MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, April 17, 2004
Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers: Before opening their home schedule with a victory over Tucson on Friday, the Rainiers completed a four-game sweep at Las Vegas with a 14-7 victory Thursday. That game featured 1 1/3innings of perfect relief by right-hander Jeff Heaverlo, who recorded his first victory this season. Heaverlo relieved left-hander Travis Blackley, who was knocked around for 10 hits and five earned runs in 4 2/3innings. Left-hander Craig Anderson gave up three hits and a run in three innings for his first save.
Right-hander Clint Nageotte is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and nine strikeouts in 12 innings. First baseman A.J. Zapp entered the weekend batting .421 with two home runs and six RBI, and second baseman Luis Ugueto was batting .308.
Outfielder Jamal Strong missed Friday’s home opener and may be out a few more days because of a strained right hamstring.
Class AA San Antonio Missions: The Missions entered the weekend leading the Texas League with a .287 team batting average, led by John Lindsey’s .414 average which was third-best in the league. Outfielder Shin-soo Choo was batting .344 with two homers and seven RBI, and outfielder Dustin Delucci was batting .324.
Class A Inland Empire 66ers: Felix Hernandez, who turned 18 on April 8, won his second game of the season Thursday when he allowed two hits in five shutout innings of the 66ers’ 7-1 victory over Bakersfield. Pitching in relief of Rafael Soriano, who started as part of his minor league rehab assignment, Hernandez tied his career high with 10 strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA. Left-hander Bobby Livingston is 1-0 and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 14 2/3 innings, and right-hander T.A. Fulmer is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 11 2/3 innings.
Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: Adam Jones went 2-for-3 and drove in a run as Wisconsin beat Burlington for a second straight night Thursday. Jones entered the weekend batting .231 with three RBI and seven strikeouts in 26 at-bats. Right-hander Brandon Moorhead held Burlington to two hits and no runs, retiring the final 14 batters he faced, and is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings.
