Diamondbacks Minor League Recap 5/17/2018: Blackjacks and Cougars

Lots of offense today, aside from Reno, in today’s set of games. The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates went 1-2 with a game between Jackson and Pensacola suspended due to rain.

Snake Stars

3 Stars: Visalia 3B Drew Ellis 3 for 4, 2B, HR, BB, 4 RBI, R, 2 errors

2 Stars: Kane County 3B Joey Rose 3 for 5, 2 2B, HR, BB, 3 RBI, R

1 Star: Visalia C Daulton Varsho 3 for 4, HR, BB, SB, 2 RBI, 3 R, ¹⁄₄ SB attempts caught, throwing error

0 Stars: Visalia RHP Connor Grey 4 IP, 11 H, 9 R (7 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, GS 6, L (4-2)

Reno Aces 2, Albuquerque Isotopes 8: Reno (17-24) struggled to hit Rockies prospect Jeff Hoffman, striking out 10 times against him. Kris Medlen on the other hand was shelled for 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings, striking out 5 and walking 2. Jared Miller allowed a 2-run homer to stretch Albuquerque’s lead to 8-0. Michael Perez and Rey Fuentes hit solo homers in the 8th and 9th inning respectively.

Jackson Generals 3, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 2, Game Suspended: Justin Donatella allowed 2 runs in the first inning, but settled in after that although he walked 2 and struck out 1. Some times the balls find gloves? The Generals offense struggled in the first 7 innings to score, but got some help from Pensacola pitchers walking hitters with an assist from the rain to take a 3-2 lead. The game is currently suspended with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning. Currently Juniel Quercereto has 2 doubles in 4 trips to the plate and Daniel Robertson is 1 for 4 with a walk to account for Jackson’s hit total at the moment.

Visalia Rawhide 9, Lancaster Jet Hawks 11: The Rawhide (22-19) combined bad pitching and garbage defense to allow 9 runs in the front 5 innings and 11 overall to dig themselves into a deep hole. At the same time, they were swinging the bats very well including big days from Daulton Varsho, Drew Ellis, and Luis Alejandro Basabe (3 for 4, 3B, RBI). Unfortunately the tack on runs the bullpen (read that as defense) allowed was enough to give Lancaster insurance runs when Ellis made things interesting with a 3-run homer in the 9th. Connor Gray allowed 9 runs (7 earned) on 11 hits while taking a big, fat L on the scoreboard.

Kane County Cougars 21, Burlington Bees 6: Yes you read that right, Kane County scored 21 runs on 18 hits, 6 walks, 2 batters hit by pitches, and 4 Burlington errors (70%!!!). They did that by bludgeoning Burlington with RISP as the team had 11 of their 18 hits with runners on 2nd and/or 3rd. Lots of big numbers on the box score, so where do we start? Joey Rose went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and his first long ball of the year, Renae Martinez 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI, Tim Susnara and Yoel Yanqui with 3 hit games, then finally Jazz Chisholm 1 for 3 with a double and a pair of sac flies. Mack Lemieux got blasted for 6 runs while only recording 4 outs and giving up 8 baserunners (6 hits, 2 walks, 1 homer). The bullpen on the other hand pitched 7 ²⁄₃ scoreless with 11 Ks to win it. As you’d expect from a game with this type of box score, there was a position player pitching the 9th for Burlington.