News: And it's not good.
D.J. Peterson appears to be done for the season after being hit in the face by a pitch. He was taken to the hospital for X-rays, but we don't seem to have any more reports than that.
We'll try to keep you updated.
Edit to add: Update: Peterson has a fractured jaw and will undergo surgery.
His 2013 is probably over. No need to take chances. If so, his line is:
55 G | 230 PA | 63 H | 11 doubles, 1 triple, 13 HR | 20 BB | 42 K
.303/.365/.553
AAA -- Tucson 9, Tacoma 6 -- Box
Puzzling Pax ... again ...
James Paxton (Talk40 #3): 4.2 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
First four innings: no runs, no threat (coulple of walks, an error, but two double plays erased the problems).
Fifth inning: singles, singles, singles ... a couple more walks ... and a triple (only extra-base hit allowed).
Next thing you know, there's an "8" on the scoreboard.
So not as bad as it might look, but certainly not a step in the right direction.
On offense, the amazingly alliterative Abraham Almonte (26intheMix) just keeps right on awesome-ifying (well, I needed something starting with "A"): double, home run, steal.
That would make 21 doubles, 14 homers and 24 steals. Not to mention 64 walks.
AA -- Mobile 7, Jackson 2 -- Box
Not a good night for Anthony Vasquez (The [New] Best Story of the Year So Far) (6.2 IP, 7 ER), but there was strong relief pitching from Carson Smith (Talk40 #13) (1.1 IP, 0 R, 3 K).
On the year for The Carson Show!:
41 appearances | 47.2 IP | 1.90 ERA | 1.05 WHIP | 14 saves | 3.2 BB/9 | 12.7 K/9
.192 BA-against | .238 SLG-against | .046 ISO-against [that's really good]
On offense, college teammates Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) and Steven Proscia (26intheMix) each had three hits (hey, hey U-V-A!), but one of Taylor's was a double, plus he had a walk and two stolen bases.
High-A -- Rancho Cucamonga 4, High Desert 2 -- Box
After Wednesday's 18-16 13-inning pinball clash, the bats were quite a bit quieter in the desert. Of course, the listed wind was only 7 mph after Wednesday's listed 21-mph conditions.
In fact, the Mavericks managed only two extra-base hits and were held scoreless in the final eight frames.
Low-A -- Wisconsin 8, Clinton 5 -- Box
D.J.'s injury came in the 3rd, and the rest of the game wasn't much better.
Victor Roache, a guy (like Corey Seager) whom I really liked in the 2012 draft but who wasn't going to fall to the M's, beat up on the LumberKing pitching: four hits, including a double and his 21st home run.
Janelfry Zorrilla had a homer and a double for Clinton.
Short Season-A -- Everett 8, Vancouver 4 -- Box
A good outcome for Everett, but the end of an amazing streak.
Emilio Pagan finally gave up a run, after reeling off 22.1 IP without yielding a score. His ERA skyrocketed all the way to 0.39! He still has 12.0 K/9 and .183 SLG-against.
His streak-ending appearance came after Jacob Zokan had a strong start: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.
Christian Carmichael (Watch List) and Phillips Castillo (Talk40 #38) each had a double and a single.
Rookie -- Elizabethton 6, Pulaski 3 -- Box
Isaiah Yates (Talk40 #39) had two doubles and a single in the losing effort.
AZL Rookie -- Dodgers 4, Mariners 1 -- Box
The youthful Dodgers shut down the youthful M's, allowing only one extra-base hit.
Looking Ahead
Impressive teen pitchers Victor Sanchez (Talk40 #12) for Clinton and Lars Huijer for Everett.