Let's play two in the Dominican Republic!
El Paso 14, Fresno 9
W- Jose Valdez (3-3)
L- Kevin Comer (5-4)
Fresno home runs: Preston Tucker (21, solo in 4th)
Despite getting 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st before recording an out, the Grizzlies got battered on Monday by 4 El Paso home runs and were outscored 14-4 the rest of the way.
A.J. Reed opened the scoring by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 1st. Jack Mayfield and Jon Kemmer followed by walking in two more runs, which prompted a pitching change. Garrett Stubbs grounded into a force out that scored Reed, and Mayfield ended up scoring on an error. Reed ripped an RBI double in the 2nd inning, Stubbs hit an RBI single in the 3rd, and Tucker smacked a solo homer in the 4th. Mayfield scored on a Drew Ferguson groundout in the 7th inning. Mayfield (2B, RBI, 2 R) and Kemmer (2B, RBI, R) both finished 2-4.
It was not a banner night for the Fresno pitching staff, but Ashur Tolliver did retire the side in order in the 9th, getting two flyouts and a groundout.
It's Tuesday, so you know what that means... Taco Tuesday! Kent Emanuel takes on former Astro Jordan Lyles in game 2. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.
Corpus Christi was off
The Hooks will start a 3-game series against Tulsa at 7:05. Brock Dykxhoorn will take on Josh Sborz in game 1.
Buies Creek was off
Matt Bower will face Mike Shawaryn at 7:05 Eastern as the Carolina Stros kick off a 3-game series in Salem.
Quad Cities 8, Beloit 5
W- Carson LaRue (12-4)
L- Zack Erwin (5-3)
QC home runs: Abraham Toro-Hernandez (4, 10 season; solo in 2nd), Josh Rojas (9, solo in 5th), Chuckie Robinson (12, 2-run in 6th)
After the Snappers scored twice in the opening half-inning, the Banditos responded with 8 unanswered runs to seize control of this game. Beloit made things a little interesting late, but the Banditos were able to secure their 7th consecutive win.
Carson LaRue started things off and shook off those early runs to throw 5.1 innings, allowing 8 hits, walking 1, and striking out 7. Lucas Williams was the first man out of the Quad Cities bullpen and allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 4 in 1.2 innings of work. Dustin Hunt allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2 in the 8th, and Salvador Montaño pitched the 9th, allowing a run on a wild pitch, a double, walking 1, and striking out 2.
Abraham Toro-Hernandez led off the bottom of the 2nd with a homer to put the Banditos on the board. Daz Cameron followed by drawing a walk. He moved to 2nd base on a Josh Rojas single and scored on a Kristian Trompiz single. Ray Henderson kept the line moving with an RBI single, and Luis Payano drew a walk to load the bases. Ronnie Dawson struck out and Chuckie Robinson popped out in foul ground, but Troy Sieber came through with a single to bring Trompiz in.
Henderson added another RBI single to his ledger in the 3rd inning. Rojas led off the 5th with a homer, and after Dawson walked to lead off the 6th and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, Robinson launched his second 2-run homer in as many nights. Rojas (solo HR, 3 R) and Henderson (2B, 2 RBI) had 3 hits apiece, while Sieber (RBI) and Trompiz (RBI, R) both finished with 2 hits.
Cristian Javier takes on Seth Martinez as Quad Cities wraps up this series. First pitch is at 6:35.
Tri-City 4, Aberdeen 3
W- Reggie Johnson (5-0)
L- Jimmy Murphy (1-2)
TC home runs: None.
The ValleyCats took this game and the series thanks to a wild 8th inning. Aberdeen broke a 1-1 tie with a pair in the top half and Tri-City responded with 3 in the bottom half to take the lead.
No one in the lineup recorded an RBI. Corey Julks scored the ValleyCats' first run of the evening on a double play in the 2nd inning. J.J. Matijevic hit a one-out double in the bottom of the 8th and scored on an error that allowed Adrian Tovalin to reach.
