Greetings from Montana, here's the daily minor league report, I've missed a few days, I'll try not to let it happen.

Yesterday’s Results Standings Winner/Loser/Save
at Tacoma 10, Nashville 7 --- 25-20, 3rd, -3.0 --- W-E. Hull (5-2); S-R. Messenger (7)
West Tenn --- (Rained Out) --- 17-26, 5th, -5.5 - - -
High Desert (Off Day) --- 31-14, 1st, +6.0 - - -
Clinton 9, at Peoria 3 --- 24-21, T3rd, -4.0 --- W-C. Hann (2-0)

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (Pacific Coast League)
BOX SCORE
Here' Grant Clark's game story from the TNT.
Curto was also on with KJR's Ian Furness talking Rainiers the other day, you can listen to it here.

Pitching Lines:
RH Andy Baldwin 6.0,9,6,5,0,6,HR
RH Eric Hull (W, 5-2) 1.0,1,0,0,0,2
LH Tyler Johnson (H, 1) 1.0,3,1,1,0,0
RH Randy Messenger (S, 7) 1.0,1,0,0,2,0
With the Bats:
RF Prentice Redman 3x5, 2 R, RBI
CF Michael Saunders 2x5, 2 R
DH Jeff Clement 2x3, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB
3B Chris Shelton 2x4, 2B, RBI, BB
Rainiers Notes: DH Jeff Clement went 2-for-3 with a double, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI leading Tacoma to a 10-7 win over Nashville Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium. RF Prentice Redman had a pair of doubles and scored twice for the Rainiers and RHP Eric Hull picked up his 5th win of the season with a scoreless 7th inning. Clement extended his hitting streak to 14 games (.459/28x61) and is batting .360 (31x86) with 17 runs, 11 doubles, 3 home runs and 21 RBI in 21 games this month. CF Michael Saunders went 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 9 games (.425/17x40). Saunders has scored at least one run in 16 consecutive games (21 runs over that streak) and one or more runs in 19 of 21 games this season. Overall, Saunders is batting .361 (30x83) with 26 runs, 6 doubles, 5 home runs and 12 RBI in 21 games. Redman has recorded a hit in 23 consecutive games at Cheney Stadium 9dating back to ’08). 3B Chris Shelton is batting .408 (20x49) with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 12 runs and 15 RBI over his last 11 games. The Rainiers have won 5 of their last 6 games, and 8 of last 10 at Cheney Stadium. Tacoma leads the PCL in doubles (102) and ranks 3rd in hits (448) and home runs (53).
Today’s probable starter:
RH Gaby Hernandez (3-3 4.89) vs. Nashville

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
Jaxx Notes: Game one of the five game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts was postponed last night due to rain. A doubleheader has been scheduled for today, with the first game beginning at 12:05. The doubleheader will consist of two, seven inning games. The Diamond Jaxx are 17-26 on the year and currently in 5th place in the Southern League's North Division. The pitching matchup in G#1 will be RHP Steve Bray (0-3, 4.87) for the Diamond Jaxx and RHP John Lindblom (2-2, 4.01) for the Lookouts. In G#2, RHP Kyle Parker (1-2, 3.74) will go for West Tenn and RHP Jesus Castillo (1-4, 4.96) takes the mound for Chattanooga. OF Greg Halman is tied for the Southern League lead with 13 home runs and T2nd with 33 RBI. OF Ezequiel Carrera ranks 5th in the league batting .351 (47x134), but was placed on the 7-day disabled list with a right ankle sprain (5/24).
Today’s probable starters:
G#1 - RH Steve Bray (0-3, 4.87) vs. Chattanooga
G#2 - RH Kyle Parker (1-2, 3.74) vs. Chattanooga

A High Desert Mavericks (California League)
Mavericks Notes: The Mavericks took a break from their 8-game winning streak after playing 14 consecutive days (10-4 during that stretch). High Desert returns to action today with a 5-game series against 2nd-place Lake Elsinore at Mavericks Stadium. 3B Alex Liddi continues to lead the California League in hitting (.367/65x177), hits (65), RBI (44) and ranks T2nd in home runs (11) and 2nd in slugging (.672). Liddi, Joe Dunigan (2nd/.359), Juan Diaz (4th/.353) and Travis Scott (10th/.321) dominate the California League batting race. CF Tyson Gillies ranks 3rd in the Cal League with a .434 on-base percentage and has reached base safely (H-BBHBP) in 38 of 39 games. RH Phillippe Aumont ranks 3rd in the league with 7 saves and is T2nd with 21 appearances.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Steven Hensley (0-0, 7.20) vs. Lake Elsinore

