Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Mariners' minor league report

Clement a hit at DH

While a bum knee has kept him from catching, the Class AAA prospect has flourished with his bat for the Tacoma Rainiers

By Kirby Arnold
Herald Writer

 Still unable to catch because of his troublesome left knee, Jeff Clement has continued to hit for the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers.

Clement, who has resisted any notion that he be anything but a catcher, has been the Rainiers' DH since early May and has flourished. He went into Tuesday night's game at Colorado Springs with a 20-game hitting streak after a three-hit game Monday that pushed his season average to .314.

Clement has seven home runs and 33 runs batted in, and his 17 doubles tie him for second place in the Pacific Coast League. He has 12 doubles and a .429 average during the 20-game streak.

The Rainiers, 27-24 and third in the PCL Pacific North Division, were winning with offense. While the pitching staff ERA of 4.98 was 13th among the 16 teams, their .291 team batting average and .366 on-base percentage were second in the PCL and their 118 doubles led the league.

Chris Shelton, who is playing primarily at third base, has a .324 average with six homers and 39 RBI. First baseman Mike Carp was batting .302 with nine homers and 26 RBI, and his 33 walks were tied for third in the PCL.

Mike Morse, who has played a near-equal amount of games at second, third and shortstop, had a .320 average with six homers and 41 RBI (tied for fifth in the league). Outfielder Michael Saunders had a .361 average in 108 at-bats and a 15-game hitting streak.

Closer Randy Messenger had nine saves, fifth in the PCL, and a 1.57 ERA. Starters Gaby Hernandez, Andrew Baldwin and Chris Seddon each were 3-3 and none had an ERA lower than Baldwin's 4.95.

Elsewhere around the Mariners' minor league system:

CLASS AA WEST TENNESSEE DIAMONDJAXX

Third baseman Matt Mangini, a former second-round draft pick who started his pro career with the Everett AquaSox, batted .302 in 27 games since May 1. He had a .281 season average with two homers and 22 RBI.

Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera was batting .351 and had 12 steals, both ranking fourth in the Southern League. Outfielder Greg Halman's 13 homers were second and his 34 RBI tied for fourth, but his 85 strikeouts led the league. Halman was batting .195.

Right-hander Josh Fields, the first-round raft pick last year who was shut down in May because of arm trouble, has pitched twice since the weekend, throwing two scoreless and hitless innings. He's 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA for the season.

The DiamondJaxx were 21-29 and third in the Southern League North, eight games behind first-place Huntsville.

CLASS A HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS

Right-hander Phillippe Aumont's nine saves rank third in the California League. He has a 3.65 ERA in 23 relief appearances, with 25 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.

Third baseman Alex Liddi led the league with a .360 average, 72 hits and 32 extra-base hits, and his 13 home runs ranked second. Liddi also became the fifth minor leaguer this year to reach the 50-RBI mark.

First baseman Joe Dunigan has a .358 average with a league-leading 14 home runs, and his 45 RBI are second.

Outfielder Tyson Gillies is third in the league with a .430 on-base percentage and he has reached base safely in 43 of 45 games. Catcher Travis Scott's .328 averages is seventh in the league.

The Mavericks led the league with a .305 team average, 69 home runs, 320 RBI and 246 runs. At 33-18, they led the California League South by five games over Lake Elsinore.

CLASS A CLINTON LUMBERKINGS

Outfielder Denny Almonte ranked third in the Midwest League with 10 home runs and tied for 10th with 31 RBI, although his 67 strikeouts were the most in the league. First baseman Nate Tenbrink was batting .304 with five triples to rank third in the league.

Right-hander Brett Lorin was 4-2 in 10 starts, and his 1.79 ERA was second in the league. He was first in the league with 60 1/3 innings and second with 60 strikeouts, and he had allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his 10 starts.

The LumberKings were 26-24 and fourth in the Western Division, five games behind first-place Kane County.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA