It figured to be a tough night for LAD with LHSP, Eric Lauer, on the bump. All he has done in his career against the Dodgers is go 7-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 64.2 IP.
Well…Mookie Betts decided to remind all of us that he is a dangerous RH bat against LHP. On the second pitch he saw from LHP Eric Lauer, he deposited it over the LF wall for yet another leadoff HR (7). This was his 2nd leadoff HR of the year and 39th of his career; 19 with LAD. Charlie Blackmon (40) and George Springer (53) are the two active players ahead of Mookie. He is 10th on the all-time list.
- Ricky Henderson (81)
- Alfonso Soriano (54)
- George Springer (53)
- Craig Biggio (53)
- Ian Kinsler (48)
- Curtis Granderson (47)
- Jimmy Rollins (46)
- Brady Anderson (44)
- Charlie Blackmon (40)
- Mookie Betts (39)
The Dodgers were not done in the 1st. Freddie Freeman drew a walk, stole 2nd, and moved to 3rd on an errant pick off throw at 2nd. Will Smith hit a long 369 foot sac fly to CF for a sac fly.
In the 2nd, James Outman continues to prove he can hit LHP and doubled down the right field line. With two out and 2 strikes, Miggy Rojas got on top of a fastball up out of the zone and outside, and banged it into RF for a run scoring single.
Another RH bat, Will Smith, slugged his 5th HR of the season over the LF wall. It was not hit as hard or as far as the sac fly, but it did leave the yard.
After 3.2 innings, the Dodgers chase Lauer, and have a 4-0 lead against a LHSP.
Miguel Vargas crushed a 2-run HR in the 6th inning for a 6-0 lead. This insurance would be invaluable later in the game.
The game started ominous enough for LAD starting pitcher, Noah Syndergaard. He took a 9 day break to work on mechanics. Okay, so they did not want him to pitch against the Padres. After his 1st inning warm up pitches, crew chief, Alfonso Marquez, and HP umpire Ramon De Jesus were checking Syndergaard’s hand. He went back into the clubhouse because of blood on the baseball. They looked at the sealant on his finger and sent him back in the clubhouse for additional treatment. He came back out, and got out of the 1st inning, thanks to a tremendous defensive play by Chris Taylor on a Willy Adames fly ball to the LF wall. That was followed by a Rowdy Tellez double play. Syndergaard is calling it a cut finger. Per Doc, this was his 3rd start with the finger in semi-raw condition. Syndergaard has had this before.
From there it turned into a bullpen game. The LAD bullpen dominated the Brewers until Shelby Miller offered up 2 solo HRs. Rowdy Tellez’s could be expected. Victor Caratini? Not so much.
Shelby Miller walked Christian Yelich with 2 out in the 8th, and Brusdar Graterol then relieved Miller. Luke Voit singled before Graterol got Willy Adames on a swinging strike 3. That was Graterol’s lone whiff of the night.
Graterol went back out in the 9th. With one out, Vargas threw a ball away and the Brewers still had life. Graterol walked Caratini, but as Dontrelle Willis said, De Jesus’ strike zone was floating around like a Ouija board. Graterol threw three pitches that were called balls, but could have been, and were previously called strikes. It really isn’t fair for the pitchers (or the hitters). This is the second bad job behind the plate this year by De Jesus.
The Dodgers defense has been taking a hit lately, but the play by Chris Taylor off the bat of Christian Yelich off Justin Bruihl in the 3rd inning was outstanding.
Chris Taylor holy catch pic.twitter.com/9u2yUIoNRY
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) May 10, 2023
The Dodgers will now be going for another road series win. For the rubber match, Clayton Kershaw will face off against another LHSP, Wade Miley. Miley has not been as formidable as other LHP against LAD. His record is 4-6, with an ERA of 4.03 and WHIP of 1.396 in 91.2 IP.
05-09-2023 MiLB Summary Report
OKC Dodgers 4 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 1
This was supposed to be a big-time pitching duel between OKC’s Gavin Stone and Round Rock’s Cody Bradford. And it did not disappoint. Gavin Stone allowed a 2 out HR to Justin Foscue in the 1st inning. IN 5.1 IP, he was a little wild with 4 BB, but he allowed only 2 hits. After Gavin walked Foscue with 1 out in the 6th he had thrown 91 pitches, and it was his last on the night.
