AA -- Tennessee 6, Jackson 0  -- Box

Not much positive to report here, except for another sterling relief outing for Nick Hill (The [2nd] Best Story of the Year So Far).  The former Army officer went 1.2 IP with no runs and three strikeouts.

On the year: 32.2 IP | 1.93 ERA | 0 HR | 1.19 WHIP | 6.6 H/9 | 4.1 BB/9 | 7.7 K/9

Meanwhile, is MarinersProspectTalk icon Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) getting exposed at AA?  He's 5-for-32 in his first seven games.  But he does have five walks.  Mind you: we never said he was Brad Miller (Talk40 #6), only that he was not going to be helpless at the plate, and that he'd get on base and steal some bags.

High-A -- Lake Elisinore 9, High Desert 8 [11 innings] -- Box

A typical Cal League pinball game out in the desert, but a surprising name in the box score.

After the Storm took a 9-8 lead in the 11th, who came out to get the save?  Dan Cortes!  Yes, that Dan Cortes.  The guy with the $10 million arm and the 10-cent ability to use it effectively.  He's managed to work his way back down the ladder to High-A, but teams keep giving him a chance I guess.  He got the save despite giving up two walks.

Dillon Hazlett got his sixth homer.

Low-A -- Clinton 6, Wisconsin 3 -- Box

A strong offensive showing carried the LumberKings, who also got effective relief from Jochi Ogando (Watch List): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

• Dario Pizzano (26intheMix): 5th HR plus a walk
• Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32): 5th HR plus a single
• Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16): 3-for-4, double

Short Season-A -- Everett 2, Tri-City 0 -- Box

Let's Go Dutch! A name-making peformance for Lars Huijer.  He's from Haarlem.  Not Harlem, Haarlem.  As in Netherlands.  He pitched 21 games in relief in Pulaski last year, but didn't make an impression.  Now 19, he made an impression Wednesday:

7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K

D.J. Peterson (playing third) and Justin Seager both got doubles, but Austin WIlson was hitless.  The double from The Deej drove in the key go-ahead run.

Rookie -- Pulaski 12, Danville 6 -- Box

Well, it's not always going to be a romp in the park, even for super-teen Luiz Gohara (Talk40 #21).  After a strong initial start, the 16-year-old Brazilian left hit a speed bump in his second effort: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.

But the offense rose up and grabbed the game, paced by former Northern Illinois Husky Jeffrey Zimmerman, who sent two balls over the fence.

Third baseman Joe DeCarlo (Talk40 #22) also went deep and drew a pair of walks.

And another strong outing for Emilio Pagan, who has five strikeouts and no earned runs in his first 2.2 IP.

AZL Rookie -- Rangers 9, Mariners 2 -- Box

Chantz Mack got on base four times, going 3-for-3 with a walk.

Looking Ahead

Danny Hultzen (Talk40 #4) returns to AAA for the first time since April.  Chance Ruffin (Watch List) will go for Jackson, and Gonzaga's Tyler Olson is slated for Everett.