Snake Stars:
3 Stars: Visalia 1B Austin Byler 3 for 4, 2B, 3B, BB, SB, 3 RBI, 2 R
2 Stars: Kane County RHP Ryan Atkinson 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 9 K, GS 72
1 Star: Missoula 2B Keshawn Lynch 2 for 4, HR (1), SB, BB, 2 RBI, 3 R
0 Stars: Kane County RHP Tyler Mark 1 1⁄3 IP, 4 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, BS (3), L (4-3)
Pavin Smith: 3 for 4, RBI
Rubby De La Rosa Rehab (AZL): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Reno Aces 5, El Paso Chihuahuas 6: The Aces got a so-so start from Matt Koch, who allowed 4 runs in 5 innings. Jeremy Hazelbaker had a fun play in the 3rd where he stole 2nd, saw no one was covering 3rd because of an extreme overshift and that led to the El Paso catcher to throw one away for the first run for the Aces. The Aces were able to fight back into the game, starting with a 2-run homer by Oswaldo Arcia, his 21st, to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the 8th, the Aces scored twice on a Zach Borenstein RBI single and an RBI fielder’s choice groundout by Jack Reinheimer to give them the lead. However, the lead lasted 2 batters as Jimmie Sherfy yielded a solo blast to send the game into extras where Jared Miller ended up surrendering the winning run on another homer and took the loss.
Jackson Generals 9, Montgomery Biscuits 4: After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the 3rd, the Generals responded with a 3-spot to take a 3-2 lead. Alex Young then allowed the Biscuits to tie things at 3 in the 5th. Overall, he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks over 6 innings, striking out 5. The bottom of the 6th saw a huge offensive explosion by the Generals that included an RBI double from Dawel Lugo, RBI single from Stewart Ijames, and a 2-run homer by Oscar Hernandez. Joey Krehbiel allowed a run in the 7th to make it 7-4, but the Generals plated 2 more runs in the 8th for some needed breathing room.
Visalia Rawhide 9, Modesto Nuts 7: The Rawhide picked up a huge lead early, scoring 9 times between the 2nd and 4th innings to take a 9-2 lead. Tyler Badamo allowed 2 runs over 6 innings with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Grant Heyman and Austin Byler had 3-hit games, the latter falling a home run short of the cycle. The bullpen wasn’t as good as Nick Baker allowed 3 runs in 2 innings and Cameron Gann allowed 2 runs while getting only 1 out and loading the bases in the 9th. Fortunately, Ryan Burr was up to the challenge of getting out of the jam, to the point of not allowing contact as he struck out the two batters he faced for the save.
Kane County Cougars 3, Dayton Dragons 9: The Cougars got a strong start from Ryan Atkinson, who struck out 9 over 6 solid innings. There was enough offensive support for him to be in line for the win when he left the game with 3-hit games from Ben DeLuzio, Raymel Flores, and Adam Walton, who scored the 3 runs for the Cougars. Unfortunately, the bullpen was absoutely terrible as the Cougars gave up 8 runs in the 7th and 8th innings, with Tyler Mark being the one who blew the lead and Cody Clark allowing 4 tack-on runs to put the game out of reach.
Hillsboro Hops 4, Vancouver Canadians 3: The Hops plated 4 runs in the top of the first and that ultimately held up. Pavin Smith, Camden Duzenack, Daulton Varsho, and Tramayne Holmes picked up RBIs in that inning, so yay 2017 Draft. Luis Madero got the start after a strong start in Missoula and continued to pitch well, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) over 6 innings with 5 strikeouts vs. 1 walk. The bullpen was equally outstanding with 3 hitless innings to keep the Canadians off the board. The Hops only had 8 hits in the game, 3 belonging to Pavin Smith.
Missoula Osprey 15, Idaho Falls Chukars 11: In the battle of the birds, it was the Osprey that trumped the Chukars. The Osprey slugged their way to victory, blasting out 5 homers and scoring 15 times. Keshawn Lynch, Joey Rose, Jose Caballero, Juan Araujo, and Dominic Mirgolio left the yard as part of a 13-hit attack. The pitching wasn’t great from the Osprey’s side of things, but with Madero getting promoted a level, it was going to be a bullpen game.
AZL Athletics 10, AZL Dbacks 3: Rubby De La Rosa “started” this game and struck out all 3 hitters he faced. I assume most 18-19 year olds haven’t seen upper 90s with movement as well as a wicked slider. Breckin Williams also returned to pitch for the first time in 2 seasons, so I’m assuming he suffered some major shoulder or elbow injury at some point last season and is just coming back from it. Unfortunately, the pitching after those two were done was terrible as the A’s scored the first 8 runs of the game. The Dbacks put up a token 3 runs to avoid the shutout with Renae Martinez’s first professional homer, scoring all 3 runs in one swing of the bat.