Minor League Recap 08/07-08/08/2021: Brandon Pfaadt Shines 0n Saturday

Diamondbacks affiliates won six out of eight games played over the weekend, with Reno the only team losing on Saturday, and Visalia the only team losing on Sunday.

Saturday August 7th, 2021

Tacoma Rainiers 12 Reno Aces 7

The Aces had a bullpen game, with Edgar Arredondo opening the game. Arredondo went 1 ²⁄₃ innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out one. Arredondo was taken out of the game with the bases loaded and two outs for Shane Carle. . Carle got out of jam without any of the inherited runners scoring, went 1 ¹⁄₃ innings and allowed just a hit (unfortunately a solo homer), while striking out one. Josh Green went two innings and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out three. Chester Pimentel followed with two scoreless innings, with three hits allowed to go with three strikeouts. Ryan Buchter went an inning and allowed a run on three hits, while striking out one. Miguel Aguilar got roughed up in his ²⁄₃ of inning of work, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out one. Jordan Weems inherited a runner with two outs, and allowed the inherited runner to score, with a hit allowed, but got the final out of the top of the ninth.

The game started out promising, with the Aces scoring first. Andrew Young took a one out walk, and scored on a Cooper Hummel double, giving the Aces a 1-0 lead. The Rainiers quickly erased that lead with with two runs in the top of the second, but the Aces answered back with a run to tie the score back up at 2-2. Christian Lopes took a one out walk and advanced to third on a Juniel Querecuto double. Camden Duzenack walked to load the bases, and then the rehabbing Josh Rojas walked as well, forcing in a run. Andrew Young grounded into a double play, ending the inning. Aces pitching coughed up a run in the third to make the score 3-2, then a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make it 5-2. The Aces offense wouldn’t answer back until the bottom of the fifth, when Camden Duzenack doubled and scored on a Seth Beer single, making the score 5-3. Juniel Querecuto made it 5-4 with the solo homer that led off the bottom of the seventh. Camden Duzenack would go down on strikes after Querecuto homer, but Josh Rojas walked, and after an Andrew Young strikeout, steal second. The stolen base wouldn’t be necessary, as Seth Beer homered to give the Aces a 6-5 lead. The Ace wouldn’t hold on to that lead long though, as the bullpen gave up a run in the eighth to tie the game back up, and then allowed six runs in the top of the ninth to put a win essentially out of reach. Andrew Young did hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but the Aces’ offense couldn’t make up the rest of the difference.

Seth Beer 3-5 with a homerun

Cooper Hummel 1-4 with a double, walk

Juniel Querecuto 2-4 with a double, homerun

Amarillo Sod Poodles 9 Frisco Rough Riders 4

Luis Frias went seven innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, with no walks, and seven strikeouts. Frias was really hurt by the long ball, with all four of the runs allowed coming via three home runs. Tyler Holton struck out three in his two scoreless innings, with just a hit allowed.

After the Rough Riders jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the bottom of the third, the Sod Poodles got on board with a run in the top of the fourth. With Dominic Fletcher on second (lead off walk) and Geraldo Perdomo at first (two out single), Dominic Canzone singled, scoring Fletcher, thanks to an error by Frisco’s second baseman. Amarillo scored two runs in the sixth. Stone Garrett led off with a single, advance to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Buddy Kennedy double. Kennedy advanced to third on a Geraldo Perdomo fly ball, and scored on another single by Canzone, tying the game at 3-3. Amarillo pulled ahead in the 7th after Dominic Fletcher doubled and scored on a Stone Garrett single. Frisco answered back with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, tying it back up at 4-4. Amarillo would answer right back with two runs after Geraldo Perdomo walked and scored on a Dominic Canzone home run. Three more runs would cross the plate in the top of the ninth. Alek Thomas lead off with a double, Dominic Fletcher walked, and Stone Garrett singled, scoring Thomas. Buddy Kennedy singled, scoring Fletcher. Geraldo Perdomo then walked to load the bases for Dominic Canzone, who promptly ground into a double play, but Stone Garrett was able to score.