Tovalin, who advanced to 2nd on the error, moved to 3rd on Colton Shaver's single and scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Shaver made way for Andy Piñeda, who stole 2nd (13), advanced to 3rd on the wild pitch that allowed Tovalin to score, and scored what turned out to be the winning run on an error that allowed Julks to reach. Shaver finished 2-4 on the evening.
Alex House and Hunter Martin started it off with 3 innings apiece. House allowed a homer to Mason McCoy to start the game, a double, and struck out 5. Martin allowed 2 hits and struck out 3. Parker Mushinski allowed 2 runs (1 earned), a bunt single, walked 3, and struck out 3 in 1.2 innings. Reggie Johnson retired all 4 Aberdeen hitters he faced and struck out 3 of them.
Tri-City will begin a 3-game series in Lowell at 6:35 Eastern.
Greeneville and Burlington was postponed
Due to rain. A doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 5:00 Eastern. Leovanny Rodriguez will face Nathan Webb in game 1. The second game will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of game 1; the Appy Astros' starter for that game is TBA.
Game 1: DSL Athletics 6, DSL Astros Blue 2
W- Alexander Calderon (3-1)
L- Jean Reyes (0-1)
Blue home runs: None.
Team Blue got their two runs in game 1 in the 5th inning: Leonardo Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Kendy Moya followed by walking in another run. Gonzalez finished 2-2.
Jean Reyes allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 4 in 4 innings. Bryan Solano was the first man out of the bullpen in game 1 and went 2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits, walking 2, and striking out 4. Angel Matos worked around a walk to throw a scoreless 7th.
Game 2: DSL Athletics 1, DSL Astros Blue 0
W- Livan Sanchez (1-1)
L- Angel Ortega (2-2)
S- Ruber Aquino (8)
Blue home runs: None.
The only hit that the Blue team could muster up in game 2 was a single from Yorbin Ceuta. Yeuris Ramirez walked twice, while Ronaldo Urdaneta stole 2 bases (21).
Angel Ortega went 4 innings and allowed the only run on 3 hits and struck out 1. Jervic Chavez walked 1 and struck out 2 over 2 scoreless.
Game 1: DSL Rangers1 2, DSL Astros Orange 1
W- Jesús Linares (5-1)
L- Fredis Guerrero (3-1)
S- Darel Torres (4)
Orange home runs: None.
The Orange team outhit the Rangers 12-6, but lost in the column that matters most.
Luis Barajas had a pinch-hit RBI single in the 7th. Fildex Perfecto scored, but Michael Garcia was thrown out at the plate to end the game as he attempted to score the tying run. Ramiro Rodriguez, Marco Van Der Wijst, and Deury Carrasco all finished 2-3.
Fredis Guerrero went 5 innings and allowed a run on 6 hits and fanned 4. Luis De Paula walked a batter in the 6th who eventually scored on... a throw from the outfield that went to the wrong target, I guess. De Paula also had a strikeout in the inning.
Game 2: DSL Rangers1 13, DSL Astros Orange 0
W- Sergio Suarez (3-1)
L- Elian Rodriguez (0-3)
Orange home runs: None.
Uhhh... the second game didn't go as well for Team Orange. I think I'll just leave it at that.
Monday's Stars
All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.
Jervic Chavez, LHP, DSL Astros Blue: 2 IP, BB, 2 K in game 2 of doubleheader
Josh Rojas, IF, and Ray Henderson, C/2B, Quad Cities
Rojas: 3-3, solo HR (9), 3 R
Henderson: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Don't forget to check out Jayne's interview with Josh Rojas!
Carson LaRue, RHP, Quad Cities
W (12-4), 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K
Alex House's and Hunter Martin's photos are their mugshots on MiLB.com.
Alex House, RHP, Hunter Martin, RHP, and Reggie Johnson, RHP, Tri-City
House: 3 IP, 2 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 5 K
Martin: 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Johnson: W (5-0), 1.1 IP, 3 K
Jack Mayfield, IF, and Preston Tucker, OF, Fresno
Mayfield: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Tucker: Solo HR (21), 3 R
