T-Pads blank Vegas behind Jeremy Hefner’s best start of the season in Kyle Blanks’ first game back in AAA. The Missions inch closer to wrapping up the Texas League championship with a second straight win over Frisco.

Tucson Padres 6, Las Vegas 51’s 0

Luis Durango-RF: 1-4, BB, RBI, K

Steve Tolleson-3B: 2-4, BB, 2b, 2 runs scored, 2 K’s

Jesus Guzman-LF: 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 runs scored, K

Kyle Blanks-1B: 1-4, Run scored

Matt Clark-DH: 2-2, BB, 3 RBI

Jarrett Hoffpauir-2B: 1-3, RBI

Andy Parrino-SS: 2-4, 2b, Run scored, Stolen base (1)

Jeremy Hefner-SP: 7.0 IP, 7 hits, BB, 3 K’s, Win (3-4)

Colt Hynes-RP: 1.0 IP, K

Notes: Following some early season struggles Jeremy Hefner has found his groove in Tucson’s rotation. He has won his last 3 starts in a row, allowing only 5 runs over 19.1 innings with 7 K’s and 6 walks. After posting ERA’s over 5 in both April and May Jeremy has a 1.38 in 2 June starts. Perhaps more importantly Hefner has improved his ground ball rates steadily as the season has gone on, allowing him to avoid the home runs that have been his undoing in several starts this year. Colt Hynes on the other hand is still trying to break the funk he has found himself in since arriving in Tucson. He has posted scoreless appearances in 6 of his last 8, but since one of the non-scoreless appearances was a 3 run inning, his ERA has not improved much. With Anthony Rizzo gone and Aaron Cunningham yet to return to Tucson Jesus Guzman got the start in left field and hit third in the line-up with Kyle Blanks behind him in his first start as a T-Pad.   

San Antonio Missions 5, Frisco Rough Riders 2

Blake Tekotte-CF: 2-5, BB, HR (6)

Dan Robertson-DH: 2-6, Run scored, K

Jaff Decker-LF: 2-6, BB, 2b, Run scored, K, Outfield assist

Kyle Blanks-1B: 1-4, Run scored, K

James Darnell-3B: 0-7, Run scored, 2 K’s

Vince Belnome-2B: 4-6, BB, HR (10), 3 RBI, K

Sawyer Carroll-RF: 1-6, BB, K

Jorge Reyes-SP: 4.0 IP, 2 hits, K

Erik Hamren-RP: 2.0 IP, 0 RA

Brad Brach-RP: 2.0 IP, 1 hit, ER, 5 K’s, HR allowed

Josh Spence-RP: 2.0 IP, 1 hit, 2 K’s, Win (2-1)

Notes: The Missions played their longest game of the season and Blake Tekotte returned to the line-up after an extended stay with the big club. The Missions lead over Frisco now stands at 8 games with only 12 more to play before the first half concludes. Considering the fact that Frisco is the only team even remotely within striking distance The Missions seem to have the first half title well in hand. The Missions used 6 pitchers in the game, each pitched at least 2 innings and none allowed more than a single run. The game was a scoreless tie going into the 7^th inning, when Vince Belnome went deep to give The Missions a 1-0 lead but Frisco tied the game once again in the bottom of the 8^th. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the 12^th inning when Blake Tekotte hit his 6^th homer of the year, but The Rough Riders tied the game once again. Finally in the 15^th inning Vince Belnome hit a bases loaded single to put The Missions on top for good.

Lake Elsinore Storm 12, High Desert Mavericks 9

Reymond Fuentes-CF: 4-6, RBI, 3 runs scored, 2 K’s

Jeudy Valdez-SS: 2-5, BB, 2 2b, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored

Jedd Gyorko-3B: 2-4, BB, HR (14), 2 RBI, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 2 K’s

Edinson Rincon-DH: 2-6, 2 RBI, Run scored

Jason Hagerty-C: 1-2, 2 BB, 2b, 2 RBI

Nate Freiman-1B: 1-5, 2 RBI

Chris Trembaly-RF: 3-4, BB, RBI, 2 runs scored

Matt Lollis-SP: 3.2 IP, 6 hits, BB, 7 RA, 0 ER, 6 K’s

Zach Herr-RP: 2.0 IP, 1 hit, 2 K’s, Win (2-2)

Miles Mikolas-RP: 1.0 IP, 1 hit, Save (8)

Notes: Matt Lollis allowed a lead-off double in the top of the first and then struck out the side after which he would retire 10 batters in a row until disaster struck in the 4^th. Were it not for a Jeudy Valdez throwing error Lollis would have escaped that inning cleanly as well but as it worked out the Mavericks would score a total of 8 runs in the inning when Hayden Beard came in to replace Lollis after allowing 3 consecutive extra base hits. Lollis has not allowed more than 3 ER in 4 straight starts. Miles Mikolas has allowed only 1 earned run in his last 10 appearances while striking out 10 batters and walking 5. 5 of the Storm’s starting 9 were batting over .300 entering play. Utility man Chris Tremblay is now batting an even .400 in 8 games after hitting consistently below the Mendoza line as a Tincap.   

Fort Wayne Tincaps 8, Beloit Snappers 11 (suspended game from Wednesday)

Rico Noel-CF: 1-4, BB, K

Rymer Liriano-RF: 5-6, HR (6), 2 runs scored, Caught stealing twice

Luis Domoromo-LF: 2-5, 3b, RBI, Run scored, 2 outfield assists

Jake Blackwood-DH: 2-5, RBI, 2 runs scored, K, Stolen base (3)

Wes Cunningham-1B: 2-4, BB, 2b, HR (1), 2 runs scored

Emmanuel Quiles-C: 2-5, 2b, RBI, Run scored, 2 K’s

Chris Bisson-2B: 4-5, 2b, 2 RBI, K

Brian Guinn-SS: 1-4, BB, K

 Zach Cates-SP: 4.0 IP, 6 hits, 6 RA, 4 ER, K

Fort Wayne Tincaps 0, Beloit Snappers 3

 Rico Noel-CF: 0-3, K

Rymer Liriano-RF: 1-3, Stolen base (22)

Luis Domoromo-LF: 0-3, 2 K’s

Jake Blackwood-DH: 0-3, K

Cole Tyrell-C: 1-2, 2b

Chris Bisson-2B: 0-2, K

Brian Guinn-SS: 0-2, K

Matt Jackson-SP: 4.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 K’s, Loss (3-1)

Eugene Emeralds

Season begins June 17

AZL Padres

Season begins June 20