Reader Count: 10 (!)
Summary
* Mixed night for the affiliates: 3-2 record, with the combined record standing at 159-136.
* The Oklahoma City offence was too much for Reno.
* Corpus scored some runs (!) but lost in extras.
* Lancaster... well, wadaya reckon? Big win, of course!
* Quad Cities played cards all day, 'cause it was too wet to go out.
* Tri-City won solidly.
* Greeneville lost solidly.
Oklahoma City (41-34)
Oklahoma City scored in the early, middle and late innings and mashed enough to put them out of reach of a solid Reno outfit (41-33). The RedHawks scored 1 in the first, second and sixth, 2 in the seventh, and 4 in the fourth to win by a score of 9-4.
Rubber: Bobby Doran got the start, and did well to work around 10 base runners in 5 innings: 5IP, 7H, 2R/ER, 3BB, K. He was relieved by a debuting Pat Urckfitz, who gave up runs in his first AAA appearance (2IP, 4H, 2R/ER, BB, HR allowed to Alfredo Marte). Stoffel and Chapman finished the game uneventfully, with an inning each, allowing a combined three base runners, striking out one.
Plastic: Austin Wates had an excellent night as the DH, leading off (3-4, BB, 3RBI, CS). He was followed in the order by a white-hot Enrique Hernandez (2-4, BB, 2B, 3R). Domingo Santana had another good night (2-4, BB, 2RBI) as did Little Jerome Hoes (playing CF, which may or may not be significant, 2-5, 2R, SB, CS). At the bottom of the order Max Stassi (2-4, BB, RBI, 2R) and Gregorio Petit (3-4, 3B, RBI, 2R) provided excellent production.
Man of the Match: Austin Wates' excellent night is clearly predictive of a Dexter Fowler trade. Or is it L.J. Hoes' night?? I can't remember, but the signs are there, people!! Kiké Hernandez's last 10 games?? .386/.417/.545, for a .962 OPS
Corpus Christi (34-39)
Corpus drew another tough assignment against a good Frisco squad (41-30). They fell behind early, giving up 4 runs in the top of the fourth, but scoring only one in reply in the bottom half. They entered the bottom of the seventh 5-1 down, and scored four of their own to draw level at 5-5. The game entered extra innings when, with two on, a bouncing ground ball hopped over Telvin Nash (1B) scoring two. Corpus lose, 7-5.
Rubber: Kyle Smith got the start, and wound up with a bad line after a good first few frames. He started with three strong innings, but gave up four in the fourth and one in the sixth. His line: 6IP, 8H, 5R/ER, BB, 5K. Richard Rodriguez and Mitchell Lambson pitched a scoreless inning each (although the latter loaded the bases on 2 hits and a walk), and Michael Dimock wore the loss, with 2IP, 2H, 2R/0ER, 2BB, 3K.
Plastic: Corpus’ “offensive outburst” (i.e. actually scoring runs) was keyed by 8 hits (all singles) and 3 walks. Ruben Sosa, batting at two, led the way (2-4, BB, RBI, R, CS), followed by Nolan Fontana, batting at three (2-5, 2RBI, SB). Tyler Heineman went 1-3, BB, R. They were surprising efficient in converting base runners into runs.
Man of the Match: Ruben Sosa had a good night, getting on base three times in 5 plate appearances. Sadly, one of them was negated by a caught stealing. But still, MoTM!
Lancaster (45-26)
The Lancaster juggernaut keeps on rolling, having lost no momentum over the All Star Break. They rolled over the unfortunate Lake Elsinore (40-31) by scoring ten runs in the first four innings, eventually running out 13-7 winners.
Rubber: Kent Emanuel got the start, and was plenty solid in his five innings pitched: 4H, R/ER, BB, 2K. J.D.Osborne opened the door a crack (IP, 2H, 3R/ER, 3BB), and Matt Heidenreich held it open a bit further before slamming it shut (3IP, 4H, 3R, 1ER, K).
Plastic: The monster that is Rio Ruiz had a good night: 3-6, 3B, 2RBI, 2R. He was joined by Dan Galbransen in the three-hit club (3-5, 3RBI) and Carlos Correa and Danry Vasquez in the two-runs-scored club (1-5, BB, RBI, 2R and 2-5, 2R respectively). Teoscar Hernandez (2-5, BB, 2B, HR, 4RBI, R) was also a monster worthy of singling out. Also worthy of a mention: Anthony Kemp (1-3, BB, 3R, RBI).
Man of the Match: Teoscar Hernandez (batting second) and Rio Ruiz (batting fourth) combined for a 5-11, BB, 2B, 3B, HR, 6RBI, 3R night. Impressive work from a couple of young prospects.
Quad Cities (35-34)
Quad Cities was one of three games rained out in the Midwest League today. Oh, I would hate to be the scheduler, although given it is the first game of the first set after the All Star Break, I imagine Saturday doubleheaders would be a lazy and adequate solution. So, possibly, I would love to be the scheduler. Not sure. Ask me later.
Tri-City (4-3)
The ValleyCats rode strong pitching and a four-run fifth to a win over the Vermont Lake Monsters (4-3). Tri-City also scored one each in the eighth and ninth innings to run out winners by a score of 6-1.
Rubber: Joe Musgrove got the start, and actually surrendered the lead by giving up a run in the second inning. However, he recovered well to record a 5IP, 3H, R/ER, BB, 2K line. Krishawn Holley, Brian Radziewski and Chris Munnelly allowed two hits and a walk whilst striking out a combined three to shut the Lake Monsters down over the final four innings.
Plastic: Mark Wik landed the big blow ( a double) with a 1-4, BB, 2B, 3RBI, R day. A.J. Reed and Jamie Ritchie went 1-4 with a double, and J.D. Davis, Nick Tanielu and Ariel Ovando all went 1-4. Mott Hyde was hit by a pitch prior to Mark Wik’s fifth-inning double to drive in a run (0-2, BB, RBI, R)
Man of the Match: Mark Wik drove in all the runs that the ValleyCats needed today. Nod to the strong pitching effort – combined 6H, 2BB night.
Greeneville (0-1)
Greeneville was scored upon early and often in their 11-3 loss to Elizabethton (1-0). They gave up 1 in the second, third and seventh, three in the fourth and eighth, and two in the fifth. They erected a little picket-fence-with-a-gate: single runs in the second, fourth and fifth. Regardless, loss.
Rubber: Getting the start for Greeneville was Austin Nicely, who was not treated very… er… nicely by the Elizabethton team. His final line: 3.2IP, 6H, 4R/ER, 3BB, K. Angel Heredia (1.1IP, 4H, 3R/ER, K) and Juan Santos (2.2IP, H, 4R/3ER, 3BB, 3K) also contributed to the Elizabethton winning effort, but not how they should have. Eric Peterson (37th round) had a great start to his professional career: 1.1IP, H, 3K, finishing the game scorelessly.
Plastic: Sean McMullen (30th round) got two hits (2-4, R), Conner Goedert (15th round, 1-3, BB, 2B) and Jacob Nottingham (1-4, 2B, RBI) both had doubles, and Trent Woodward (20th round) walked twice (0-2, 2BB, R).
Man of the Match: Let’s go with Eric Peterson. If he continues with the the 75% strikeout rate for his whole career, he could really be something!
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to leave unsubstantiated rumours in the comments section.
