:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63676254/usa_today_12550789.0.jpg)
The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined to go 3-1 last night. Visalia won again, pushing their win streak to a franchise-best 13 games. As you can infer from the title and image, Tim Locastro whacked 3 home runs for Reno tonight as he and Kevin Cron, who also hit 3 homers in the game, had a HR Derby contest.
These are the stars from last night’s game:
3 Stars: Reno RF Tim Locastro 4 for 5, 3 HR (2, 3, 4), 6 RBI, 4 R
2 Stars: Reno 3B Kevin Cron 3 for 4, 3 HR (7, 8, 9), 7 RBI
1 Star: Kane County LHP Bryan Valdez 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, W (1-0)
0 Stars: Jackson RHP Tyler Mark 1⁄3 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, BS (1)
(AAA) Reno Aces 15, Fresno Grizzlies 5: If you were Tim Locastro and Kevin Cron, you had an amazing day at the plate. The duo combined for 7 hits, 6 homers, and 13 RBI over 9 total trips to the plate. Taylor Widener stumbled to complete 5 innings despite surrendering 2 home runs and walking 4 guys. T.J. McFarland came in for a rehab outing after Reno (6-14) had taken a 15-3 lead and surrendered a run in each of his innings. It looks like they’re stretching him out for long relief purposes instead of using him as a ground ball specialist. Alex Young and Rubby De La Rosa pitched scoreless innings to close out the game.
(AA) Jackson Generals 2, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5 (F/10): Riley Smith pitched 5 shutout innings on 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts while Jackson’s offense started out slow. A Jamie Westbrook sac fly gave the Generals (11-8) a temporary 1-0 lead, which lasted less than a half-inning as Tyler Mark got slapped around the ballpark for 2 runs in the top of the 6th. Westbrook would counter with an RBI single in the 7th to tie the game again and send it into extras. Kevin Ginkel had a spotless 9th inning, but ran into trouble in the 10th. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, Ginkel had a rare lapse of control with a wild pitch and a 2-run homer. Jackson would get the potential tying run to the plate with after an infield hit by Daulton Varsho to start the inning, but Jeffrey Baez, Jazz Chisholm, and Galli Cribbs Jr. each struck out. Baez and Chisholm both wore the sombrero for the game, as both hitters struck out 4 times.
(A+) Visalia Rawhide 4, Stockton Ports 3: This game started off as a pitcher’s duel as neither team could scratch across a run for the final 4 innings. The Ports were able to get to Cole Stapler in the 5th as they plated 3 runs in the inning and it took a good relay from the outfield to cut down the 4th run at home. The Rawhide (17-4) answered with a 4-run 6th inning. The first four hitters would reach as Luis Alejandro Basabe walked, Renae Martinez doubled, Jake McCarthy RBI single while sneaking into 2nd on the throw home, and Yoel Yanqui walked. Anfernee Grier hit a sac fly and a wild pitch allowed McCarthy, who went 2 for 4 with a double, to score the tying run. Camden Duzenack roped a double to score the go-ahead run from 2nd. The bullpen was outstanding as they completed 4 shutout innings to fuel the comeback effort. Matt Brill got a 5-out save with 3 of them on strikes. The win gives Visalia a club-record 13-game winning streak.
(A) Kane County Cougars 7, Cedar Rapids Kernels 0: Infield prospects Blaze Alexander and Buddy Kennedy joined the Cougars (13-8) and quickly made their presence known. Kennedy opened up the scoring in the 1st with a 2-run single before scoring on Blaze Alexander single two batters later. Alek Thomas would steal home on a perfectly executed double steal for the 4th run of the 1st inning. That allowed starter Bryan Valdez to settle in quickly as he allowed just 1 goddamn hit, a double, over 5 innings while striking out 5. The Cougars would tack on two more in the 4th and another run in the 5th. Eduardo Diaz tripled home a run and scored on a single in the 4th while Jose Herrera singled home the 7th run of the game in the 5th. Bullpen got the final 12 outs with very little drama involved.