Dodgers minor league news

Zach Lee gets complete game win; OKC Dodgers sweep doubleheader

By Craig Minami Aug 3, 2015, 6:00am PDT

Player of the day

Zach Lee pitched a seven inning complete game to win his eighth game of the season. Lee gave up a run and four hits and struck out three. It was the fourth time this season Lee has pitched seven innings.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers swept their doubleheader against the Zephyrs (Marlins), winning the first game 4-2 and then taking the second game 3-1. Eric Surkamp started and picked up the win in the first game and as noted above, Player of the day, Zach Lee, pitched a complete game win to take the second game.

Jose Peraza and Andy Wilkens each hit two-run home runs to provide the scoring in the first game. O'Koyea Dickson had two-run double and later scored to provide the three runs in the second game.

Surkamp went five innings, allowing two runs (one earned), seven hits, a walk and striking out three. Daniel Coulombe pitched a scoreless inning and Juan Gonzalez struck out two to get his sixth save.

Trailing 2-0, the Dodgers tied it up in the fifth when Darwin Barney had a pinch-hit single, which was followed by Peraza's first OKC home run:

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After Corey Seager got on base on an error, Wilkins' hit his fifteenth home run of the season to give the Dodgers the lead.

In the second game, trailing 1-0, Kyle Jensen doubled and Darwin Barney singled Jensen to third. Dickson then doubled in both runners. Darwin Sweeney would later single home Dickson.

Double-A Tulsa

Tied 3-3 in the ninth, the Travelers (Angels) had a walk-off sacrifice bunt to beat the Drillers 4-3. With runners on second and third and one out, Anthony Bemboom dropped a bunt down and the runner beat the throw to get the win.

Ross Stripling went 5⅔ IP, allowing three runs, six hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Ryan Dennick took the loss.

The Drillers only had five hits but also received seven walks. Kyle Farmer had an RBI single.

[Recap]

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes swept their 4-game series against the Storm (Padres) by winning 4-3 on a walk-off single by Dillon Moyer. I covered the game and you can read the recap here. After the game, I spoke to Quakes pitching coach Bill Simas about Pedro Fernandez's Cal League debut.

Simas was impressed by Fernandez was able to keep the batters off balance with his off-speed pitches. "He's a pitcher, he's a little more mature than what we see at this level," Simas said, "he mixes pitches well and he knows what he is doing out there."

Fernandez's off-speed arsenal includes a curveball, slider and a knuckeball. "[Fernandez] pitches backwards, Ogle (catcher) did a really good job calling the game," Simas said, "his best off-speed was his slider, he threw his curveball for strikes and his out pitch was his slider."

When asked about Fernandez's velocity, Simas said he's had minimal looks at him, he's heard the numbers but he will just wait and see how he does in his starts.

Also, as noted in the recap, Brandon Dixon has been swinging a hot bat; since July 21st, in 52 plate appearances, Dixon has a .468/.509/.957 batting line with three doubles, a triple and six home runs. Dixon has homered in three straight games and in five of his six games.

Low Class-A Great Lakes

The run-scoring continued as the Loons scored seven runs but that wasn't half as many as the 15 runs the Captains (Indians) scored to take the game 15-7.

The first four Loons pitchers gave up the 15 runs (14 were earned), only Scott Griggs, who pitched 1⅔ IP, did not give up a run.

Justin Chigbogu and Julian Leon each hit a home run. Willie Calhoun, Kyle Garlick and Leon each had two hits. But despite getting 11 hits, the Loons were only 2-for-11 with RISP.

[Recap]

Short Season Ogden

The Chukars (Royals) swept the four game series against the Raptors, taking Sunday's game 4-1.

Adam Bray took the loss, the Dodgers 2015 33rd round pick, went three innings and gave up two runs on four hits and two strikeouts.

The Raptors will take the next three days off for their All-Star Break, two of their four All-Stars (Nick Dean and Willie Calhoun) will not play in the game because they are now with Great Lakes. Matt Jones and Nick Sell will be at the game.

All of the Dodger affiliates have had several transactions this season and the Raptors lead their league with 53 moves. That is more than double the next team's total.

When asked about the 53 transactions that have been made thus far, Manager John Shoemaker said to Standard Examiner, "We've had so many different player moves this year that I think right now a lot of guys are beginning to think about what's going to happen next instead of just worrying about what's going to happen at the game."

[Recap]

Rookie-level Arizona

The Arizona Dodgers beat the Arizona Angels 4-3 on Sunday. Yensys Capellian sacrifice fly drove in Jared Walker for the the eventual winning run. Walker had tripled in the tying run earlier in that inning.

Gersel Pitre, a 19-year old Venezuelan catcher was signed in January 2014 and Pitre has been a bright spot for the Dodgers. Pitre is hitting .404/.505/.500 in 61 plate appearances. Pitre has struck out five times and walked nine times.

On Sunday, Pitre went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Imani Abdullah had a tough game, in 2⅓ IP, Abdullah gave up two runs, one hit two walks and struck out three.