06-02-2022 MiLB Summary

A better day for the Dodger minor league clubs yesterday, win or lose.   

OKC beat the Round Rock Express:   6-2   

Ryan Pepiot started for the Dodgers and got through 4.2 innings.  While, statistically, it wasn’t a bad outing, he threw far too many pitches, having thrown 95 when they took him out of the game.  Besides that, he only allowed 1 run (earned), 2 hits, 3 walks and struck out 7.  That will get the job done, most of the time.   You would just like to see him harness his command to point he can regularly pitch 7 innings.  For old timers like me, that’s a weird sentence to type, having grown up with the philosophy that you finish what you start.  The only run Pepiot allowed was a home run to Yohel Pozo (what a cool baseball name that is) in the 4th inning.   In the 5th inning Pepiot retired the first two hitters he faced, but walked the third.  He was then replaced by Jon Duplantier, who retired Willie Calhoun on a pop out to short.  Duplantier would pitch another excellent 2 innings, with no hits or walks and 3 strikeouts.  After Duplantier, Daniel Zamora came in to pitch the 8th inning.  Zamora had a rough go of it, giving up a double and run scoring single to the first two hitters faced.  After getting an out, Zamora was relieved by Carson Fulmer, who retired the next 2 hitters in the 8th and pitching to only 3 hitters in the 9th, ending    the game with a double play, after he gave up a walk.   

The offense started quickly for OKC, as they scored 3 in the second inning, on a Drew Avens sacrifice fly, and a 2-run double off the bat of Miguel Vargas.  In the 4th they added a run on a Tomás Telis single.  The Dodgers scored their final two runs in the 6th inning on a Miguel Vargas single and a Jake Lamb ground out.  Vargas, Telis, and Andy Burns each had 2 hits, with Vargas adding 3 RBI.    

My vote for player of the game goes to Jon Duplantier for his excellent effort in relief.  

Box Score

Tulsa Drillers lost their second one-run game in a row to the San Antonio Missions 6-5.  

Landon Knack started for the Drillers and was unable to repeat his excellent start he had in his last outing.  A simple reminder that baseball is a very hard game at which to succeed consistently.  As Preacher Roe put it “Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you!”  Knack was only able to complete 3 innings, allowing 5 runs, 4 of which were earned, on 4 hits, and 3 walks.  He allowed 2 runs in the first, giving up a double and a walk before registering an out.  Both runners then stole a base and each would score on groundouts.   In the fifth inning, the first 3 hitters reached base on a single and 2 walks.  2 runs scored on a single and Devin Mann error.  The 3rd run scored on a groundout.  José Martinez replaced in the 4th.  The Missions scored one run off him on a passed ball by Carson Taylor.  Other than that, Martinez pitched 3 innings, allowing but 2 hits and 1 walk.  He struck out 4.  Nick Robertson pitched a scoreless 7th inning, allowing only 1 hit, and getting 1 strikeout.  Tanner Dodson came on to pitch a scoreless 8th inning, although he gave up 2 hits.    

Offensively, the Drillers had 10 hits, with James Outman, Jacob Amaya, Devin Mann and Hunter Feduccia getting two each.  Outman hit his 12th homerun of the year, a solo shot.    

Player of the game honors go to José Martinez for keeping the Drillers in the game and giving them a shot at victory.  Bobby Miller is on the hill for the Drillers tonight.   

Box Score

Great Lake Loons beat Fort Wayne: 5-2  

Ben Casparius made his debut for the Loons.  He completed three innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks.  He also struck out 4.   Like Pepiot, Casparius was plagued by throwing too many pitches as it took him 73 pitches (39 of which were strikes) to complete the 3 innings.  Casparius was followed by Robbie Peto, who was magnificent for 4 innings, allowing only 1 hit, and no runs.  He did walk 4, but he also struck out the same number.  After Peto, it was Cole Duensing, who pitched 1.1 innings allowing 3 hits and walking 2.  He got into trouble in the 9th inning, loading the bases on 2 walks and a single.  After one out, he was replaced by Cole Percival who promptly ended the game on his second pitch, inducing the hitter to ground into a double play.  Percival picked up his first save of the season for his effort.   We can only hope he turns into the reliever his father was.   

Offensively, the Loons were led by Diego Cartaya (I’m going out on a limb here, but I think he may be good) and Juan Zabala, who both had 2 hits and an RBI.  José Ramos chimed in with a single and 1 RBI.  On of Cartaya’s hits was a double.     

My player of the game award goes to my namesake, Robbie Peto.  Tonight, Nick Nastrini starts for the Loons.    

 Box Score

RC Quakes beat the Lake Elsinore Storm:   8-3  

Peter Heubeck made his first start for the Quakes and, as you might expect, it was a mixed bag.  He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.  He also uncorked a wild pitch.  He did strike out 2 hitters.   A performance to learn from and grow on.  He was followed by Benony Robles, who was masterful for 3.1 innings, allowing no hits, one walk and striking out 4.  Ben Harris followed, and he too did a great job in his 1.1 inning, allowing no hits and striking out 3.  Carlos De Los Santos was next, and he pitched a scoreless 8th inning.  He came out for the 9th inning and walked the first two batters.  On came Madison Jeffrey to finish it off, and finish it he did.  Jeffrey struck out the first two hitters, then hit the next batter load the bases.  But not to worry, he struck out the next hitter to finish the game.   

Offensively, the Quakes were led by Yunior Garcia, Luis Yanel Diaz and Kenneth Betancourt, who had 2 hits apiece.  One of Diaz’ hits was a 3-run homerun.  Garcia had two RBI.  Austin Gauthier had a triple and RBI.    

I’m giving the player of the game award to both Benony Robles and Luis Yanel Diaz.  Edgardo Henriquez starts for the Quakes tonight. 

Box Score