We didn't invent the "Cerberus" thing, but it's become fairly commonplace, so I assume it's not copyrighted or anything.  Folks can use my cheesy nicknames, too. [Doc's already using "Zuumball."]

Cerebus was the three-headed dog-monster of ancient myth.

[Interestingly, in the Beatles movie Yellow Submarine, the muti-headed dog has four heads:

So apparently they were anticipating the emergence of Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9)?  Is he the Ringo of this group?]

***

You're already familiar with what Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) did on Thursday: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K.

Walker, Seattle Mariner NOT Texas Ranger promptly got the long-awaited call to AAA, and maybe he'll get to the majors around the time of his 21st birthday?  It's August 13.

***

AAA -- Fresno 2, Tacoma 1  -- Box

If you've been following at home, you know that James Paxton (Talk40 #3) has had a strange season.  Even on his good days, he's struggled to get to 6.0 full innings pitched, and even when his walk count has been low, his pitch counts have been high.

But Saturday night, there was a glimpse of "non-puzzling" Pax: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K.

KKKKKKKKKKK-Pax!

So: 6.0 IP? check.  Low walk rate? check.  High K rate? check.  Manageable pitch count? check (98).

Paxton may still veer into EriKKKKKK Bedard territory (dominant stuff but only for 5.0 IP), but Saturday was the most encouraging sign in awhile.  Recall that at the end of 2012 he ran off a string of awesome starts that weren't limited to five innings ... so it's in there somewhere.

Brad Miller (Talk40 #6) had two hits, a walk and a steal, but he was pretty much the entirety of the Tacoma offense.  Dustin Ackley was in center field again, but hitless.

***

AZL Rookie -- Mariners 6, Royals 3 -- Box

The novice Mariners got some help from rehabbing Danny Hultzen (Talk40 #4), who made his first appearance in an official game since April.

It worked out OK: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K.

The Incredible Hultz is set to return to Tacoma this week, where he will join his Cerberus brethren in the same rotation for the first time since they were all part of the "Orginal Jackson 5ive" last year in Jackson (with Stephen Pryor and Carter Capps).

On offense, the youthful Ms were paced by non-stock-car-driving  Kyle Petty, who delivered a pair of doubles.