Tyler Cyr relieved Gavin. Foscue stole 2nd and continued to 3rd on a throwing error by Hunter Feduccia. But Cyr left him stranded there.
Cody Bradford basically shut down OKC from the start. He pitched 6.0 scoreless innings on 4 singles and a BB to go with 7 Ks. The PCL is a BIG TIME hitters league. After 7 starts and 39.2 innings, Bradford’s ERA is lowered to 0.96 with a WHIP of 0.86. The #2 ERA in the PCL is 3.00. Gavin Stone is 5th at 4.20.
Down 1-0 and Bradford done for the night, OKC put up 4 in the 7th. With 1 out, Steven Duggar drew a BB, Jahmai Jones doubled (6), and Ben DeLuzio walked to load the bases. David Freitas was just activated for the game, and on a 3-2 pitch hit a grand slam and a 4-1 lead.
Brayan Hudson and Nick Robertson closed it out for the OKC win. Robertson, who now looks to be the closer by choice, earned his 4th save.
- Yonny Fernandez – 2-5
- Jahmai Jones – 2-4, double (6)
Tulsa Drillers 14 – Springfield Cardinals 1
Tulsa brought their big boy bats to play. 14 runs on 15 hits and 6 walks and 2 HBP. They only struck out 5 times, so the bat was attacking the ball.
Every Tulsa hitter had at least one hit except Jorbit Vivas, but he reached base twice via HBP.
Nick Nastrini started and completed 5.0 innings allowing only run on an L. J. Jones 2nd inning HR (3).
Braydon Fisher continued his mastery of AA batters with a scoreless inning. John Rooney, Trevor Bettencourt, and Ben Harris followed with a scoreless inning of their own. Although Harris continues to struggle with his control as he loaded the bases in the 9th on BB.
Offensive highlights:
- Jonny DeLuca – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR (9)
- Andy Pages – 3-4, 1 BB, 1 R, 3 RBI, double (11)
- Imanol Vargas – 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
- José Ramos – 2-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, double (4), HR (8)
- Eddys Leonard – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 doubles (6)
- Brandon Lewis – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (2)
- 8-18 RISP
- DeLuca is now #2 in the Texas League HR battle with 9. Ramos is now #3 in the Texas League HR battle with 8.
- Andy Pages #3 in League OBP; Jonny DeLuca #3 in League SLG; DeLuca #4 in League OPS; Jorbit Vivas #6 in League OPS.
Great Lakes Loons 4 – Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 1
Justin Wrobleski delivered the longest outing of his minor-league career. The left-hander saw the first two batters reach, and then aptly responded striking out three through five in the Lake County order. In the second, the 22-year-old forced a double play, and in the third, stranded a baserunner. The fourth was Wrobleski’s best a 1-2-3 11-pitch frame. His pitching line was 4.2 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 BB, 5 K.
In the top of the second, Austin Gauthier, coming off being named the Midwest League Player of the Week, drove in the game’s first two runs with a single. Chris Alleyne and Ismael Alcantara were the runners plated, Alleyne reached on a walk, after a ball lifted down the left-field line was ruled a home run and then was overturned.
Dalton Rushing’s third at-bat led off the top of the fifth, the Loons catcher launched a no-doubter. to make it 3-0.
The bottom of the fifth, saw two Captains reach. Lake County’s catcher Micael Ramirez singled, and second baseman Christian Cairo walked. Loons right fielder Ismael Alcantara recorded the second out for Great Lakes making a great play in foul territory, the last out recorded by Justin Wrobleski. Christian Suarez inherited two on and two out and got a groundout to end the inning.
Insurance was added in the top of the eighth. Jake Vogel reached on a catcher’s interference, after a second out was recorded, the next three batters would not be denied. Alcantara singled, Luis Diaz walked, and set up the bases loaded for Austin Gauthier. The Midwest League leader in on-base percentage, worked a seven-pitch walk, to extend the lead to 4-0.