CF Alek Thomas 1-5 with a double

RF Dominic Fletcher 1-3 with a double, two walks, three runs scored

1B Dominic Canzone 3-5 with a home run, three RBIs

3B Buddy Kennedy 2-4 with a double, walk, two RBIs

LF Stone Garret 3-5 with two RBIS, two runs scored

SS Geraldo Perdomo 1-3 with two walks

Hillsboro Hops 2 Vancouver Canadians 1

Brandon Pfaadt had another excellent start, going seven innings and allowing just one run on a wild pitch, a pair of hits, and a pair of walks, while striking out eleven batters. Denson Hull struck out one in a perfect eighth. Mailon Arroyo struck out three batters while working around a hit in a scoreless ninth.

Down 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Danny Oriente singled and scored on an AJ Vukovich double, tying the game up. The second run crossed the plate in similar fashion after Leodany Perez singled and scored on a Roman Ruiz double.

SS Roman Ruiz 2-4 with two doubles, RBI

3B AJ Vukovich 1-4 with a double, RBI

LF Danny Oriente 3-3 with a walk, CS

CF Jorge Barrosa 1-4 with a stolen base

Tristin English 0-3, hit by pitch

Inland Empire 66ers 9 Visalia Rawhide 10

This game was a wild ride, and not nearly as close as the final score suggested. Visalia was down 4-0 after the top of the second inning, but pulled ahead 10-4 going into the top of the eighth. The bullpen proceeded to allow five runs to cross the plate, making the final inning a real nail biter.

Starting pitcher Zach Barnes pitched three innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk, while striking out a pair. Barnes allowed a two run homer and a solo homer in the first inning but settled down after that. Collin Sullivan relieved Barnes, and pitched four perfectings, with four strikeouts. Francis Beriguete unfortunately was unable to get an out to follow, four runs on four hits and two walks. Jose Alcantara inherited the bases load with no one out, and allowed all three inherited runners to score. Alcantara himself went two innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three.

Down four runs in the bottom of the third, Visalia scored a pair of runs thanks to back-to-back-to-back one out doubles by Glenallen Hill, Ryan Bliss, and Ronny Simon. Visalia not only tied the game back up in the bottom of the fourth, but pulled ahead 6-4 by scoring four runs. Caleb Roberts hit a one out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on an Elian Miranda single. Channy Ortiz struck out for the second out of the inning, but Glenallen Hill was hit by pitch, putting runners on first and second for Ryan Bliss. Bliss crushed a pitch right down the center of the plate for a three run homerun. In the bottom of the sixth, Channy Ortiz and Glenallen Hill hit back to back singles to lead off the inning, putting runners on first and third with no outs. The speedy Hill quickly stole second, putting both runners in scoring position. Ryan Bliss and Ronny Simon both struck out, but Neyfy Castillo would come through with a three-run line drive homer to the short 320 ft left field, making the score 9-4. In the bottom of the seventh, recently drafted Tim Tawa hit his first professional home run, a 405+ foot line drive solo homer to the deepest part of the ballpark, to make the score 10-4.

CF Glenallen Hill 3-4 with a hit by pitch, double, stolen base (his 26th of the year)

SS Ryan Bliss 2-5 with a double, homerun

2B Tim Tawa 1-3 with a homerun, walk, four RBIs

1B-LF Neyfy Castillo 1-5 with a homerun, three RBIs

DH Ronny Simon 1-4 with a double, walk, stolen base

C Adrian Del Castillo 0-5

3B Channy Ortiz 2-4

RF Caleb Roberts 1-3 with a walk

Random notes: The Hops now have a number of 2021 draftees playing for them. Ryan Bliss was the 2nd round pick, 42nd overall. Adrian Del Castillo was the 67th overall pick, in the Competitive Balance Round B. Channy Ortiz is a Phoenix native who was the 14th round pick out of the draft. Tim Tawa is the 11th round pick out of the 2021 draft. Caleb Roberts was taken in the fifth round, 138 overall.

Sunday August 8th, 2021

Reno Aces 10 Tacoma Rainiers 6

Humberto Castellanos had a not-so-great start, going only four inning and allowing five runs on seven hits, a hit by pitch, and two walks, while striking out eight. Castellanos allowed two runs in the first, then settled down until the fourth when he allowed a third run. Castellanos did go out to pitch in the fifth inning, but allowed a two run home run before being taken out for Zach Lee. Lee fared much better, pitching two scoreless innings with just a walk allowed, with a strikeout. JB Bukauskus did even better, striking out all three batters he faced in his inning of work, on just 11 pitches. Matt Gage allowed one run on a pair of hits, while striking out a batter in the eighth. Unsurprisingly, that one run came via solo home run. Brandyn Sittinger struck out three while working around a hit in a scoreless ninth.

