Dodgers minor league news

Trevor Oaks chases away the storm, OKC wins 7-2

Josh Sborz has solid start, Tulsa moves into first place tie

By Craig Minami Jun 14, 2017, 6:00am PDT

trevor-oaks-2016-tulsa-drillers-naeem-thomas — Trevor Oaks with Tulsa in 2016

Tulsa — It was mostly a good day with a disappointing night cap. Five of the six Dodger affiliates won but Rancho Cucamonga were shutout and fell a little further back in their chase for first half title.

Player of the day

Trevor Oaks matched a season-high seven innings pitched as he won his third game of the season on Tuesday night. Oaks struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers and the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) were tied 2-2 with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the fifth when O’Koyea Dickson came to bat. Four batters later, it was 6-2 Dodgers as the Dodgers hit a home run, triple, home run and home run.

That proved to be enough for the 7-2 win for the Dodgers. Trevor Oaks pitched seven innings, gave up two runs, six hits and struck out seven.

In the bottom of the fifth, Dickson hit his league-leading 16th home run, Willie Calhoun followed with a triple. Trayce Thompson followed with a two-run homer and then Kyle Farmer finished it with a solo home run.

Thompson would go 3-for-4, along with his home run, he also doubled; Alex Verdugo had two hits and Kyle Farmer also had a double to go with his home run. Charlie Culberson had two hits and two RBI.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the fifth which was more than enough as they swept their four game series win an 8-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals.

With the bases loaded and one out, Erick Mejia singled in the first run. Edwin Rios drove the second with a sacrifice fly. Quincy Latimore followed with a single to drive in two more runs.

The Drillers would score four more runs in the seventh, the big blow was a grand slam hit by Jose Miguel Fernandez, his seventh home run of the season.

Drillers pitching coach Bill Simas said before the game that Josh Sborz has been “putting in good work,” “doing his work on the side,” and “hopefully he’s comfortable today.”

Apparently he was comfortable as Sborz had a solid start, going 5⅔ innings. Sborz allowed no runs, three hits and struck out five.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes were struck out 14 times and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position which meant a 2-0 loss to the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). The loss dropped the Quakes two games behind the Lancaster JetHawks with five games to go in the first half.

Caleb Ferguson gave up the two runs in 4⅔ innings pitched. Ferguson also gave up five hits, five walks and struck out three. The Quakes bullpen held the 66ers scoreless for the rest of the game, Tony Gonsolin struck out six in 3⅓ innings and Andrew Istler pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons and Dayton Dragons (Reds) split a double-header. The Loons won 3-1 to take the first game and then lost 4-2 to the Dragons in the second game.

A.J. Alexy pitched a season-high six innings to win his first game for the Loons. Alexy gave up no runs, two hits, two walks and he also struck out six. Angel German pitched an inning to get his fourth save.

Brendon Davis scored two runs and went 2-for-2. Keibert Ruiz also went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

In the second game, the Dragons held the Loons to two runs and four hits. Oneil Cruz tripled and had an RBI.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City placed left-handed pitcher Julio Urias on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 11, 2017.

Class-A: Great Lakes placed right-handed pitcher Gavin Pittore on the 7-day disabled list and activated right-handed pitcher Vinny Santarsiero from the 7-day disabled list.