The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined to go 4-1 with one game suspended due to a haboob suddenly descending upon the Phoenix area. Here are the stars of last night’s games:
Hot Bats:
Reno RF Socrates Brito 2 for 4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI
Hillsboro C Andy Yerzy 3 for 4, BB, R
Hillsboro RF William Gorman 4 for 4, BB, 2 SB, 2 RBI, 2 R
Missoula DH Zachery Almond 3 for 5, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 R
Missoula 1B Zack Shannon 2 for 3, 2B, HR, SF, 2 RBI, 2 R
Quality Starts:
Reno RHP Neftali Feliz 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, GS 57, W (5-4)
Kane County RHP Jayson McKinley 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 6 K, GS 56, W (5-3)
Reno Aces 3, Round Rock Express 2: Neftali Feliz slightly edged out Adrian Sampson in this game, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings, walking 4, and striking out 5. Socrates Brito was the engine that powered the offense with a double and a triple while driving in all 3 of Reno’s runs. The only thing that stopped him was the 1B umpire, who ejected Brito in the 7th inning, but that’s a different story. The Reno bullpen somehow managed to pitch around walks to put up 3 scoreless innings, with Joey Krehbiel, Braden Shipley, and Jimmie Sherfy combatting wildness to put up a scoreless inning each.
Jackson Generals 1, Montgomery Biscuits 5: The Generals scored first in the 2nd inning when Marty Herum plated Josh Prince with a single. Unfortunately Joel Payamps ran into a wall in the 5th inning and allowed 3 runs to score before having to be lifted with 2 outs and a runner on. Bud Jeter allowed 2 runs in 3 innings, allowing Montgomery to pull away late. Jamie Westbrook was the most productive hitter for Jackson with 2 hits and the only XBH for them.
Kane County Cougars 7, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4: Jayson McKinley allowed a 2-run homer in the first inning, but nothing more over 6 innings despite issuing 4 walks in the game. The Kane County offense exploded for 5 runs in the 6th and 2 runs in the 7th to take control of the game. A 2-run single by Jose Caballero was followed up by a 2-run double by Tim Susnara, who later scored on an infield hit for the 5th run. Jancarlos Cintron put the game out of reach with a 2-run homer in the 7th that made it 7-2 at the time. Two scoreless innings by Breckin Williams and an eventful 9th inning by Erbert Gonzalez, who allowed 2 runs in the frame, closed it out.
Hillsboro Hops 8, Spokane Indians 6: Jackson Goddard allowed 1 run in 3 innings, surrendering 3 hits and walked none while striking out 4. His last two starts have been sharp with just 1 run in 5 innings with no walks and 8 strikeouts. Unfortunately, the rest of the Hillsboro pitching staff was not as good as Brian Christian allowed a pair of 2-run innings in the 4th and 5th. Hillsboro put up 6 runs in the top of the 5th thanks to some poor Spokane defense with 3 errors and stringing together a lot of hits. After the Hillsboro Blowpen took care of the lead, the game was locked 6-6 after 7 innings. Thanks to more questionable defense, the Hops were able to score 2 runs in the 9th and finally found a reliever that didn’t give up runs as Josh Green pitched a scoreless 9th.
Missoula Osprey 14, Helena Brewers 7: Missoula opened up the game with a pretty good clinic at the plate. Zack Shannon launched his 7th homer of the season as he continues to crush overmatched Pioneer League pitching. A 5-run 4th inning put the Osprey up big and were leading 7-2 going into the 6th. Unfortunately, Wilfry Cruz and Blake Workman allowed 5 runs to score in the frame and allow the Brewers to tie it up. Rather than be demoralized that they lost a big lead, the Osprey established an even bigger lead with 3 runs in the 7th and 4 in the 8th. Shannon finished the game with 2 XBH and 3 RBI while the other Zack/Zach in Zachery Almond had 3 XBH, a homer, and 5 RBIs. If the Pioneer League has an MVP award, those two are likely the leading candidates for it. Jake Polancic and Justin Garcia pitched scoreless innings, although the latter walked 2 in his inning.
AZL Dbacks 4, AZL Giants Black 1 (Susp. T3): This game featured rehabbing players in Deven Marrero (boo!!!) and C prospect Daulton Varsho (yay!!!). Small ball produced the Dbacks’ first run as a single then a steal of 2nd by Alek Thomas followed by a deep lineout to RF by Marrero, and soft ground ball by Blaze Alexander. Varsho tripled to start the next rally followed by a Grier walk to put runners on the corners with 2 outs. A pair of wild pitches ended up scoring both. The Dbacks scored again in the 2nd as a triple by Alex King opened up the frame but he would not score until there were 2 outs in the inning and Marrero singled through the right side. Alexander doubled, but he and Marrero were stranded as Varsho grounded out in his 2nd AB. Alexander and Thomas continue to carry the torch for the 2018 Draft Class as both players are destroying the Arizona League in their summer debuts.