I realized while I was sitting here at Cheney Stadium that I forgot to post the minor league report. So here it is now. Also of note, catcher Jamie Burke has cleared waivers and is back with the organization. He's in uniform tonight.

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Here's Mike Curto game story
BOX SCORE
Tacoma 13 runs, 16 hits, 2 errors
Salt Lake 3 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Doug Fister 3.2,5,3,3,1,5,HR
RH Brodie Downs (W, 2-1) 2.1,1,0,0,2,3,WP
RH Jesus Delgado 2.0,1,0,0,0,0
RH Steven Shell 1.0,0,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
3B Chris Shelton (pictured) 4x5, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI
CF Jerry Owens 3x6, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB
SS Mike Morse 2x5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
1B Bryan LaHair 2x5, 2 R, 2B, RBI
LF Mike Saunders 1x4, R, HR, RBI, SH
Of Note: Mike Morse and Mike Saunders hit back-to-back home runs during an 8-run inning as Tacoma pounded Salt Lake 13-3 on Thursday night. The Rainiers bunched 7 hits in their big 7th inning. Morse's 2-run homer and Saunders' solo shot were followed by consecutive singles by Chris Shelton, Bryan LaHair and Guillermo Quiroz. Mike Carp capped the outburst with a 2-run double. All the Rainiers runs came in 2 innings. They also had a 5-run 4th that was highlighted by consecutive RBI doubles by Shelton and LaHair, and a run-scoring triple by Callix Crabbe.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Luis Muñoz (0-1, 22.09 ERA) vs. Colorado Springs

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
BOX SCORE
Huntsville 6 runs, 15 hits, 0 errors RAINED OUT
West Tennessee 5 runs, 7 hits, 2 errors
Pitching Lines:
LH Daniel Christensen 4.1,6,2,1,2,2
RH Steve Bray 2.2,5,3,3,0,4,HR
RH Anthony Varvaro 2.2,2,0,0,1,2
LH Nick Hill (L, 0-2) 1.1,2,1,1,0,2
With the Bats:
3B Matt Mangini 2x3, 2B, 3 RBI
1B Marshall Hubbard 1x3, R, RBI, 2 BB
GAME 2:
BOX SCORE
Huntsville 7 runs, 10 hits, 0 errors RAINED OUT
West Tennessee 1 run, 7 hits, 4 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Ryan Patrick (L, 1-2) 5.0,10,7,4,2,1,HR,2WP
RH Mumba Rivera 2.0,0,0,0,1,3
With the Bats:
DH Marshall Hubbard 1x3, R, HR, RBI
CF Greg Halman 1x3, 2B
Of Note: The Diamond Jaxx were swept by Huntsville on Thursday night. The Stars took game 1, 6-5 in 11 innings and game 2, 7-1. Ezequiel Carrera extended his on-base streak to 25 games. He is currently batting .356 (32x90) with 25 runs scored, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 14 RBI and 7 stolen bases. Matt Mangini went 0x3 in game 2, but has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games. During this stretch he is hitting .341 (15x44) with 5 runs scored, 4 extra-base hits and 11 RBI.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Justin Souza (1-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Huntsville

A High Desert (California League)
Here's the game story from Victorville
BOX SCORE
Inland Empire 13 runs, 18 hits, 0 errors
High Desert 3 runs, 8 hits, 4 errors
Pitching Lines:
LH Donnie Hume (L, 2-1) 1.0,8,7,6,1,2,HR,HB
RH Stephen Penney 4.0,2,1,0,0,5
RH Natividad Dilone 2.0,2,0,0,1,3
RH Aaron Jenesen 2.0,6,5,4,1,0,HR
With the Bats:
3B Alex Liddi 3x4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SB
SS Juan Diaz 2x5, RBI
RF Jamie McOwen 1x5, R, 3B
Of Note: Inland Empire used a 6-run 1st inning to cruise past the Mavs 13-3 on Thursday. Mavs starter Donnie Hume didn't retire a 66er until he was 7 batters into the game. Hume was pulled in the 2nd inning after allowing 7 runs on 8 hits. It was his 1st loss in 8 career starts with the Mavs. Joe Dunigan went 0x4 yesterday, but has still hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, batting .392 (31x79) with 20 runs scored, 7 doubles, 10 home runs and 23 RBI. Tyson Gillies currently has a 10-game hit streak, batting .333 (13x39) with 9 runs scored, 5 extra-base hits and 5 RBI. Alex Liddi recorded his 13 multi-hit games and has hit safely in 22 of 27 games. He is currently batting .380 (41x108) with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 23 RBI. He is among the California League leaders in multiple offensive categories, including average (.380, 3rd), home runs (7, T3rd), RBI (23, 3rd), hits (41, T3rd), slugging percentage (.676, 3rd), extra-base hits (17, T2nd)
Today’s probable starter:
RH Nathan Adcock (2-2, 3.45 ERA) vs. Lake Elsinore

