There’s still no guarantee that Kevin Appier will reach the major leagues again, but it’s looking like he’s far from returning to retirement.
The 38-year-old right-hander, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2004, worked six scoreless innings Friday night in the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers’ 1-0 victory over Salt Lake.
Appier didn’t get the victory in that game – it was scoreless when he left – but he showed again that there’s still life remaining in his pitches. He gave up one hit, struck out four and walked four.
“His first outing in Triple A wasn’t good, but ever since then he’s been very good,” said Greg Hunter, the Mariners’ director of minor league operations.
Appier has a 2.25 earned run average in three games, two of them starts.
The Rainiers entered Saturday’s game 12-8 and -game behind first-place Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League Pacific North Division.
Right-handed reliever Sean Green was the winner Friday when Tacoma scored in the ninth inning, pushing his record to a PCL-best 4-0. He has a 1.38 ERA and three saves in nine games.
Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was hitting .365 with five home runs, and he led the team with seven steals. Outfielder Adam Jones had five homers and 12 RBI.
Elsewhere around the Mariners’ minor league system:
San Antonio Missions
Class AA
Left-handed starter Travis Blackley is 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA in his first month after missing a year because of shoulder surgery.
“He’s gaining some arm strength,” Hunter said. “He’s got a little ways to go to where he was before, but he’s making a lot of progress.”
Right-hander Jon Huber has five saves and first baseman Bryan LaHair has three homers and 10 RBI. LaHair, hitting .316 entering Saturday, was the only San Antonio player with an average of .300 or better.
The Missions were 8-13 and last in the Texas League South, but had won two in a row entering Saturday.
Inland Empire 66ers
Class A
Julio Santiago was 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 222/3 innings.
The 66ers were 12-9 and -game behind first-place High Desert in the California League South Division. They were 9-2 at home but 3-7 on the road.
Infielder Yung Chi Chen was hitting .322, outfielder Michael Wilson .302 and shortstop Matt Tuiasosopo .293 with a team-high 13 RBI. Tuiasosopo, however, also led the team with 25 strikeouts in 75 at-bats.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Class A
The Rattlers had won seven of 10 games entering Saturday, pulling back to .500 after 22 games.
Shortstop Jeff Dominguez was hitting .351 and third baseman Robert Hudson .323. Left-hander Justin Thomas was 2-2 with a 1.73 ERA in five starts and lefty Jose Escalona 3-1, 2.75 in four starts.
Elsewhere
Outfielder Chris Snelling remains at the Mariners’ training facility in Peoria, Ariz., rehabbing his left knee, but he may be close to returning. He’s expected to DH in extended spring training exhibitions soon, Hunter said. … Former Mariners third baseman Justin Leone led the PCL with eight home runs for the Padres’ Class AAA Portland club, and his 25 RBI were second.
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