Mariners Minor League Game Action Recap for June 9
As you may have seen in the Shout Box, the original MarinersTalk.com Hero, Vinnie Catricala (Talk40 #10), is gone ... to the Oakland A's of all places.
Vinnie put up three consecutive years of excellent stats, then "lost it." I kept believing, just as I had with Michael Saunders, but, by the time he started showing signs of "finding it," he had been passed by so many guys that he couldn't hold his spot on the 40-man roster.
I understand that's how things work, and I don't disagree that he'd become the lowest guy on the pecking order, but I think that losing both Catricala and Carp for not particularly powerful reasons is certainly a strike against the Zduriencik regime.
Anyway ... good luck to Vinnie.
AAA -- Las Vegas 7, Tacoma 1 -- Box
As bad as the final score looks, it was not the fault of Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9), who actually made a good case for getting another shot at the majors.
Maurer: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
But he got no offensive help whatsoever (0 XBH), and his bullpen failed him as well (Lucas Luetge: 1.0 IP, 4 ER).
High-A -- Inland Empire 3, High Desert 0 -- Box
The Mavericks left their offense in the locker room as well. They got one XBH, a double, only two walks, and struck out 12 times.
Jordan Pries (26intheMix) was OK: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) did steal his 19th bag, putting him back in a tie with Jamal Austin for the organizational lead.
Low-A -- Wisconsin 11, Clinton 9 -- Box
At least the LumberKings produced some offense, but they still didn't get in the win column.
Marcus Littlewood (Talk40 #37) was the offensive star: single, home run, walk. Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32), who's been heating up, also homered, as did Jordy Lara.
Teen Titan Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) got his 13th double, plus a single and a walk.
The 2013 pitching debut of Charles Kaalekahi (26intheMix) was nothing special: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. He didn't get bailed out by his bullpen either.
Looking Ahead
Jackson was suspended in the 2nd inning, down 3-0. They'll try to finish that one and get in another game. Chance Ruffin (Watch List) is on tap for the second game.