We were led to believe that Justin Wrobleski was recalled to start or be the bulk pitcher in the final game of the 3 game Padres series.  Instead, Ben Casparius was called upon to be the starter.  He was supposed to go 3 innings, 45 pitches.  However, he ended up going 4.0 IP and 54 pitches (33 strikes).  He retired the final 7 batters he faced, and probably gone a 5^th.

His 2^nd inning was whacked.  He gave up 3 singles, 93.1 MPH, 74.5 MPH, and 85.6 MPH.  The first two were good pitches.  He followed that up with a pair of walks where I can make an argument that he was trying too hard to be perfect.

Of course he was helped out immensely by another Andy Pages’ assist.  Jake Cronenworth singled and Gavin Sheets raced home only to be thrown out by a 99 MPH throw on the fly and a great tag by Will Smith.

Andy Pages’ 99.0 mph assist ties Kevin Kiermaier on 8/14/24 for the Dodgers’ fastest-tracked OF assist under Statcast (2015) https://t.co/53qpBCyVwU

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 11, 2025

After the two BBs, Fernando Tatis Jr. helped Casparius tremendously by swinging at the first pitch and hitting a routine F9.

It took Casparius 21 pitches to get through the 3^rd and 4^th inning.  He allowed just three hard hits.

As it turns out, the only LAD pitcher who did not pitch in relief was the one pitcher who was supposed to be the bulk pitcher: Justin Wrobleski.

Lou Trivino pitched a 2^nd shutdown inning against the Padres.  Jack Dreyer is showing some cracks in his armor, but run charged to him was an unearned run after a very shaky throwing error by Hyeseong Kim.  It took 3 Kirby Yates pitches getting out of the inning leaving a runner on first.

Michael Kopech entered in the 7^th and after he got the first out, he walked the bases loaded.  His last two pitches to Tyler Wade could have (should have) been called strikes.  Kopech lost it with the next two batters.

Anthony Banda came in relief and got the extremely bat to ball skills hitter, Luis Arraez to pop up to Freddie.  He followed that up with facing Manny Machado with the bases juiced.  After reaching 3-0 count to Machado, the game turned on the next pitch.  Machado hit a ground ball in the hole between 3^rd and SS where Mookie made a great play and Freddie followed it up with a great catch on Mookie’s bounce throw.

Manny Machado bailed the Dodgers out by swinging 3-0 with the bases loaded and two outs.

But major credit to Anthony Banda for getting out of the bases loaded, one-out jam.

And to Mookie Betts for making a tough defensive play at shortstop look easy.

Dodgers lead Padres, 4-2. pic.twitter.com/8GjXiZnkGY

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 11, 2025

Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia completed the final two innings without a runner, with Vesia striking out the side in the 9^th.

Michael Conforto slugged his first HR since May 27 to tie the game, and Teoscar Hernández crushed a 3-run HR, his first since May 21.  Teo had 2 HRs in March, 7 in April, but only 1 in May and 1 in June.  The Dodgers need Teo to get hot again.

Will Smith had another hit wRISP, and Shohei finally had an XBH with a triple.  For June, Ohtani has 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, and 2 RBI.

Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Anthony Banda seemingly have found themselves. Banda and Vesia have especially turned things around.

• Banda – Last 5 games, 5.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 BB, 2 K
• Vesia – Last 6 games, 5.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 BB, 6K

But the story of the day appears to be that the Dodgers have found another starter.  After being almost automatic as a multi inning reliever, Ben Casparius is headed for the rotation.  When asked if he wants to return to being a SP, he had a big smile and said yes.  With the three left handed high leverage relievers back, and Yates and Kopech also back, it is time for Casparius to transition back to SP.

Dave Roberts said Ben Casparius' next outing will be as a starter. https://t.co/2r7Ewzkg6D

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 11, 2025

Maybe another Gavin Stone find?  Stone emerged and starred as a SP once Emmet Sheehan went down.  Maybe Casparius can do the same now that Gonsolin is injured again.

MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS

OKC Comets 5 – Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 4

Trailing by three runs in the ninth inning, the Oklahoma City Comets stormed back and scored four runs to defeat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 5-4.

The Isotopes held a 4-1 advantage leading into the ninth inning, but the Comets started off the ninth inning with five consecutive hits. Steward Berroa’s RBI single trimmed the deficit to two runs, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score to make it a one-run game. With runners at second and third base, Nick Senzel hit a two-run double down the third base line to give the Comets their first lead of the day at 5-4. Jack Little then tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to close the game for his PCL leading 10^th save.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Isotopes scored twice OKC got on the board in the sixth inning when James Outman tripled and scored on a balk. The Isotopes then added two more runs in the sixth inning to stretch the lead to 4-1.

