MINOR LEAGUE RECAP – PLAYOFF ADDITION

 

AAA – PCL American Conference Playoff – OKC Dodgers v. Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals)

Game 1 – Memphis Redbirds 4-2 Win over OKC Dodgers

Game 2 – OKC Dodgers 5-4 Win over Memphis Redbirds

Because of the wet field postponement on Wednesday, the Dodgers and Redbirds were forced to play a doubleheader on Thursday and came away with a split.  The series shifts to Memphis in this best 3 out of 5 playoff for the next three games (if necessary).

Game 1 – Daniel Corcino started and went 5 scoreless innings.  Unfortunately, Corcino was pulled after 5 and only 80 pitches and was relieved by Julio Urias.  Going into the 6th with a 1-0 lead, OKC brought in Julio Urias who quickly demonstrated why he should not be considered for a Dodger high leverage opportunity this year.  After two quick outs, he surrendered a walk and double putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Urias was replaced by Joe Broussard who promptly gave up a single, and the lead.  In the bottom of the 6th, Edwin Rios hit a game tying HR.  However, with Broussard still pitching in the 7th, with one out, he surrenders two singles.  Brian Schlitter relieved Broussard and with one run scoring on an error by Jake Peter and a 2nd run scoring on a fielders choice, OKC was down 4-2 going into their final inning.  Three OKC Dodgers up and 3 K’s.  Game over.

Game 2 – Connor Joe led off the bottom of the 1st with a HR and a lead the Dodgers never relinquished.  Angelo Mora hit a 2 out 2 run HR in the 2nd, and Henry Ramos hit another 2 out 2 run HR in the 5th.  OKC used 4 pitchers in the 7 inning affair with Kyle Lobstein starting and going 3.0 innings.  He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, with 2 K’s.  Josh Sborz continued his Jekyll and Hyde season with 2 hitless and scoreless innings and the eventual win.  Zach McAllister is not pitching well at all in his audition for another big league chance, as he surrendered 2 runs on 4 hits in his 1 inning of work.  Edward Paredes pitched an efficient 7th for the save.

Logan Bawcom pitches for OKC in Game 3,and will be facing that potential CY winner TBD for the Redbirds.

AA – Texas League Northern Division Playoff – Tulsa Drillers v. Arkansas Travelers (Seattle)

Tulsa Drillers – 6-0 win over Arkansas Travelers

After blowing a 5-4 lead in the 9th in Game 1 and losing in walk off fashion, the Drillers sent recently acquired 26-year-old LHSP Ben Holmes.  Holmes has been a solid find since being picked up after being released by the Marlins.  Holmes started and went 6.2 scoreless IP, allowing only 1 hit.  But he did have 4 walks to go with 8 K’s.  Andre Scrubb and Shea Spitzbarth finished up for the Drillers to preserve the shutout victory.

Keibert Ruiz had another solid offensive game having another 3 hit night (3-5), and is now 6-9 in the playoffs.  Jacob Scavuzzo who is so far under the radar, but just keeps producing went 2-5 with a double and HR. DJ Peters went 2 -4 and NO STRIKEOUTS. Cael Brockmeyer was 2-5 with a HR. 

The series is not knotted at 1 game apiece and shifts to Tulsa for the next three games (if necessary).  Tonight’s pitcher has not been released, but one has to believe that May or White will be pitching.  If the Drillers win, I could see Yadier Alvarez going in Game 4 saving either May or White for Game 5, or hopefully Game 1 of the Championship series.

A+ – California League Southern Division – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes v. Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies)

Game 2 – 6-5 RC win over Lancaster

After a tough 8-4 loss in Game 1, RC needed to win Game 2 to gain a split and head back to Rancho tied up at 1 game apiece.  Carlos Rincon continues his assault on California League pitching and going 3-4 with a HR and 2 doubles.  Connor Wong went 2-4 with a double, and Cody Thomas (another under the radar producer), went 2-5 with a double.  Jeren Kendall had a double, but only 1 strikeout. 

Isaac Anderson started and went 4.1 innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 2 walks and 4 K’s.  After allowing a solo HR and single in the 5th, Anderson was relieved by Logan Salow.  Salow allowed his inherited runner to score, plus one of his own with a 2 out 2 run double, to surrender the lead.  RC retook the lead in the 6th and held on due to Parker Curry pitching his best game of the year with 4 perfect innings to finish the game and the win.  Curry had 6 K’s to go with his effort.

The series now shifts to RC for games 3-5 (if necessary).

A – Midwest League – Mid Eastern Playoffs – Great Lakes Loons v. West Michigan WhiteCaps (Detroit)

Unfortunately with a 2-1 10 inning loss last night, the Loons have been ousted from the playoffs.  That is not to take anything away from what they accomplished the last two months of the season.  There were some outstanding players for the Loons, and I am sure that Loons resident expert, DC will give a thorough recap of the season.  There will be several players to keep an eye on as they climb the organizational ladder. 

4 pitchers (John Rooney, Jasiel Alvino, Bryan Warzek, and Stephen Kolek) pitched 8 shutoff innings taking a 1-0 lead into the 9th.  Unfortunately Darien Nunez allowed the tying run in the 9th and eventual winning run in the 10th.  Deacon Liput and Eric Peterson each had a 2 hit night for the Loons in their loss.

Another Post Season Award to Gavin Lux 

Gavin was named the 1st team SS of the MLB Pipeline all Minor League Team.  This was for all of Minor League Baseball.  Includes Vlad Guerrero Jr, Dylan Cease, and Eloy Jimenez.  He was the only Dodger prospect named to either the 1st team or 2nd team.

