Matt Beaty wins Texas League Player of the Year

Several things happened on Friday — two Drillers were honored, a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher had a rehab start but there was also some game action described below.

Third baseman Matt Beaty named Texas League Player of the Year

The Texas League announced today their season awards and two Tulsa Drillers received honors. Third baseman Matt Beaty was named Texas League Player of the Year. The 24-year old is hitting .325/.382/.509 in 106 games. Beaty has 14 home runs and 29 doubles.

Right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow was also named to the Texas League All-Star Team. Prior to Friday’s game, Barlow has 108 strikeouts against 35 walks in 93⅓ innings pitched. He currently has 2.12 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

Brandon McCarthy makes his first rehab appearance

Brandon McCarthy made his first pitching appearance since his start against the Atlanta Braves on July 20th. McCarthy pitched three innings, throwing fastballs in 91-93 mph range (on the stadium gun) and also showing some off-speed pitches.

McCarthy retired five of the first six batters he faced, and the one batter he walked was soon out as part of a double play. In the third inning, he walked two but got out of it unscathed. He did not give up any runs or hits. He had two strikeouts.

It was reported from Dodger Stadium that he was going pitch four innings and/or about 60 pitches but after he finished up in the third, the Quakes had a long half inning (they scored five runs and batted around with a pitching change scattered in there). At some point during that inning, the Quakes warmed up a pitcher who did eventually come in to pitch the fourth inning.

Player of the day

Quincy Latimore had quite a night at LoanMart Field. He hit two home runs, one a grand slam and the other a three-run shot. Overall, Latimore went 4-for-4 with two home runs and eight RBI.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers and Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) game was postponed due to weather and wet grounds. A double-header is scheduled for Sunday to make-up for this postponement.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers missed a chance to gain a game on the Cardinals as the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) scored two runs in the eighth to come back and beat the Drillers 4-3. The Drillers and Cardinals will be tied for first when they start their three game series at Springfield later today.

In the eighth inning and with two out, Karch Kowalczyk walked Ryan Casteel, Tyler Marlette would then hit a triple to score Casteel. Marlette would then score on Dario Pizzano’s single to break the tie.

Prior to that, Texas League All-Star Scott Barlow had pitched very well for the Drillers. In seven innings, Barlow gave up two runs, three hits and one walk. Barlow also struck out ten.

The Drillers could not do much at the plate, all their runs scored on Yusniel Diaz three-run homer.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes took the first game in their final regular season series against Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) by a 12-1 score on Friday at LoanMart Field. With a sold out crowd and Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Brandon McCarthy on the mound doing a rehab start, there was a lot of anticipation for excitement.

As noted above, McCarthy gave up no runs or hits in his three innings pitched. Leading 1-0, the Quakes scored four quick runs in the bottom of the third on the first of two Quincy Latimore home runs.

Leading 6-1 in the eighth, the Quakes scored six more runs, three of them coming on Latimore’s second home run of the game.

Devin Smeltzer pitched five innings in relief to get the win. Latimore and Luke Raley each had four hits. Jose Brizuela had three hits for the Quakes.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Dayton Dragons (Reds) overwhelmed the Loons in their 10-1 win. The Dragons pitchers struck out 13 Loons and the Loons only run came on a Cody Thomas home run. That was Thomas’s 20th home run of the season.

Gavin Lux singled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. In August, Lux is hitting .365/.426/.506 in 21 games.

Rookie-Pioneer Ogden

The Raptors scored one in the ninth and three in the tenth to come back and beat the Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals) 9-6 on Friday. In the tenth, Luis Paz hit a three-run homer with two out to provide the winning margin.

The win gave the Raptors a two-game lead in their division.

Donovan Casey and Connor Heady each had three hits, Samuel Ortiz and Paz had two hits apiece.

Rookie-AZL Dodgers

The AZL Dodgers were off on Friday.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City placed right-handed pitcher Madison Younginer and left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes (retroactive to August 23, 2017) on the 7-day disabled list.

Class-A: Los Angeles sent right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga; Rancho Cucamonga activated shortstop Cristian Gomez from the 7-day disabled list and placed infielder Brandon Montgomery on the 7-day disabled list.

Great Lakes activated infielder Cristian Santana from the 7-day disabled list.

Rookie: Infielder Brock Carpenter assigned to Ogden from Great Lakes.

Friday’s scores

Arkansas 4, Tulsa 3

Rancho Cucamonga 12, Inland Empire 1

Dayton 10, Great Lakes 1

Ogden 9, Idaho Falls 6 (10)

DSL Athletics 5, DSL Dodgers1 2

DSL DodgersTwo 2, DSL RangersOne 1

Saturday’s schedule

4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Leo Crawford) vs. Dayton (Scott Moss)

4:10 p.m.: Tulsa (Yadier Alvarez) at Springfield Cardinals (TBD)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Clayton Kershaw) vs. Omaha (Jake Kalish)

6:15 p.m.: Ogden (Osiris Ramirez) at Idaho Falls (TBD)

7:00 p.m.: AZL Dodgers at AZL Royals

7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jordan Sheffield) vs. Inland Empire (Joe Gatto)