Class AAA: Round Rock Express (TEX) at the Oklahoma City RedHawks
Three 4-run innings happened for the RedHawks. It was enough to overcome the many straight and crooked numbers put up by the Express. Gregorio Petit, Matt Duffy, and Carlos Perez each homered. Perez and Duffy recorded 3 hits a piece. Jonathan Villar stole 3 bases and although his slash line is looking better, he's still striking out a ton.
Preston Tucker added 2 hits and a walk. He's pushed his average up to .290. What is crazy is that Tucker has been much better against lefties (.878 OPS) than versus righties (.699 OPS).
OKC wins 12-8. Their record is 53-53.
- SS, Jonathan Villar - 2/4, 2 R, BB, 3 SB
- CF, Ronald Torreyes - 1/3, 3 R, BB, 2 SB
- RF, Austin Wates - 1/4, 2 R, BB, 2 K, SB
- 3B, Gregorio Petit - 1/4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, K
- LF, Preston Tucker - 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
- 1B, Matt Duffy - 3/4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB
- DH, Carlos Perez - 3/5, RBI, K
- C, Max Stassi - 0/4, 3 K (sigh)
- 2B, Jiovanni Mier - 0/5, 3 K (bigger sigh)
- SP - David Martinez - 3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
- RP, Jorge De Leon - 2.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 3 K
- RP, LHP, Pat Urckfitz - 1.1 IP, H, K
- RP, Jason Stoffel - 2.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Class AA: Corpus Christi Hooks at the San Antonio Missions (SD)
Corpus led for nearly the entire game, but a Ruben Sosa error allowed 2 of the runs Luis Cruz allowed to be unearned. The Missions walked off with the win in the bottom of the 9th.
Tony Kemp led off the game with a homerun. The little dude packs a little pop in his bat. He also drew a walk.
Andrew Aplin and Jonathan Meyer had 2 hits. Aplin is trying to raise that batting average up little by little. He's hitting .353 over his last 10 games. He's lost any touch of the power he had earlier in the year though.
Hooks lose 4-5. Their record is 50-53; however they have a +54 run differential.
- 2B, Tony Kemp - 1/4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
- SS, Ruben Sosa - 0/4, R, BB, K
- LF, Delino DeShields Jr. - 0/3, BB, K
- 1B, Conrad Gregor - 1/4, R, RBI, K
- 3B, Jonathan Meyer - 2/4, RBI, K
- CF, Andrew Aplin - 2/4, RBI
- DH, MP Cokinos - 1/4, K
- C, Rene Garcia - 1/3, 2B, 2 K
- RF, Brandon Meredith - 0/2
- SP, Brady Rodgers - 4.1 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 3 K
- RP, LHP, 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Class A+: Lancaster, OFF
Thursday night. Mark Appel starts. Put your prediction for Appel in the comments. Winner gets many props.
Class A: Quad Cities RiverBandits at the Dayton Dragons (CIN)
One of Luhnow's famous PTBNL's, Kevin Comer, fanned 8 batters over 5 innings in route to pitching well enough to get the win. Comer has been pretty average in the 2014 season, but racking up 8 Ks to 1 BB in a game gets you a little notice. Albert Minnis and the unflappable Tyler Brunneman pitched very well in relief to allow Quad Cities to come back and win the ball game.
Brett Phillips, Ronnie Mitchell, and Chase McDonald each had 2 hit games.
Phillips has the 3rd highest wRC+ among players in the MWL age 20 or younger. He's fast, bats left handed, and is known to be a solid defender in the outfield with a plus arm. All this with a very solid BB-K ratio. This dude has shot waaaaay up in my book.
My prediction for next year. Ronnie Mitchell becomes our next Lancaster version of Koby Clemens/Jon Gaston/etc. He'll hit 30 bombs at Lancaster then struggle mightily at AA.
Also, Anthony's boy, Chase McDonald, continues to rake at a .342/.419/.711 clip in his last 10 games.
Quad Cities wins 6-3. Their record is up to 51-49.
- CF, James Ramsay - 0/4, R, K
- RF, Brett Phillips - 2/4, 2 R, 2B, K
- 3B, JD Davis - 1/4, R, K
- DH, Ronnie Mitchell - 2/4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
- 1B, Chase McDonald - 2/4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
- C, Brian Holberton - 0/3, BB, K
- 2B-LF, Marc Wik - 0/4, K
- LF, Jose Fernandez - 1/3, RBI, BB
- SS-2B, Dayne Parker - 0/4
- SP, Kevin Comer - 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 8 K
- RP, LHP, Albert Minnis - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K
- RP, Tyler Brunneman - 1.0 IP, 2 K
Class A Short Season: Tri-City ValleyCats at the Connecticut Tigers (DET)
This team is some kind of good. It's known for it's 2014 college bat heavy lineup, but that's not what stole the show in this game. The pitching staff allowed no runs and only 4 hits. Troy Scribner pitched well (5 innings, 6 Ks, 3 hits, 2 walks). He has been nothing short of dominant since he was signed in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Sacred Heart University. He has an older brother that bounces up and down in the Athletics bullpen. If you get a chance, check out this documentary on the Scribner brothers. It's nothing mind blowing, but it's a neat little insight into Troy and his brother's path to professional baseball. In 8 games started this year for Tri-City, he's got an 11.25 K/9, a 2.25 BB/9, and only allowed 22 hits in 40 innings pitched. He's an interesting guy that has done little outside of pitch very well his entire career despite not having the draft day credentials.
