AAA -- Las Vegas 4, Tacoma 1  -- Box

It wasn't quite as bad for Erasmo Ramirez as it was for James Paxton (Talk40 #3) the night before, but Ramirez also gave up two home runs, just as Paxton did.

E-RAM managed to limit the damage otherwise, more or less, despite giving up 10 hits overall:  6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

What's left of the offense didn't get much going, with Abraham Almonte (26intheMix) and Carlos Peguero (Watch List) both providing doubles, but those were the only extra-base hits.

AA -- Jackson 11, Birmingham 3  -- Box

The Generals offense, on the other hand, was on a roll.

More Choi Joy! from our man Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) (last day to #VoteChoi for the Futures Game at mlb.com/futuresfinalists, by the way).  It was his 12th overall home run.  He can't hit singles at AA (8 of 13 hits are XBH) but that's not worth fussing over.

And John Hicks (Talk40 #27) and generally light-hitting Gabriel Noriega also went deep.

Meanwhile, Hicks' college teammate Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) had a double, a triple and a single, and James Jones (Watch List) had three hits as well.

All of which worked to the advantage of Anthony Fernandez (Talk40 #23), who's needed some breaks this year.  His solid line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.

High-A -- Modesto 7, High Desert 2 -- Box

Second start in a row in which Stephen Landazuri (Talk40 #24) struggled: 5.2 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.  We'll keep an eye on him, but it could just be High Desert wearing him down. 

It was 105 degrees according to the box score.

Then again, he's from the local area (but the Inland Empire portion, not the High Desert portion).

He didn't get much offensive support, although Daniel Paolini (Talk40 #26) got his 12th home run.

Low-A -- Quad Cities 6, Clinton 1 -- Box

And speaking of "not getting much offensive support," same goes for Charles Kaalekahi (26intheMix), who had a decent start for the LumberKings: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.

But Clinton failed to get guys moving around the bases, despite the 23rd double of the year from Dario Pizzano (26intheMix).

Short Season-A -- Everett 2, Spokane 1 -- Box

The Aqua Sox didn't need much offense, in part due to a strong rehab start from Andrew Carraway (Watch List): 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.  One guy reached base on an error, but was erased trying to steal second.  So minimum batters faced.

And there was juuuuuust enough offense, with Justin Seager leading the way with a double and a single.

Rookie -- Pulaski 3, Bristol 0 -- Box

The Appalachian Mariners did a shutout-by-committee, with five different pitchers contributing.

Jose Flores did the most work, with 5.1 IP.  He preserved the shutout despite three walks.

The final inning was placed in the hands of Emilio Pagan, who is still unscored-upon as a pro after 3.2 IP in three outings.

Looking Ahead

The Tacoma Next Five comes back around to Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9), and Victor Sanchez (Talk40 #12) is slated for Clinton.