Mariners Minor League Game Action Recap for June 21
Finally! Finally Luiz Gohara (Talk40 #21) on a competitive mound. Finally Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) to AAA. Finally Danny Hultzen (Talk40 #4) on the verge of returning. Finally Austin Wilson ("Megatron at the Bat") signs a contract.
Rookie -- Burlington 4, Pulaski 0 -- Box
For some small subset of fandom, the center of the baseball world was a small park in Burlington, NC, where the fascinating Gohara made his first official trip to the mound. Those of us within the subset have been buzzing for some time about the 16-year-old Brazilian's massive size and easy velocity, plus his interesting Latin-Japanese fusion background, but Friday was his first chance to actually register stats. It turned out just fine:
4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
All six hits were singles, and no walks -- so he wasn't really dinged at all. Complete control. So far, so good.
Needless to say, he didn't get much help on offense, though Isaiah Yates (Talk40 #39) had a pair of hits.
AAA -- Colorado Springs 8, Tacoma 3 -- Box
For a change in Colorado Springs, the Rainers got to watch the other team score.
MLB vets Brian Sweeney and Josh Kinney gave up the eight runs on their own.
Brad Miller (Talk40 #6), who had sat out a few games with a finger injury, returned, and extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double. Dustin Ackley was back in center field, but hitless.
AA -- Mobile 5, Jackson 1 -- Box
One day after bulldozing the BayBears behind Walker's Cy-in-the-making, farewell-to-AA, 0 BB/12 K performance, the Generals couldn't get anything going.
Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) had a pair of hits, as did John Hicks (Talk40 #27), but nothing that overshadowed Walker's promotion.
High-A -- High Desert 6, Bakersfield 3 -- Box
I guess I have a choice here. Let's go with ...
Sure, there was Blash Splash 15! As in, home run No. 15 for Jabari Blash (Watch List), but we haven't done Pow! Pow! Paolini! for awhile. It was No. 10 for Daniel Paolini (Talk40 #26).
Dominic Leone (Talk40 #25) got his seventh save with two strikeouts in a scoreless 9th. Leone for Bullpen!
Low-A -- Burlington 7, Clinton 3 -- Box
Matt Anderson delivered a good start, but his bullpen couldn't bring it home: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
Jabari Henry (26intheMix) stayed hot with two more hits, and Marcus Littlewood (Talk40 #37) had a double, a single and a walk.
Short Season-A -- Everett 6, Hillsboro 5 -- Box
The Aqua Sox went to 6-1 with the help of "Next Edgar" D.J. Peterson. The Deej delivered a key double in the bottom of the 11th after the Hops [yes, the Hops] had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the inning. Peterson's knock brought home the tying run and set up the walk-off error that plated Jack Reinheimer, who had walked.
It was also the season debut for "bigger little bro'" Justin Seager at first base. He got a pair of singles in four trips.
Jose Valdivia (Watch List) got the win in relief despite giving up the unearned run in the 11th.
AZL Rookie -- Mariners 8, Padres 7 -- Box
The Ms took the upper hand in the "complex rivalry" for the second day in a row, despite giving up two hits to D.J.'s younger brother Dustin Peterson.
They mostly did it by capitalizing on four Padre errors to grab five unearned runs.
Chantz Mack had another good offensive day with a double and a walk.
Looking Ahead
If all goes to plan, Walker will start for Tacoma next Tuesday and Hultzen will get the nod the following Thursday. In the meantime, Tacoma's Saturday starter in Fresno hasn't been named. Chance Ruffin (Watch List) is slated for Jackson.