Dodgers minor league news

Walker Buehler has his longest relief appearance in OKC win

Buehler makes his sixth relief appearance in August with 15 strikeouts in 10⅓ innings

By Craig Minami Aug 25, 2017, 6:00am PDT

Only two Dodger affiliates lost on Thursday, Tulsa and Rancho Cucamonga, while all the other teams won including both Dominican Summer League teams.

The Dominican Summer League ends their regular season this Saturday and both Dodger affiliates will be fighting for a playoff spot.

Player of the day

Walker Buehler continued his transition to a relief pitcher, he had his sixth appearance last night for Oklahoma City. Only once has he pitched with only two days between appearances, so his final steps might be to go back-to-back or at least just one day between games.

Buehler has now pitched 88 innings in 2017. MLB rosters can expand a week from today so Buehler might get one or two games more for Oklahoma City before a decision is made to bring him up.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers took the first game of their series against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) by a 9-1 score on Thursday. Justin Masterson won his 11th game, pitching 5⅔ innings and giving up one run and three hits. Masterson would also strike out six and walk five.

Walker Buehler pitched 2⅔ innings in relief, his longest relief appearance this season, and gave up two hits and struck out four.

Trayce Thompson had three hits including a double and an RBI. Drew Maggi and Jack Murphy each had two hits and two RBI. Henry Ramos and Rob Segedin also each had two hits.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers lost 7-2 to Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) and thus saw their eight-game winning streak end. Despite striking out seven, Mitch White took the loss.

White pitched three innings and gave up four runs, three hits, including a home run and walked three. It was poorest outing for the Drillers and for White in a while as he had not given up as many as four runs in a game since early May when he was with the Quakes.

Johan Mieses hit his 14th home run to provide an offensive highlight for the Drillers.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes lost 6-1 to Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) on Thursday. Despite the loss, the Quakes kept their one-game lead over the Lancaster JetHawks. The Quakes start a big three-game series against the Inland Empire 66ers today.

The Storm scored three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to take control of what was a one-run game. That was more than enough for Jerry Keel.

Keel pitched a complete game two-hitter and struck out nine Quakes. This was his best start for the Storm, Keel had struck out 11 in Midwest League start back in May.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons scored five runs in the second and that held up in their 5-2 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays). Marshall Kasowski, the Dodgers 13th round pick, won his first professional game.

Kasowski pitched 2⅓ innings, gave up a run, two hits and a walk. Melvin Jiminez started and pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings and gave up just a walk, he also struck out six.

Jared Walker drove in the first run via a single, Nick Yarnell drove in the second with a sacrifice fly. Saige Jenco would continue the attack with a run-scoring single.

The final blow was a two-run double by Jeren Kendall.

Rookie-Pioneer Ogden

The Raptors put together a 20-hit attack and beat the Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals) 13-6. The win kept the Raptors in first place by a game over the Grand Junction Rockies.

Mitchell Hansen had four hits including his fifth home run. Garrett Hope and Rylan Bannon also homered for the Raptors. Romar Cuadrado and Gersel Pitre joined Bannon with three hits apiece.

Rookie-AZL Dodgers

The AZL Dodgers defeated the AZL Angels 5-2 as the Dodgers maintained their first place tie in their division. James Marinan, the Dodgers fourth round pick, collected his first professional win.

Marinan pitched 2⅔ innings in relief and gave up no runs, three hits, and two walks. He also struck out two. Dodgers left-handed pitcher Adam Liberatore started and pitched one scoreless inning. This was Liberatore’s first rehab appearance for AZL Dodgers.

Marcus Chiu and Shakir Albert each had two hits, Jacob Roberts hit his second home run.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City activated right-handed pitcher Fabio Castillo from the 7-day disabled list; Los Angeles sent outfielder Andre Ethier to Oklahoma City to continue his rehab assignment.

Rookie: Los Angeles sent left-handed pitcher Adam Liberatore on a rehab assignment to AZL Dodgers.