Dodger minor league teams only won one game on Tuesday, but they did get a great pitching performance in one of their losses.
Minor League Player of the Day – Red Patterson - 9 IP, 10 K's, 0 Runs, 2 hits, 0 BB's. Patterson was dominant for the Loons on Tuesday. I haven't been keeping track all year, but I'm sure that his game score of 93 is the best of the 2011 season.
AAA – A couple of Isotope hitters had decent games at the plate, but that wasn't enough on Tuesday as Albuquerque lost to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 10 to 4. Alberto Bastardo was the starting pitcher in this game but he lasted just 4 innings and allowed 4 runs. 3 different relievers followed Bastardo and all gave up at least one run. At the plate, Dee Gordon went 3 for 5 and stole his 20th base of the season, and his buddy Trayvon Robinson hit his 11th homer of the season. Russ Mitchell also had 3 hits while JD Closser had 2 base knocks.
AA – The Lookouts got strong pitching and a hit from almost every member of their starting lineup as Chattanooga defeated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox) 6 to 2. David Pfeiffer made the spot start and did very well, allowing just 5 hits and 1 unearned run through 5 innings. Shawn Tolleson then made his AA debut with 2 perfect innings, although he had the audacity to only strike out one batter. Steven Ames threw the final 1.1 innings and picked up his first save in the Southern League despite allowing a run. On offense, 8 of the 9 batters in the Lookouts' lineup had a hit, including a homer by the recently demoted Corey Smith and triples by Alfredo Silverio and Jaime Pedroza.
HiA – The Quakes were up 5 to 0 after 4 innings, but Lake Elsinore (Padres) stormed back for 7 to 6 victory over Rancho Cucamonga. Vicente Padilla made a rehab start in this game and threw 2 perfect innings, getting 1 fly-out and 5 ground-outs. Matt Magill picked up in the 3rd inning and threw 5 frames, but for the second consecutive outing he was unimpressive as he gave up 9 hits and 5 runs (3 earned). Justin Orenduff made his not so triumphant return to the California League by giving up a couple of walk and a run, then Steve Smith allowed the final go-ahead run in the 9th. The Quakes managed 9 hits in this game, but only 1 hit came after the 5th inning. Ramon Jean went 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI's, while Rafael Ynoa hit a homer for the 2nd consecutive day.
LoA – Great Lakes got an absolutely brilliant performance out of starting pitcher Red Patterson, but his offense was unable to take care of business as the Loons lost to the Burlington Bees (A's) 1 to 0 in 10 innings. Patterson threw 9 shutout innings and allowed just 2 base runners on a couple of hits in what was probably the Dodgers best minor league pitching performance of the year. He threw 101 pitches and struck out 10, and became just the 2nd Loon ever to throw 9 innings in a game. Logan Bawcom took over for Red in the 10th and allowed a couple of singles, then Casio Grider made a throwing error while trying to turn a double play which allowed the winning run to score. Great Lakes had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th as Grider singled and Leon Landry doubled, but after an intentional walk loaded the bases Joc Pederson grounded into a game ended double play. Earlier in the game Pederson had a couple of hits and a stolen base, however, while Landry and Blake Dean also had two hits each.
DSL – The Dominican Dodgers were shut out 3 to 0 by the Dominican Royals as they managed just 3 hits. The one name worth mentioning in this game is Ricardo De La Rosa, who was an outfielder last year but has been converted to a pitcher. I'm not sure if he has any relation to Rubby, but he did throw 2.2 innings in relief and allowed just 1 unearned run on 4 hits.
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)
Great Lakes Loons Box Score (LoA)
Dominican Dodgers Box Score (DSL)
http://firstinning.com/daily/la