Mariners Minor League Game Action Recap for June 3
Ah ... here come Doc and Gordon over the crest of the hill ... that's how it's supposed to work ...
Jackson played! After, I think, three days of storms.
News: Our man Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) confirmed as heading to AA. And, "The Mayor" had a short term upon returning to Jackson. With Jesus Montero out for knee surgery, Rich Poythress (26intheMix) returns to Tacoma.
AAA -- Tacoma 2, Sacramento 1 [14 innings] -- Box
It was the AAA debut of Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9)! Yes it was ... remember how he jumped from AA to the majors?
Results: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
I acknowledge that I should have made Maurer the sixth member of the Original Jackson 5ive, but I didn't, so I'll have to live with that. [Backstory: The "Original Jackson 5ive" were five pitchers who started the 2012 season at Jackson: Hultzen, Walker, Paxton, Pryor and Capps. Maurer was there too, but I left him out. So I impose mock penance upon myself periodically. Gordon was all over it, though.]
And it was a pair of seven-inning double-header games all in one!
Neither team could get an offense going, but the Rainers scratched home the walk-off run on a Brad Miller (Talk40 #6) single, Nate Tenbrink (26intheMix) sac bunt and Abraham Almonte (26intheMix) single. All they needed.
And, about two years after he was last notable, Forrest Snow (Watch List) put in three strong innings to get the win (0 R, 4 K).
AA -- Tennessee 2, Jackson 0 [7 innings] -- Box
AA -- Tennessee 7, Jackson 1 [7 innings] -- Box
I guess the Generals offense went to hibernation during the days off. They need a jolt of Choi Joy.
In Game 1, Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) had a double and two singles, but Jackson got nothing going in support of Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2).
Walker: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.
In Game 2, there was even less. No extra-base hits of any variety, and James Gilheeney gave up four earned runs in four frames.
High-A -- Bakersfield 5, High Desert 4 -- Box
It was a great start for one of our favorite "sleepers" -- Trevor Miller (26intheMix) -- but his bullpen couldn't hold on.
Miller: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.
But Matt Brazis (26intheMix), who was so dominant last year, couldn't hold on ... giving up two in the 9th.
The offense didn't do much either. Two of its runs were unearned, and it only collected one extra-base hit and one walk.
Low-A -- Burlington 6, Clinton 2 -- Box
Turns out there wasn't really any offense around the system. Maybe because Choi didn't play?
Emerging Tyler Marlette (26intheMix) had a double and a walk, if that counts.
And only two of the six Burlington runs were earned, so that's something too.
Looking Ahead
Andrew Carraway (Watch List) has an afternoon start for Tacoma, as he attempts to join the cast of thousands who've been No. 5 starters for the Mariners. Now that they cleared a roster spot for Jeremy Bonderman, they can use it on Carraway when they get rid of Bondo (or they could use it on Brian Sweeney, even). (But not Jhonny Nunez. No.)
Chance Ruffin (Watch List) goes for Jackson, and it still wouldn't surprise me to see him as the No. 5 starter eventually, too.