Dodgers minor league news

Alex Guerrero homers in first rehab assignment game

Guerrero homered in his first game in over seven weeks.

By Eric Stephen@ericstephen Jul 11, 2014, 8:17am PDT

Thursday's minor league action involved four wins, but the story of the day was the return of two players who will see time in the majors this season.

Player of the day

Alex Guerrero began a rehab assignment with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers in Tempe against the Angels, his first game back in 51 days since getting a chunk of his ear bitten off by Miguel Olivo on May 20. Guerrero was the designated hitter, batted third, and went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two drive in. Guerrero has seven home runs and 13 RBI in his last seven games, dating back to May.

Triple-A Albuquerque

The Isotopes split a doubleheader against the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), winning the first game 7-6 on a walk-off double by Brian Cavazos-Galvez, in what was technically the resumption of Wednesday's suspended game, and dropping the second game 8-7. Joc Pederson returned from the disabled list (technically Wednesday, but the game was finished on Thursday), playing for the first time since suffering a mild shoulder separation on June 24. Pederson was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and a walk in Game 1, then went 2-for-3 with two walks in Game 2. He played center field in both games.

Double-A Chattanooga

The Lookouts scored three runs in the seventh inning in a 5-3 win over the Huntsville Stars (Brewers). Alex Liddi in his first game with Chattanooga was 3-for-3 with a hit by pitch. He stole a base and also scored the tying run in the sixth inning. Reigning Dodgers minor league player of the year Scott Schebler was 2-for-4 with a triple, his Southern League-leading 12th of the season, extending his hitting streak to seven games.

Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes lost 7-3 at home to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), but got home runs from Corey Seager and Aaron Miller, two of only four hits by Rancho Cucamonga in the game. Seager's home run, hit off the right field scoreboard, was his fourth in his last seven games and his 18th of the season, tying him for third place in the California League. Seager, who will be in Minnesota on Sunday playing in the Futures Game, got permission to extend his stay in the Twin Cities.

Corey Seager will stay in Minneapolis through Tuesday to watch his brother play in the @AllStarGame. Dodgers gave him permission.
— Brandon Liebhaber (@B_Liebhaber) July 11, 2014

Class-A Great Lakes

Victor Arano struck out seven in five innings in an 8-1 win over the Fort Wayne TIn Caps (Padres). The 19-year-old Arano has allowed four runs in 22 innings over his last five appearances, with 19 strikeouts and four walks. Designated hitter Josmar Cordero was 1-for-2 with a home run, a stolen base, a caught stealing, a walk and a hit by pitch.

A note: Second baseman and outfielder Malcolm Holland at some point in the last week gave up switch hitting and is now hitting exclusively from his natural right side. Since the start of 2013 with Great Lakes, Holland hit .195/.344/.233 as a left-handed batter, but his right-handed numbers weren't any better, at .211/.287/.238.

Rookie-level Ogden

The Raptors lost 4-1 on the road to the Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox). Catcher Julian Leon went 2-for-4, and the 18-year-old catcher is hitting .326/.392/.523 in 23 games so far this season.

Rookie-level AZL Dodgers

Guerrero wasn't alone in the team's 11-6 win over the Angels. Michael Medina, a right fielder signed by the Dodgers in January 2013 out of the Dominican Republic for $275,000, was 3-for-5 with a double. He doesn't turn 18 until Aug. 24. Alex Verdugo, the Dodgers' second-round pick in June's draft, played center field and went 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to six games. Billy Beresniewicz, picked in the 28th round this year, was drafted as an outfielder and played his first eight games in the outfield. On Thursday, the left-hander pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, allowing no hits and a walk, for the win.

Minor league transactions

Chattanooga second baseman Ryan Adams, 27, was released to make room for Liddi.

Coming up

Greg Harris starts for the Loons at Lake County (Indians) at 4 p.m. PT ... Matt Shelton starts for the Lookouts against Huntsville at 4:15 p.m. ... Carlos Frias will start Game 1 of another doubleheader for Albuquerque, in Las Vegas (Mets) at 5:05 p.m., with the Game 2 starter TBD. It will be the Isotopes' fifth doubleheader in a 15-day span. ... Dodgers 2014 fourth-round pick Jeff Brigham makes his first professional start for the Raptors against Great Falls at 6 p.m. ... Jharel Cotton will start for the Quakes against Lancaster (Astros) at 7:05 p.m.