Minor League Player of the Day – Pedro Guerrero - 3 for 3, 1 HR, 2 Runs, 2 RBI's. There weren't any obvious choices for this award on Tuesday so I'm giving it to the 23 year old Guerrero who was demoted down to the Loons after slow start in Rancho. He's hitting .317 in his 12 games for Great Lakes and is a versatile fielder, but overall he isn't much of a prospect.
AAA – Will Savage recorded his league leading 6th win of the year on Wednesday as the Isotopes doubled up the Rainiers (Mariners) 4 to 2. Savage started the game with 6 innings of shutout ball, and while the Tacoma batters got to him a bit in the 7th, he limited the damage to just 2 runs. From there on out the Albuquerque bullpen was nearly flawless and was capped by Josh Wall's* 3 K's and 8th save of the year. At the plate it was Scott Van Slyke* who was up to his old tricks as he went 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Justin Sellers* also drove in a run in his first game back with the Isotopes, as did Jerry Sands* despite going 0 for 4.
AA – The Lookouts went down without much of a fight on Tuesday as they lost to the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) 6 to 1. The Chattanooga offense was extremely quiet as their only run scored on a throwing error, while Griff Erickson's double was the team's only extra base hit. Starter Nathan Eovaldi* wasn't all that sharp as he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, although he did punch out 6 and was relatively efficient as he threw just 82 pitches. Luis Vasquez continued his wild ways in relief as he walked 2 and gave up a pair of runs over 2 frames, while Geison Aguasviva tossed a pair of hitless innings to even out his ERA at 3.00.
HiA – The Quakes put up a 5 spot in the 4th and were cruising toward a victory until the 66ers (Angles) responded with a big 8th inning and came away with a 6 - 5 win over Rancho. Starter Jon Michael Redding did a fine fill in job for the injured Chris Reed as he gave up just 4 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings, then Freddie Cabrera followed with 2 shutout frames. In his 3rd inning of work, however, Cabrera ran into some trouble and was pulled with 2 runners on. Logan Bawcom came in and promptly gave up a 2 run triple, then allowed a single which resulted in his first earned run of the year. As mentioned above the Quakes scored all their runs in the same inning, with three of them coming on homers by Brian Cavazos-Galvez and C.J. Retherford. The other two runs crossed the plate on wild pitches, and Leon Landry finished the night by going 2 for 4 with a double.
LoA – The Loons salvaged a series split with the Silver Hawks (Dbacks) on Tuesday as Great Lakes defeated South Bend 7 to 5. The eventual winning run scored in the 9th on a single by Noel Cuevas, who doubled earlier in the day and completed a two-day cycle. O'Koyea Dickson provided some insurance with a bases loaded walk, and he also doubled earlier in the game to give him 3 two-baggers in 3 days. #9 hitter Pedro Guerrero also had a big game as he went 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored and connected on his first homer of the year. Despite the win, Jose Dominguez struggled in his first start of the year as he allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks over 3.2 frames. His relievers were solid, however, as Matt Laney and Juan Noriega combined for 3.1 scoreless frames. Closer Yimi Garcia had an interesting line as he scattered 4 hits over 2 innings and gave up an unearned run to blow the save, but he also got all 6 outs via the K and recorded the win after his offense pulled ahead in the 9th.
Coming up – 3 of the 4 teams play day games on Wednesday, starting with Allen Webster and the Lookouts who will get under way just after 8 am local time. Garrett Gould will take the mound for the Quakes in the afternoon sun, and Stephen Fife will start for the Isotopes. Ryan O'Sullivan will take the ball for the Loons in the lone night game.
* Denotes player is on the 40 man roster
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)