Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 7 vs OKC Dodgers 4
The Dodgers outhit the Space Cowboys (love that name) 11 to 9, but their 4 errors led to 5 unearned runs for Sugar Land. This was the Dodgers third consecutive loss.
On the Mound
With Sam Gaviglio on the bump, after a one out walk and fielder’s choice put a runner on 2nd with two out. A ground ball single to 3B, that Miguel Vargas threw away for an error, scored the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead.
But everything unraveled in the 3rd for Gaviglio. He issued a leadoff walk to David Hensley, who promptly stole 2B. After a strikeout, Korey Lee hit a groundball single to Zach McKinstry. McKinstry booted a ground ball to load the bases. After a pop out for out #2, Gaviglio was almost out of the inning. But the next hitter, Michael Papiersky hit a ground ball single to Eddy Alvarez who threw the ball away for the third error of the game, and two runs scored. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Franklin Barreto singled and scored two more.
Gaviglio pitched 3.0 innings, but allowed 5 runs (all unearned), on 6 hits and 3 BBs, to go with 3 Ks.
Marshall Kasowski relieved Gaviglio in the 4th, and his wildness continued as he walked 4 batters in 1.2 IP. In the 5th, on 2 walks, a stolen base and a throwing error by Tomás Telis put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Justin Hagenman relieved Kasowski and surrendered a double to the first batter he faced. One run scored, while a second was shot down at the plate on a throw from Andy Burns to Zach McKinstry to Telis.
Hagenman pitched 2.1 innings and allowed 2 hits with 4 Ks. Daniel Zamora relieved Hagenman in the 8th. He gave up 2 walks in the 8th but no runs. In the 9th, he allowed a Corey Julks HR (1).
At the Plate
Back to back doubles by Omar Estevez and Kevin Pillar scored the Dodgers first run in the 3rd. After a fly ball moved Pillar to 3rd, he scored on a Jake Lamb sac fly.
Kevin Pillar and Miguel Vargas singled. On a Jake Lamb DP, Pillar came around to score a run.
Andy Burns finished the scoring with a HR (3) in the 8th.
Kevin Pillar and Andy Burns had three hits, including a double (6) and his HR (3). Omar Estevez had 2. Stefen Romero came off the IL and played in his 1st game this season,. He went 1-3 with a walk.
Player of the Game
I have to go with Andy Burns.
Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston) 2 vs Tulsa Drillers 1
Corpus Christi pitchers cooled off the Driller bats in the first game of the series. The three hottest hitters, Michael Busch, Andy Pages, and Jacob Amaya, all drew the collar going a combined 0-11. Only Amaya reach base via a BB.
On the Mound
Michael Grove started for the Drillers, but was not able to duplicate his last outing. Grove walked the first batter he faced, and with two outs, he gave up a 2 run HR to Emmanuel Valdez for a quick 2-0 lead for the Hooks.
Everything settled down after that first inning. Grove allowed 3 singles in his next two IP. Grove threw 45 pitches, but as a reliever in the making, 45 pitches is max. 23 year old RHP, Jose Martinez threw an impressive 4 scoreless innings, surrendering 2 singles and a walk, with 2 Ks.
Austin Drury pitched a scoreless 8th allowing 2 singles with 2 strikeouts. Mark Washington pitched a scoreless 9th, while allowing 2 BBs with 2 Ks.
At the Plate
Ryan Ward had two of the four hits, with one being a solo HR (6). James Outman had a double (5), and a single by Carson Taylor was the offense for the Drillers. Taylor also walked 3 times, so he reached base all four plate appearances.
Player of the Game
It was a close decision, but the committee (me) chose the pitcher Jose Martinez who pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, over the offense provided by Ryan Ward.
Great Lakes Loons 7 vs West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 5
The Loons got out to a 1-0 lead on a pair of singles (Ryan January and Eddys Leonard) put runners on 1st and 3rd. Leonard was out attempting to steal 2nd, but January was able to score on the play. That lead was short lived as the Whitecaps scored 4 in their half of the 3rd. The Loons roared back with5 in the 5th and one more in the 6th for a 3 run lead. The Whitecaps scored a solo run in the 8th. Jose Hernandez struck out the side in the 9th to preserve the win and get the save (his first).
On the Mound
Cole Percival started his 3rd game this season, but lasted all of 2.2 innings before he reached the 67 pitch limit. Percival pitched a pair of scoreless innings. In the 3rd , Percival gave up a double to Austin Murr. An infield single and walk loaded the bases, His wild pitch scored the tying run. After a strike out for the 2nd out, Cole got what he wanted, a ground ball. Unfortunately Leonel Valera committed a throwing error that let 2 unearned runs score. That was Valera’s 6th error of the season. Michael Hobbs came in to relieve Percival, and gave up a double on the first pitch scoring the 4th run in the inning (3 unearned).
Hobbs completed the 3rd with a K, and got through 2.0 innings without any additional runners.
Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless 6th. Ryan Sublette relieved and pitched a scoreless 7th. In the 8th, he surrendered a leadoff triple before a sac fly scored the Whitecaps 5th and final run. Jose Hernandez finished the 8th before striking out the side in the 9th.
At the Plate
In the 5th, down 4-1, the Loons put the first five batters on base:
Zac Ching BB, Aldrich De Jongh single, Ismael Alcantara single, Ryan January BB, Leonel Valera BB. With two runs across and the bases loaded, the pitcher unleashes a WP, and the 3rd run scores. Sac flies by Eddys Leonard and Jorbit Vivas scored the final two runs of the inning.
The Loons got an insurance run in the 6th on an Aldrich De Jongh HR (2).
De Jongh, Alcantara, and January each had two hits.
Player of the Game
With 2 hits and 2 walks, Ryan January reached base on all four plate appearances, and scored two runs.
Ryan January
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 4 vs Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9
The Quakes were down 4-0 in the bottom of the 5th, but scored 9 unanswered runs for the win.
On the Mound
Kendall Williams started his 4th game, but was not able to duplicate his last two outings. In 5.0 innings, he surrendered 4 earned runs on 6 hits, including 2 solo HRs. A positive for Williams was that he did not issue any walks. He also struck out 6. Williams threw 73 pitches (53 strikes) in his 5.0 innings.
Yamil Castillo pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, giving up one hit. He did not allow any free passes, and struck out 5 batters. Martin Santana relieved Castillo in the 8th, and also threw 2.0 scoreless innings. He did not give up a hit, but did issue a walk with 3 Ks.
At the Plate
The Quakes had 11 hits, with every starter getting at least one hit except Alex De Jesus, and Luis Yanel Diaz. For Quakes had 2 hits: Damon Keith with a triple (2), Luis Rodriguez with a double (3), Jake Vogel with a double (3), and Yunior Garcia.
The Quakes scored four unearned runs in the 5th on 4 singles, a HBP, and a fielding error. In the 6th, Luis Rodriguez singles and moved to 3rd on a Jake Vogel double. Both runners scored on a Yunior Garcia single.
In the 7th, Diego Cartaya was HBP, and Alex De Jesus walked. Both runners came home on Damon Keith’s triple. Luis Rodriguez doubled home Keith for the final run.
For the Justin Turner award, Diego Cartaya was hit by pitch for the 6th time this year, and 10th time in his young professional career (in the US). He also was HBP three times in the DSL.
Player of the Game
In a game where no batter stood out, the 22 year old RHP from Mexico, Yamil Castillo, did not allow a walk in two innings. 5 of his 6 outs came via the strikeout. His one blemish was he did allow a single.
