Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers
The Rainiers have struggled for consistency, and the shuttling of players from Tacoma to Seattle (outfielders Mike Wilson, Carlos Peguero and Mike Carp all have been promoted since early May) hasn’t helped. Going into this weekend’s series against Sacramento, the Rainiers were 27-34 and third in the Pacific Coast League Pacific North, nine games behind first-place Reno.
Second baseman Dustin Ackley continues to be the hottest-hitting Rainier (and most-watched, too, among fans hoping he’ll be the next to get called up). Ackley, after batting .355 in May, entered Friday batting .344 this month to give him a .299 season average with a .414 on-base percentage, .494 slugging percentage and .908 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He had hit nine home runs and driven in 32 runs.
DH Johan Limonta was batting .333/.379/.425/.804 and catcher Josh Bard .328/.387/.444/.831.
Fabio Castro, a 5-foot-7 left-hander, has won his past four decisions and is 4-2 with a 3.79 ERA.
Class AA Jackson (Tenn.) Generals
The Generals had won six of nine games this month going into Friday’s series opener against Huntsville and, at 36-25, they were second in the Southern League North, two games behind first-place Tennessee.
Second baseman Kyle Seager ranked second in the league with 21 doubles and was batting .320/.391/.463/.854. His batting average was fourth in the league.
Left fielder Jake Shaffer was batting .316/.356/.518/.874 with nine home runs and 31 RBI.
Right-hander Jarrett Grube was 4-1, 3.57 in 11 starts and right-hander Andrew Carraway 4-0, 2.44 in 13 games, six of them starts.
Right-hander Kenn Kasparek, 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in six starts, has been on the DL since mid-May because of an elbow injury. He has been rehabbing it in an effort to avoid surgery but he isn’t expected to pitch again for some time.
Right-hander Josh Fields, 1-1, 2.33 with three saves, has been on the disabled list since May 22 because of a strained left hamstring. He’ll be out at least until the four-day All-Star break later this month.
Class A High Desert (Calif.) Mavericks
Third baseman Vinny Catricala was tied for first in the California League with 14 home runs, fifth with 48 RBI and third with a .380 batting average. He entered the weekend batting .380/.441/.630/1.071.
First baseman Dennis Raben was fourth in the league with 53 RBI and tied for fifth with 12 home runs. He was batting .314. Third baseman Mario Martinez was batting .319 with seven homers and 33 RBI.
Left-hander James Gillheeney was 3-3, 5.58 and tied for fourth in the league with 65 strikeouts.
The Mavericks were 28-32 and second in the South Division, five games behind first-place Rancho Cucamonga.
Class A Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings
Right-hander Taijuan Walker, scheduled to pitch today, hasn’t allowed a run in his past 142/3 innings. He lasted only two inning in Tuesday’s start before he was pulled because of back stiffness, but he expected to make today’s start. For the season, he’s 2-2, 2.81 with 39 strikeouts in 30 innings over seven starts.
Left-hander James Paxton entered Friday’s start 2-2, 2.11 with 54 strikeouts in 381/3 innings.
Outfielder Kailin Sams was batting .297/.365/.604/.970 with seven homers and 18 RBI.
The LumberKings were 21-40 and last in the Midwest League Western Division, 20 games behind first-place Burlington.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
