Yadier Alvarez is one positive in Tulsa Drillers’ loss at Midland

It was not a great day for the Dodger affiliates, Tulsa, Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes lost. Oklahoma City got an earlier trip home as their game was postponed.

Player of the day

Yadier Alvarez made his 2018 debut and the right-handed pitcher had a nice start to his season, giving up two runs (one earned), four hits, one walk and striking out four.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers and Iowa Cubs were scheduled to play a five-game series to start the 2018 season. Instead they got in three games, two via an Opening Day doubleheader. The Dodgers and Cubs will have to makeup those two games at some point during the season.

The Dodgers have their home opener today and no bad weather is in the forecast during their opening home stand.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers took an early lead but then the Midland RockHounds (Athletics) scored six runs in three innings to ultimately win 7-3. Yadier Alvarez took the loss but pitched well in his season debut.

Alvarez pitched 4⅓ innings and gave up one run while he was in the game. After being replaced by Michael Johnson, an error allowed the go-ahead run the score as the RockHounds took a 2-1 lead after five innings.

The RockHounds scored a run in the sixth inning but then put the game away with three runs in the seventh.

Pete O’Brien and Drew Jackson homered for the Drillers to provide two of the three runs. The Drillers got a look at the game when they loaded the bases with no outs but then O’Brien hit into a double play. While that scored the Drillers third run, it also ended the rally.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes continued their road trip and the Stockton Ports (Athletics) welcomed them with a 10-2 win over the Quakes. The Ports had six hits and were a relatively sedate 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position. But 11 walks by Quakes pitchers proved to be the downfall on Monday night,

Imani Abdullah made his California League debut and he was the first Quake pitcher to have problems finding the plate. Abdullah, who will be 21 in a few weeks, only pitched 12⅓ innings in 2017 so keep that in mind as you look at the following line score.

In his first game for the Quakes, Abdullah pitched 2⅔ innings, faced 17 batters, gave up 3 hits, four runs (three earned) and walked six. Abdullah did strike out two.

The Quakes did not have a good night when they went to plate, aside from Donovan Casey who went 2-for-3, there were only three other hits. The Quakes also had one walk against striking out 14 times.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons led by one going to the bottom of the seventh but then the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) scored five runs and defeated the Loons 7-3. Alfredo Tavarez took the loss as he gave up all five runs in that inning.

Prior to Tavarez, Jesus Vargas started for the Loons. Vargas, who won’t be 20 until August, was making his Midwest League debut after playing for both Rookie League teams in 2017.

Vargas pitched three innings, gave up two hits and one run. Vargas had a better than 11 strikeout to one walk ratio in 2017, on Monday he struck out six and walked two.

It is always interesting to watch how players adjust to playing in the Midwest League. Most of them have never been in this region before and some have never encountered temperatures like they have there right now.

Starling Heredia and Romar Cuadrado are two of the Loons who are starting their first full season of games and getting adjusted to that will be part of their maturation process. For now, Heredia currently has a three-game streak of multi-hit games and Cuadrado has an .873 OPS in the very early going.

Transactions

Class-A: Great Lakes placed left-handed pitcher Austin Hamilton on the 7-day disabled list, right-handed pitcher Alfredo Tavarez assigned to Great Lakes from Ogden.

Monday’s scores

Midland 7, Tulsa 3

Stockton 10, Rancho Cucamonga 2

West Michigan 7, Great Lakes 3

Tuesday’s schedule

9:00 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Edwin Uceta) at West Michigan (Jesus Rodriguez)

11:10 a.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Dean Kremer) at Stockton (Jake Bray)

4:30 p.m.: Tulsa (Dennis Santana) at Midland (TBD)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Zach Neal) vs. Round Rock [Rangers] (David Ledbetter)