Snake Stars:
3 Stars: Visalia RHP Ryan Atkinson 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 7 K, GS 56
2 Stars: Kane County RHP Sam McWilliams 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, GS 57, W (6-2)
1 Star: Jackson LF Rudy Flores 3 for 5, 2B, 2 R
0 Stars: Visalia RHP Keegan Long 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, BS (1)
Jackson Generals 3, Mississippi Braves 9: The Generals faced one of the Braves top pitching prospects in Mike Soroka, and fared better and worse than expected. They were able to put traffic on the bases with 11 hits and a walk with no strikeouts against him, but a 1 for 11 clip with RISP. On the other side, Alex Young wasn’t very good, allowing 6 runs in 6 innings that put the Generals in a big hole. The bullpen didn’t provide relief as Gabe Speier allowed 3 runs over 2 innings. The top of the order did a solid job of setting the table as Colin Walsh, Rudy Flores, and Kevin Cron reached base at least twice, but the rest of the lineup struggled overall.
Visalia Rawhide 5, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4: Ryan Atkinson pitched another solid, yet unspectacular outing with 7 K’s in 5 innings with 1 run allowed. However, Keegan Long decided to do his best Fernando Rodney impression, allowing 3 runs in the 6th inning to tie the game at 4 right after the offense scored 3 in the previous half inning. Fortunately for the Rawhide, the rest of the bullpen pitched well and kept the game at 4-4 until the bottom of the 9th. Grant Heyman doubled to lead off the frame and pinch runner Daniel Lockhart got to 3rd with less than one out, but didn’t score until a single by Austin Byler brought him in 3 batters later.
Kane County Cougars 4, Burlington Bees 3: Sam McWilliams pitched around baserunners all game, whether it was put on by himself or his defense behind him, who committed 4 errors in the game. McWilliams did a good job of limiting the damage to 1 run over 6 innings. The offense plated 4 runs, 2 of them scoring on a Jose Herrera double. Marcus Wilson went 1 for 3 with a walk and a RBI, Anfernee Grier had a single and a walk as well. Grier stole 2nd and 3rd during Wilson’s first PA, a walk, then got thrown out at home on a botched double steal. Ryan Burr pitched a clean 7th before trouble found him in the 8th. Tommy Eveld got out of the inning with no damage and gave up 2 unearned runs in the 9th after a play that had the 3B and LF commit fielding errors. Eveld got the last out on the one play that doesn’t require defense, a strikeout, with the tying run on base.