Diamondbacks Minor League Recap 5/24/19

The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined for a 3-1 record.

Here are the stars from last night’s games:

☆☆☆ Jackson RHP Riley Smith 5 ²⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K
☆☆ Visalia CF Anfernee Grier 2 for 3, 2B, HR (3), SB, 3 RBI
☆ Kane County RHP Ryan Weiss 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, W (2-4)

(AAA) Reno Aces 1, El Paso Chihuahuas 4: Jon Duplantier struggled in the first inning, allowing all 4 runs to score in the inning on 3 hits and a walk. He would end up settling down to allow just 2 more hits and struck out 4 in the next 3 ¹⁄₃ innings, throwing 65 pitches in total. The final statline was 5 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings. The Reno offense still missing Kevin Cron only put up a solo homer by Wyatt Mathisen in the 7th inning.

(AA) Jackson Generals 3, Montgomery Biscuits 2: Ryan Grotjohn opened up the scoring with a leadoff, opposite-field home run from former Dbacks prospect Sam McWilliams. Grotjohn would add a sac fly in the 3rd for Jackson’s second run of the game. A comedy of errors behind Riley Smith, including his own throwing error on a pickoff attempt, led to a pair of unearned runs to score in the bottom of the 2nd. The score remained tied until the 7th when Jazz Chisholm would launch a tie-breaking homer to end McWilliams’ night on a sour note. The bullpen delivered three scoreless innings to make that run stand.

(A+) Visalia Rawhide 5, San Jose Giants 4: Matt Mercer cruised through the front 3 innings, but ran into trouble in the 4th and 5th innings, allowing a pair of runs in both frames. Overall he allowed 4 runs on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6 over 5 innings. Anfernee Grier smashed out a 2-run homer as part of a 2 for 3 game with a pair of extra base hits. Visalia would tie things up in the bottom of the 5th after a pair of hits put runners on the corners. A wild pitch plus throwing error scored Camden Duzenack and Jose Caballero used his speed to beat out a throw to home plate to tie the game. The bullpen pitched 4 outstanding innings to keep San Jose to 4 runs for the rest of the game. Visalia would take advantage of an error when Grier drove in his 3rd run of the game on a sac fly. West Tunnell struck out the side, pitching around a 9th inning single, for the save.

(A) Kane County Cougars 6, Beloit Snappers 1: Ryan Weiss struggled with walks, but was able to strand them as he allowed only 1 run on 2 hits over 5 innings, walking 3, and striking out 2. The Cougars would quickly gain the lead, scoring on an RBI double by Buddy Kennedy in the 1st and an RBI single by Zack Shannon in the 2nd. While Weiss was putting up zeros, the offense continued to tack on, scoring twice in the 4th when Alek Thomas got to 3rd on an RBI single then later scored on a wild pitch. Shannon would add another RBI single in the 5th and Tra Holmes doubled in a run in the 8th. Jose Herrera was the only Cougar that did not reach base (0 for 5, 3 K) and Blaze Alexander was the only player who did not have a hit (2 walks, 1 run). The bullpen provided 4 scoreless innings to remove any doubt that Beloit could make a comeback bid.