The bullpen came to play. Christian Suarez struck out two, in 1.1 innings. Mitchell Tyranski pitched the next two frames, striking out three and permitting just one baserunner.
Reinaldo De Paula was tasked with the ninth, Lake County managed to get a multi-hit inning and a run across. Dayan Frias plated a run with a sacrifice fly after the bottom of the ninth started with two singles. Three outs followed, including a strikeout of the potential tying run.
- Dalton Rushing – 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR (5)
- Yeiner Fernandez – 2-5
- Ismael Alcantara – 2-4
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4 – Stockton Ports (A’s) 3
Jerming Rosario, the Quakes starting pitcher, completed 4.0 innings, and the only blemish on his card was a 4th inning lead off HR (1) by Tommy Stevenson.
Rancho didn’t score their first runs until the eighth, as they rallied with two in the eighth to take a 2-1 lead, thanks in part to an Jorge Puerta RBI double (4) to put them ahead.
After suffering a seven-run ninth on Sunday in a loss at Lake Elsinore, Rancho gave away a one-run advantage in the ninth on Tuesday, as the Ports scored a pair of runs with two outs, taking a 3-2 lead.
Dayton Dooney’s two-run double in the last of the ninth, saved the Quakes from their second straight ninth-inning loss, as Rancho came from behind on Tuesday afternoon to defeat Stockton 4-3.
Stockton closer Dallas Woolfolk couldn’t hold the lead though, as Rancho’s offense, which was held to just six hits over the first eight innings, came out swinging in the ninth. Jesus Galiz opened the inning with a single, then moved to second on a Kenneth Betancourt single down the left-field line. That set the stage for Dooney, as he blasted one off the top of the left-field fence. Galiz easily scored, but the ball bounced away from Stockton left fielder Colby Thomas, giving Betancourt the opportunity to score the game-winner in walkoff fashion.
Jon Edwards (1-0) got the final out in the top of the ninth, as he was credited with the win.
- Jose Izarra – 2-4, 1 R
- Jorge Puerta – 2-4, 1 RBI, double (4) (walkoff)
So with Thor going down, does this mean that we’ll see more of Gavin Stone?
Yes, he is lined up perfectly for his next start
Nobody was willing to commit to an IL stint last night. Thor did not think he needed one. I have to believe that this would be a good opportunity to give Stone another start at the MLB level. While Gavin pitched effectively last night, he did not have his good change, and did not have his 2022 command. One metric scouts and execs really look at is the trend in BB and K. Gavin’s K/9 is way down, and his BB/9 is way up. In addition his HR/9 is significantly up as well.
Gavin cannot possibly live up to what he accomplished last year, so expectations are going to need to be tempered. Of course he is a legit MLB SP prospect, and the Dodgers are fortunate to have him. But to expect him to be anything more than a #5/#6 at this point of the season in unrealistic.
Yep, we can hit LHP. That doesn’t mean we stick with these players who can’t hit any kind of pitching. I liked the suggestion of moving Vargas to 3B, Busch to 2B, and Mookie to SS. We’ve got nothing to lose. Muncy, who is closing in on the SO crown should not be the DH. This FO thinks way too slowly and conservatively for my taste but it’s out of my hands.
Great win for the Dodgers despite losing Thor after 1 inning. The Bullpen was tremendous with some defensive help. While the Dodgers have struggled offensively in a lot of games, they still have 7 starters above 820 OPS, and two other starters above 750 OPS in Taylor and Vargas. Both Taylor and Vargas appear to be improving as well. With 9 players above average offensively, the Dodgers can afford to carry defensive contributors like Barnes, Rojas, Peralta and Thompson until they find their hitting strokes. Thompson is the most likely to be replaced since he has struggled the most lately and the Dodgers have the least financially invested in him this year. It would be great to add a RHB especially if JDM is hurting, but it is not mandatory at this point. Plus maybe Luke Williams or one of the outfielders crushing it in AA can provide some depth before the trade deadline.
They are going to have to nut up and trade one of their AAA/AA top prospect SPs for an OF.