 

This article has 35 Comments

  1. The Dodgers need to sweep the Rockies, and Kershaw most likely will need to go at least 7 innings, and give up nothing more than 1 run. Let’s see what happens.

  2. Wow, what an impressive award for Gavin Lux!! Especially considering that his competition was some Top 50 prospects. As AC has said before, Lux should be quite high on next year’s lists.

    1. I talked to someone tonight who is not connected to the Dodgers but is “connected” to the minors in general. He says that Lux, Verdugo and Ruiz are all players who could be stars AND he says that he believes Lux will play SS. He also says the Dodgers have 5 RHSP who all can be mid-rotation starters and he is especially high on Grove. He said a lot more that I need to digest, but I’ll share it later. DISCLAIMER: These are just his opinions.

  3. The Loons twice – Nunez – had two outs and two strikes on the hitter in the ninth inning but just couldn’t get the third strike. I was surprised that he came out again in the tenth inning and that Jimenez was not used to try to get the third out in the ninth or start the tenth.

    1. Jimenez was the go to late inning high leverage reliever at the end of the season. I too would have liked to see him start the 9th for the save. There are a lot of good names to follow on that team.

  4. Yhency could probably hit better than these Dodgers (and yes, I remember he was a pitcher). Dodgers could barely score off of Gray who threw over 80 pitches in 4 innings, yet somehow the lifetime .200 (I thought it was lower) Drew Butera has already got 2 hits and an RBI in this game.

    I will continue to root for the Dodgers the rest of this season. But a part of me suspects that this team might be better off not making the playoffs,. Maybe, no guarantee, it might force some necessary personnel changes, and a new approach.

    1. I agree!

      I would love to see them “BLOW IT UP!”

      Trade:
      Puig
      Pederson
      Taylor

      Let Ryu, Grandal and Kershaw walk.

      Go for it in 2020.

      But, let’s win NOW!

  5. How in the world can Turner look at three strikes there? The first one, sure. With two strikes you need to guard the plate in that situation. .

  6. That’s why Butera, even with his anemic lifetime batting average, is still in the big leagues after all these years. Would that Grandal could have made the play at the play the other night.

    Is Yency Almonte related to Yhency Brazoban?

    That groundball by Verdugo was an example of why it’s important to make contact instead of striking out. It got a run in, and then another by extending the inning.

  7. Weird inning… but I’ll happily take the two runs.

    You gotta pinch hit for Kike in that spot though, right?

  8. I give Roberts credit for finally showing some urgency pinch hitting for Grandal and getting results. If he would have had that attitude 50 games ago the Dodgers would be in first. Puig what an enigma he does something fantastic and then…… now watch our ace.

  9. With regard to Grandal, I meant “play at the plate”, NOT “play at the play”. But I’m sure most of you figured that out.

    Maybe it’s because I’m from NY (more specifically, Brooklyn), but I don’t have a problem with Charlie Steiner.

  10. Nice to see Roberts send the runner time or 2. Barnes needs to execute though. Dodgers 2 for 12 RISP. What else is new?

  11. I got to give Kershaw props tonight. He pitched way better than I expected and is a better hitter than both our catchers. Roberts is being aggressive tonight and I like it even though it hasn’t helped so far. Our bullpen is really sad although Floro just did a great job getting story. I guess he will follow with Alexander so he can walk everybody or maybe not.

  12. Well the relievers did well for the LAD, but three of the four affiliates in the playoffs had blown saves and losses by the bullpen with 10 runs scored in the 9th. Schlitter allows 3 runs on 5 hits to the Memphis Redbirds in the 9th for a walkoff 5-4 loss.
    .
    Layne Somsen lost his 2nd playoff game with a run in the 9th. This was after Michael Johnson blew the save for Dustin May.
    .
    Justin Hagenman blew the save for Ogden only for Ogden to regain the lead and Luis Pasan give up 6 runs in the 9th for the blown save and loss.
    .
    Dennis Santana started for RC tonight and pitched 1 scoreless inning. Edwin Uceta pitched 5.2 innings in relief with Yimi Garcia and Dan Jagiello finishing the game for a 1-0 shutout victory.

  13. I was driving and listening to the game. When Doc actually pinch hit for Grandal, all I could think of was this board and how everyone was likely stunned as I was. Then, when Verdugo was announced as the hitter, I was sure MJ would correctly point out “Verdugo isn’t as productive with RISP as Toles is. Toles should have pinch hit in that situation.”

    Excellent win tonight. All year we’ve lost every game that was played like this ” a million guys left on base, a ton of walks and nothing to show for it, no clutch hits” . Yet without Kenley we somehow pulled it out. Big big big win and hopefully we keep this up (except for the part of leaving a million guys on base)

  14. Sacre blue!!! Quas I’m with ya!!! Watching a Coor’s game which is usually like Chinese water torture for me was almost fun… Damned if we’re not hanging in there!!!
    Now It’s time for the Texas Ranger to shut down Co… (Just can’t let Striker pass my lips)…
    Charlie Steiner??? In streaming games this year and hearing other team’s announcers, we are IMO still blessed… Nomar can grind a lil on me!!!

  15. Partially like MT’s “Blow it up” assessment… Except…
    Would love to have Kersh stick around, but with the Monopoly $$ it makes it rough…
    QO to Grandal and talk at least with Ryu… I think were in the running next year, but the elephant in the room is still the Madres… They could be a beast one of these daze…

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