OKC Dodgers 4 vs Round Rock Express (Texas) 3
On the Mound
As I surmised, Jon Duplantier replaced Mitch White as the OKC starting pitcher. He pitched 3.2 innings, and the two mistakes he threw were hit for HRs. He allowed solo HRs in the 2nd and 3rd innings. After 2 outs in the 4th, Sam Gaviglio relieved Duplantier, and got the final out in the 4th stranding his one inherited runner.
Gaviglio pitched the next 4,0 innings, yielding 1 unearned run on 1 hit with no BBs. He also recorded 5 Ks. With the score tied, Zach Reks singled and moved to 2nd on a fielding error. Reks moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a WP.
Carson Fulmer pitched a perfect 9th for the save.
At the Plate
The Dodgers scored single runs in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th innings, coming from behind twice. In the 4th, Drew Avans doubled, moved to 3rd on a WP, and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pick off attempt.
In the 5th, Ryan Noda hit his 9th HR of the year.
In the 6th, Miguel Vargas singled, moved to 2nd on a passed ball, and scored on an Andy Burns single.
In the 7th, Ryan Noda hit his 2nd HR of the game and 10th of the season as the game winner.
Player of the Game
Ryan Noda and his 2 HRs.
Box Score
Tulsa Drillers 3 vs Midland RockHounds (A’s) 2
On the Mound
Gavin Stone had another stellar pitching performance. In 5.0 scoreless innings, Stone surrendered 4 hits and 2 walks. With only 1 K, that is all you need to know to realize, Stone did not have one of his best outings. He breezed thru 4.0 innings, allowing only 1 single and the 2 walks. He gave up 3 singles in the 5th before being relieved by Gus Varland in the 6th. Stone threw 75 pitches/43 strikes.
Since Varland has been relegated to the bullpen, after his first two relief appearances, he has been brilliant. With his 2.0 scoreless innings tonight, 2 singles, 1 BB, and 4 K, Varland has now pitched 7 consecutive games in relief in June, totaling 8.2 IPs. He has allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 4 BB, and 13 K.
Jose Martinez entered the 8th. The first five batters, a single, walk, single, walk, and DP, scored 2 runs. Guillermo Zuniga pitched a perfect 9th with 2 Ks for his 8th save.
Gavin Stone in 2022:
- Season – 61.0 IP – 1.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 80K, 15 BB
- Tulsa – 36.0 IP – 1.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 52 K, 9 BB
It is the strikeouts and walk numbers that analysts glom on to. He is legit. I would like to see him get pushed to AAA before the end of the season, and then see what he does in ST next year. There are some who are predicting a higher floor for Stone than Bobby Miller. Miller still has the higher ceiling because of his pitching mix. Stone does not have the command concerns that Miller has THIS YEAR.
At the Plate
In the second inning, Carson Taylor singled and moved to second on a ground out. Leonel Valera singles to move Taylor to third, where he scored on another ground out. Valera scored on a Chris Betts double, and a 2-0 lead.
The Drillers got an insurance run in the 8th. James Outman doubled, moved to third on a WP, and scored on a ground out.
Player of the Game
Gavin Stone and his dominance continuation.
Box Score
Great Lakes Loons 10 vs Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 6
On the Mound
Kendall Williams started and went 5.0 scoreless innings. He only allowed 2 hits but was wild with 4 BBs, and only 3 Ks. He threw 84 pitches/47 strikes. Kevin Malisheski and Adam Scroggins pitched scoreless 6th and 7th innings.
Antonio Knowles relieved Scroggins in the 8th. He walked the bases full and with one out and was relieved by Jeff Belge. Belge struck out two, but before that he unleashed a pair of run scoring WPs.
Cole Percival entered the 9th to close the game and came up short. He allowed 3 runs with the final 2 coming on a Robert Hassell III game tying 2-run single.
Braydon Fisher entered the 10th to once again try to shut down the game. He walked the first two batters to load the bases. After a K, a ground ball force out scored a run before he got the final out.
As was indicated in Harold’s Odds and Ends post, the Loons have an issue with walks. Tonight the team that issues the most walks in the league, walked another 13. But they got the win.
At the Plate
Great Lakes broke out to a 5-0 lead. In the 1st, the Loons had back to back doubles by Alex De Jesús and Diego Cartaya to get on the board. In the 4th, Walks to José Ramos and Jonny DeLuca, a WP, and a ground out scored another run.
In the 6th, Eddys Leonard doubled, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a WP. In the 8th, the Loons built the lead to 5-0 with a José Ramos and a Jonny DeLuca HR (17).
The score was tied going into the 10th, where Great Lakes turned 5 singles, a BB, a HBP, a WP, and ground outs into 5 runs.
Diego Cartaya, José Ramos, and Jonny DeLuca each had 2 hits.
Player of the Game
Kendall Williams and his 5.0 scoreless IP is deserving.
Box Score
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11 vs Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 10
On the Mound
Ronan Kopp started and pitched 2.2 innings before he reached his 50 pitch limit and was relieved by Christopher Suarez. Suarez got out of the 3rd. In the 4th, a double, and two walks loaded the bases. A WP scored a run. Another BB loaded the bases, and another WP scored the 2nd run.
Recently promoted (6/22) Gabe Emmett entered the 5th. Two singles, two SBs, and a triple scores 2. The third run of the inning scored on a balk. In the 6th, with two outs and a runner on 1st, Heisell Baro relieved Emmett and got the final out.
Baro loaded the bases in the 8th with one out. Another recently promoted pitcher, Jonathan Edwards, entered and got the final two outs without allowing a run. But the 9th was a different story. With an 11-5 lead, the Quakes were hoping for a quick inning to end the game.
A pair of walks and a fly ball single loaded the bases. A walk forced in a run. Catcher Yeiner Fernandez was ejected for arguing the call. Reinaldo De Paula was summoned from the bullpen to end the threat. He got the first batter to ground out for out #2, and a run scored. Next batter, Marcos Castanon, hit a 3-run HR (7) to move within 1 run. De Paula struck out the next batter on three pitches to end the game.
At the Plate
The Quakes struck first. In the 2nd, Yunior Garcia reached base on a fielding error and came home on recently promoted C/1B Griffin Lockwood-Powell HR (1). In the 3rd, and Austin Gauthier HR (3) increased the lead to 3-0.
With a 3-2 lead, Julio Carrion hit a HR(7)
Now down 5-4, Yeiner Fernandez and Damon Keith led off the 6th with singles. Fernandez moved to third on DP and scored on another fielding error to tie the score.
The Quakes took the lead in the 7th with a Yeiner Fernandez, a walk to Damon Keith, and a run-scoring single by Luis Rodriguez.
The Quakes seemingly put the game away in the 8th with 5 runs. Julio Carrion singled and went to 3rd on a Kenneth Betancourt double. Carrion was thrown out on a fielders choice. Austin Gauthier drew a BB to load the bases. Yeiner Fernandez walked to force in a run. Damon Keith hit a bases clearing double, and scored the 5th run on Luis Rodriguez’ single.
And then they held on for an 11-10 victory.
Player of the Game
Damon Keith and his bases clearing double in the 8th proved to be the key hit in this game, and his run was the difference.
Box Score