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League)
BOX SCORE
Pitching Lines:
LH Bobby LaFromboise 4.0,5,2,2,1,5,HR
RH Cheyne Hann (W, 2-0) 1.2,2,1,1,1,3
RH Stephen Penny 1.2,0,0,0,0,1
LH Greg Moviel 1.2,0,0,0,0,0
With the Bats:
RF Denny Almonte 1x4, R, 2 RBI, BB
DH Kris Sanchez 2x3, 3 R, 2 BB
LF Steve Moss 3x5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
3B Nate Tenbrink 1x2, 2B, 3 RBI
Lumberkings Notes: Following 1 hour, 35 minutes worth of rain delays, the Clinton LumberKings unleashed a 9-run, 15-hit attack in a 9-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs. Clinton has won 4 of its last 5 games to improve to 24-21 overall. Clinton starter LH Bobby LaFromboise allowed 5 hits and 2 runs in 4.0 innings. He walked one while striking out 5. LF Steve Moss went 3-for-5 2 doubles and 2 RBI. 3B Nate Tenbrink went 1-for-2 with a double, sacrifice fly and 3 RBI. In 7 games with the LumberKings, Moss is batting .370 (10x27) with 6 runs, 3 doubles, one home run and 8 RBI. Today’s starter, RH Kenn Kasparek, has recorded 6 consecutive starts allowing 2-or-fewer earned runs. Over the 6-start stretch he is 2-2 with a 1.45 ERA (5 ER, 31.0 IP)
Today’s probable starter:
RH Kenn Kasparek (2-4, 3.38) at

Mike Sweeney is unavailable today but won't go on the disabled list - at least not immediately.

Jose Lopez is available, but not starting. With a break today and tomorrow's scheduled off-day, that will give him two days off the field to rest tired legs.

Which brings us to the game - Erik Bedard vs. Trevor Cahill - and the Mariners need to win to avoid a sweep before flying to Anaheim.

Ichiro is leading off and has a 20-game hitting streak, wich is the eighth longest in franchise history. As intriguing, it's the seventh streak Ichiro has had of 20 games or longer, and that's historic.

Only three men in baseball history - Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb and Pete Rose - have had more streaks of 20 or more games.

Looking for a wild card hero? Franklin Gutierrez is battin .295 this month with 10 RBI and 10 walks.

The Mariners need more than heroics. What they need is an offense. And they've only got until 12:37 p.m. to find one.

Game time approaches.

The streak lives

Seven pitches in, Ichiro has a 21-game hitting strea, doubling off the chalk down the left field line. As Yuniesky Betancourt squared to bunt - then stepped back - Ichiro stole third.

Betancourt popped out.

With the Oakland infield brought in - yes, in the first inning! - Adrian Beltre grounded to third base. Ichiro was forced to hold. With two outs, Ken Griffey Jr. struck out on a changeup.

Clearly, Icihro should have stolen home.

Mariners break through

Russell Branyan singled to start the second inning and, one out later, Rob Johnson doubled him to third base.

Endy Chavez grounded out, pushing one run home. Gutierrez was called out for running inside the baseline, negating a second run.

Clearly, Johnson should have stolen home.

In the second: Mariners 1, Athletics 0

One swing, tie game

After leaving runners at third base twice in the first two innings, the Mariners paid a price.

Bobby Crosby's one-out solo home run, his first of the year, came on a high fastball and tied the game.

After two: Mariners 1, Athletics 1

Squandering chances

Johnson walked and, one out later, Gutierrez doubled him to third base.

Ichiro, the Mariners hottest hitter, came up with the infield in - and does the one thing he can' do, tap a ball directly to an infielder, forcing Johnson to hold.

Up came Betancourt, the least patient of all Mariners hitters. On a 1-1 pitch, he broke his bad on an inside pitch and grounded out.

Clearly, Johnson should have stolen home again. That's three men stranded at third in five innings.

In the fifth: Mariners 1, Athletics 1
One swing, two runs

OK, forget this silliness about stealing home - just get Branyan up there more often.

Griffey was safe on a one-out error, and on a 2-2 pitch Branyan hit his 11th home run into the right field pavillion - and made it look so easy.

Now, is three runs enough for Bedard and the bullpen?

In the sixth: Mariners 3, Athletics 1
Adding on

Chavez tripled off the wall in right field to open the seventh, and the Athletics brought their infield in yet again.

Gutierrez grounded out to third. Ichiro was intentionally walked to get to Yuni-the-Impatient.

Betancourt worked the count to 3-1, then flied deep enough to left to chase Chavez home with Seattle's fourth run.

Bedard, with 95 pitches, will probably start the bottom of the seventh.

In the seventh: Mariners 4, Athletics 1

Good Lord, another rally!

Sean White handed over 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief, and the Mariners are in the ninth inning with a lead.

Closer David Aardsma was warming up, and Seattle sent the bottom of its batting order to the plate.

Johnson doubled, his second of the game, by going for two and beating the throw from a surprised Raji Davis.

Chavez then laid down a perfect bunt, moving Johnson to third with no one out. Gutierrez douled both runners home.

Ichiro blooped a soft single over the shortstsop, with Gutierrez holding at third base. Betancourt struck out.

Beltre flied out into a double play, with Gutierrez thrown out at the plate.

Still, Aardsma came in with a five-run lead and went 1-2-3.

It's a final: Mariners 6, Athletics 1