The Tacoma Rainiers took their up-and-down season on the upswing last week, completing a 6-2 homestand that pulled them back near the top of the Pacific Coast League Pacific North standings.
The Rainiers entered a four-game weekend series at Fresno 23-23 and second in their division, 31/2 games behind first-place Salt Lake.
The pitching staff has righted itself from some rough outings early this month, led by – who else? – 19-year-old Felix Hernandez.
Hernandez, 6-3, led the PCL in victories. He had a 2.63 earned run average and 51 strikeouts in 511/3 innings.
Damian Moss held Memphis to three hits in six scoreless innings Thursday, and when Jeff Harris and Masao Kida finished the last three innings, the Rainiers recorded their league-best seventh shutout of the season.
Offensively, outfielder Chris Snelling’s average dipped under the .400 mark – he entered the weekend batting .397, second in the PCL – and second baseman Jose Lopez was batting .391 after three dozen at-bats since coming back from a hamate bone injury.
The only downer of the week occurred Tuesday when left-handed reliever George Sherrill, who had a 2.18 ERA and led the team with six saves, went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his side.
Elsewhere around the Mariners’ minor league system:
Class AA San Antonio Missions: Bobby Livingston pushed his record to 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA after allowing three hits in eight innings against Wichita. He is tied for second in victories in the Texas League.
Reliever Jeff Harris is 5-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 appearances, and closer Sean Green led the league with 14 saves.
Jon Nelson’s 35 RBI tied him for sixth in the league, while T.J. Bohn led the team with a .301 average.
Class A Inland Empire 66ers: While the 66ers’ difficult season continued – they entered the weekend 19-27 and last in the California League South – some individuals are playing well.
Matt Rogelstad was batting .326 and Michael Garciaparra .300, and Carlos Arroyo’s average was .411 after playing 13 games. Wladimir Balentien’s 10 home runs and 29 RBI led the team. Adam Jones, batting .284, had six homers and 24 RBI.
Jason Mackintosh, 3-2, ranked second in the league among starters with a 2.63 ERA. Reliever Chris Key was 4-0, 1.84 after 17 appearances.
Aaron Looper, in his first two appearances since coming back from major elbow surgery, didn’t allow a run in 21/3 innings.
Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: The Rattlers swept a four-game series from Kane County to raise their record to 27-20 entering the weekend, putting them third in the Midwest League Western Division, one game behind first-place Clinton.
Shortstop/third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera’s .336 average ranked fifth in the league, and catcher Robert Johnson’s 28 RBI were tied for fifth. Shortstop Matt Tuiasosopo was batting .297.
Mumba Rivera is 6-0 with a 2.52 ERA, and his six victories tied him for fourth in the league.
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