This is my first Minor League Round-Up and I'll be doing them most nights going forward. You'll usually see them posted late at night as that fits my night owl ways. I'm going to make a few format changes (unless the editors object) by listing several stars of the night (as they do in hockey) plus one unfortunate zero stars winner. Wish me luck!
Trevor Bauer had a fair outing for Reno on Saturday night but the bullpen gave it up as Reno finally lost a game after a 20-10 May. South Bend won big while Mobile and Visalia both lost, and the DSL Dbacks opened up their season with a convincing 10-2 win. There were some solid hitting performances sprinkled throughout the leagues including Adam Eaton who just keeps hitting and is pushing to get back to .400.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Adam Eaton, Reno, 3 for 5, HR (2), 1 SB (16)
2 Stars: Alfredo Marte, Mobile, 3 for 4, HR (12) 1 run
1 Star: Anthony Meo, Visalia, 6 IP, 6H, 0 BB, 3 ER, 6 K
0 Stars: Bobby Borchering, Visalia, 0 for 5, 2 Ks
Triple A: Reno 5 @ Las Vegas 6 (10 innings). Bauer was on the mound and while he only gave up 3 runs, he surrendered 9 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings of work. He worked out of a lot of jams and he left the game with the lead after his defense threw a runner out at the plate to end the 6th following a bases loaded double. Vlad Guerrero went 0 for 3 against Bauer. Jensen Lewis gave up a 2-run homer in the 8th to steal the win from Bauer but the Aces tied it in the 9th off a wild pitch. Both Eaton and Jake Elmore were thrown out at the plate on consecutive plays in that inning. Las Vegas then won it in the 10th on a bases-loaded walk. Eaton led off the game with his second home run of the year. Ryan Wheeler and Taylor Harbin had two hits apiece.
Double A: Mobile 3, Birmingham 10. The Bay Bears got rocked at home as the Barons plated 4 in the 3rd, 2 in the 6th and 4 more in the 9th. Conrad Flynn didn't pitch too horribly giving up 8 hits in five innings while walking none, but an error by RF Mark Krauss contributed to the mess in the 3rd. Alfredo Marte was the lone bright spot for Mobile going 3 for 5 while slugging his 12th home run of the year. The 23-year-old Dominican has really found his power stroke this year and is making some progress in trying to eke onto the team's legitimate prospects list. His K totals have been manageable throughout his minor league career so maybe there's some hope there.
High A: Visalia 3 @ Lake Elsinore 5. The Rawhide scrapped hard to get back in the game by scoring 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th to tie the game at 3. But following a yeoman's effort of 6 solid innings by Anthony Meo (6 hits, 3 ER, 6/0 K/BB) Kyle Winkler ave up three consecutive hits that scored 2 and that was the game. Meo had a rough second giving up 4 hits including a double and a triple. But he settled nicely from there to record a quality start. (Anyone like that stat?). Carter Bell collected 3 singles, Michael Freeman had two hits including a triple, an RBI and two walks, and both Ryan LaPensee and Tyson Van Winkle had 2 hits.
A Ball: South Bend 11, Lansing 1. South bend dominated this one from start to finish and officially made it a laugher by scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the 5th. Tyler Green was the pitching story by allowing just 1 hit through 4 innings while striking out 3. The 20-year-old Green has really come on of late having given up just 3 runs in his last 20 innings of work in spite of a shaky 11/11 K/BB ratio over that span. The Hawks pounded out 16 hits with 6 players having multi-hit games. Gerson Montilla led the charge with 3 hits and his 4th round-tripper of the season.
DSL: Dbacks 10, Padres 2. In their Dominican Summer League season opener the Dbacks pounded out an impressive 10-2 win over the Padres. 18-year-old Jose Fermin pitched five innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 3 in his minor league debut. Catcher Freddy Ramirez had 3 hits including 2 doubles and an RBI as he begins his second season for the DSL Dbacks.