Dodgers minor league news

Josh Sborz pitches 6⅔ scoreless innings in Tulsa win

Outfielder Starling Heredia hits two home runs for Ogden

By Craig Minami Jul 10, 2017, 6:00am PDT

The Sunday before the MLB All-Star Game is also known as Future Games day when prospects gather to play on the U.S. or World Team.

Dodger prospects, right-handed pitcher Yadier Alvarez and outfielder Alex Verdugo started for the World Team, you can read about it in Eric Stephen’s article here.

The full-season Dodger affiliates and the U.S.-based short-season Rookie-level teams played with Tulsa and Ogden being the winners on Sunday.

Player of the day

Tulsa right-hander Josh Sborz pitched 6⅔ scoreless innings as he had his best start in the last two weeks.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers were held scoreless by the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) and lost 3-0 on Sunday. Fabio Castillo started and gave up two runs in three innings.

Yaisel Sierra followed and for three innings, he gave up no runs with a few walks sprinkled in. Sierra began to pitch his fourth inning for the first time this season and after a strikeout, he gave up a double and single that scored the one run he gave up.

But it was the lack of offense that doomed Oklahoma City on Sunday, they had just three hits and three walks and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Oklahoma City starts their three-day All-Star break today, the Triple-A All-Star Game is on Wednesday in Tacoma, Washington.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers got solid pitching and beat the Midland RockHounds (Athletics) 3-1 on Sunday. Josh Sborz and Corey Copping combined to give up just a run and three hits.

Sborz pitched 6⅔ scoreless innings and struck out five.

Henry Ramos had three hits and two RBI, Matt Beaty hit his 9th home run.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes will be happy to know that Mike Trout will not face them anymore as they were defeated 12-2 by the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels).

In two games, Trout was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, he scored five runs and walked four times. After the game, the Angels PR department announced that Trout would return to the Angels on Friday.

Devin Smeltzer did not pitch well in his start, getting just two outs in the first inning before being taken out. Smeltzer gave up six runs (five earned), three hits and two walks.

Isaac Anderson gave up five runs in 2⅓ innings to put the game completely out of reach.

DJ Peters continued to do well in July as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles. So far, he’s hitting .459/.512/1.108 this month.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons fell behind early and lost 7-2 to Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays). Jordan Sheffield pitched four innings and gave up seven hits, six runs and five walks.

Carlos Rincon hit his 15th home run of the season but he is hitting .220 with 103 strikeouts in 236 at bats.

Rookie-Level Ogden

The Raptors held the Grand Junction Rockies to one run and in turn hit five home runs to defeat the Rockies 10-1.

Starling Heredia hit his first two home runs for the Raptors in a 3-for-4 game where he also doubled and walked. Romer Cuadrado, Erick Meza, and Hendrik Clementina also homered.

Carlos Felix matched his season-high five scoreless innings and he gave up two hits and one walk. Felix struck out five.

Rookie-Level AZL Dodgers

AZL Dodgers may have lost by a run but both teams scored plenty as the AZL Brewers held on to a 14-13 win.

Ronny Brito hit two home runs and Jefrey Souffront had six RBI and hit his second home run of the season.

Transactions

Double-A: Catcher Will Smith and right-handed pitcher Eddie Gamboa assigned to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga; Tulsa placed catcher Sean O'Connell and right-handed pitcher Tim Shibuya on the 7-day disabled list.

Class-A: Rancho Cucamonga placed right-handed pitcher Yadier Alvarez on the temporarily inactive list and placed outfielder Yusniel Diaz on the 7-day disabled list; Rancho Cucamonga activated right-handed pitcher Isaac Anderson from the 7-day disabled list; catcher Keibert Ruiz assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Great Lakes.

Catcher Garrett Hope assigned to Great Lakes from Ogden Raptors.