Minor League Schedule and Recaps

THURSDAY'S GAMES

Rome at Lexington at 6:05 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP Ryan Weber (1-1, 6.30) and RHP Jonas Dufek (1-1, 5.56)
Available on MiLB.tv

Nashville at Oklahoma City at 7:05 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP Mark Rogers (1-2, 4.93) and LHP Wes Musick (0-1, 5.40)
Available on MiLB.tv

Corpus Christi at Arkansas at 7:10 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP Jose Cisnero (2-5, 5.36) and RHP A.J. Schugel (2-5, 3.54)

Lancaster at Visalia at 9:00 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP David Martinez (1-3, 6.12) and LHP David Holmberg (6-3, 3.13)

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Lexington over Augusta 6-1
Despite a slight hiccup in his last start, Luis Cruz has been simply terrific. In his last seven starts, he has five wins and two no decisions with a 1.56 ERA and a 1.044 WHIP over 46 innings. Cruz gave up no runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.84. Evan Grills gave up the only run on two hits in two innings of relief. The offense in this game was dominated by relative newcomers Chan Moon (three-for-three with a walk and two runs) and Jesse Wierzbicki (two-for-four with a triple, two RBIs, SB). Delino DeShields stole his 32nd bag of the season.

Oklahoma City over Nashville 7-2
Brand new Astro Brian Bass (W, 1-0) had a heckuva debut, allowing no runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts over six innings pitched. Enerio del Rosario and Adalberto Flores each allowed a run in relief, while Jose Valdez pitched the final inning giving up only one hit. Brett Wallace hit his eighth home run of the season (he only hit six all last season between the major leagues and the minor leagues); Scott Moore and Carlos Corporan each had two RBIs; Jimmy Paredes and Brandon Barnes each had two hits. Barnes stole two bases while J.B. Shuck stole one.

Lancaster over Visalia 4-3
Ruben Alaniz (W, 5-1) continues to prove that he belongs as he allowed only two runs on seven hits over eight innings. Andrew Robinson came in for the ninth but failed to record an out against his two batters and was pulled for Kirk Clark who got his sixth save of the season. A two run Erik Castro home run and a RBI double from Rafy Valenzuela accounted for most of the scoring, but George Springer also contributed with smart base-running as he scored from third on a wild pitch. Alex Todd had a double, three walks and a stolen base to his credit, and Springer also stole his 13th bag of the season.

GAME OF THE DAY
Corpus Christi over Arkansas 3-2

What went right: Good pitching and effective (and timely) small ball hitting.

Ross Seaton didn't get the win, but he kept the Hooks in the game in this low-scoring affair. Josh Zeid who has had a couple of spectacularly bad outings this season had his third scoreless outing in a row. And Jason Stoffel continues to impress, getting the save and lowering his ERA to 1.21. The pitching was key as the Hooks only had five hits, scoring on a Jose Martinez ground out, a Jonathan Villar fly out and a Jon Singleton solo homer (his tenth of the season). Austin Wates stole two bases, his 11th and 12th of the season. Andy Simunic stole a bag as well.

Ross Seaton - 6.2IP 9H 2R 0BB 1SO
Josh Zeid (W, 2-0) - 1.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1SO
Jason Stoffel (S, 6) - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0SO

Austin Wates - 1x2 BB R 2SB
Jon Singleton - 1x4 HR RBI SO R
Jake Goebbert - 1x4 2B SO

What went wrong: A fielding error by Villar and a wild pitch by Seaton is about all I can find.

PITCHER OF THE DAY
Luis Cruz pitched seven innings, giving up no runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. That is pitcher of the day worthy to me.

PLAYER OF THE DAY
Brandon Barnes was two-for-four with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. He's hitting .333 after four games. I think he feels right at home in Oklahoma City.