Snake Stars:
3 Stars: Kane County LHP Cody Reed 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W (2-1), GS 81
2 Stars: Reno LF Jeremy Hazelbaker 3 for 5, 2B, HR (1), 3 RBI
1 Star: Visalia RHP Jose Almonte 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 9 K, W (2-3), GS 64
0 Stars: Visalia 2B Henry Castillo 0 for 4, 3 K
Reno Aces 9, New Orleans Baby Cakes 4: If you played outfield for Reno, you probably had a good day at the plate. Jeremy Hazelbaker, Reymond Fuentes, and Oswaldo Arcia combined to go 8 for 13 with 3 doubles, two homers, and 8 RBI. Starting pitching was solid with Eric Jokisch giving up 2 runs in 5 innings. Closing out the game in the 9th was Jimmie Sherfy, who struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced and lowered his season ERA to 0.68. Sherfy is off to a great start in Reno with a strikeout rate above 30% and only 1 walk in 12 1⁄3 innings. If he keeps this up, it won’t be long before he gets an opportunity in the MLB bullpen.
Jackson Generals 2, Tennessee Smokies 7: Brooks Hall had a serviceable outing with 3 runs allowed in 5 innings, but the lineup missing the big hit and a 6th inning meltdown by Miller Diaz allowed the Smokies to win comfortably. Kelly Dugan hit his 7th homer of the year. After falling behind 7-1, Jared Miller got out of the 6th and stranded 2 runners on base while also getting the next 3 outs. Miller’s off to a slow start, but the good outing lowers his ERA to 6.48 and possibly more ERA regression is in the future with an FIP of 2.46 and xFIP of 3.28 due to unsustainable BABIP (.359) and strand rate (48%).
Visalia Rawhide 7, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3: The Rawhide got out to an early 5-0 in the 1st and cruised to victory from there. That was more than enough support for Jose Almonte, who pitched 6 solid innings with a 9/1 K/BB ratio. An error led to a couple unearned runs in the 3rd inning, but that’s all the damage Almonte and the bullpen allowed for the game. Austin Byler drove in 3 and the Rawhide capitalized on 3 errors by the Quakes. The bullpen shut the door, with the combination of Keegan Long, Cameron Gann, and Bud Jeter allowing just 1 hit and facing the minimum 9 hitters, 6 of them via strikeout.
Kane County Cougars 6, Lansing Lugnuts 0: Cody Reed and Tommy Eveld combined to deliver a 4-hit shutout. Reed went the first 8 innings, easily the longest outing of his pro career, striking out 3 and walking 1. Reed is healthy again and pitching well in the Midwest League again, so he should be up for a promotion soon so he can be appropriately challenged. The offense provided the spark with the 4-7 hitters each picking up an RBI. Marcus Wilson went 1 for 4, Anfernee Grier drew 2 walks, and Jazz Chisholm reached base twice and stole a base.