I don’t know if you can be “effectively wild” but James Paxton certainly did his best to be just that. Paxton went 4.2 innings and walked eight batters but only allowed two hits, one run, and struck out four. The lefty threw 59 pitches and only 26 of them went for strikes.
Luckily for Jackson, Mississippi starter Zeke Spruill was ineffectively bad and gave up 14 hits and seven runs in six innings and Jackson won 7-1.
Joseph Dunigan went 3-for-4 for Jackson with a home run and a double, while third baseman Francisco Martinez had his own 3-for-4 night. Johermyn Chavez went 2-for-4 with a double, Rich Poythress had a double and two RBI, and Denny Almonte went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
19-year-old phenom Taijuan Walker is set to make his second start of the season at 5:05 PST and you can listen here.
Elsewhere in the Mariners Minorsphere, the Tacoma Rainiers failed to hang onto an early 2-0 lead and lost by a score of 3-2 when Chance Ruffin allowed a two-out triple in the ninth, followed by a throwing error on Ruffin that let the winning run in.
It’s been a rough season for Ruffin, owner of a 10.80 ERA.
Trayvon Robinson went 2-for-4 in the loss and Mike Carp went 1-for-4 as he rehabs before a return to Seattle.
Mauricio Robles gets the start at 7:05 PST.
The High Desert Mavericks won by a score of 7-3 in 13 innings against the Lancaster JetHawks. Stefen Romero went 4-for-7, Brad Miller went 1-for-6 with a double and 3 RBI, and Mario Martinez had a two-run HR in the win.
Tyler Burgoon picked up the win in relief.
Chris Sorce gets the start for the 8-3 Mavericks at 7:00 PST.
Finally, the Clinton Lumberkings continue to struggle this year and lost by a score of 6-3 to Quad Cities. Ambioris Hidalgo struggled badly and went 4.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 5 R, 3 BB and only 1 K.
Jamal Austin went 2-for-4 for Clinton and Steve Baron went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jharmidy De Jesus drove in two runs on a double. Clinton is now 3-8 on the year.
Potentially the most interesting pitcher in Clinton this season is Stephen Landazuri, who has 11 Ks in 9.2 innings. Landazuri gets the start at 5:00 PST.