AAA -- Tacoma 11, Las Vegas 0  -- Box

Last year, when we were poking around to see if anyone had been referring to Erasmo Ramirez as "E-Ram," we stumbled upon the "e-RAM Electric Supercharger."  For whatever reason, there was just something irresistible about it: an electric supercharger! an electric supercharger!  More Air!  More Fuel!  More Power!  It doesn't matter what a "supercharger" does, because who wouldn't want whatever they do to be "supercharged"?

Well, of course, we'd thought we'd retired the ol' supercharger, since e-RAM himself was "retired" from the minor leagues.  But injury fortune did not smile on our young friend, and now he's back and working his way back up.

So we get to trot it out one more time (at least) to honor the way Ramirez supercharged the Rainiers: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.

That's gotta be at least "27 HP Gain" right?

And the offense was plenty supercharged as well, with five balls leaving Las Vegas.  Two from the always homer-happy Carlos Peguero (Watch List) and one each from Abraham Almonte (26intheMix), Rich Poythress (26intheMix) and Nate Tenbrink (26intheMix).

AA -- Jackson 7, Birmingham 2  -- Box

And sneaking up the depth chart in almost "Erasmo" fashion is Roenis Elias (26intheMix).  Thursday night: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.

Elias has certainly flown past my pre-season favorite Anthony Fernandez to become the most reliable non-Taijuan starter at Jackson.

The offense managed to stretch the most it could out of just eight hits, with only slumping Jack Marder (Talk40 #17) getting more than one (a single and a double).

High-A -- High Desert 10, Inland Empire 2 -- Box

There were plenty of runs to go around in California as well, with Ramon Morla getting his ninth home run (a three-run shot), and Daniel Paolini (Talk40 #26) getting a double, a single and a walk.

All of which helped make for a successful outing for Trevor Miller (26intheMix), who's been needing a few.  His line: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.  A full house!

And for Dominic Leone (Talk40 #25), it was the start of a new scoreless-outing streak.  He had 10 in a row before giving up a score on June 10.  His ERA is down to 2.55.

Low-A -- Peoria 4, Clinton 0 -- Box

But the strong games didn't stretch all the way down to Low-A. 

There were some good individual performances: Patrick Kivlehan (Talk40 #33) reaching base four times on two singles, a double and a walk; Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) with a double and a single.  But nothing that made a dent on the scoreboard.

Looking Ahead

Opening night for the Everett AquaSox!  They are in Spokane, and Rigoberto Garcia is slated to get the start.  Will try to get a preview up.

Meanwhile, Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9) is scheduled for another Tacoma start, and Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) is due to go for Jackson.