VISALIA, CA—Aaron Blair got touched up for five runs in his third start with the Visalia Rawhide but left the game in line for the win.
Blair allowed five runs on seven hits in seven innings of work against San Jose Monday night. The former Marshall ace fanned five bringing his season total to 61 strikeouts combined between three starts with Visalia in Class A Advanced and six starts at Class A South Bend.
– Arik Sikula could be moving north soon with a promotion to Class AA. It seems that should be in his immediate future in the Blue Jays organization.
Sikula has been automatic out of the bullpen for the Dunedin Blue Jays in Class A Advanced Florida State League. Sikula is sporting a 1.15 ERA in 16 appearances. He has struck out 25 batters in just 15.2 innings while issuing just three walks.
Opposing teams are hitting a meager .115 against Sikula, who has earned 12 saves on the year.
– Isaac Ballou is hitting .280 this season with the Hagerstown Suns. Ballou went 2-for-4 with three runs scored in a 10-8 Hagerstown win over Lexington Monday night. Ballou has three homers and 22 RBI in 41 games with the Suns.
– The Oakland A’s sent pitcher Dan Straily down to Triple-A Sacramento earlier this month after mixed results through the first month-and-a-half of the major league season. Straily posted a 1-2 record with a 4.93 ERA with the A’s before he was sent down on May 9.
Straily was exceptional Monday night against El Paso and tossed seven strong innings. In his second start with Sacramento, Straily allowed one run on two hits and struck out 8 in the River Cats win.