Snake Stars:
3 Stars: Visalia RHP Ryan Atkinson 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 9 K, GS 70, W (3-2)
2 Stars: Visalia RF Jason Morozowski 3 for 4, HR (3), 4 RBI, 2 R
1 Star: Jackson RHP Brooks Hall 5 1⁄3 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
0 Stars: Jackson 2B Colin Walsh 0 for 5, 3 K
Reno Aces 14, Tacoma Rainiers 4: The Aces flexed their muscles early, with Christian Walker hitting a 2-run bomb in the 1st inning and Oswaldo Arcia following it up with a grand slam in the 2nd. That was more than enough run support for Zack Godley, who pitched 4 innings of 2-run ball in what should be a tune-up start before getting recalled June 11 after being sent down on a roster move that might have cost the Diamondbacks a game on Sunday with Shipley pitching instead of Ray. I guess they wanted to give Ray extra rest, but I digress. Jake Barrett vultured the win, despite another terrible outing, since he was the pitcher after the 5th inning. Drew Muren pitched the final 3 innings for a “save”. Everyone but Carlos Rivero had a good day at the plate. Ildemaro Vargas had 4 hits (2 doubles) and scored 3 times from the leadoff spot while Arcia and Walker combined for 8 RBI in the game.
Jackson Generals 2, Chattanooga Lookouts 4: Gabe Speier took the start for Alex Young, who had been demoted to the bullpen for now. Speier was unable to get out of the 1st inning thanks to a throwing error by Dawel Lugo on what should have been the final out of the inning. Instead, 3 runs scored and the Generals were down 3-0 due to a play not made at 3rd. Brooks Hall came in and settled things down with 5 1⁄3 innings of 1 run ball. Lugo somewhat atoned for his error with a 2-run triple to cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 8th, but the offense couldn’t muster up anything else. Alex Young pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief and he might as well get used to it because I think that’s where he ends up long term.
Visalia Rawhide 9, Inland Empire 66ers 1: The Rawhide plated 1 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, and 3 in the 3rd to give Ryan Atkinson a 6-0 lead. Atkinson responded by shutting down the 66ers lineup with 9 strikeouts in 7 innings, allowing just a solo homer after the team had picked up an insurmountable lead. Jason Morozowski pounded out his 3rd homer of the year, a 2-run shot in the 8th. 1-2-3 hitters set the tone in the game with 8 hits and 5 runs while driving in 6. Nick Baker and JR Bradley pitched scoreless innings after Atkinson was done.