Mariners Minor League Game Action Recap for July 2
AA -- Jackson 3, Birmingham 2 [15 innings] -- Box
James Gilheeney took a no-hitter into the 6th, but unfortunately was dinged for a two-run homer in the 8th and left with the score tied at 2-2.
It stayed that way for a looooooong time.
Finally, in the bottom of the 15th, Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) singled, got to second on a passed ball, and came home on a single from James Jones (Watch List).
Morban and Jones had both doubled earlier. Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) had two more hits and a walk.
Gilheeney's line, by the way: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
High-A -- Lake Elsinore 1, High Desert 0 [12 innings] -- Box
If you've been following at home, you know the California League is known for being the place where pitchers fear to tread -- the home of high-scoring affairs.
Not Tuesday.
Not just 11 scoreless innings, but 12 innings in which neither team got an extra-base hit.
Maybe the hitters were worn out after a few days of playing in triple-digit heat (it was down to 88 Tuesday, according to the box score).
Anyway, Trevor Miller (26intheMix) was brilliant:
8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Miller's ERA has been dropping, and in his last five starts he has a 2.97 ERA and 9.5 K/9.
Even though he's from California (see the discussion about Ty Kelly -- also from the Stockton area -- in the other post), it seems to have taken awhile for Miller to adjust to the Cal League parks. But he's been on a roll.
Low-A -- Quad Cities 7, Clinton 6 -- Box
Red-hot Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32) got on base four times on three hits and a walk. Ard has 14 hits in his last seven games. Let's see if he can keep it up.
Jordy Lara and Ketel Marte (26intheMix) both had a single plus a double, and Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) added a pair of singles.
Short Season-A -- Vancouver 11, Everett 1 -- Box
Well, the Canadians got revenge for losing on Canada Day, but even with the loss the Aqua Sox are off to a sizzling 15-4 start.
Best news was the bust out of Austin Wilson, the NFL-bodied 2nd-round pick who went to Stanford for the academics (yes, he did ... his parents have degrees from MIT, Stanford and Harvard), despite concerns that the Cardinal coaches would "ruin his swing." Wilson started his pro career 3-for-31, and I don't know if the M's are trying to re-tool his approach (Stanford has a bad reputation among pro coaches), but he's been struggling.
Anyway, Wilson had a double and a single, his first multi-hit game, and his second double in three games.
We'll keep an eye on his progress.
AZL Rookie -- Diamondbacks 8, Mariners 3 -- Box
Only 105 in Arizona Tuesday.
But Diamondbacks are used to that, right?
Two more hits for Estarlyn Morales, who's off to a .348/.400/.500 start.
Looking Ahead
Which James Paxton (Talk40 #3) will show up? Tacoma will find out. Tyler Pike (Talk40 #14) will kick off the holiday weekend for Clinton.