Dodgers minor league news

Keibert Ruiz lifts Loons with slam

By David Hood Jun 29, 2017, 9:11am PDT

great-lakes-loons-2014 — The Loons were held to just two hits, but wound up winners 4-0.

Several good starting pitching outings on the farm Wednesday, with some late heroics in Great Lakes.

Player of the day

It might have been just one swing, but Keibert Ruiz’s grand slam in the ninth inning lifted the Loons to victory Wednesday night. Ruiz’s slam was only one of two hits for the Loons, but the blast gives Ruiz a hit in nine of his last ten games, extending his hot June hitting to a slash line of .357/.446/.518 for the month.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers could not back Trevor Oaks’ strong start in falling to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 7-2. Oaks went six innings, striking out two while allowing just two runs. Oaks had a ground out-air out ratio of 11:0. Justin Marks was hit hardest in relief, allowing four ruins in the eighth inning.

Alex Verdugo was the only Dodger to have multiple hits, going two for five. Drew Maggi and Jose Miguel Fernandez both double in one for four performances.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers return from the All Star Break on Thursday with a road trip starting at Frisco (Rangers). Josh Sborz is the scheduled starter.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

Like Oklahoma City, the Quakes could not back a strong performance from Devin Smeltzer, losing to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 2-0. Smeltzer went seven and two-thirds innings, striking out eight while allowing just two runs. Smeltzer needed only 98 pitches to work deep into the eighth inning, walking just one batter.

DJ Peters and Victor Roache each had a hit for the Quakes, their only offense against Jacob Nix. Nix struck out eleven Quakes in a complete game shutout.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons were held to just two hits on Wednesday, but one was a four run blast off the bat of Keibert Ruiz to defeat the Lake County Captains (Indians) 4-0. Ruiz went one for three with a walk and the four runs driven in in the ninth to be the hero after Lake County walked the bags full. Cody Thomas was the only other Loon to reach base via a hit with a double in the seventh inning.

AJ Alexy went five innings for the Loons, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Sven Schuller and Andre Scrubb combined with Alexy to shut out the Captains, with Scrubb earning the win with two innings, striking out three.

Rookie Ogden

The Raptors matched the Loons with a shutout of their own, defeating the Orem Owls 5-0. Logan Crouse earned the win in relief, striking out three in three innings of work. Gregorio Sequera was solid over the first four innings, striking out six. The Raptors allowed no walks over the outing.

Cristian Santana continues to hit above .500 for the level, going two for three with a walk and run scored. Kevin LaChance also had a pair of hits and a walk in three at bats, while Rylan Bannon and Hendrik Clementina also had their first home runs of the season.

Rookie Arizona League Dodgers

The AZL Dodgers fell to the AZL Cubs 9-6. Alfredo Tavarez took the loss, surrendering four runs over the first two innings. Jose Chacin followed with four strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out five.

Starling Heredia went two for five with a run scored for the Dodgers. Preston Grand Pre also had a pair of hits, while Ronny Brito drove in three runs with a double in a one for four game.