Many of the parks had fireworks displays but the most sparkling performance on the field came from Tyler Pike (Talk40 #14). Unfortunately it lacked a grand finale.
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The always-valuable Ryan Divish reports that Danny Hultzen (Talk40 #4) will be shut down for another 10 to 14 days before throwing again. He quotes General Manager Jack Zduriencik as calling the latest event "a minor setback," and that everything is "structurally fine" and "no surgery."
But it means he won't be heading to Seattle anytime soon. So now it looks like Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) is the only one of the Big Three likely to make an MLB debut this summer.
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Divish also reports that Jesus Montero will begin a rehab assignment on Friday as the DH in the Arizona Rookie League. Montero will be trying to overcome the "Multiple Montero Meltdowns" of bad play, injury and drug allegations.
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And speaking of the Arizona Rookie League, there was a game scheduled on Wednesday, but there's no report (no box score, but no note that it was cancelled). I'm guessing it was called off due to the continuing heat wave.
AAA -- Tacoma 5, Colorado Springs 2 -- Box
"Puzzling Pax" was back, and he's been the norm this year. Another 5.0 IP, 96-pitch outing for James Paxton (Talk40 #3): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.
It was good for the win, but not good for moving him closer to promotion.
Nate Tenbrink (26intheMix), still in Don't Don't Don't Don't Don't You (Forget About Me) mode, went 3-for-4.
Carlos Triunfel (26intheMix), Stefen Romero (Talk40 #11) and Robert Andino each had a pair of singles, but the team got its five runs without an extra-base hit.
AA -- Birmingham 7, Jackson 2 -- Box
The Generals fell behind early and only briefly made it close.
It was nice to see signs of life from Leon Landry (Talk40 #18), who's been a major disappointment this year. Landry had a home run (his sixth) and a single. But overall he's at .238/.276/.355.
High-A -- Lake Elsinore 5, High Desert 3 -- Box
And the Mavericks fell into a 5-0 deficit before a late rally came up short.
Kevin Rivers and Anthony Phillips each provided a double and a single.
Low-A -- Quad Cities 1, Clinton 0 -- Box
Pike went six scoreless innings yielding only a double and two singles (and three walks):
6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
But he left the game with the score tied at zero.
The River Bandits then scratched out an unearned run off of reliever Richard Vargas to take the narrow victory.
Vargas, a 22-year-old Dominican righty, was a relevation at Everett in June, racking up 12 strikeouts and no walks in just 6.1 IP. That earned him a quick promotion to Clinton, where the walks started showing up (6 BB and 5 K in 4.2 IP). He's still one to keep an eye on.
Short Season-A -- Vancouver 7, Everett 3 -- Box
The Canadians made it two in a row against the Aqua Sox, who came into the series 14-3.
Gonzaga product and recent draftee Tyler Olson got bounced around (4.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER) before the offense could get anything going.
Jamodrick McGruder (26intheMix), who's off to a hot start (.300/.493/.440) had a triple and a single, but none of the guys we follow most closely (as in: D.J. Peterson, Austin Wilson or Justin Seager) did anything of note.
Looking Ahead
On the Fourth itself, Erasmo Ramirez will get the call for Tacoma, and Andrew Carraway (Watch List) is slated for a rehab start for Everett.
He's a little guy, ain't he? I'll have to get up off my comfy chair here in Lynnwood and check out this Aquasox team (no way am I fighting the Southcenter to Narrows bridge traffic to get to Cheney - well, maybe to see Walker Tacoma Ranger :-) ).
Whoa Nellie! Mike Zunino bobble head day at Everett on Saturday? That settles it! I am there!