After the Rainiers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first, the Aces offense went to work in the bottom of the inning. The Aces scored a run in the bottom of the first, thanks to a Josh Rojas solo home run. The Aces plated three more runs in the third to pull ahead 4-2. Ben DeLuzio led off with a double, then scored on a one out Nick Heath single. After Josh Rojas went down on strikes for the second out of the inning, Nick Heath stole second, and advanced to third thanks to a throwing error by the Rainiers first baseman. Ildemaro Vargas kept the inning going with a walk, putting runners on the corners for Cooper Hummel. Hummel singled, scoring Heath, and advancing Vargas to second. Henry Ramos followed up with another single, that scored Vargas from second. The Aces scored three more runs in the bottom of the third to make it 7-2. Ben DeLuzio hit a one out single, and scored thanks to a Juniel Querecuto double. Nick Heath would go down on strikes, but Josh Rojas would homer for the second time in the game. The Rainers would pull within one run of tying the game after scoring two runs in the top of the fifth, and another run in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-6. In the bottom of the eighth the Aces added three more runs to give them a comfortable lead. Josh Rojas hit his third home run of the game to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Ildemaro Vargas followed up with a single, and after Henry Ramos went down on strikes, Henry Ramos and Jake McCarthy hit back to back singles, scoring Vargas. Jamie Ritchie walked to load the bases for Ben DeLuzio, who hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Ramos.

Josh Rojas 3-4 with three home runs, walk, caught stealing

Ben DeLuzio 2-4 with a double, sac fly

Henry Ramos 4-5

Jake McCarthy 2-5

Ildemaro Vargas 1-3 with two walks

Cooper Hummel 1-4 with a walk

Nick Heath 1-4 with a stolen base

Amarillo Sod Poodles 7 Frisco Rough Riders 8

After a six run fourth inning, Amarillo lead 7-3, and lead 7-6 going into the bottom of the ninth, but blew it losing in walk off fashion. Tommy Henry went six innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out eight. Henry allowed a solo home run in the sixth. Blake Workman relieved Henry, and pitched the seventh inning, allowing one run a hit, while striking out a pair of batters. Unsurprisingly, the one run came via solo home run. Matt Brill allowed a pair of hits in a scoreless eighth inning. Blake Rogers pitched ²⁄₃ of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out two.

Down 3-0 after the first, Buddy Kennedy made it 3-1 after a solo home run that led off the top of the second inning. As mentioned earlier, the Sod Poodles plated six runs in the fourth inning. Dominic Fletcher singled to lead off, followed by Stone Garrett, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Thanks to some very sloppy defense, both runners were not only safe, but were able to advance to second and third thanks to a throwing error by the Frisco shortstop. Buddy Kennedy then walked to load the bases for Geraldo Perdomo, who tripled, scoring all three runners. Dominic Canzone singled, scoring Perdomo. Luis Alejandro Basabe would make the first out of the inning, and then Dominic Miroglio ground into a force out, with Canzone out at second, but was able to advance to second himself thanks to a throwing error by the Frisco second baseman. Lyle Lin then homered, scoring Miroglio.

Buddy Kennedy 1-2 with a homerun, two walks, stolen base

Dominic Fletcher 2-5 with a stolen base

Geraldo Perdomo 1-3 with a triple, walk

Dominic Canzone 2-4

Lyle Lin 1-4 with a home run

Dominic Miroglio 1-4 with a stolen base

Hillsboro Hops 7 Vancouver Canadians 5

Justin Vernia went 5 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five. Vernia allowed a solo home run in the second inning. Kyler Stout relieved Vernia with one on and one out, and got the final two outs of the sixth inning, while striking out one. Gerald Ogando pitched the seventh inning, allowing a run on a pair of hits. Nick Snyder was perfect in his 1 ¹⁄₃ innings. Wesley Rodriguez got the final two outs of the ninth inning, though he allowed a run on a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out one. Rodriguez very nearly blew it, allowing a two out solo homer, followed by a walk and a single that brought the go ahead run to the plate. Fortunately, Rodriguez got a line out to end the inning, and the game.

