The Springs, W 13-1
Ian Stewart delivered the big blast with a first-inning grand slam on the way to this blowout. Mike Jacobs had five hits, one for a home run, and a drove in three runs. 2B Matt Macri picked up three hits and three RBI, one on a home run (1). Eric Young Jr. had three hits, walked twice and score four times.
Starter Josh Muecke left after 3 2/3 innings, having allowed just one home run but striking out five. Bruce Billings picked up the win as he and three other relievers held Tacoma to four hits and zero runs.
Tulsa, 14-4
Yes, Tulsa did drill a Hooker on Thursday night--Deryk Hooker, that is. The Drillers chased Hooker out of the game after six runs in 3 1/3 innings (the seventh scored as an inherited runner).
Wilin Rosario hit a solo home run (3) in the third inning and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Pitcher Rob Scahill had the big blow with a two-run single in the fourth that scored a third run after the catcher committed a throwing error. OF Tim Wheeler had a RBI triple and drove in two more on a single in the seventh. 1B Ben Paulsen drove in two on a double, his only hit of the night.
Scahill kept the Cardinals down for the night, allowing just two runs in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight. Fifty-nine of his 90 pitches went for strikes. Casey Weathers, on the other hand, allowed two runs (one on a solo home run) and walked two. He threw 26 pitches, 12 for strikes.
NOTE: Headline inspired by ATF.
Modesto, L 1-4
Rancho Cucamonga scored two runs in the seventh off Kurt Yacko and two more in the eighth off Coty Woods to deny Dan Houston the victory. Houston went 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit, a first-inning single. H walked two and struck out six. But his offense didn't help him much offense. The Nuts had just four hits, and they scored their lone run in the fourth inning on a Mike Zuanich RBI single.
Asheville, W 5-4
Catcher Bryce Massanari is seeing the ball quite well right now, going 3-for-4 with his first two home runs (solo, 3-run) of the season and four RBI. He's hitting .431 with a 1.296 OPS. Outfielder Corey Dickerson hit his second home run of the season in the second inning, wedged in between Massanari's homers.
Erik Stavert gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four. Craig Bennigson followed with four strikeouts in the next 1 2/3 innings, while Rafael Suarez and Juan Perez closed out the game and combined for five hits allowed, one run surrendered, and four strikeouts.