Dodgers minor league news

Alex Verdugo goes 3-for-4 in Oklahoma City’s 11-2 win

21-year old outfielder has a 1.042 OPS in June

By Craig Minami Jun 18, 2017, 6:00am PDT

As the first half is coming to a close for Texas, California and Midwest Leagues, the Dodger full-season teams go 2-for-4 while the Dominican Summer League team split their games

Player of the day

Oklahoma City outfielder Alex Verdugo went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI. Since moving to the leadoff spot, which takes advantage of his good on-base-percentage, Verdugo has hit .441/.500/.824 in 38 plate appearances.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers took their hitting show on the road and won 11-2 over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers). The Dodgers hit four home runs, two by Max Muncy and one apiece for Kyle Farmer and Scott Van Slyke.

Right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart was scratched just before game time so it was another bullpen game. After Justin Marks pitched 2⅔ innings and gave up two runs, Fabio Castillo followed with 4⅓ scoreless innings and Joe Broussard closed it out with two more scoreless innings.

Six Dodgers had multi-hit games, Alex Verdugo and Charlie Culberson each had three hits. Muncy, Farmer, Van Slyke and Mike Freeman had two hits apiece.

Since being promoted to AAA, Farmer has hit .329/.378/.592 with five home runs. The 26-year old has split time at both catcher and third base.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers lost their fifth straight and were swept by the NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals), losing 4-1 on Saturday. After Andrew Sopko started and pitched five scoreless innings, Shea Spitzbarth gave up two runs in his inning of work and that was enough for him to take the loss.

The Drillers could not again generate much offense, hitting five singles and a double. They had but three opportunities with runners in scoring position and went 0-for-3 in those tries.

The losing streak meant that the Drillers were eliminated for the first half division title.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes got to watch the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) win the first-half division title at LoanMart Field in a game that got out of hand early. The JetHawks won 12-2 as the league’s best offense flexed their muscles on Saturday night.

Devin Smeltzer had pitched well in his second start for the Quakes but on this night, he could not get past the 4th inning, his shortest outing since his first outing for the Loons back in April.

Smeltzer pitched 3⅓ innings, gave up seven runs (five earned) and seven hits including two home runs.

The Quakes continued their offensive frustrations from Friday, leaving ten runners on base and going 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons scored seven runs in the 7th inning and went on to beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) 9-3. Leo Crawford evened his win/loss record to 4-4.

Crawford pitched well, going seven innings and giving up a run, five hits while striking out five. Angel German gave up two runs in the ninth.

The Loons scored their runs without much power as they had but one extra-base hit, a double among their 12 hits. But they were also the recipient of 11 walks on Saturday.

Gersel Pitre had three hits, Cody Thomas and Keibert Ruiz had two hits apiece.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City placed outfielder Brett Eibner on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 16, 2017; Oklahoma City placed right-handed pitcher Steve Geltz on the 7-day disabled list and activated catcher Jack Murphy from the 7-day disabled list.