I understand the Nashville's Brad Pitt is currently attending the Nashville Academy Awards. He has taken a break from filming, and is reluctant to do the PreStros from the Nashville Red Carpet. Sigh. That means that you, the unlucky readers, get me, the unlucky writer.
Summary
* Affiliates go 3-1, to run the overall record to 148-124.
* Oklahoma City tied it up in the ninth, and won on a walk off.
* Corpus Christi tied it up in the ninth, and won on a walk off.
* Lancaster didn't need all that drama, so they won in regulation.
* Quad Cities' offence went AWOL. And lost handsomely.
Oklahoma City (37-32)
Oklahoma and Las Vegas (39-29) could not settle their differences in nine innings, so they opted to play twelve. The two teams matched ones and twos for the first seven innings, with Las Vegas taking the lead 5-4 after 7. Oklahoma City extended the game in the bottom of the ninth, then walked off with a run in the bottom of the 12th, for a 6-5 win.
Mound: Brett Oberholtzer got the start for the RedHawks, and was fairly solid. He threw six innings, allowing six base runners (all hits) and 3 earned runs (2 home runs) whilst striking out 9. He threw 98 pitches. He was relieved by Alex White, who was credited with the blown save, allowing 2R/ER on 1.1IP (2H, 3BB).
However, the rest of the 'pen was nails. Kevin Chapman went 2.2IP, walking one and striking out 4. Jason Stoffel and Jorge De Leon both threw a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one (although De Leon walked one).
Plate: The RedHawks managed 14 hits, and 6 walks. Leading the hit parade was Gregorio Petit (3-6, 2B, HR, RBI, R) and managing two hits were Enrique Hernandez (2-6, 3B, 2R), Marc Krauss (2-4, 2BB, RBI, R), Max Stassi (2-4) and L.J.Hoes (2-5, BB, 2B, CS). Austin Wates had the highest percentage of hits per at bat (1-1, BB, R).
The bottom of the ninth went as follows: Austin Wates single, K, FO, WP - runner to second, walk, WP - both runners advance, walk (bases loaded), WP - everyone advances (so run scores), walk, force out. One hit, 3 wild pitches, 3 walks. Comedy gold.
The game ended on a 2-out, Gregorio Petit home run to left centre.
Man of the Match: Lets go with standout performer and non-prospect, Gregorio Petit. Assist to Kevin Chapman. I wonder if the Astros will give up one or both of their LOOGY's at the trade deadline, and bring Chapman back up.
Corpus Christi (33-34)
Corpus and Frisco (39-27) also couldn't settle their differences in nine, and played eleven instead. Corpus got out to an early 2-run lead with two in the fourth, and Frisco scored three in the eighth to lead into the bottom of the ninth. Corpus took the game to extra innings by getting a run in the bottom of the ninth, and scored another in the bottom of the eleventh to record a 4-3 walk-off win.
Mound: Kyle Smith got the start - his 7th AA appearance - and was downright filthy. He went five, allowing four hits and two walks, but striking out nine. No runs were scored off him... rather they all came off Thomas Shirley, who gave up 3 runs (none earned) in 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, and striking out five. Travis Bellow threw two scoreless in relief - 2IP, H, BB, 4K.
The three unearned runs were scored after a 2-out missed catch with no base runners on. The error was credited to Telvin Nash with an assist to Jonathan Meyer . A single back to the pitcher followed, and a three-run home run (from none other then Joey Gallo, who will not be mentioned again) followed that.
Plate: Leo Heras was the Hook with the best night: 2-3, BB, HR, 3RBI, R, SB. The home run was in the bottom of the ninth with one out to tie the score. He also had a single that plated two with two out in the fourth. Andrew Aplin reached base twice (0-3, 2BB, R, SB), and Nolan Fontana had a double (1-4).
The walk off hit was the result of a one-out Leo Heras walk, followed by a force out (Rene Garcia to 1st), then a single that put runners on the corners, then a walk off wild pitch. Yes, a walk-off wild pitch.
Man of the Match: Lets go with a combination of Kyle Smith and Leo Heras. You decide the proportions. The dirt near home plate gets an assist as well (I am assuming it was a ball in the dirt).
Lancaster (44-25)
Lancaster rolled over a Rancho Cucamonga (31-38) squad with a 4-run sixth. The game was fairly even prior to that, with Rancho Cucamonga entering the bottom of the sixth with a 4-2 lead. However, Lancaster scored the next five runs to run out winners, 7-4.
Mound: Gonzalo Sanudo got the start, and struggled a little, giving up both hits and runs. His line: 5IP, 7H, 3R/ER, BB, 3K. Juan Minaya relieved, and allowed an unearned run in two innings pitched, walking one and striking out three. Mitchell Lambson and Jamaine Cotton pitched a scoreless inning each, striking out one each.
Plate: Carlos Correa was not in the lineup, perhaps because he is travelling to Quad Cities after his possible demotion (that will make the Constable happy). So, with that awful, awful Correa not playing, it was no surprise that Lancaster went nuts offensively.
Danry Vasquez continued his hit-parade, going 3-4 with a double and two runs scored (remember that two days ago, he went 5-for-5). Anthony Kemp (3-5, RBI, R) also had three hits. Dan Ganbransen and Tanner Mathis both had two hits (2-4, 2B, R and 2-4, R respectively). Conrad Gregor was on base twice (1-3, BB, RBI) and Rio Ruiz drew two walks (0-3, 2BB, R, SB). Jobduan Morales went 1-4, but the one hit was a home run with one on.
Man of the Match: Lets go with Danry Vasquez and Anthony Kemp, who both managed three hits, and scored three runs between them.
Quad Cities (34-33)
Quad Cities was shut out on three hits. They nearly managed the same number of errors (2) as hits. They lost to Wisconsin (35-32) by a score of 7-0. That is what happens when you wear pink!
Mound: Andrew Thurman got the start, and threw seven reasonable innings (7H, 4R/ER, BB, 5K). Albert Minnis took over, and gave up two runs in an inning (4H, K), and Andrew Walter kept the scoreboard operators busy (IP, 2H, R/ER, K).
Plate: Lets just list the hits: James Ramsay (1-4), Austin Elkins (1-4, 2B) and Thomas Lindauer (1-3). Because I am generous, I will also list the walks: Ronnie Mitchell (0-3).
The Wisconsin starter was non-prospect, Victor Diaz, who currently sports a season ERA over four.
Man of the Match: Mr Modern Woodmen, whom after the park is named, is awarded the Man of the Match, in lieu of any other worthy recipients.
If the Nashville Academy Award after-parties are all done, then the Constable may be back tomorrow. Thanks for reading.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
