May 4, 2003 · Filed Under Mariners · Comments Off on  

Minor League Highlights for Saturday, May 3

Iowa 3, Tacoma 2. Iowa pitching held the Rainiers to just four hits, winning a one-run game for the second straight day. RHP Brian Sweeney (5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) took the loss, though he still has a 1.91 ERA and 30:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 28 1/3 innings on the year. RHP Allan Simpson put together a solid relief outing (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) and C Pat Borders had two of Tacoma’s four hits, including a double.

San Antonio 21, Wichita 5. If this team were any hotter, they’d be in danger of spontaneously combusting. The Missions have now won a Texas League record 14 straight games, outscoring their opponents 104-41 during the streak. In yesterday’s 25-hit blowout win, all nine starters had at least two hits and all but one scored at least two runs. C Jim Horner led the way with five hits in six trips including a homer, raising his season average to a robust .475. Amazingly, 20 of their 25 hits were singles. LHP Bobby Madritsch didn’t pitch well (5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 0 K), but picked up the win thanks to all that run support.

Modesto 6, Inland Empire 2. The 66ers were shut down at the plate once again, scoring just twice on seven hits. RHP Enmanuel Ulloa, recently sent down from San Antonio, got the start but couldn’t make it out of the 5th inning (4 1/3, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K). Still, it wasn’t a bad start for a guy who has worked almost exclusively in relief the past two seasons. LHP Ryan Ketchner (2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) took the loss in relief but added to his remarkable 37:4 K:BB ratio. Offensively, 1B John Castellano went 2-4, scored once and drove in a run. CF Greg Jacobs added a triple and a run scored.

Dayton 4, Wisconsin 3. The Timber Rattlers dropped their second straight following their eight-game winning streak, despite taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Dayton tied it up in the sixth, then took a 3-2 lead in the 8th. Wisconsin answered with a run in the top of the 9th to tie, but RHP Bryan Heaston (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K) allowed the winning run in the bottom half of the inning. 1B Jon Nelson led the offense with two hits including a solo homer in the 1st. The Timber Rattlers made four errors in the game, one of which led to Dayton’s tying run in the 6th.