The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined to go 5-2, with only Visalia and Kane County taking losses. The Reno Aces are back after the AAA All-Star Game, which the Pacific Coast League beat the International League last night 12-7. Here are the standout performers from last night’s games:
Hot Bats:
Reno 2B Juniel Querecuto 5 for 5, stolen base, 2 runs
Jackson LF Jamie Westbrook 1 for 5, game-tying Grand Slam
Kane County 1B Yoel Yanqui 1 for 2, solo homer, 2 walks
Kane County DH Eudy Ramos 2 for 4, solo homer
Hillsboro CF Tra Holmes 2 for 3, double, walk, stolen base, 3 runs, 1 RBI
Missoula 1B Alex King 3 for 5, 2-run homer, 4 RBI
Quality Starts:
Reno RHP Jake Buchanan 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, GS 56, W (6-7)
Visalia RHP Cole Stapler 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, GS 64, L (0-1)
AZL Dbacks RHP Luis Frias 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, GS 64
Paper Bag of Shame:
Jackson RHP Brian Ellington 0 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 0 K
Reno Aces 8, El Paso Chihuahuas 2: The first game back from the AAA All-Star break was a good one for Reno as they got quality pitching from Jake Buchanan. At the same time, the bats came alive as Yasmany Tomas, Kristopher Negron, and Christian Walker each homered to put Reno up 5-0 after 3. Juniel Querecuto chipped in with 5 hits and 2 runs scored with Reno padding to their lead in the 8th to take an 8-1 lead. Jake Barrett allowed a run in the bottom of the 8th, then pitched a scoreless 9th to end it.
Jackson Generals 8, Mobile Baybears 7: Taylor Widener’s been hot on the mound of late and has put up some insane numbers, but yesterday turned in a so-so performance more reminiscent of his starts in April and May. He allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 5 innings of work. He also hit two batters in his start, as he clearly was having trouble commanding the ball. The Generals offense was able to match Mobile early on, tying things up at 3 after Widener threw his last pitch. After a scoreless 6th by Daniel Gibson, Brian Ellington came in and proceeded to attempt to give the game away with 4 runs allowed while not recording an out. He gets the Paper Bag of Shame for that. Yoan Lopez had to bail him out of the inning there. In the bottom of the 8th, Jamie Westbrook whacked a game-tying grand slam to knot things up at 7 each. In the bottom of the 9th, Josh Prince tripled to put the winning run on base and Daniel Robertson drove in pinch runner Jose Vinicio with a single to win it.
Visalia Rawhide 0, Modesto Nuts 2: Cole Stapler’s first start with Visalia was solid overall, but he had the misfortune of having no offensive support behind. The Rawhide combined for 3 hits, doubles by Camden Duzenack and Marcus Wilson and a single by Jason Morozowski. Duzenack would reach 3 times overall as he was hit by 2 pitches in the game (Jon Jay would be proud). The bullpen did the best job they could with a trio of scoreless innings, but Visalia could not get the offense in gear at all.
Kane County Cougars 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 5: Jayson McKinley allowed 4 runs in the 3rd to put the Cougars in an early hole, but the offense was able to battle back. Solo homers by Yoel Yanqui and Eudy Ramos cut the deficit to 1 before Kane County tied things up in the 7th. The game remained tied at 4 until the bottom of the 8th when Kyler Stout allowed the eventual winning run to score on 3 hits in the inning in his first performance for Kane County.
Hillsboro Hops 9, Tri-City Dust Devils 5: Matt Tabor allowed 3 runs to score in the first, but then was scoreless for the next 3 2⁄3 innings. During that time frame, Hillsboro plated 8 runs to take a 8-3 lead. Tra Holmes was particularly effective from the leadoff spot, reaching base 4 times and scoring 3 runs. Francis Martinez and Joey Rose added solo homers to the offensive barrage. Henry Owens allowed 2 runs in 1 2⁄3 innings, with Josh Green having to get the final out of the 7th. Hillsboro responded with 2 runs in the 8th to answer.
Missoula Osprey 11, Ogden Raptors 4: Both teams traded 4-spots in their half of the first inning, as each team had a two-run and a solo homer respectively. After the first inning, only Missoula scored thanks to strong situational hitting with a 6 for 13 clip with RISP. The bullpen struck out 7 in 5 innings, allowing just 2 baserunners in total. Alex King led the way at the plate with a 3 for 5 game with a homer and 4 RBI. Brandon Leyton and Jesus Munoz drove in 2 apiece.
AZL Dbacks 5, AZL White Sox 1: This game started off as a pitcher’s duel between Luis Frias and a rehabbing Ian Clarkin, with the two teams combining to score 1 run in the first 7 innings of the game. However, things changed in the 8th when 3 straight hits, including a double by Alek Thomas gave the Dbacks the lead. Thomas would end up scoring on a Kristian Robinson sac fly after stealing 3rd. Jordan McArdle capped the inning with a solo homer to give the Dbacks a 4-1 lead. In the 9th, the Dbacks took advantage of walks as 4 straight hitters reached with 1 out and Thomas driving in another run.