On the Farm: Mariners minor league affiliate report for May 3
Recaps for the Seattle Mariners top affiliates for Thursday night provided by team releases.
Tacoma (AAA) 5, Las Vegas 3
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Tacoma Rainiers (15-9) collected a series-opening 5-3 victory over the Las Vegas 51s (13-13) on Tuesday night at Cashman Field.
Tacoma starting pitcher Christian Bergman (5-0) extended his winning streak to five games after tossing 6.0 innings of two-run ball. He allowed five hits and walked one while striking out four.
Mike Freeman (2 for 3, 2 RBI, BB) and Zach Shank (1 for 4, R, HR, 2 RBI) both chipped in with two RBI to lead the Rainiers offense. Leonys Martin (2 for 5, R), Dario Pizzano (2 for 4, 2 R, HR, RBI), and Seth Mejias-Brean (2 for 4, R) all checked in with multiple hits.
Freeman gifted the Rainiers an early 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI singles in the top of the first and third innings. Shank added to the lead with a two-run home run to left center field in the top of the fourth inning – Shank’s second home run of the season.
Pizzano gave the Rainiers a valuable insurance run with a solo home run to left field in the top of the eighth inning, moving Tacoma’s advantage out to 5-2.
Dan Altavilla worked two scoreless innings in relief of Bergman with a pair of strikeouts before giving way to Kiekhefer, who allowed one run on two hits in the ninth inning. Kiekhefer ultimately earned his third save of the year.
Rainiers right-hander Ryan Weber (1-0, 0.48) and 51s righty Ricky Knapp (1-2, 5.47) square off as Tacma and Las Vegas continue their series on Wednesday at 10:35 a.m.
Arkansas (AA) 6, Tulsa 5
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Kyle Waldrop hit a walk-off solo homer and the Arkansas Travelers topped the Tulsa Drillers 6-5 on Tuesday.
The Drillers tied the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh when Paul Hoenecke hit a solo home run.
Arkansas starter Tyler Herb went six innings, allowing four runs and four hits. He also struck out seven and walked two. Brett Ash (2-2) got the win in relief while Colt Hynes (2-1) took the loss in the Texas League game.
Marcus Littlewood doubled twice and singled twice, driving in a run and also scoring one in the win. Waldrop homered and singled, driving in three runs and scoring a pair.
San Jose 11, Modesto (High-A) 7
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Gio Brusa hit a run-scoring double in the seventh inning, leading the San Jose Giants to an 11-7 win over the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday.
The double by Brusa started the scoring in a six-run inning and cut the Modesto lead to 7-6. Later in the inning, San Jose tied the game when Daniel Carbonell hit an RBI double and then took the lead when Jonah Arenado hit a two-run double.
David Owen (1-0) got the win in relief while Kody Kerski (1-2) took the loss in the California League game.
For the Nuts, Joe DeCarlo singled three times, driving home two runs.
Clinton (Low-A) 5, West Michigan 4
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Anthony Jimenez hit a two-run single in the third inning, leading the Clinton LumberKings to a 5-4 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Tuesday.
Marvin Gorgas got Josh Lester to fly out with a runner on first to end the game for his third save of the season.
The single by Jimenez, part of a three-run inning, gave the LumberKings a 2-0 lead before Nick Zammarelli hit an RBI single later in the inning.
After Clinton added two runs in the fourth, the Whitecaps cut into the deficit in the fifth inning when Blaise Salter hit an RBI single and Jacob Robson scored on a passed ball.
The Whitecaps saw their comeback attempt come up short after Austin Athmann hit an RBI single and then scored on a double by Anthony Pereira in the eighth to cut the Clinton lead to 5-4.
Jack Anderson (1-0) got the win in relief while West Michigan starter Kyle Funkhouser (2-1) took the loss in the Midwest League game.
Clinton took advantage of some erratic West Michigan pitching, drawing a season-high seven walks in its victory.
