Baek, Cruceta have impressive numbers

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, August 12, 2006

With Gil Meche headed toward free agency, Joel Pineiro in his arbitration year and Jamie Moyer’s year-to-year retirement plans unknown, the Seattle Mariners seem sure to have openings for starting pitching this offseason.

Within their own system, the Mariners may have two to look at during spring training next year.

Right-handers Cha Seung Baek and Francisco Cruceta have each become Tacoma’s first 10-game winners since Craig Anderson won 13 in 2003.

Cruceta, claimed off waivers from the Indians late last August, is 11-7 with a 4.17 earned run average, with an impressive 153 strikeouts in 1312/3 innings.

Baek has pitched even better, going 11-4, 3.02. He has 98 strikeouts in 140 innings.

The Rainiers entered a weekend series at Portland 64-53 and second in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific North Division, 31/2 games behind Salt Lake.

Outfielder Jon Nelson had hit safely in eight of nine games, hitting .375 in those games, and first baseman Bryan LaHair had hit .526 in the four games entering Friday.

Reliever Scott Atchison had allowed one run in his previous seven games and right-hander Jon Huber hadn’t given up a run in seven games.

Elsewhere around the Mariners’ minor league system:

Class AA San Antonio Missions: The Missions led the Texas League with a 3.74 team ERA but, in a sign of their inconsistency this season, were hitting .250 as a team, eighth in the league.

Left-hander Travis Blackley remains strong in his first full season after shoulder surgery, having piled up 1332/3 innings, fourth most in the league.

The Missions were 24-22 and third in the Texas League second-half standings, but only a half game behind first-place Corpus Christi. San Antonio began a weekend series against Tulsa on Friday.

Class A Inland Empire 66ers: Alex Meneses entered Friday’s game at Lancaster on a seven-game hitting streak, with a .423 average in that span.

Left-hander Jose De La Cruz was 2-0 with 13 saves and a 0.86 ERA in 25 relief outings. He’d held opponents to a .170 average.

The 66ers entered Friday 23-22 and first in the California League South Division’s second-half standings.

Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: First baseman Reed Eastley, who hadn’t homered in more than two months, hit two Monday against High Desert and another Thursday against Stockton, earning California League Player of the Week honors.

Left-hander Jose Escalona has allowed one earned run in 10 innings over his last two starts, both of them victories that have bumped his record to 7-11.

Catcher Adam Moore had hit safely in nine of 13 games and was hitting .391 in August. Shortstop Chris Minaker had hit safely in seven of eight games. Right-hander Edgar Gueramanto hadn’t allowed a run in 72/3 innings of relief, holding opponents to a .154 average.

Wisconsin entered a double-header Friday 15-31 in the Midwest League Western Division second half, 13 games out of first place.

Rookie-level Peoria Mariners: Alex Liddi entered the weekend on a seven-game hitting streak and had hit safely in 18 of 20 games.

Reliever Jared Eichelberger has given up two hits in his past three relief appearances, covering five innings.

The Mariners entered Friday’s game against the Cubs 5-6 and tied for fifth in the Arizona League second half.