I do not disagree, but I have no idea who that established MLB difference making OF could be. TJ Friedl? Victor Robles? Certainly none of the Cardinal OF. Who would you trade to get Luis Robert from CWS. He is not a financial burden, and potentially controlled thru 2027, so the prospect cost would be extremely expensive.
Instead of Friedl, Cincinnati would gladly flip Wil Myers.
I know I am being Captain Obvious, but it takes two teams, and the teams looking as if they might be sellers do not have quality OF help. CWS may trade Tim Anderson, and that would put CT3 in the OF.
I am still holding out all hope (as unrealistic as it is) that the Dodgers could somehow some way make an offer for Royce Lewis.
Although Sal Frelick is having a horrible start to AAA this year, I do think it stems from the disappointment that Joey Weimer was picked over him for the Brewers OF.
But if there is nobody worth trading an elite SP prospect for, give Andy Pages or Jonny DeLuca a shot. They are already on the 40 man.
Making an offer for Royce Lewis is easy. Getting them to accept it is the tough part. After, I believe, two ACL surgeries over the past couple of years, they might be more willing than you think to give him up for the right return.
On the other hand, that would be a high-risk trade for AF to make, considering the injury history.
It would be risky, but those are the kind of deals AF likes. Lewis’ SS days are probably over, but not his OF days. He would look good in LF at Dodger Stadium. Regardless, very doubtful, since Lewis would provide immediate offense to a very bad Twins offense (worst team BA in MLB).
If Bums can trade Muncy, CT3, and Peralta for Arenado, I can trade Ismael Alcantara and Jerming Rosario and for Royce Lewis. 😄
Remember Muncy, CT3, and Peralta were identified as players going to St Louis because they would offset the payroll cost of Arenado coming to LA.
I think this is not real
Cole Percival, son of former MLB elite reliever, was released by Tulsa. Cole was a 2020 undrafted free agent. I knew it was a HUGE longshot, but I was pulling for him. He was one of Harold’s favorites.
I don’t want Stone to do what he did last year. He threw 121 innings in the minors. We need him to give us 5 innings soon, and we could use it often.
Thor may say he doesn’t need to go on the IL, but he’s going to miss a start or two, might as well put him there.
And here we are looking at depth again. We have a plethora of pitching prospects but few who are ready to step up and step in. I wonder what the scrap pile holds? Friedman likes to shop the secondhand stores.
Yeah, we beat a left handed pitcher. I’m not surprised. We can score. Not consistently, but, often enough to be 4th in scoring, 3rd in RDIFF in the NL. 2.5 games ahead of SD. We’re doing ok.
What’s Grove’s status?
Per LAD on Grove – May 9:
Ryan Pepiot Update:
Who’s worse, Eddings or Marquez?
I say it’s a throw up.
Include Ramon De Jesus and this may be the worst crew that I have seen. I do not remember seeing Charlie Ramos (4th member of crew).
Lots of good news today:
While the Dodgers have their 23 and 24 year old pitchers at AA being blocked by journeymen SP at OKC, Miami is promoting their 20 year old phenom (just turned 20) Eury Pérez. He is a 6’8″ RHP who is being moved directly from AA. In 31.0 IP at AA, Pérez has a 2.32 ERA and 0.806 WHIP. 42 K and 9 BB. He throws a fastball that sits at 94-97 and touches 100 with plenty of run and vertical movement. His scouting grades are – fastball 70, change 70, slider 65, curve 55, and control at 60.
For all of you Maddux Bruns fans, he has been promoted to High A (Great Lakes), and will be making his Great Lakes debut on Thursday against Cleveland’s High A affiliate, Lake County Captains. Good luck Maddux, as you start your climb.
I watched his last start. He is exactly as his stats say: Wild at times, but when he throws strikes, they’re electric looking strikes.
If he can get some command, he’s a lights out closer or a top of the rotation guy. IF, of course.
Jeff,
Is that an aggressive promotion? Was the Pikarski ProMotion aggressive?
Obviously there’s no right answer, but very interested in your opinion
3 more bombs today. Freddie with a 2 hit game. Mookie was the odd man out.