This games was knotted at 0 until the 7th inning when Nick Tanielu reached 2nd base on an error. He was promptly bunted to 3rd and drove in by an Ariel Ovando single. That was enough for the day.
Tri-City wins 1-0. Record is now up to 27-12.
- CF, Bobby Boyd - 0/4, K
- RF, Jose Solano - 1/3, SB
- LF, Derek Fisher - 0/4, K
- DH, AJ Reed - 1/4, 2B, 2 K\
- 3B, Nick Tanielu - 0/4, R, K
- C, Jamie Ritchie - 1/2
- 1B, Ariel Ovando - 3/4, RBI
- SS, Mott Hyde - 0/3, K
- 2B, Alex Hernandez - 0/3, K
- SP, Troy Scribner - 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K (ERA is down to 0.90)
- RP, Aaron Vaughn - 2.0 IP, 2 K
- RP, Kyle Weiland, 1.0 IP, K
- RP, LHP, Jordan Mills - 0.1 IP, H, BB
- RP, LHP, Ryan Thompson, 0.2 IP
Rookie: Greeneville Astros at the Kingsport Mets
It took 10 innings to decide this one. The game was tied at 3 until a Jason Martin double broke it open in the top of the 10th. Overall, the top of the lineup got it done for Greeneville going 8 for 16 with 3 doubles. Jason Martin, led the way with 3 hits of his own. This dude has been white hot and his batting average is up to .314.
Greeneville wins 6-3. Their record climbs to 15-17.
- CF, Jason Martin - 3/5, 2 R, 2B, RBI
- 2B, Antonio Nunez - 2/4, R, RBI
- LF, Sean McMullen - 1/5, 2B, RBI, K
- DH, Trent Woodward - 1/5, 2B, RBI, K
- 1B, Yonathan Mejia - 0/5, K
- C, Jacob Nottingham - 0/3, RBI, BB, 2 K
- RF, Ydarqui Marte - 0/5, K
- 3B, Luis Reynoso - 1/4, 2B, K
- SS, Jeffrey Santos - 1/3, 2 R, K
- SP, Robert Kahana - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 6 K
- RP, LHP, Reymin Guduan - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- RP, Angel Heredia - 3.0 IP, BB, 3 K
Rookie: GCL Braves at the GCL Astros
This GCL team is loaded with kids who have spent a year or two previously in the Dominican Summer League. It's nice to see some of the fruits of the IFA signings start to trickle up the chain closer towards the major leagues. This is another way that there can be a steady stream of talent constantly making it's way down stream.
Hector Roa, 19 years old, has been finding his power stroke. Over his last 10 games he's slashed .300/.326/.625 with 4 2Bs and 3 HRs. He had 2 hits in this game and helped lead the way to victory.
Harold Arauz, 19 years old, was solid and has been borderline dominant in his 6 appearances in the GCL. He's racked up 27 Ks and walked 9 in 21.1 IP. The most impressive feat is a 4.14 GO/AO. He's at an insanely high 67.3% ground ball rate.
GCL Astros win 3-0. Their record rises to 16-13
- RF, Alexander Melendez - 2/3, BB, 3 SB
- CF, Edwin Medina - 0/2, 2 BB, K
- DH, Dexture McCall - 1/3, R, K
- 1B, Hector Roa - 2/4, 2 R, HR, RBI, K
- LF, Brauly Mejia - 1/2, 2B
- C, Richard Gonzalez - 0/3, 2 K
- 3B, Randy Cesar - 0/4, RBI, 2 K
- SS, Arturo Michelena - 1/3, RBI, BB
- 2B, Jean Estrella - 0/3, K
- SP, Harold Arauz - 5.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K
- RP, Samil De Los Santos - 0.1 IP, BB, K
- RP, LHP, Christian Perdomo - 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K
- RP, Juan Delis - 1.2 IP, H, BB, 2 K
Rookie: DSL Rays at the DSL Astros Blue
Blue team loses 4-8. Their record is now 20-25.
- SS, Marcos Almonte - 1/6, 2 RBI, K
- 2B, Jonathan Matute - 1/5, RBI, BB, K
- LF, Rodrigo Ayarza - 0/3, BB, SB
- 1B, Jake Bowey - 0/3
- 3B, Wander Franco - 0/0, R, 2 BB
- 3B-1B, Reiny Beltre - 0/1, R, 3 BB
- C, Oliver Toribio - 1/5, 2B, K
- DH, Angel De Leon - 0/4, R, BB, 3 K
- CF, Nestor Tejada - 3/5, RBI
- RF, Andy Pineda - 1/3, R, BB, SB
- SP, Albert Abreu - 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- RP, Juan Cuevas - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 2 K
- RP, Ezequiel Madera - 1.0 IP, 0 H, R, ER
DSL Astros Orange at the DSL Cubs
DSL Astros Orange loses 5-8. Their record falls to 16-29.
- SS, Wilson Amador - 2/3, 2 R, 2 BB
- CF, Juan Fuentes - 2/5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 K
- 2B, Frankeny Fernandez - 2/5, R, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K
- 1B, Cristopher Luciano - 1/4, BB, 2 K
- C, Orlando Marquez - 1/5, 2 K
- RF, Bryan De La Cruz - 1/3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
- DH, Felix Lucas - 0/4, 3 K
- LF, Jose Benjamin - 2/4
- 3B, Anardo Peralto - 0/3, BB, 2 K
- SP, Carlos Pizzolato - 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
- RP, Carlos Sanabria - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 K
- RP, Ramon Rodriguez - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER