Doubleheader day in the minors.
Game 1: Fresno 2, Albuquerque 1
W- Rogelio Armenteros (6-1, 8-4 season)
L- Ryan Carpenter (7-9)
S- Brendan McCurry (4)
Fresno home runs: Tyler White (20, 2-run in 3rd)
Both teams scored in the same inning; Fresno's scoring play produced more runs, so they won. I like it when baseball is simple.
Tyler White's 2-run homer in the 3rd opened up the scoring. He and Tony Kemp were the offense in game 1; White had two of the three hits. Kemp singled and scored on White's blast.
Rogelio Armenteros allowed a run on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 10 in 5 innings. It's the second time this season that Armenteros has recorded double-digit strikeouts. Brendan McCurry pitched the final 2 innings to get the save, allowing 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 1.
Game 2: Fresno 5, Albuquerque 3
W- Jordan Jankowski (2-3)
L- Thad Weber (1-6)
S- Jumbo Diaz (2)
Fresno home runs: None.
Both clubs scored in the same number of innings in game 2, but the Grizzlies put up the only crooked numbers in their scoring innings to sweep the twinbill.
Fresno opened the scoring on a Garrett Stubbs RBI single in the 1st inning. They scored twice in the 3rd on a Preston Tucker RBI groundout and an RBI single from A.J. Reed and got two more in the 5th thanks to a 2-run single from Stubbs. Kemp went 3-4 with a double, a stolen base (21), and scored twice. Stubbs went 2-3.
David Martinez went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Jordan Jankowski extracted Martinez from a bases-loaded predicament by getting the final two outs of the inning, one via strikeout. Kevin Comer and Jumbo Diaz followed with a scoreless inning; Comer allowed a hit and struck out 1, while Diaz struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th for the save.
Trent Thornton takes on Yency Almonte in game 3. First pitch is at 6:05 Mountain.
Springfield 6, Corpus Christi 5
W- Sandy Alcantara (7-5)
L- Alex Winkelman (1-7, 3-7 season)
S- Tyler Bray (2)
CC home runs: None.
The Hooks almost erased a 6-2 deficit. Almost. They scored 3 in the 8th to make it a one-run game, but left the bases loaded to end it.
Alex Winkelman went 5 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits (2 solo homers), walked 3, and struck out 4. Ralph Garza Jr. and Riley Ferrell followed with 2 innings apiece, with contrasting results. Garza allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2. On the other hand, Ferrell struck out 5 in a perfect outing.
Jason Martin opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st inning. Kyle Tucker drove in another run with a sac fly in the 2nd to tie the game at 2. Tucker's sac fly would be the last Corpus scoring play until the 8th; in the meantime, Springfield put up 2 in the 4th and the 6th to take a 6-2 lead.
Martin drew a 1-out walk, advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, and scored on a double from Colin Walsh. Walsh moved to 3rd on another wild pitch and came home on a Tony Nuñez groundout. Arturo Michelena drew a walk following a pitching change. He went to 2nd on a Rico Noel single and two wild pitches later, scored to make it a 6-5 game.
Jamie Ritchie got plunked with one out in the bottom of the 9th, and then Ryne Birk came on to run for him. Martin singled and Walsh walked to load the bases. Birk was thrown out at home under questionable circumstances, which Hooks manager Rodney Linares disagreed with, and his dissent resulted in him getting the heave-ho.
Martin (RBI, R) and Michelena (2 R) both finished with 2 hits on the night.
Brock Dykxhoorn takes on Chris Ellis in the series finale. First pitch is at 6:05.
Down East 9, Buies Creek 3
W- Emerson Martinez (3-8)
L- Ryan Hartman (2-4, 5-5 season)
BC home runs: None.
The Wood Ducks busted this open late with 5 runs over the last 2 innings.
Ryan Hartman went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits (2 solo homers), walked 1, and struck out 5. Hector Perez was the first man out of the Buies Creek bullpen and allowed 4 runs on 3 hits (3-run homer), walked 4, and struck out 2 in 2.2 innings. Carlos Sierra allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on a double and walked 3 in 1.1 innings of work.
Both teams scored a run in the 1st; the Carolina Stros got theirs on a Yordan Alvarez sac fly. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the 6th, and Anibal Sierra scored on a Myles Straw groundout in the 8th. Stephen Wrenn went 3-4 with a stolen base (9, 17 season).
Jorge Alcala will face Brett Martin in the series finale. First pitch is at 2:00 Eastern.
Cedar Rapids 9, Quad Cities 1
W- Anthony Marzi (4-2)
L- Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 2-4 season)
QC home runs: None.
The Kernels blew the Banditos away by scoring in 6 out of 8 innings.
Daz Cameron doubled to lead off the 4th and scored Quad Cities' only run when Chas McCormick grounded into a force out.
Patrick Sandoval went 4 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits (2-run homer), walked 3, and struck out 5. César Rosado was the first man out of the bullpen and allowed 2 hits, one of which was a solo homer, in the 5th. Ronel Blanco went 2 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Robert Corniel struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th.
Gabriel Valdez will start the series finale against Charlie Barnes at 2:05.
Game 1: Tri-City 4, Williamsport 3
W- Leovanny Rodriguez (1-0, 4-0 season)
L- Zach Warren (0-3)
S- Luis Ramirez (2)
TC home runs: None.
The ValleyCats edged the Cutters thanks to a run in the 6th that broke a 3-3 tie.
Leovanny Rodriguez won in his return to the New York-Penn League; he went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5. Luis Ramirez walked 1 and struck out 3 in the last 2 innings.
Jonathan Arauz and Gabriel Bracamonte both singled to start off the 4th, and Adrian Tovalin ripped an RBI double to put Tri-City on the board. Bracamonte scored on a Colton Shaver sac fly. Jake Meyers scored on a balk in the 5th and Corey Julks smacked an RBI double in the 6th. Bracamonte finished 2-4.
Game 2: Tri-City 3, Williamsport 0
W- Matt Ruppenthal (1-1)
L- Connor Brogdon (1-1)
S- Diogenes Almengo (1)
TC home runs: None.
Tri-City took the division lead with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday. Now, it's just a 0.5 game lead and everyone in their division is separated by just 2.5 games, but they're looking to keep their momentum going. Winning both games in a doubleheader is a good starting point...
Matt Ruppenthal and Diogenes Almento combined on a 2-hit shutout. Ruppenthal allowed 2 hits and struck out 5, while Almengo struck out 3 in a perfect final 2 innings.
All three Tri-City runs in the second game came in the 6th. Bracamonte tripled and Adrian Tovalin walked to start things off. Bracamonte scored the first run on a single from Shaver. Mike Papierski walked to load the bases, and then Kyle Davis walked Tovalin home. Shaver scored on a botched force attempt. Bracamonte, who went 2-4 in both games, hit two triples in game 2.
The ValleyCats and Crosscutters will conclude their series at 5:05 Eastern.
Game 1: Kingsport 2, Greeneville 0
W- Christian James (2-3)
L- Yhoan Acosta (0-1)
S- Billy Oxford (1)
Greeneville home runs: None.
The Appy Astros couldn't really get much going in the first game of the doubleheader. Jose Benjamin went 2-2 with a double.
Yhoan Acosta allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the 1st inning. Tim Hardy allowed a hit and struck out 4 over 5 scoreless, and Ian Hardman struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 7th.
Game 2: Kingsport 3, Greeneville 0
W- Marbin Montijo (2-1)
L- Jairo Solis (0-1, 2-2 season)
S- Aaron Ford (1)
Greeneville home runs: None.
Rough day for the Appy Astros. Wilson Amador went 2-2 with a walk.
Noel Pinto allowed a hit and struck out 2 in a scoreless 1st inning. Jairo Solis went 1.2 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Johsson Arias allowed 3 hits and struck out 6 in 2.1 innings, and Willy Collado allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 over the final 2 innings.
