Seattle Mariners: Minor League Report, August 31

It was a rough night for the Mariners’ minor league affiliates, but there were some silver linings.

Let’s start with the organization’s lone win on the day: a 4-2 victory for the Tacoma Rainiers over the Las Vegas Aviators. After hurling a six-inning shutout performance against the Aviators in his last start, Darren McCaughan held the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate to a pair of runs on nine hits and four strikeouts. Shed Long finally made his return after missing roughly nine weeks of action with separate shoulder and finger injuries and went 1-for-5 on the night with a single.

Outside of that Tacoma win, Modesto, Everett, Arkansas, and West Virginia all lost their respective games by a combined score of 39-11. Arkansas had the most respectable day despite Ricardo Sánchez getting shelled for eight runs and the team eventually allowing 15 on the night. Their offense, which has struggled over the last couple weeks, was at least able to plate six runs of their own with some big help from Evan White and his two dinger, four RBI performance.

In Modesto, Julio Rodriguez had his second straight night without a hit. Yet, despite ‘cooling off,’ Rodriguez is still slashing .551/.593/.837. Thankfully for the Nuts, the team they’re chasing for a playoff spot, San Jose, also lost last night and has kept their postseason hopes alive for now.

Finally, Brandon Williamson wrapped up his first professional season with an inning of shutout ball in Everett. His final line on the year: 15.1 innings pitched, 2.35 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and five walks. Expect him to be making starts for West Virginia to begin 2020 with the opportunity to rise through the ranks rather quickly.

There are only four days left in the MiLB regular season, which will spell the end of a very productive season for many Mariners’ prospects.