Minor League Recap and Playoff Schedule

Tuesday's Game

Tri-City over Hudson Valley 9-3
Tri-City took the lead early in the penultimate game of the 2012 regular season and never looked back. After losing five in a row, the ValleyCats were finally able to break the impasse and get in the win column. It was their 51st win of the season, breaking a franchise record for wins. The final game of the season will take place at 5:00 CST today and will determine home field advantage for the playoffs which will start Friday.

Starting pitcher Juan Minaya got his second win of the season as he was able to keep Hudson Valley from scoring until allowing two runs in the sixth inning. Prior to that, Tri-City already had a comfortable 5-0 lead. Jamaine Cotton allowed an additional unearned run before giving way to Blake Ford who, after inheriting two runners, promptly walked the bases loaded before inducing a double play to end the threat.

Dan Gulbransen set the tone early as he hit a three-run home run in the second and followed up with a solo shot in the fourth inning, ending his evening with four RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. With Jeff Luhnow in attendance, Joe Sclafani also set out to impress the boss with a five-for-five night in which he hit two doubles, drove in one and scored a run. M.P. Cokinos was three-for-four in his role as designated hitter and Tyler Heineman was two-for-five and scored twice.

Wednesday's Playoff Schedule

7:00 CST - Game 1: Corpus Christi at Frisco (Available on MiLB.tv)
The scheduled starters are RHP Paul Clemens for Corpus Christi and RHP Barrett Loux for Frisco. Clemens appears to have righted his ship after struggling mightily in Oklahoma City earlier this season. In seven starts for Corpus Christi, he is 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.248 WHIP (1.80 ERA ad 1.167 WHIP over his last five). He faced Frisco for the first time in his last start, allowing two runs over five innings and getting a no-decision. Loux is 2-0 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.270 WHIP in his last 10 games. Loux was extremely tough on Corpus Christi early in the season. The Hooks have not faced him since a July 13th start in which he gave up five runs (three earned) and was out of the game after three innings.

9:05 CST - Game 1: Lancaster at Lake Elsinore (Audio available)
The scheduled starters are RHP Tyson Perez for Lancaster and RHP Matthew Andriese for Lake Elsinore. Perez is 3-3 in his last 10 outings with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.553 WHIP. He is 1-2 in his starts against Lake Elsinore this season. Andriese is 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.169 WHIP in his last 10 outings. He is 4-1 in his starts against Lancaster this season. Lake Elsinore has been a tough venue for Lancaster. The JetHawks did not win at Lake Elsinore until their 13th game of the season. The key to this game will be getting Perez lots of run support, something he has benefited from frequently this season.