Minor League Schedule and Results

THURSDAY'S GAMES

Lexington at Kannapolis at 6:05 CST
Probable Pitchers: TBD and LHP Blair Walters (1-2, 3.38)

Corpus Christi at San Antonio at 7:05 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP Jake Buchanan (1-2, 4.75) and LHP Robbie Erlin (2-1, 2.67)
Available on MiLB.tv

Oklahoma City at Reno at 8:35 CST
Probable Pitchers: TBD
Available on MiLB.tv

Lancaster at Inland Empire at 9:05 CST
Probable Pitchers: RHP Tyson Perez (2-0, 1.64) and RHP Lay Batista (1-3, 4.86)

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Corpus Christi over San Antonio 11-9
I left for lunch and the Hooks had a three run lead (4-1) going in to the fourth, Oberholtzer was pretty much cruising and it looked like a good day. While I'm waiting for my food, I check again and it's a 9-2 lead after five. Even better! They've got this one in the bag. Not so fast there, Sparky. By the time I got back to the office, the score was 9-9 going into the seventh. What the what?!?!? San Antonio scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it. Oberholtzer had given up one run, and with one out and the bases loaded, Josh Zeid came in. And it wasn't pretty. Single with a run scoring, fly out, walk to reload the bases, grand slam. Zeid exits stage right. Kevin Chapman comes in and promptly walks the first two batters before mercifully getting the final out of the inning. Wow.

But the fun wasn't over. The game was still tied and with two out in the top of the ninth, pitcher Erick Abreu drew a walk in only his second plate appearance of the season, went first to third on a single and scored what turned out to be the winning run on another single. I doubt he would even have come to bat, but since Abreu is the go to guy for long relief and it was tied in the ninth, I can see why he did. The Hooks scored another run, Erick Abreu's day was done after one inning and Jason Stoffel got Abreu the win while recording his fourth save. I guess the moral of the story is that a win is a win even if it's an ugly win.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out the 17 hits that the Hooks got (after getting only five hits in yesterday's second game). Austin Wates (2x4, 3B), Jonathan Villar (2x5, 2RBI), Jose Martinez (4x5, 2B), Jake Goebbert (solo HR), Ryan McCurdy (3x5, 3RBI), and Brett Oberholtzer (2x3, RBI) all had good days. And Josh Zeid owes Erick Abreu, Andy Simunic, Ryan McCurdy and Brandon Barnes dinner for bailing him out of that mess!

Lancaster over Rancho Cucamonga 6-4
Bobby Doran earned his fourth win, giving up three runs over six innings pitched; Jose Trinidad pitched two scoreless frames; and Kirk Clark gave up one run, but ultimately struck out the side to earn his fourth save. Adam Bailey (2x4, two doubles), Rafy Valenzuela (2x5, RBI, SB), Alex Todd (2x4, two doubles, RBI) and Rene Garcia (1x4, 2B, 2RBI) were the stars of the night. George Springer was held out of the lineup again as he recovers from being hit in the hand by a pitch a few days ago. The win brings Lancaster back to .500.

Oklahoma City - Off Day

GAME OF THE DAY
Lexington over West Virginia 13-7

What went right: Delino DeShields Jr., Zach Johnson and Matt Duffy had monster nights.

Jonas Dufek wasn't dominating in this start, but he didn't need to be as his offense kicked it in to overdrive with seventeen hits and five stolen bases. Unfortunately, there is one correction that has to be made from what was reported last night regarding Delino DeShields, Jr. He only had four stolen bases, not five. From MiLB's story:

He was originally credited with a steal of home as part of a double steal in the first inning, which would have given him a Legends' record of five in one game, but since Jordan Scott was thrown out going from first to second before DeShields scored, DeShields was not credited with stealing home.

Four stolen bases or five, DeShields scored three times and is wreaking havoc on the basepaths. Zach Johnson reclaimed the South Atlantic League lead in RBIs with a four RBI night, including a three run home run. And Matt Duffy went 4x6 with a double, home run and two RBI. The bullpen gave up a couple of runs, but with the lead they were handed, they were free to pitch pretty aggressively. The win brings Lexington to .500 on the season.

Jonas Dufek (W, 1-0) - 6IP 7H 5R/3ER 0BB 5SO 1HR
Euris Quezada - 2IP 2H 1R 1BB 3SO
Evan Grills - 1IP 1H 1ER 0BB 1SO 1HR

Delino DeShields - 2x4 3B 2RBI BB 3R 4SB
Jordan Scott - 2x5 2B RBI BB 2R
Zach Johnson - 3x5 2B HR 4RBI BB 2R
Matt Duffy - 4x6 2B HR 2RBI R
Justin Gominsky - 2x5 2B RBI SO R

What went wrong: A Matt Duffy throwing error led to two unearned runs.


PITCHER OF THE DAY
On a day when there were no dominating pitching performances, I'm going to go with Erick Abreu for his ability to walk and his baserunning prowess. Who knew?

PLAYER OF THE DAY
I'm giving it to the entire Legends lineup. There were several overachievers on Wednesday, but every starter got at least one hit.