The Hops took the lead early, taking advantage of a defensively messy top of the first inning. Eduardo Diaz led off with a walk, and Jorge Barrosa followed up with a single. Thanks to some defensive miscues, Barrosa ended up on second, and Diaz on third. Tristin English reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases. Andy Yerzy hit a sac fly, scoring Diaz. A passed ball would then allow Barrosa to score, giving the Hops a 2-0 lead. The Canadians hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second, making the score 2-1. In the top of the third, Andy Yerzy answered back with a two out solo home run to make it 3-1. In the top of fifth, Eduardo Diaz hit a one out single, Jorge Barrosa walked, and Tristin English reached on a fielding error, loading the bases. Andy Yerzy came through again, hitting a single, scoring Diaz and Barrosa to make the score 5-1. The Canadians scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, and a run in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 5-4. The Hops answered back with two runs in the top of the ninth. Eduardo Diaz led off with a single and stole second. Jorge Barrosa walked, putting runners on first and second, and a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Tristin English hit a sac fly, scoring Diaz. Andy Yerzy came through again, hitting a single that scored Barrosa, making the score 7-4. It’s a good thing the Hops scored the two insurance runs, as the Canadians scored a run in the bottom of the ninth that would have tied the game at 5-5, and sent the game into extra innings.

Andy Yerzy 3-4 with home run, sac fly, five RBIs

Eduardo Diaz 2-4 with a stolen base, three runs scored

Jorge Barrosa 1-3 with two walks, three runs scored

AJ Vukovich 1-5

Tristin English 1-4 with a stolen base, sac fly

Inland Empire 66ers 13 Visalia Rawhide 7

Junior Mieses got roughed up for eight runs in just 1 ²⁄₃ innings. The eight runs scored via two hits, six walks, and a hit by pitch. If you hadn’t guessed, one of those two hits was a home run, specifically a grand slam. Enmanuel Acosta relieved Mieses, and pitched 2 ¹⁄₃ innings of hitless and scoreless baseball, though he did walk two while striking out one. Francis Beriguete relieved Acosta, and pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run on a balk, a hit, and a pair of walks, while also striking out one. David Sanchez pitched an 1 ¹⁄₃ innings, Hugh Fisher relieved Sanchez, with one inherited runner, and was unable to get any outs, allowing three runs on four walks. Alex Valdez inherited the bases loaded, and allowed two out of three runners to score. Valdez pitched 1 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings, with a hit allowed, while striking out a pair of batters. Austin Pope pitched a clean inning, striking out a pair of batters.

Down 4-0 after the top of the first, the Rawhide scored a run in the bottom of the inning after recently drafted centerfielder Tim Tawa singled, which was followed by three straight walks to Ronny Simon, Neyfy Castillo, and 2nd round pick Adrian Del Castillo, which forced in a run. That 4-1 score would turn into an 8-1 score after the 66ers scored four more runs in the top of the second inning. The 66ers piled on another run in the top of the fifth, thanks a throwing error by first baseman Mason Berne that was followed by a fielding error by Glenallen Hill on the same play. The Rawhide did manage to make it a slightly less embarrassing contest, after scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth. The scoring started in similar fashion; Tim Tawa singled, and after a Ronny Simon fly out, Neyfy Castillo and Adrian Del Castillo walked to load the bases. Just like the first inning, the third straight walk, this time to Devyson Del Castillo, scoring Tawa. After a pitching change, the scoring would keep going, with Caleb Roberts getting hit by a pitch, scoring Neyfy Castillo. Mason Berne hit a sac fly next, scoring Del Castillo. Glenallen Hill drew a walk, loading the bases once again. Channy Ortiz would then reach on a fielding error by the right fielder, scoring all three runners, and would end up on second base. Tim Tawa then drew the fifth walk of the inning, but Ronny Simon would strike out to end the inning.

CF Tim Tawa (11th round 2021) 2-4 with a walk

DH/C Adrian Del Castillo (67th pick) 1-3 with a double, two walks

RF Neyfy Castillo 0-1 with four walks