The Dodger minor league affiliates split the day with 2 wins and 2 losses, and it was also a split day for top pitching prospects as RubbyDe La Rosa was knocked around, while Allen Webster was masterful.
Minor League Player of the Day–Tony Delmonico - 4 for 6, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI's, 1 run. Allen Webster was also deserving of this award, but I gave it to Delmonico because this was his 2nd straight big night. Over the past 2 days, Delmonico is 9 for 11, which has increased is season average to .410, his OBP to .513, and his OPS to 1.153.
AAA – Alberto Bastardo and the Isotopes gave up just 5 hits and 1 run on Friday as Albuquerque beat the Nashville Sounds ((Brewers) 4 to 1. Jaime Hoffman had the big hit in this game as he smacked a 2 run-homer to put Albuquerque ahead early in the game, while a couple of wild pitches by Nashville pitching and a triple by Trent Oeltjen provided the Topes with the other two insurance runs. Every starting position player for Albuquerque had hit in this game, although Hoffman and Oeltjen drove in the team's only runs. Bastardo allowed just 7 base-runners in 7.1 innings, then Merkin Valdez and Roman Colon got the final 5 outs in order to finish off the game.
AA – Rubby De La Rosa got roughed up for 10 hits and 5 runs against the Jackson Generals (Mariners) and picked up the loss in Chattanooga's 5 to 3 defeat. The good news is that Rubby still struck out 10, so it looks like he still have good stuff although I didn't read or hear any scouting reports about him this time out. In addition, De La Rosa gave up all his runs in the first three innings and finished off his outing by retiring the final 10 batters he faced, so that's encouraging that he was able to settle down after such a tough start. Justin Miller pitched two shutout innings in relief and Mario Alvarez threw one, but the Lookout offense still came up two runs short despite 12 hits. Austin Jackson led off the game with a homer and added two singles to lead the team in hits for the day, while Alfredo Silverio drove in the other two runs with a double and a single. Finally, Brian Cavazos-Galvez had two doubles to raise his average to .297 for the season.
HiA – Allen Webster had his 3rd straight impressive start and his best of the season as the Quakes crushed the High Desert Mavericks (Mariners) 11 to 2. Webster allowed just 2 hits over 6 shutout innings and struck out 8 and has now given up just 2 earned runs over his past 20 innings. What makes his performance even more impressive is that he was pitching in the offensive haven of the High Desert where the wind was blowing 20 mph out to center field. Javier Solano threw a shutout inning in relief, as did the rehabbing Hong-Chih Kuo. Steven Ames did allow a couple of runs in the 9th, but that simply shows that he was ready to be a closer at the big league level because all good closers allow runs when they are brought in to a blowout game to get some work in. On offense, the Quakes clearly took advantage of the wind as they recorded 24 hits on the night. Every player in the lineup had at least a high, and everyone but Nick Buss had more than one hit. The best performances belonged to Tony Delmonico (2 RBI's) and J.T. Wise (5 RBI's) as they both homered and had four hits on the night. Angelo Songco also had 4 hits, while Austin Gallagher had 3. Jake Lemmerman had his 4th straight multi-hit game and after a slow start is now hitting .322 for the season.
LoA– The Loons offense never really got going on Friday as they lost to the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) 5 to 2. Red Patterson got the start for Great Lakes and struck out 7 in 4.2 innings, but he also gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and recorded the loss in this game. The bullpen wasn't much better as Bret Montgomery allowed the other two Hot Rod runs to score in the 8th. The Loons only had 5 hits in this game, although one of those hits was a homer by Nick Akins, his 3rd in two days.
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)