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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Putz pitches well in Peoria By Kirby Arnold Herald Writer You never know who'll show up at the local minor league ballpark this time of year. It just might be a big leaguer. Anyone willing to deal with the heat and arrive early to a practice field in Peoria, Ariz., on Tuesday got two innings with Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz. In his first game since landing on the disabled list with a hyperextended right elbow last month, Putz pitched two perfect innings in the Peoria Mariners' 10-2 victory over the Maryvale Brewers. Putz started the game and retired all six hitters he faced, with three strikeouts, in the rookie-level game at the Mariners' spring training complex. He's scheduled to pitch again this weekend for the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers, who play Tucson at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. If that outing goes well, the Mariners could reinstate Putz. Manager Jim Riggleman said he probably wouldn't use Putz in a save situation for his first few outings. Tuesday's victory gave Peoria a 9-12 record. They're eighth in the nine-team Arizona League. Second baseman Cesar Fuentes has an 11-game hitting streak, batting .375 in that span, and has a .333 average for the season with six multi-hit games. Left fielder Joel Mendez has a nine-game hitting streak, batting .368 in those games. Around the minors Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers: The Rainiers went into the All-Star break 48-50 and third in the Pacific Coast League Pacific North Division, 101/2 games behind first-place Salt Lake. Infielder Craig Wilson, obtained last week by the Mariners from the Pittsburgh Pirates, homered in each of his first two games after joining the Rainiers. He's 7-for-14 with three RBI with Tacoma. First baseman Bryan LaHair, who missed a week early this month because of a foot injury, has a nine-game hitting streak and has gone 8-for-22 in his past five games. He's batting .263 for the season with 12 home runs and 53 RBI. Third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo is batting .263 and went 9-for-22 in his past five games, and outfielder Wladimir Balentien had three home runs and eight RBI in a five-game stretch, giving him 12 homers and 35 RBI for the season. He's batting .234. Right-hander Jared Wells, who spent a day with the Mariners last week, was selected to the PCL all-star team. He leads the league with 16 saves. Class AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx: Outfielder Mike Wilson's 20 home runs are tied for the Southern League lead and his 61 RBI are sixth in the league. Wilson is batting .275. Outfielder Brent Johnson is batting .314 and has a 10-game hitting streak, and catcher Adam Moore is batting .306. Right-hander Brodie Downs is 4-0 with a 4.14 ERA in 30 games, including 1-0 and 2.81 after starting his past three games. The Diamond Jaxx entered Tuesday with two straight victories after a seven-game losing streak. They're 8-17 and fifth in the Southern League North second-half standings, eight games behind first-place Tennessee. Class A High Desert Mavericks: Infielder Joe Simokaitis, acquired last week from the Cubs, is 6-for-14 with three home runs since joining the Mavericks. Second baseman Chris Minaker, of Edmonds-Woodway High School, is batting .293 with six home runs and 46 RBI. He had a team-high 13-game hitting streak snapped Sunday. Third baseman Ronnie Prettyman was batting .321 in 15 games since being sent to High Desert from Class AA West Tennessee, including a .342 average with two homers and six RBI in his past 10 games. Shortstop Carlos Truinfel, batting .249 for the season, went 6-for-20 with five RBI in his past five games. The Mavericks were 11-14 and fourth in the California League South second-half standings, four games behind first-place Inland Empire. Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: It's been a miserable second half to the Rattlers' season. They're 4-20 and last in the eight-team Midwest League Western Division. First baseman Ronald Garth and outfielder Denny Almonte each have gone 6-for-19 in their past five games, and right-hander Michael Pineda is 5-4 with a 2.22 ERA. He's the only Rattlers pitcher with a winning record. Class A Pulaski Mariners: Right fielder Jose Rivero is batting .368 during a 12-game hitting streak, raising his season average to .333, and third baseman Guy Welch is batting .385 and has an eight-game hitting streak. Left-hander Nick Czyz is 3-1, 2.53 and, in each of his past two starts, has given up three hits and one run in six innings. The Mariners were 18-8 and led the short-season Appalachian League East by 21/2 games over Danville.

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