Minor League Recap 8/3/2018: Alexander and Payamps get honored

The Diamondbacks named Rookie-Level AZL D-backs INF Blaze Alexander and Double-A Jackson RHP Joel Payamps the organization’s Minor League Player- and Pitcher-of-the-Month for July.

Alexander, 19, went 26-for-78, hitting .333/.465/.564 with two home runs for the AZL D-backs in July, leading the Arizona League in extra base hits. He reached base safely in all 22 games last month and logged 5 multi-hit performances, including a four-hit night on July 27. He was promoted to Rookie-Level Missoula on August 1. A native of Cape Coral, Fla., the 6-foot-0, 160-pounder was selected by the D-backs in the 11th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.

Payamps, 24, went 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA (12 ER in 35.1 IP) and a K:BB ratio of 40:6. He allowed just one home run, and recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts in 5.2 innings on July 3. He was promoted to Triple-A Reno on August 1. A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder was signed by the D-backs as an Minor League free agent on November. 30, 2015.

Every month during the season, the D-backs’ Player Development staff chooses the player and pitcher most deserving of the honors based on nominations from coaches at each affiliate along with input from the Minor League coordinators. Below is a list of the overall winners as well as player nominated by each affiliate (the player award for Reno was shared this month):

And onto today’s action!

Snake Stars
☆☆☆: Taylor Widener, Jackson - 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, + H & BB at plate
☆☆: Jamie Westbrook, Reno - 2-for-4, two R, two HR, three RBI
☆: Axel Andueza, AZL - 4-for-5, two DBL, three RBI
Paper bags of shame: Marcus Wilson, Visalia - 0-for-4, 4 SO, BB + Matt Koch, Reno - 3 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, L (1-2)

AAA Reno 3, Colorado Springs 13. Reno were 8-0 down after two, as Matt Koch was tattooed for nine runs in three innings, on ten hits and a walk, with one strikeouts. Albert Suarez did decent mop-up work, giving up an unearned run over three innings. Jimmie Sherfy and everyone’s favorite position player pitcher Cody Decker three scoreless innings. It was Decker’s fourth appearance on the mound this year. LF Jamie Westbrook had his first two AAA home-runs, driving in three; 3B Kevin Cron also got two hits, and SS Ildemaro Vargas extended his hit streak to 29 games, tripling with two outs in the ninth.

Double-A Jackson 1, Tennessee 0. Taylor Widener, Kevin Ginkel and Bud Jeter combined for a six-hit shutout of the Smokies, and Marty Herum’s single with one out in the ninth scored the only run of the game, to give the Generals a walk-off win. Widener tossed six innings on three hits, with one walks and seven strikeouts. Ginkel worked two innings, before Jeter held Tennesee at bay in the ninth. Widener also singled and walked, while 1B Rudy Flores drew a pair of walks.

High-A Visalia 1, Stockton 5. The Rawhide were almost blanked, only pushing a run across on Luis Alejandro Basabe’s ground-out for the second out in the ninth. They managed only six hits, two apiece for 3B Drew Ellis and DH Ramon Hernandez, the former also walking. SS Jasrado Chisholm drew two walks. Connor Grey took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) over 5.1 innings, scattering nine hits. He walked none and struck out four. Erbert Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

A ball Kane County 3 @ Beloit 5. Jose Caballero went 3-for-4 with a double, and 1B Yoel Yanqui had two hits and a SB, but a two-run eighth off Abraham Almonte and Kyler Stout broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Snappers victory over the Cougars. Starter Franklyn Sorian had a quality start, being charged with two runs in six innings, on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

A-short Hillsboro 0, Vancouver 7. The Hops were held to five hits, though the final score was inflated by the Canadians scoring four in the eighth and one in the ninth. CF Jake McCarthy doubled and singled, Luis Frias struck out six over 3.1 innings, allowing a run on three hits and two walks. That was the best line, as all four Hillsboro pitchers were charged with at least one earned run.

Rookie Missoula 7, Great Falls 6. 7-2 up after three innings, the Osprey looked to be cruising, but the Voyagers fought back, stranding the tying run on base in the ninth. 1B Zachary Almond had three doubles; CF Alek Thomas and 2B Brandon Leyton each had a pair of hits. Starter Edgar Martinez lasted 4.1 innings, scatterings seven hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. Trent Autry got the win for 1.2 scoreless innings, and Bryan Menendez notched his fifth save.

AZL D-backs 11, Reds 2. The D-backs took advantage of four Reds error to score five unearned runs, C Axel Andueza got four hits, including two doubles, driving in three runs in his debut on American soil. LF Dominique Collie had two hits and a walk. Harrison Francis got the W for four innings of one-run ball, on four hits and a walk, with five K’s. Michel Gelabert got a four-inning save, giving up only one hit. He walked two and struck out two.

DSL1 D-Backs1 2 @ DSL Blue Jays 4. DH Kevin Noriega doubled and singled, and RF Carmelo Paulino had a pair of walks, but an error by 3B Neyfy Castillo led to two unearned runs, the eventual margin of defeat. Eurys Henriquez allowed only an unearned run over five innings, on four hits, with one strikeout.

DSL Dbacks2 1 vs DSL Cubs2 2. The D-backs were held to only three hits, all singles, spoiling an excellent outing by Cristian Pacheco. He struck out 10 over five innings of two-hit ball, being charged with an unearned run and walking one. Daniel De La Cruz tossed two hitless innings in relief. SS Romain Ruiz had a walk and a hit.