Minor League Recap 4/8/19: Kane County Crushes Cedar Rapids

Diamondbacks affiliates won only one game, with Reno, Jackson, and Visalia all taking losses.

Pitcher of the Day:

Cole Stapler, RHP, Visalia 5 IP 6 H 1 BB 7 k 1 ER

Hitter Of The Day:

Alex King, 2B Kane County 2-4 with a 2 Run HR

Reno Aces 6 Fresno Grizzlies 7

Reno had a three to one lead after the third, but would blow it after giving up three runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth. Reno would manage to battle back and tie the game up in the top of the ninth, only to blow it in the bottom of the inning.

Anthony Vasquez got the start and went five innings, and gave up four runs on eight hits, a hit by pitch, and a walk, while striking out four. Vasquez was really hurt by the long ball, with a solo homer in the second, and a two run home run in the fifth. Joey Krehbiel came on in the sixth and walked the first two batters he faced, who then executed a double steal. A fly out was followed by a fielder’s choice which allowed the runner at third (former Dback Collin Cowgill) to score. After a strike out and a mound visit, Krehbeil walked the third batter of the inning to load the bases before being taken out for Marc Rzepczynski. Rzepczynski walked the first batter he faced, forcing in another run, before getting a fly out to end the inning. Rzepczynski would pitch a scoreless inning, but it wasn’t a quiet inning. A runner reached on an error, followed by Collin Cowgill reaching via walk, and then another double steal was pulled off before the inning was ended with a groundout. Jimmy Sherfy would pitch a scoreless eighth inning, but would give up a run in the ninth with one out to end the game.

The starter for Reno, Anthony Vasquez, actually got the scoring started by knocking Kelby Tomlinson with a single in the top of the third. Abraham Almonte would follow with a home run, scoring Vasquez. Kelby Tomlinson would draw a walk with the bases loaded to score Kevin Cron in the sixth. Back to back to back singles from Andrew Aplin, Yasmany Tomas, and Domingo Leyba would add a run in the eighth. Wyatt Mathisen would double to lead off the of top of the ninth. After Kevin Cron would go down with a strikeout, Travis Snider ground out to third, moving the runner over. Cody Decker followed with a walk to put runners on the corners, and Andrew Aplin would single to right, scoring the runner and tieing the game. Thanks to a fielding error by the right fielder, Aplin and Decker advanced to second and third on the play, but Yasmany Tomas ground out to end the top of the ninth.

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5 Jackson Generals 1

Riley Smith had a rough start, giving up all five runs in four innings pitched, with eight hits, two walks, a wild pitch, and a throwing error on an errant pickoff throw. Damien Magnifico, Lucas Luetge, Mason McCullough, and Michael Kohn would each throw a scoreless inning with a strikeout each. The Generals were shutout until the ninth, when Jamie Westbrook hit a solo home run.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4 Visalia Rawhide 1

Cole Stapler had a very solid start. Stapler tossed five innings of one run ball and allowed six hits and walked none, while striking out seven. He did however have an errant pickoff throw. Ryan Fritze pitched the sixth inning and allowed two runs, but settled down and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Erbert Gonzalez pitched a scoreless eighth, but allowed a run in the ninth. The Rawhide were shutout until the eighth, when Jose Caballero singled, advanced to second a passed ball, then third on a single by Jancarlos Cintron, and then scored on a groundout by Jancarlos Cintron.

Kane County Cougars 9 Cedar Rapids Kernels 3

Justin Vernia got the start and pitched five innings, and allowed just a run off a solo homer in the second. Vernia allowed just one other hit and a walk, and had eleven groundball outs to just two flyouts, and struck out only two batters. Wesley Rodriguez pitched two innings, a scoreless sixth, and allowed another run on a solo homAler in the seventh. Blake Workman would allow another run in eighth, while Ryan Miller pitched a scoreless ninth.

Big night at the plate for the Cougars in general, with nine hits and nine walks, but especially for Tra Holmes, who went 3-5 with a double and a walk, though he was caught stealing. Eduardo Diaz also went 3-5, and knocked in three runs, though he was caught stealing as well. Alex King was 2-4 with a two run home run. LT Tolbert was 1-3 with a stolen base and two walks. Alek Thomas also reach three times, going 1-4 with two walks. Eddie Hernandez went 1-5 with a triple.