Dodgers minor league news

Wilmer Font has another brilliant start, OKC wins 3-1

Since the All-Star break, Font has struck out 35 in 25 innings pitched

By Craig Minami Aug 2, 2017, 6:00am PDT

A pretty good day for the Dodger minor league affiliates, wins for Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Rancho Cucamonga, Great Lakes and the AZL Dodgers. Both Dominican Summer League teams lost as did the Pioneer League All-Stars.

Player of the day

With strong consideration given to Caleb Ferguson, the player of the day went to Wilmer Font. Since the All-Star break, Font has made four straight starts of six or more innings, overall totaling 25 innings. Font has given up 17 hits and four walks while striking out 35 in those four starts.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers beat the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) 3-1 behind strong pitching from Wilmer Font. Font, as noted above, made another strong start, this time pitching six innings and giving up a run, three hits and two walks. Font struck out seven.

Solo home runs from Trayce Thompson and Henry Ramos provided two of the three runs. Ramos went 4-for-4 in his first game with Oklahoma City.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers scored three runs in the seventh and then hung on to win 5-4 over the Springfield Cardinals. Erick Mejia doubled home the first run in the seventh and he was brought home on a two-run homer by Garrett Kennedy.

Kennedy went 2-for-4 with three RBI, Matt Beaty had three hits.

Andrew Sopko started and pitched five innings and gave up three runs. Layne Somsen got the win, Corey Copping picked up his 12th save.

The Drillers have won sixth straight and moved into first place in their second half race.

The #TulsaDrillers win their 6th straight game with a 5-4 victory over the first place @Sgf_Cardinals Tuesday night. #DrillVille #RedHot pic.twitter.com/t4Oyj3jxfV
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) August 2, 2017

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes had to go to 12 innings but it was worth the extra time as they walked-off with a 2-1 win over the Modesto Nuts (Mariners).

Tied 1-1, the Quakes had loaded the bases when Matt Walker threw his second wild pitch of the inning and that allowed Zach McKinstry to run home with the winning run.

Both starting pitchers did well, Modesto’s Robert Dugger pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.

Quakes starter Caleb Ferguson pitched just as well, also pitching seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out 11.

Both teams had opportunities to score, the Quakes were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position while the Nuts were a frustrating 0-for-13 in those situations.

Outfielder Zach Reks joined the Quakes on Tuesday making him the first Dodger 2017 draft pick to advance to the California League.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons scored five times in the ninth and beat Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays) 5-1 to take the finale of their series. Cody Thomas had a one-out single with the bases loaded to drive in the first two runs of that outburst.

Cristian Santana would also have an RBI single and Nick Yarnall would close out the scoring with a two-run single.

Chris Mathewson started for the Loons and he pitched seven innings, giving up a run, one hit and two walks. Mathewson would strike out six. Evy Ruibal made his Great Lakes debut and he pitched two scoreless innings for his first win.

Rookie Pioneer - Ogden

The Pioneer League is on their All-Star Break and will return to the field on Thursday.

Rookie - AZL Dodgers

The AZL Dodgers won 6-5 over the AZL Athletics behind the strong pitching from Jesus Vargas. Vargas pitched six innings, gave up two hits and struck out seven.

Right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher and utility player Rob Segedin continued their rehab with the AZL Dodgers.

Jeremy Arocho was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.

Transactions

Triple-A: Los Angeles optioned left-handed pitcher Edward Paredes to Oklahoma City; Oklahoma City activated RHP Jacob Rhame from the 7-day disabled list and released left-handed pitcher Tommy Layne; infielder Tim Locastro assigned to Oklahoma City from Tulsa.

Double-A: Infielder Drew Jackson and outfielders Yusniel Diaz and Johan Mieses were assigned to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga.

Class-A: Infielder Zach McKinstry assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Tulsa; outfielder Zach Reks assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Great Lakes.

Rookie: Catcher Ramon Rodriguez assigned to Ogden from AZL Dodgers.