Francisco Villegas will start game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:00 Eastern.
Game 1: DSL Dodgers1 5, DSL Astros Blue 4
W- Maykel Rabsatt (1-0)
L- Jonger Ochoa (1-1)
S- Joan Valdez (3)
Blue home runs: None.
Yorbin Ceuta finished a home run shy of the cycle in 4 at-bats. He opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the 3rd and added an RBI double to his ledger in the 7th which cut the Blue team's deficit to one run. Wilyer Abreu and Kendy Moya both drove in a run.
Jean Reyes went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits (2-run homer), walked 2, and struck out 1. Jonger Ochoa got the last two outs of the 5th and came out for the 6th, but ran into trouble. Luis Garcia took ownership of the last 2 innings. Ochoa, who walked 3, had 2 inherited runners charged to him. Garcia allowed 3 hits and struck out 2.
Game 2: DSL Dodgers1 4, DSL Astros Blue 0
W- Jeronimo Castro (6-2)
L- Jervic Chavez (1-1)
Blue home runs: None.
Having an equal amount of errors and hits usually does not bode well for a baseball team.
Kilvio Peralta allowed a hit and fanned 3 in 3 scoreless innings. Jervic Chavez went 3.1 innings and allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and fanned 3. Jose Antonio Hernandez got the last two outs of the 7th, allowing a hit and striking out 1.
DSL Astros Orange 7, DSL Indians 5
W- Jesus Bernaez (2-4)
L- Diarlin Jimenez (3-6)
S- Cristofer Melendez (3)
Orange home runs: None.
Team Orange had to stave off a late charge from the Indians to win this one.
Deury Carrasco (2 R) and Luis Barajas (R) both had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Jeury Castillo also had 2 hits on the day; he scored twice and stole a base (7).
Elian Rodriguez and Jesus Bernaez threw 3 innings apiece and were both relatively successful. Rodriguez allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1, while Bernaez allowed a hit and fanned 3 in a scoreless outing. Fabricio Reina allowed 4 runs (2 inherited runners charged to him) on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Cristofer Melendez took ownership of the 9th, allowing a hit and striking out 2.
Saturday's Stars
All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.
Yorbin Ceuta, SS, DSL Astros Blue: 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R in game 1 of doubleheader
Deury Carrasco, IF, DSL Astros Orange: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R
Jesus Bernaez, RHP, DSL Astros Orange: W (2-4), 3 IP, H, 3 K
Rogelio Armenteros, RHP, Fresno
W (6-1, 8-4 season), 5 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K in game 1 of doubleheader
Tyler White, IF, and Tony Kemp, 2B, Fresno
White: 2-3, 2-R HR (20) in game 1 of doubleheader
Kemp: 1-3, R in game 1 of doubleheader
3-4, 2B, 2 R, SB (21) in game 2 of doubleheader
Tim Hardy's and Johsson Arias' photos are their mugshots on MiLB.com.
Ian Hardman's photo taken by Bryan Green.
Greeneville Astros bullpen
Tim Hardy: 5 IP, H, 4 K in game 1 of doubleheader
Ian Hardman: IP, 2 K in game 1 of doubleheader
Johsson Arias: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 6 K in game 2 of doubleheader
Matt Ruppenthal's photo is his mugshot on MiLB.com.
Tri-City ValleyCats pitchers: W 4-3, 3-0 @ Williamsport in doubleheader
Matt Ruppenthal: W (1-1), 5 IP, 2 H, 5 K in game 2 of doubleheader
Diogenes Almengo: Save (1), 2 IP, 3 K in game 2 of doubleheader; perfect outing
Luis Ramirez: Save (2), 2 IP, BB, 3 K in game 1 of doubleheader
Gabriel Bracamonte, C, Tri-City
2-4, R in game 1 of doubleheader
2-4, 2 3B, R in game 2 of doubleheader
Riley Ferrell, RHP, Corpus Christi
2 IP, 5 K; perfect outing
