Minor League Recap 5/16/2021: Amarillo Gets a Lucky Rain Delay

My apologies for getting this one up late! Diamondbacks affiliates took just one game out of the four played yesterday, with only Amarillo winning.

Best Offensive Performance:

Jake McCarthy 1-3 with a double, reached twice on error, three stolen bases, two runs score, two RBIS

Alek Thomas: 2-3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored

Best Pitching Performance(s):

Mitchell Stumpo, HIL 3.0 IP 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Las Vegas Aviators 4 Reno Aces 1

The Aces have been rolling so far this season with an 8-2 record to start the season, and even in a loss, they’ve shown to be excited to watch. Starting pitcher Zach Lee tossed six shutout innings, with just three hits allowed, though he did walk five batters while striking out four. Reno struck first in the sixth with a Ben Deluzio solo home run, putting the score at 1-0, but that was it for the offense for the Aces. In the top of the seventh, with Junior Garcia subbing in for Lee (along with five other defensive substitutions and a pinch hitter), the Aviators would strike back with a walk, double, and a single, tying the game at 1-1, but Garcia would get out of the inning without further damage. Garcia would walk the first batter he’d face in the eighth, but was pulled for Carlos Navas. The Aviators were able to score three runs in the inning thanks to second walk, three stolen bases, a single, and an error by C-3B Bryan Holoday. It really is unfortunate not having video footage of this inning, as the inning included a double steal of third and home in the play with the error by Holoday at third. Miguel Aguilar who entered the game shortly a batter before this, got the final out of the inning. Cameron Gann had a much less interesting and scoreless ninth inning in which he faced the minimum and struck out one.

Amarillo Sod Poodles 7 Wichita Wind Surge 4

Tommy Henry got the start, and went six innings with two runs allowed (both earned) on three hits and a walk, and struck out five. Both runs came on a two run home run in the third inning, which tied the game at 2-2. (In the top of the third, Geraldo Perdomo walked, and scored on a Jake McCarthy double. McCarthy then stole third and scored on a sac fly)

Amarillo pulled ahead 4-2 in the top of the fifth after Jake McCarthy reached on a fielding error with the bases loaded and no one out, which allowed Luis Alejandro Basabe and Alek Thomas to score.

Luis Castillo took over for Henry in the top of the seventh, and struck out a pair in an easy 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Mack Lemieux relieved Castillo, allowed two runs on four hits and a walk, and was only able to get two outs before a rain delay would both literally and figuratively put an end to Wichita’s rally. Play would resume later with the bases loaded and two outs, but Matt Gage would get a strike out to end the inning.

Amarillo’s offense answered right back in the top of the ninth; Luis Alejandro Basabe lead off with a walk, Alek Thomas reached on a shallow pop up to left, and Geraldo Perdomo successfully sacrificed bunted to put runners on second and third. In a Deja Vu moment, Jake McCarthy reached on a fielding error, scoring Basabe and Thomas, and then stole second. McCarthy then advanced to third on a Dominic Fletcher groundout, and scored on a Jose Herrera single, putting Amarillo up 7-4.

Edgar Arredondo struck out one in a perfect ninth inning, earning the save.

Fresno Grizzlies 6 Visalia Rawhide 2

Liam Norris went three innings to start the game, allowing two runs (one earned) on a wild pitch, three hits and three walks, while striking out five. The unearned run came via an error on a pickoff throw. Visalia tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, after Manuel Garcia was hit by pitch, GlenAllen Hill singled, and Ronny Simon tripled, scoring both. That was it for Visalia unfortunately, and Fresno would answer back with four runs in the bottom of the inning off Emmanuel Acosta, who took over for Norris in the fourth. Acosta pitched two innings and allowed four runs on four hits and a two walks, while striking out one. Mitchel Stumpo took over Acosta in the sixth, and pitched three perfect innings, and struck out four.

Hillsboro Hops 2 Eugene Emeralds 5

Eugene lead from the beginning of the game, scoring three runs in the first off of starting pitcher Drey Jameson. Jameson settled down after that, and ended up pitching four innings and allowing just the three runs on five hits, with no walks, and five strikeouts. Kenny Hernandez followed up with four innings, with two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk, and also struck out five batters.

The Hops offense just couldn’t get going in the game despite six hits and three walks. Axel Andueza had arguably the best night for Hillsboro, going 1-3 with a double (the only extra base hit for the Hops) and walked.