Thursday July 22nd

The four full season affiliates combined for an 0-4 record, with some very brutal losses mixed in.

AAA: Reno Aces 4, Round Rock Express 8

The Aces quickly found themselves trailing by a 3-1 score, but were able to turn the tables in the 4th inning thanks in large part to a 2-run homer by Jose Herrera. At the end of the 4th, Reno found themselves ahead 4-3. Tyler Gilbert would allow 4 runs in 5 innings of work before turning it over to the bullpen. Ryan Weiss was unable to stop Round Rock from putting up a 3-run 7th inning and Shane Carle would give up a run in the 8th. Aside from the home run, it was Drew Ellis’ sac fly in the first and Juniel Querecuto’s RBI double before the homerun that accounts for Reno’s other 2 runs.

AA: Amarillo Sod Poodles 2, Frisco RoughRiders 9

Amarillo found themsleves in a big hole early, as Kenny Hernandez would cough up six early runs. The offense was unable to sustain any innings, leaving 11 on base and not getting hits when they mattered with a 2-11 w/ RISP. Jeff Bain would be tagged for 2 runs in 3 innings and Levi Kelly one more run in the 9th.

High A: Hillsboro Hops 3, Eugene Emeralds 4 (F/10)

This started off as a low-scoring game, with Slade Cecconi turning in easily his best start of the year. Cecconi yielded only a solo home run over 7 innings, allowing just 3 other hits with no walks and a career high 10 strikeouts. On the other side, Hillsboro’s offense got shut down until the top of the 9th. Two doubles and a single would allow Hillsboro to take a 3-1 lead and just needed 3 outs. Unfortunately, Mailon Arroyo would only get 2 of them before serving up a game-tying home run. That would send the game into extras where Hillsboro failed to get the go-ahead run home before watching the Emeralds plate their guy

Low A: Visalia Rawhide 4, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9

This game was a bit closer until the end, but the pitching for Visalia crapped the bed again. After a 2-run first in which Visalia took a 2-1 lead, Junior Mieses got hammered for 4 runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Elian Miranda would counter with a solo of his own to make it 5-3. The score remained that way until the 8th, in which both teams traded solo homers. Unfortunately three more runs would score in the 9th to take this one out of reach.

Friday June 23rd

Things would be better on Friday, as the organization went 3-1.

AAA: Reno Aces 5, Round Rock Express 3

Reno would quickly build a 5-0 lead after three innings and would hold on for dear life. Their five runs would come on Jose Herrera’s bases-clearing triple in the 2nd inning along with RBI doubles by Henry Ramos and Jake McCarthy in the 3rd. Kevin McCanna allowed just 1 hit in 4 innings with 3 punchouts. Keury Mella would pitch a scoreless 5th for the win. After the 5th things came a bit unglued. Ty Tice would struggle with control with 3 walks and a wild pitch before getting bailed out by J.B. Bukauskas. Ryan Buchter would allow a run in the 8th before giving way to Miguel Aguilar, who recorded his 14th save.

AA: Amarillo Sod Poodles 7, Frisco RoughRiders 4

Facing off against Rangers top pitching prospect (at the moment) Cole Winn, Amarillo was able to chase him in the 4th. On the other side, Matt Tabor allowed just 2 runs over 6 innings with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Both teams would score single runs in consecutive innings, with Frisco scoring in the first two and Amarillo in the next two. Amarillo would take the lead in the 6th, when Osvaldo Abreu doubled home two. In the 7th, they would expand the lead to 6-2 thanks to a balk and an RBI single after getting runners on the corners with 1 out. Frisco would score 2 in the top of the 8th on a little league home run off the bat of Steele Walker. However Amarillo was able to counter with a run in the bottom half to halt the RoughRiders’ momentum and ultimately close it out in the 9th.

High A: Hillsboro Hops 10, Eugene Emeralds 9

It took a 7-run 7th inning, but Hillsboro was able to persevere in this game. Justin Vernia got slapped for 5 runs followed by Josh McMinn allowing 3. That put Hillsboro behind 8-3 until that 7th inning. In that inning, Hillsboro sent 10 batters to the plate and 8 of them recording hits, although a four of them were infield hits. Stolen bases were also a theme in that inning, with the Hops swiping 4 bags in 4 tries. Ty Jones would throw 2 scoreless to preserve the lead before Yaramil Hiraldo would record the final 3 outs. Eduardo Diaz led the offense with 3 hits and 4 RBIs.

Low A: Visalia RAwhide 1, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9

Le sigh. Visalia trailed this game from the get-go, with Marcos Tineo allowing 3 runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings. Visalia’s offense was unable to put innings together, with just 6 singles and 3 walks to show for the game. The team went 0 for 4 w/ RISP and had one runner thrown out on the bases.