All four Isotopes runs were scored off SP Landon Knack.  The 4^th run charged to Knack was a Noah Davis inherited runner who could not get the final out of the inning without giving up a run scoring double.

Nick Senzel provided the game-winning double and finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. He is currently on a season-best eight game hitting streak, going 12-for-29 (.414) with 11 RBI. He also has collected 19 RBI over his last 12 games.

During Hunter Feduccia’s seven-game hitting streak, he is 12-for-29 (.414).

Outman made another sensational catch in CF after two outstanding plays in RF on Tuesday.

Heckuva catch from James Outman in Center Field. Outman made 2 great plays last night in Right Field last night, and now has one today in Center.

Dude can flat go catch the ball! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/UwroCs29hg

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 11, 2025

• Hunter Feduccia – 3-4, 1 run, double (10)
• James Outman – 2-5, 1 run, triple (3)
• Steward Berroa – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Nick Senzel – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 RBI, double (2)

Box Score

Springfield Cardinals 3 – Tulsa Drillers 0

The Cardinals scored two first-inning runs and never trailed in handing the Drillers a 3-0 loss.  The game began similar to how Tuesday’s series opener started. A one-out single in the bottom of the first inning set up Leonardo Bernal for a two-run homer that gave the Cards another early lead.

Tulsa was kept off the scoreboard while being held without a hit through the first five innings. Taylor Young and Yeiner Fernandez ended the no-hit bid with a pair of two-out singles in the sixth.  The Drillers managed a total of three hits with Fernandez having two hits and the only XBH with his 9^th double.

Young increased his hitting streak to eight straight games. His hit also raised his on-base streak to 14 games.

Tulsa hitters struck out 14 more times, bringing their total in the first two games of the series to 30.

The defeat increased the Drillers losing streak to five straight games, matching their longest of the season.

Chris Campos appeared in his 11th game for Drillers and was charged with his third loss of the season. He surrendered Springfield’s three runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts. The four walks were the most issued in a game by Campos this season.

Lucas Wepf, Jerming Rosario and Jeisson Cabrera each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

And yet another OF arm. Right fielder Ezequiel Pagan threw out a runner trying to advance from first to third base for his fifth outfield assist of the season.

Box Score

Great Lakes Loons 4 – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee) 2

What is wrong with Eriq Swan?  After 6.0 hitless shutout innings in his last start, for Wednesday’s game he gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 6.0 innings.

The Loons broke through in the 2^nd.  Jake Gelof singled and went to 2^nd on a throwing error.  Wilman Diaz doubled home Gelof for the first run.

In the 3^rd, Josue De Paula singled and moved to 2^nd when Mike Sirota reached on an error.  Kyle Nevin doubled home 2 runs and a 3-0 lead.

Mike Sirota tripled home De Paula (who drew a BB) for the 4^th Loons run.

RBI TRIPLE MIKE SIROTA pic.twitter.com/xTIQhHnGVJ

— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) June 12, 2025

• Zyhir Hope – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 runs
• Josue De Paula – 1-3, 1 BB
• Mike Sirota – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (1)
• Kyle Nevin – 1-4, 2 RBI, double (1)
• Wilman Diaz – 1-3, 1 RBI, double (2)

Box Score

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11 – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 6

The Quakes broke the 8 game losing streak with 11 runs on 10 hits, 12 BB, and 2 HBP.

Logan Tabeling pitched a career-high five innings and Elijah Hainline homered and drove in four runs, as the Quakes snapped their longest losing streak since they lost ten in a row in 2014.

Rancho led from start to finish, tallying two in the first and then four in the second, taking a commanding 6-1 lead and chasing 66ers starting pitcher Brandon Dufault after he recorded just three outs.

Hainline mashed his fourth homer of the year in the sixth, a three-run shot to make it 11-1.

The 66ers would get four in the bottom of the sixth and one in the ninth to round out the scoring.

Rancho Cucamonga (34-25) now leads the South Division by four games over Visalia and by six over Lake Elsinore, with just seven to play.  Their magic number is three over Visalia and just two over Lake Elsinore.  On Thursday night, the Quakes will send Christian Zazueta to the mound against 66ers’ right-hander Yeferson Vargas.

• Eduardo Quintero – 1-2, 3 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, SB (33)
• Jose Meza – 2-3, 2 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI
• Elijah Hainline – 2-4, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 4 RBI, HR (4)

Box Score