AAA -- Salt Lake 7, Tacoma 3  -- Box

Tied 3-3 in the 9th, and then Josh Kinney loaded the bases.  He gave way to Bobby LaFromboise (Talk40 #34) who gives up a walk-off grand slam.  Not a nice way to lose.

And former Rainiers Jarrett Grube and Chad Cordero were among the pitchers keeping Tacoma at bay.

A huge bright spot, though, was newcomer Ty Kelly, who certainly had an explosive 4th: home run, two singles, walk (3-for-3).

AA -- Pensacola 2, Jackson 1  -- Box

The holiday crowd in Pensacola didn't see much offense.  Jackson managed only two hits and a walk and struck out eight times.

Anthony Fernandez (Talk40 #23) had a solid start, but it wasn't enough: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

High-A -- High Desert 12, Rancho Cucamonga 6 -- Box

But the fans in California got plenty of offense.

Except that Stephen Landazuri (Talk40 #24) escaped relatively unscathed.  His line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K.

Not so much luck for his Rancho counterpart (Gustavo Gomez) who gave up 12 hits and 10 ER.

Among the beneficiaries:

• Jamal Austin: 3-for-4, steal
• Patrick Brady: 3-for-5, double
• Alfredo Morales: 3-for-5

Low-A -- Clinton 7, Burlington 4 -- Box

Charles Kaalekahi (26intheMix) wasn't dazzling, but got the job done: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

Jabari Henry (26intheMix) got his seventh homer, and added a walk.

Timmy Lopes (Talk40 #20), who had a very quiet first half adjusting to the higher level, collected two hits and two steals.

Short Season-A -- Salem-Keizer 8, Everett 5 [12 innings] -- Box

Veteran Andrew Carraway (Watch List) got a rehab start, and did OK: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.

But he was long gone by the time the game was settled in the 12th.

In the meantime, two Aqua Sox got four hits each.  D.J. Peterson racked up a double and three singles.  And Jack Reinheimer had a double, a triple and two singles.

Austin WIlson went 2-for-6.

Rookie -- Danville 3, Pulaski 2 -- Box

Here's a new name for us: Wilton Martinez a 19-year-old Dominican outfielder.  Martinez homered and also had a double, accounting for both Mariner RBI.  Then he was pinch-run for in the 8th.

Isaiah Yates (Talk40 #39) got two more hits, plus a walk.

Looking Ahead

I told you yesterday that Erasmo Ramirez would start on the 4th, but that was bad information.  Brian Sweeney started.  E-RAM is scheduled for Friday's start (but that's what it said yesterday).  The schedule also says Victor Sanchez (Talk40 #12) for Clinton and Roenis Elias (26intheMix) for Jackson.