AAA -- Round Rock 5, Tacoma 1  -- Box

James Paxton (Talk40 #3) just can't put together a string of all-around consistent games as he did in the second half of last year.  This time it was walks: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K.

Still love the guy, but he's 24 and giving up 10.0 H/9 and only averaging barely over 5.0 IP per start.

Also, the 17th home run for Carlos Peguero (Watch List) but no other offense for the Rainiers.

Low-A -- Clinton 7, Peoria 1 -- Box

And who would be on the right vector to replace Paxton in the top five of the Spec66?

Yep, 18-year-old Victor Sanchez (Talk40 #12): 7.0, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

It's not just that he's holding his own as a young teen among 21-year-olds, it's that he just doesn't beat himself: 1.4 BB/9 and .320 SLG-against.  Don't get hung up because the K/9 might not be dazzling.  Those numbers are dazzling.

(Now, admittedly, the Midwest League is pitching-friendly, but there aren't many teenagers pitching there either.)

And ... offense:

• Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) hit -- could it have been? -- yes, it was -- his first home run of the year.  He does have 22 doubles.  His line is .260/.293/.333.  Not what we were hoping for.
• Timmy Lopes (Talk40 #20) had his third triple plus a single.  His line is .270/.311/.337.  But he's not a right fielder.

But they both got in a lot more plate appearances than they would have if they'd been held back for Everett.  We'll see where they go from here.

Short Season-A -- Salem-Keizer 11, Everett 10 -- Box

A wild one in Oregon.

Lars Huijer was lacking some of his Dutch mastery: 4.1 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.

Both pitching staffs were getting roughed up, but there was only one home run and whole bunch of singles (22 of them between the two teams).

Three of the singles, and a double, were deliverd by Justin Seager.  Unfortunately, the "big little bro'" hasn't been matching his older sibling's track record: 48 strikeouts in 45 games so far (.260/.307/.367).

AZL Rookie -- Cubs 7, Mariners 0 -- Box

The junior Cubbies rendered the youthful M's helpless at the plate: 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead

Stephen Landazuri (Talk40 #24) will pitch down the road from his home town of Rialto when he faces Rancho Cucamonga for High Desert.