AAA -- Tacoma 4, Sacramento 0  -- Box

Who was that guy?

Why, yes, it was Blake Beavan: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

Maybe it was "blind-squirrel-nut" theory, but the Rainiers needed it (even though their much-depleted roster couldn't keep them in the playoff race down the stretch).

And Xavier Avery arrived from Baltimore, played center field, and drew a walk.

Journeyman Leury Bonilla homered.

AA -- Huntsville 5, Jackson 3  -- Box

It's quite unusual for a pitcher to really well at High Desert and then struggle in Jackson, particularly if he'd had a promising head start the year before.  So I think there was something physically not right with Anthony Fernandez (Talk40 #23) this year.

Saturday: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.

We'll see what happens with him next year, but he didn't make much progress in 2013.

Ramon Morla had a double and a single.

The Generals will miss the playoffs as well.

High-A -- Lake Elsinore 6, High Desert 1 -- Box

The Mavericks will be staying home from the postseason, too.

The Storm shut down their offense, but good.  But Kevin Rivers drew three walks, so that's something.

Low-A -- Cedar Rapids 5, Clinton 0 -- Box

The LumberKings will make the Midwest League playoffs, but not due to their Saturday performance.

Four hits.  All singles.  One walk.

I suppose I can tout Jochi Ogando (Watch List) who struck out two in his inning of relief.

Short Season-A -- Spokane 6, Everett 3 -- Box

The Aqua Sox have clinched a playoff berth, but Spokane took this one by, oddly enough, beating up on the usually unhittable Emilio Pagan.

Thyago Viera had a solid start before Pagan gave up three runs (two earned) in the 7th and 8th.

Viera: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Jack Reinheimer had a double, two singles and a walk to pace the offense.

Applachian League Playoffs -- Pulaski 9, Bluefield 4 [10 innings] -- Box

Pulaski has a ton of talent and has romped to the Applachian League playoffs ... and this was the playoff opener.

And they put the hurt on the Bluefield Blue Jays with a five-run 10th, capped by a homer from catcher Toby DeMello.

The increasingly exciting Aaron Barbosa opened the 10th-inning rally with a walk, after going 4-for-4 in regulation.

Edwin Diaz (Talk40 #36) got the start and was not at his best: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.

Looking Ahead

In Game 2 for Pulaski it will be Eddie Lives! (Eddie Campbell).

And presumably the final start of a less-than-expected Tacoma season for James Paxton (Talk40 #3), though he may pop up in Seattle in September anyway.