AA -- Jackson 5, Mobile 2  -- Box

This game didn't need a play-by-play crew, it needed some of those Weather Channel people who stand out in the 90-mph winds and say "please everyone evacuate and find safe shelter ... except me, of course ... 'cause this will sure look cool on TV ... "

Hurricane Taijuan made landfall: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K.

Think maybe he's seen enough of AA?  2.46 ERA | 1.05 WHIP | 3.2 BB/9 | 10.3 K/9

Our MarinersProspectTalk icon Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) got his initial AA extra-base hit (a double), while longstanding favorite Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) (we pulled The Morbanwagon out of the garage in the first place) delivered his third triple of the year and also had a single (.317/.394/.497).

Lots of talent accumluating at Jackson.

AAA -- Colorado Springs 12, Tacoma 11  -- Box

I don't know if any of our Rocky Mountain denizens were at the park, but it must have been a brutal pitching exhibition to sit through.

Hec  ... He Who Shall Not Be Named labored through 5.0 IP, giving up 8 ER on 10 hits, but it was worse in the other dugout, with Sky Sox hurler Drew Carpenter also going 5.0 IP, and yielding 11 ER on 11 hits.

Both managers wanted to save their bullpens, I guess.  And it didn't help that Lucas Luetge allowed all three baserunners to score after Noe HWSNBN left with the bases loaded.

Despite all that, the Rainiers had the lead going into the bottom of the 8th when usually awesome Brian Moran (Talk40 #35) gave up a run in each of the final two innings to take the loss.

Of course, there was plenty of offense, as the Rainiers love to hit in Colorado Springs.  Carlos Peguero (Watch List) launched two out of the park, as did Franklin Gutierrez (back in center field for the first time in awhile) and Abraham Almonte (26intheMix), who was in right (Dustin Ackley, in left, doubled).

High-A -- Bakersfield 3, High Desert 2 -- Box

Well, Jabari Henry (26intheMix) deserved it, but the Mavericks needed a shortstop and third baseman after Taylor and Ramon Morla got promoted, so Brock Hebert (26intheMix) and Patrick Kivlehan (Talk40 #33) got the calls.  All the Kivle-fans out there will be happy to see that one.

Hopefully, someday soon they'll make room for Henry, and we'll finally see the twin-Jabari attack.

But Hebert fit in right away, posting a double and a home run in his first night in California.  In fact, Herbert provided most of the offense (Kivlehan was 0-for-3).

Low-A -- Clinton 11, Burlington 6 -- Box

Hebert's spot on the Clinton roster was taken by Martin Peguero (Watch List).  No one was immediately promoted to take the Kivlehan slot.

And, if this keeps up, Henry is going to have to share the spotlight with emerging prospect Janelfry Zorrilla.  The 22-year-old Dominican has been on a slow-burning fuse, but good things are happening this year.  After Thursday's 4-for-5 with a triple and a home run, Zorrilla is hitting .318/.370/.517.

Dario Pizzano (26intheMix) had a double, a single and two walks.  Timmy Lopes (Talk40 #20)  had a double, a single and a walk.

Rookie -- Burlington 2, Pulaski 1 [13 innings] -- Box

Clinton was in Burlington, Iowa, and Pulaski was in Burlington, North Carolina.  Someone else was at Burlington Coat Factory, but not playing baseball.

The game went for a bunch more innings, but the big deal was the bust-out game from the Ed-Winner, Edwin Diaz (Talk40 #36): 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K.

Diaz struggled last year after the draft despite a high K%, but obviously they've been working with him.  You can't ask for a better debut than that.

Obviously, not much offense happened, but Joe DeCarlo (Talk40 #22) got three hits.

AZL Rookie -- Padres 3, Mariners 2 [11 innings] -- Box

The dreaded "complex rivalry" went into extra innings on the first day.  And Padre pitcher Juan Oramas struck out nine in the first three innings.

The immediate offensive star was Chantz Mack, a 29th-round pick from the University of Miami, who played center and got two hits and two walks.

Looking Ahead

Luuuuuuu-iz!  The long-awaited debut of the International Man of Mystery, Luiz Gohara (Talk40 #21) will come for Pulaski.

And the College World Series enters the "final four" with UCLA and UNC (two schools familiar with the "final four" concept) in one bracket (Tar Heels featuring Brian Moran's brother and high draft pick Colin Moran) and Mississippi State and Oregon State in the other (with the Beavers featuring Mariner draft pick Tyler Smith at short).