News: Not really news by now, but it's official -- Friday is the first Taijuan Day at the major-league level.  Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) will be the first of the Big Three to make his MLB debut.

AAA -- Salt Lake 8, Tacoma 6 [13 innings]  -- Box

The Bees scored two off of Brian Moran (Talk40 #35) in the top of the 13th, then held on for the win.

In the meantime, Abe's [Alliterative] Awesome August in AAA continued:

Abraham Almonte (26intheMix): 3-for-5, double (his 23rd), home run (his 15th)

In August: .324/.450/.562 with five homers and 23 walks in 27 games.

We may see an extended September Safeco audition for Abe.

Mike Zunino (Talk40 #1) had five at-bats and four strikeouts.

High-A -- Rancho Cucamonga 2, High Desert 0 -- Box

A low-scoring affair in which the Quakes' pitching held the Mavericks to four hits, all of which were singles.

Robert Shore (26intheMix) has been mostly in the bullpen this year, but he started and went 3.1 IP with five strikeouts.

Low-A -- Peoria 7, Clinton 6 [12 innings] -- Box

What's Your Vector, Victor?  Veering around a bit this time.

Victor Sanchez (Talk40 #12) gave up 13 hits in 6.0 IP ... but 11 of them were singles and he still managed a decent line because he didn't walk anyone:  6.0 IP, 13 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.  Probably "just one of those things."

The LumberKings stayed in it with some serious long ball:

• Dario Pizzano (26intheMix): 3-for-6, HR (his eighth)
• Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32): 2-for-5, HR (his eighth)
• Alfredo Morales: 1-for-5, HR (his second)
• Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16): 1-for-5, HR (his second)

Short Season-A -- Everett 4, Spokane 2 -- Box

Austin Power!  Will Austin Wilson live up to his "Megatron at the Bat" potential?

Wednesday: 2-for-3, HR (his sixth), walk

August: .299/.373/.627 -- that adds to a tidy OPS of 1.000.

If this is the "real" Wilson ... then watch out, pitchers.

Jack Reinheimer also homered (his second).

And Jacob Zokan had a strong start: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.

Rookie -- Elizabethton 5, Pulaski 1 -- Box

Jose Flores has shown some promise as a starter this year (3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 9.2 K/9), but he left after only one inning (2 ER).  Not sure if there was a problem.

Wilton Martinez is a one-dimensional player, but it's a pretty good dimension (12 HR in 51 games).  It won't get him too far unless he adds some walks, or fewer strikeouts, or something, but it will do for now (he's 19).

Looking Ahead

Lars Huijer has eight wins in 12 starts, and he'll go for another as Everett visits Spokane.