Minor League Player of the Day – Joe Winker (LoA) - 4 for 4, 1 HR, 1 2B. Winker's year got off to a late start due to a pre-season injury, and after spending all of 2012 with the Loons he returned to Great Lakes in early June. After a very slow start Winker has found his stroke over the past two days, going 6 for 9 with 2 homers and 2 doubles.
AAA – Everybody was hitting for the Isotopes on Sunday as the Isotopes used 18 base knocks to defeat the Redbirds (Cardinals) 12 to 5. Justin Sellers had probably the best game at the dish as he went 3 for 4 with a triple, a walk, and 3 RBI's, and he finished a homer shy of the cycle. Nick Buss was the only one that went deep for Albuquerque as he crushed a 2-run homer, while Matt Angle was the other player with a 3-hit game as he plated two runs with a triple and two singles. Starter Red Patterson got the win despite a rocky game during which he allowed 8 hits, 3 walks, and 4 runs over 5.1 frames. Steve Ames permitted an unearned run during his 2 innings of work, while Jose Dominguez struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in his 3rd appearance for the Topes.
AA – The Lookouts offense and bullpen wasted a great start by Duke von Schamann as Chattanooga fell to the Stars (Brewers) 3 to 1. For the second start in a row Duke allowed 3 just hits over 6 innings of work, and this time he also shutout the opposition. Unfortunately reliever Steve Smith promptly gave up a run in the 7th and two more in the 8th to put the game out of reach because the Lookout offense managed just 3 singles in this contest. Osvaldo Martinez drove in the lone run with one of the singles and Griff Erickson actually reached base 3 times on walks, but that was it for the hitting highlights.
HiA – The Quakes staged a late rally that plated 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th, but that wasn't quite enough as the Ports (A's) downed Rancho 6 to 4. Scott Schebler connected on a 2-run homer in the 9th to give his team life, then a walk, a single, and an error plated another run, but Darnell Sweeney struck out to end the game with the tying runs on base. Jonathan Garcia continued his torrid hot streak by going 2 for 4 with a triple and a RBI, and he has now gotten his average above .300. On the mound Gustavo Gomez threw relatively well as he allowed 5 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings, but he didn't get any help from his bullpen and took the loss. Jon Michael Redding and Pedro Baez both gave up a run in relief, while Matt Shelton permitted two scores.
LoA – The Loons used a big game from Joe Winker and a 4-run 7th to cut down the Captains (Indians) 6 to 2. Winker was a perfect 4 for 4 at the dish with a double and a homer during the big inning to guide his team to the win. James Baldwin followed Winker's bomb with a two run triple, while Tyler Ogle also went deep earlier in the game with his 9th bomb of the season. On the mound 16 year old Julio Urias had his second below average start in a row as he threw just 3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. Urias did strike out 4, but he also allowed a homer. The bullpen was great, however, as 3 relievers combined to shutout Lake County on 2 hits over the final 6 frames. Owen Jones and Craig Stem each threw two hitless innings, while Scott Griggs recorded the win.
DSL – Off day
Coming up – Both class A teams have the day off on Monday and the Isotopes haven't announced their starter, so the only pitcher scheduled for tomorrow is Ross Stripling for the Lookouts.
Minor League Transactions – AAA/HiA: With John Baker now on the Albuquerque roster, the Isotopes sent catcher Dashenko Ricardo to Rancho.
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)