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest Lg.)
BOX SCORE
Clinton 6 runs, 12 hits, 3 errors
Dayton 4 runs, 13 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Walter Suriel 5.0, 4, 2, 2, 2, 4,HR
RH Blake Nation 2.2,4, 2, 2,1,0,WP
RH Ryan Moorer 2.1,4,0,0,1,2
LH Jose Jimenez (W, 1-0) 3.0,1,0,0,3,2
RH Ruben Flores (S, 5) 1.0,0,0,0,0,2
With the Bats:
CF Maximo Mendez 2x7, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
3B Mario Martinez 2x5, 2B, SH
2B Ogui Diaz 2x6, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB
RF Denny Almonte 1x5, R, HR, RBI, BB
DH Kris Sanchez 1x3, R, HR, RBI, BB
LF Jacob Shaffer 1x5, R, HR, RBI, SH
Of Note: A marathon game finally swung Clinton's way in the top of the 14th when Ogui Diaz grounded an RBI single into center, plating Luis Nunez for the game's first run since the 7th. Maximo Mendez then singled home Diaz with a flare to left, giving the LumberKings their 6-4 winning margin over Dayton. Denny Almonte currently has a 9-game hit streak, batting .324 (12x37) with 8 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs and 11 RBI. He has also hit safely in 21 of 24 games this season, batting .308 (28x91). Jose Jimenez has not allowed an earned run in 12.2 inning, and extended his scoreless streak to 9.1 IP.
Today’s probable starter:
TBA at West Michigan

Think Ken Griffey Jr. likes hitting in the Metrodome? Consider this: He left the American League for 10 years and still remains second in home runs (25) hit here by a visiting player.

That's extraordinary, and he added on to that list in the first series here last month. This series will be Junior's last in the 'dome - next spring the Twins will open their new no-roof outdoor ballpark.

Now, the Mariners try to snap their season-high four-game losing streak behind rookie right-hander Chris Jakubauskas, who has been solid in most of his starts but vulnerable to the big inning.

If he can avoid one tonight, the Mariners should score agains Scott Baker, who opens with a 9.15 ERA.

When Seattle scores first, the team is 10-4.

Buckle up! It's indoor baseball.

Wak ball

It didn't lead to a run, but Don Wakamatsu made it obvious in the first inning that his team is trying to force the action.

After Endy Chavez singled with one out, Jose Lopez fouled off a hit-and-run pitch. With two outs, Chavez stole second with Russell Branyan at the plate.

Branyan struck out. No runs, but the Twins are on notice. The Mariners will push it.

Twins ball

Give Minnesota a point-blank scoring opportunity, you can write down a run or two.

Denard Span singled, Matt Tolbert doubled and there it was - second and third with no out. Joe Mauer grounded out for one run. Justin Morneau flied out for another.

Simple, efficient, lethal.

After one: Twins 2, Mariners 0

Oops, oops and ouch

Jakubauskas got the first out of the second inning, then walked Brian Buscher an Delmon Young. Behind No. 9 hitter Brendan Harris in the count, 3-1, Jakubauskas caught too much plate and Harris hit it out.

The Mariners have two runs in their last two games - and now trail by five.

After two: Twins 5, Mariners 0

About Mr. Baker

Yes, his ERA was astronomical coming in - hell, it's STILL astronomical - but Scott Baker has done one thing remarkably well tonight.

He's thrown strikes.

Sounds simple, but by doing so he's forced Seattle to swing early. They take pitches at their own peril.

How efficient has he been? Through four innings, Baker has thrown 57 pitches - 4 of them strikes. At one point, he threw 21 strikes in 25 pitches.

That works.

Ouch and ouch again

Jakubauskas is gamely trying to get through the fifth, but it's looking doubtful.
Mauer and Morneau went back-to-back with long home runs, and Jason Kubel walked. Out in the bullpen, Miguel Batista is warming up for the third time.

The Mariners rule of thumb: Once a man has been up three times, you get him in or sit him down for good that night.

Batista is coming in.

In the fifth: Twins 7, Mariners 0

It's over

It was over in the first, when the Twins scored two runs, but it's officially over now and the Mariners have lost a season-high five in a row.

They managed five hits, never more than two in an inning.

Looking for a ray of hope? Felix Hernandez starts tomorrow night's game. Of course, without a run, not even Felix can win a game.

Final score: Twins 11, Mariners 0

Former Mariners and current Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin was fired last night/this morning. He will be replaced by former catcher A.J. Hinch, who mainly worked in the front office and has no managing experience.

I liked Melvin the times I was around him. And I thought he was doing a pretty good job in Arizona, but after making the 2007 playoffs, the D'Backs and their fans had some expectations that he simply couldn't live up to. This season Arizona has had to deal with injuries to shortstop Stephen Drew and ace Brandon Webb. The D'Backs were 12-17 this season.