Snake Stars:
3 Stars: Reno SS Ketel Marte 4 for 5, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, 3 R
2 Stars: Kane County RHP Sam McWilliams 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, GS 76, W (5-2)
1 Star: Visalia CF Matt McPhearson 3 for 3, 2 BB, SB, R
0 Stars: Jackson LHP Gabe Speier 0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 2/2 inherited runners scoring
Reno Aces 7, Iowa Cubs 6: A back and forth affair between the Cubs and the Aces resulted with the Aces getting the final laugh. The Aces scored a pair of runs in the first and sixth innings, until Braden Shipley felt like being charitable enough to give those runs back with interest. Shipley allowed 6 runs in 5-plus innings with more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). The Aces stormed back with 3 runs in the 8th to take the lead for good. Ketel Marte had a big day at the plate, his overall batting line shown above. With the lead, Silvino Bracho pitched a scoreless 8th and Jimmie Sherfy pitched a scoreless 9th with a strikeout.
Jackson Generals 5, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 9: The Generals actually led this game 5-0, but Alex Young was unable to get all three outs in the 5th inning and Gabe Speier followed him up with the worst relief performance of the season to date. Speier came in a 5-2 game with 2 runners on base and proceeded to allow 5 runs in the inning to score, keyed by a error by Dawel Lugo at 3B. In what should have been the final out of the inning, Lugo let a ball get by that led to the Shrimp tying the game at 5 and the snowball effect it had on Speier. Lugo did have 2 hits, 1 triple, and drove in a run.
Jackson Generals 4, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 6: The Generals didn’t receive a good spot start by Joel Payamps, who allowed 6 runs in 5 innings. The Generals made some noise late in the game, but couldn’t overcome the big hole early. Colin Walsh hit his 11th homer of the year in the loss.
Visalia Rawhide 2, Lake Elsinore Storm 8: Bad pitching from start to finish doomed the Rawhide, starting with Trevor Simms who allowed 5 runs in 4 2⁄3 innings. The Rawhide had plenty of chances to plate more than 2 runs with 11 hits in the game, 3 by Matt McPhearson. McPhearson didn’t make an out at the plate in the game and stole a base. The bullpen poured gasoline on the fire, but the game was pretty much over anyway.
Kane County Cougars 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 1: The Cougars got a terrific pitching performance from Sam McWilliams, who blanked the Kernels for 6 innings. McWilliams punched out 6 and allowed just 2 hits and a walk in the game. The Cougars offense took advantage of shoddy defense, with a passed ball leading to a hit scoring the first run to the first run and an error by the 3B resulting in another run scoring. That was enough for the pitching staff, who allowed only 1 run in 9 innings. Marcus Wilson went 1 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts and Anfernee Grier went 1 for 4 with a stolen base.