"Il Constable" is probably an "Ill" Constable after celebrating Memorial Day, so I will undertake to do the PreStros for him, and allow him to seek treatment for his headache.
Summary
* Affiliates go 2-2 on the day, combined record of 109-95
* Oklahoma City scored early and often in a win over Memphis.
* Corpus got down early, and were unable scratch together enough runs.
* Lancaster finished strong to win a tight one.
* Quad Cities started well, but ultimately lost on an extra-inning, walk off home run.
Oklahoma City (29-23)
Oklahoma City score 6 runs in the first five, then hold on after Memphis (24-27) bounced back with a 4-run eight. However, the RedHawks win 6-4.
Bump: Paul Clemens started, and was dominant in his 66-pitch outing. 5IP, 3H, 3K. No runs or earned runs. His AAA ERA is 0.50.
Alex White relieved, and threw two innings, giving up a hit, and striking out one. He is yet to give up a run in two AAA appearances.
Josh Zeid got the unlucky eighth, finishing with a final line of 0.2IP. 2H, 4R, 1ER, 2BB, K. The error that preceded to the three unearned runs was made on a ground ball by Gregorio Petit. Two hitters were walked (one by Zeid, one by Chapman) with the bases loaded after this error. Kevin Chapman then got two outs of the ninth before giving up consecutive singles, which led to Jason Stoffel relieving in a mouth-watering matchup against Stephen Piscotty. Piscotty popped up on the second pitch to end the game.
Plate: Oklahoma City scored 1 run in the second and fourth, and two runs in the third and fifth, totalling six runs on 11 hits.
Jon Singleton (2-5, HR, 2R, 2RBI) and Enrique Hernandez (1-4, HR, R, 2RBI) both hit two-run homers. Austin Wates (2-4, BB, 2B, SB, R), Carlos Perez (1-3, BB) and Ronald Torreyes (2-4, RBI) were all on base twice. Domingo Santana (1-4, 2B) and Adron Chambers (1-3, 2B) also had extra-base hits.
Man of the Match: Lets go for the dominant duo of Paul Clemens and Jon Singleton. They seem MoTM-worthy!
Corpus Christi (26-24)
Corpus lost by a score of 5-3 over North West Arkansas (18-31) to lose the series to the Naturals.
Bump: Arkansas scored their five runs in four separate innings. Jordan Jankowski got the start and was reasonably solid (4IP, 4H, 2R/ER, BB, 4K, 1HR allowed). He was relieved by a less solid Michael Dimock (1.2IP, 3H, 2R/ER) who took the loss by giving up three doubles, and Pat Urckfitz (2.1IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 2K) allowed an unearned insurance run in the seventh after Corpus had clawed back to trail 4-3. The error was a fielding error by Jio Meir, but Urckfitz allowed a force out and two singles to let the run score.
Plate: Matt Duffy had a stand-out game, going 4-5, 2B, 2RBI, R. He was followed in the order by Preston Tucker (2-5, 2B, RBI). Together, they had 6 of Corpus' 9 hits. Jio Meir (0-2, 2BB) and Nolan Fontana (1-4, BB) were both on base twice, and Delino DeShields had the other extra-base hit (1-5, 2B, R)
Man of the Match: Matt Duffy, third baseman for the Hooks. However, he also made a fielding error. Never mind, 4-5, 2B seems worth celebrating.
Lancaster JetHawks (30-22)
Lancaster won a tight one over the Inland Empire (18-34) team. Inland Empire led 5-0 after three, but Lancaster scored 5 in the 6th, and 1 in the 8th for the 6-5 win. A Grand Slam powered most of the sixth inning.
Bump: Gonzalo Sanudo, continuing his poor form since the Batguy's shoutout, started, going 5IP, allowing 7 base runners (all hits), allowing 5 earned runs, and striking out two. All of the runs scored against him scored on home-runs, so it may not have been quite as bad as the line suggests in an offence-friendly stadium and league.
Regardless, the 'pen combined for four scoreless. Fortunate was J.D. Osborne (1.1IP, 3BB, K); much better was Daniel Minor (2.2IP, 2H, BB, 2K).
Plate: The JetHawks were had 11 base runners in total (9H, 5BB), with two extra-base hits. Dan Galbransen (1-2, BB, HR, 4RBI, R) hit the grand slam, Carlos Correa (1-2, 2BB) was on base three times, and Rio Ruiz (1-3, BB, 2B) hit the double that drove in Correa in the sixth, prior to the grand slam. Danry Vasquez was perfect at the plate (4-4, 2R), and Roberto Pena (1-4) drove in the go-ahead run (Vasquez) in the eighth.
Man of the Match: DH Dan Galbransen. Boom, 4 ribbies. Honourable mention to Danry Vasquez, too.
Quad Cities (24-26)
Quad Cities started well, scoring 4 in the first, and holding a 5-0 lead in the middle of the fourth. However, Burlington would score the next seven runs, and Quad Cities would lose 7-5 in 10 innings. Burlington scored one in the bottom of the eighth to move to 5-4, then levelled the game in the bottom of the ninth with another run. Mike Fish of the Bees hit two home runs, including the walk-off shot in the tenth.
Bump: All River Bandits pitchers gave up at least one run. Adrian Houser started (5IP, 4H, 3R/ER, BB, 4K, HR), Kevin Comer relieved (3IP, 3H, R/ER, 4K, HR), Andrew Walter threw the ninth (IP, H, R/ER) and Tyler Brunnemann wore the loss (0.1P, 2R, 2R/ER, HR). Four runs scored on three home-runs.
Plate: Brett Phillips (2-5, 2B, R, RBI), Conrad Gregor (1-4, BB, R, RBI), Brian Holberton (2-4, R) and Jone Kremmer (2-4, 2B, R) were all on base twice. Ronnie Mitchell (1-4, 2RBI) had the most productive hit.
Man of the Match: Mike Fish. Sadly, he is a Bees player, but walk off home-runs get respect!
Congrats to the big-club today, especially former PreStro, George Springer, for his ridiculous Memorial Day weekend. George is now hitting .268/.348/.500 with 8HR on the year. Yikes!
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
