Dodgers minor league news

Pitcher Brock Stewart leads surging Tulsa Drillers to a double-header sweep

By Craig Minami Jun 8, 2016, 6:00am PDT

Brock Stewart earlier this season at Rancho Cucamonga

Three of four Dodger affiliates won on Tuesday, Tulsa swept a double-header, and Oklahoma City and Rancho Cucamonga won their games. However, Great Lakes were shutout but they also made an announcement regarding the upcoming Midwest League All-Star Game.

Player of the day

Several worthy candidates and the pick goes to right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart who pitched a seven inning complete game and helped Tulsa sweep their double-header. Stewart allowed one run, seven hits, a walk, two hit batters and three strikeouts. In nine games with Tulsa, Stewart, the Dodgers' sixth round draft pick in 2014, has pitched 56⅓ innings, with a 1.12 ERA and 62 strikeouts.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers got standout pitching from Jose De Leon and Carlos Frias and they went on to defeat the Express (Rangers) 7-1 on Tuesday. Jose De Leon was activated from the 7-day disabled list and made only his second 2016 appearance.

De Leon, the Dodgers 24th round pick in 2013 draft, pitched three innings, retired all nine hitters he faced and struck out six of those nine batters. Following De Leon was Carlos Frias, who pitched six innings and allowed one run, four hits and struck out four.

Zach Walters hit two home runs and drove in five runs, O'Koyea Dickson had his second straight three-hit game.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers swept their double-header with the Naturals (Royals) and have now won nine straight and 14 out of their last 15 games. The Drillers won the first game 3-1 and the second game 6-4.

Right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart won the first game with a seven-inning and one run appearance. In the second game, right-handed starting pitcher Scott Barlow gave up four runs but after that the bullpen pitched four scoreless innings. With the game tied at four apiece, Alex Verdugo sent every Driller fan happy with a walk-off home run.

Willie Calhoun hit two home runs in the second game, Cody Bellinger joined Calhoun by each getting three hits.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes won 7-3 over the 66ers (Angels) on Tuesday at LoanMart Field. Josh Sborz continues to make solid starts, Sborz gave up a hit in five innings pitched. Kevin Brown struck out all three batters he faced.

Chris Anderson had another scoreless inning performance.

Tim Locastro had three hits in five plate appearances, Edwin Rios and Yusniel Diaz had two hits in the win.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons were on the wrong side of a shutout which the WhiteCaps (Tigers) combined three pitchers won 5-0 over the Loons. However, there was good news, right-hander Dennis Santana was the Loons selection to the upcoming 2016 Midwest All-Star Game.

All the runs came in the fourth inning as West Michigan batted around. There were six singles in that inning but the last hit was a double off the bat of David Gonzalez that plated two runs to close out the big inning.

Dominican Summer League - Dodgers 1 and 2

Both games were postponed due to rain.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City activated right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon from 7-day disabled list; placed left-handed pitcher Jordan Schafer on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 5, 2016. Class-A: Right-handed pitcher Kevin Brown assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Great Lakes; placed right-handed pitcher right-handed pitcher Karch Kowalczyk on the 7-day disabled list. Outfielder Dan Fields assigned to Great Lakes; placed infielder Matt Jones on 7-day disabled list.