeros to end his outing. The offense wasn't able to provide much support, although they did take advantage of some miscues to score a pair of unearned runs in the game. Joey Rose led the team with two hits.