Diamondbacks Minor League Recap 5/18: Short and sweep

3 stars
✰✰✰: Riley Smith, Jackson - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, W (3-3)
✰✰: Domingo Leyba, Reno - 2-for-4, two R, HR, two RBI
✰: Jose Herrera, Kane County - 2-for-2, R, two RBI, BB
0 stars: Matt Brill, Jackson - 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, SV (2)

Triple-A Reno 6, Tacoma 3. The Aces jumped out in front with a three-run first, led by 2B Domingo Leyba’s fourth home-run of the season, a two-run shot. They tacked on another run in the second and although Tacoma chipped away, Reno were always able to keep daylight between them. Jon Duplantier went 3.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts, while the W went to Anthony Vasquez, for 4.2 innings of two-run ball. Kevin Ginkel notched his first save as an Ace, with a scoreless ninth, striking out a pair. RF Matt Szczur had three hits, Leyba singled in addition to his home-run and 1B Kevin Cron drew two walks and... stole a base. Video evidence of the latter is below.

Double-A Jackson 4, Tennessee 3. Matt Brill got the save, but it was a thoroughly unconvincing one. Coming in with a three-run lead, he allowed two to score and the tying run was in scoring position before he got the last out. That almost ruined an excellent outing by Riley Smith who gave up only an unearned run over seven innings (though the run was the result of his own error), on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. His ERA was lowered to 2.05 over eight starts for the Generals. RF Jeffrey Baez hit his fifth home-run in the third inning, while 3B Drew Ellis and C Dominic Miroglio had two-hit games for Jackson. Lucas Luetge worked a scoreless eighth.

High-A Visalia vs. Lancaster. Postponed due to rain, the two teams will play a double-header tomorrow to make up the game.

A-ball Kane County 3 @ Beloit 2. A close game saw he Cougars took the lead in the first, on a sacrifice fly by C Jose Herrera. The Snappers tied things up in the fifth, but that was all Jackson Goddard would allow over 5.1 innings, on four hits and a walk, striking out four. Another sacrifice fly, this one off the bat of 3B Buddy Kennedy, gave Kane County the lead in the sixth, then Herrera added an RBI double for an insurance run in the eighth. That proved necessary, as Beloit scored off Andy Toelken in their half, after Wesley Rodriguez had recorded five outs. Ethan Larrison came in for the ninth, and had a perfect ninth for his third save, including one K. CF Alek Thomas had two hits, as did Herrera.