On the Farm: Mariners minor league affiliate report for June 16
El Paso 9, Tacoma (AAA) 3
EL PASO, Texas – Tony Cruz hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and Christian Villanueva hit a two-run home run and drove in three as the El Paso Chihuahuas (34-34) topped the Tacoma Rainiers (35-31) 9-3 on Friday. With the victory, the Chihuahuas swept the four-game series.
The home run by Cruz gave the Chihuahuas a 5-1 lead and capped a five-run inning for El Paso. Earlier in the inning, El Paso tied the game when Jabari Blash hit an RBI single and then took the lead when Diego Goris hit an RBI single.
The Chihuahuas later added two runs in the second and one in the sixth and eighth to secure the victory.
El Paso right-hander Matt Magill (4-4) picked up the win after allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. Opposing starter Dillon Overton (1-2) took the loss in the Pacific Coast League game after a rough outing in which he allowed seven runs and five hits over four innings.
Leonys Martin was a triple short of the cycle, driving home two runs for the Rainiers.
Springfield 4, Arkansas (AA) 3
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Dickie Joe Thon hit a walk-off single with two outs in the 11th inning, as the Springfield Cardinals (33-34) defeated the Arkansas Travelers (32-35) 4-3 on Friday.
Bruce Caldwell scored the game-winning run after he led off the inning with a double.
The Travelers tied the game 3-3 when Marcus Littlewood hit a two-run home run in the eighth.
Springfield starter Zac Gallen struck out four while allowing one run and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. Corey Baker (2-1) got the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while Thyago Vieira (2-2) took the loss in the Texas League game.
Jacob Wilson homered and singled, driving home two runs in the win. Magneuris Sierra reached base three times.
The Travelers left some scoring opportunities on the table, stranding 13 baserunners in the loss. Dario Pizzano doubled and singled, scoring a run and also driving one home for the Travelers.
Modesto (High-A) 7, Inland Epire 6
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Rayder Ascanio hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, leading the Modesto Nuts (37-31) to a 7-6 win over the Inland Empire 66ers (30-38) on Friday.
Matthew Festa struck Brendon Sanger out with a runner on second to end the game for his second save of the season.
The home run by Ascanio gave the Nuts a 7-5 lead and capped a six-run inning for Modesto. Earlier in the inning, Jordan Cowan hit an RBI single, driving in Logan Taylor.
In the bottom of the seventh, Inland Empire cut into the deficit on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Survance that scored Troy Montgomery.
Art Warren (2-1) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief while Garrett Nuss (2-2) took the loss in the California League game.
Montgomery tripled and singled twice, scoring two runs for the 66ers.
Clinton (Low-A) 5, Cedar Rapids 4
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Michael Koval got Jermaine Palacios to hit into a double play in the seventh inning, leading the Clinton LumberKings (31-34) to a 5-4 win over the Cedar Rapids (37-31) Kernels on Friday.
The double play came with runners on first and second and got the first two outs in an eventual one-run inning for the Kernels.
Cedar Rapids took a 3-1 lead in the first after Christian Cavaness hit a three-run triple.
After Cedar Rapids tied the game 4-4 in the seventh, the LumberKings grabbed the lead in the eighth inning when Dimas Ojeda hit an RBI single, scoring Yojhan Quevedo.
Koval (1-3) got the win in relief while Ryan Mason (0-1) took the loss in the Midwest League game.
Cavaness tripled and singled twice, driving home three runs for the Kernels.
Everett (short-A) 5, Hillsboro 3
EVERETT, Wash. – Greifer Andrade homered and had two hits, and Michael Suarez hurled five scoreless innings as the Everett AquaSox (1-1) beat the Hillsboro Hops (1-1) 5-3 on Friday.
David Ellingson got Paxton De La Garza to fly out with a runner on second to end the game for his first save of the season.
Suarez (1-0) picked up the win after he struck out eight and walked one while allowing one hit.
Everett took the lead in the first when Joseph Rosa scored on an error and Onil Pena hit a two-run single.
The AquaSox later tacked on a run in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Andrade hit a solo home run, while Rosa hit an RBI double in the seventh.
Hillsboro saw its comeback attempt come up short after Domingo Leyba hit an RBI single in the eighth inning and Eudy Ramos scored on a wild pitch and Kyle Smith scored on a groundout in the ninth to cut the Everett lead to 5-3.
Mitchell Aker (0-1) went six innings, allowing four runs and four hits while striking out four in the Northwest League game.