Seattle Mariners left-handed starting pitching prospect James Paxton made his second start since returning from rehab yesterday and posted his highest strikeout total since April 26:

4.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 8 K in the Generals 8-3 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits. (Now halfway into my first year of covering minor league baseball, I'm becoming more and more familiar with minor league team names like Biscuits! "Oh, they played Montgomery? Those damn Biscuits.")

Paxton, one of the wildest pitchers in the minor leagues before he hit the DL, has now walked just one batter over his first 8.1 innings since returning to action, with ten strikeouts. He was also having a problem with efficiency, not getting past the fifth inning often, but he only had 76 pitches (50 for strikes) in his 4.1 innings as he works his way back to full health. So far, he's looked pretty good since his return and as a Mariners fan I'm hopeful that he's back on the right track to being a solid left-handed starting pitching prospect.

Stefen Romero extended his hitting streak to nine games last night by going 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI. He's now hitting .397/.451/.698 in 16 AA games.

Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen each pitched an inning the MLB Futures Game yesterday. Hultzen allowed a run on three hits and struck out one, while Walker allowed a hit, no runs, and struck out one. Indeed, this is the future!