Drillers, Quakes drop playoff openers

The Ogden Raptors celebrated their playoff clinching victory, while Tulsa and Rancho Cucamonga each dropped the first game of their respective playoff series openers.

Player of the day

Mitchell White could not be blamed for the Drillers defeat Wednesday night, holding the Northwest Arkansas Naturals scoreless over six innings. While White recorded no strikeouts, he kept the ball on the ground for the most part, holding the Naturals to just four hits.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers’ bats fell silent in a 3-1 defeat to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) in game one of the Texas League playoffs. Drew Jackson scored the lone run as part of a one for three performance. Texas League batting champ Matt Beaty also went one for three with a walk.

Layne Somsen took the loss after following White in relief, allowing all three runs (one earned) in just two-thirds of an inning. Michael Johnson would keep the Drillers close with an inning and a third of scoreless relief.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes could not stop the bleeding in the middle innings of game one of the California League Playoffs, falling to the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) 7-3. Caleb Ferguson started strong but faltered late, allowing five runs in six innings of work. Dean Kremer and Michael Boyle each allowed a run in one inning of relief.

Cristian Santana went three for four in his California League debut, playing first base and driving in his first run at High A. Luke Raley homered in his only hit of the game, while Keibert Ruiz and Ibandel Isabel each finished with a pair of hits in four at bats.

Rookie Ogden

The Raptors knocked out seventeen hits in clinching a playoff berth with their 11-7 win over the Grand Junction Rockies. Luis Paz led the offense with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Brayan Morales scored three runs on two hits, a walk, and two stolen bases.

Edwin Uceta struck out seven over five innings, but allowed six earned runs and exited without earning the win. Austin Hamilton would go on to strike out a pair in two and one-third innings of relief to take the win.

Transactions

Triple-A: Los Angeles purchased the contract of RHP Walker Buehler.

Class-A: The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes sent 3B Jose Brizuela to Great Lakes, calling up 3B Cristian Santana.

Short-Season: The Raptors received RHP Mark Washington, RHP Jesus Vargas, and RHP Yeison Cespedes from the AZL Dodgers, and sent 2B Eric Peterson, SS Samuel Ortiz, and RHP Jeff Paschke to the AZL in return.

Wednesday scores

Northwest Arkansas 3, Tulsa 1

Lancaster 7, Rancho Cucamonga 3

Ogden 11, Grand Junction 7

Thursday schedule

5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Scott Barlow) at Northwest Arkansas (Josh Staumont)

5:30 p.m.: Ogden (Adalberto Pena) vs. Grand Junction (Lucas Gilbreath)

6:35 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Devin Smeltzer) at Lancaster (Jesus Tinoco)