Two Connor Wong home runs not enough in Quakes loss

Down by two, the Quakes had the bases-loaded with no outs but could not score any more runs. Drillers hung on for their win while Loons fall a run short at home.

Player of the day

Connor Wong was 3-for-4 with two home runs, a run-scoring single and a walk on Sunday, the Houston alum now has eight home runs to lead the California League.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers game against the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) was rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader in June.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers won another back and forth game 8-6 against the NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals). The Naturals had the bases-loaded with one out in the ninth but Ariel Hernandez was able to get the final two outs to secure the win.

Big hits were gotten from Kyle Garlick, who homered twice, Drew Jackson and Yusniel Diaz hit solo home runs and DJ Peters had a two-rbi triple.

Yadier Alvarez made two errors on one play that cost him two runs in the first inning. After a leadoff walk, an attempted sacrifice bunt was both misplayed by Alvarez to allow Erick Mejia to reach first and then a bad throw put the lead runner on third.

Both runners would later score to give the Naturals the early lead. The Drillers would take their first lead on Peters’ triple. With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth, Jackson homered to put the Drillers back in front. Later in the inning, Garlick hit a two-run homer and DIaz followed with his first home run of the season.

Josh Sborz pitched out of trouble in the eighth to get the win.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes fell behind early and never quite caught up losing 8-6 to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres). The Quakes had big late rallies in the previous two games and on Sunday, they tried for a three in a row.

Trailing by four runs, the Quakes had a leadoff walk, a single, a double and a walk that made it 8-5 with Connor Wong coming up with no outs and the bases-loaded. Wong had already homered twice, he singled in a run to keep the bases-loaded with no outs.

But then, the Storm were able to get out of it by getting out the birthday boy Rylan Bannon, who had also homered earlier, on a force play at the plate. A strikeout and a fly out ended the Quakes rally and the game.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons lost 2-1 to West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) as they went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and thus are now 0-for-6 against the Whitecaps so far in 2018.

Melvin Jimenez had his first solid start for the Loons; the 18-year-old pitched five innings and gave up two runs, three hits and walked one, while striking out four. Andre Scrubb and Marshall Kasowski did not allow a run in the last four innings.

But despite seven walks to go along with their seven hits, the Loons left 13 runners on base and their slow start in 2018 continued for another game.

Transactions

It was confirmed yesterday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that Oklahoma City right-hander Walker Buehler will start tonight for the Dodgers. The corresponding moves will be announced later today.

Sunday’s scores

Tulsa 8, NW Arkansas 6

Lake Elsinore 8, Rancho Cucamonga 6

West Michigan 2, Great Lakes 1

Monday’s schedule

9:00 a.m PT.: Oklahoma City (Manny Bañuelos) at New Orleans (Sandy Alcantara)

3:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (TBD) vs. Fort Wayne [Padres] (TBD)

5:10 p.m.: Tulsa (Dennis Santana) at Arkansas [Mariners] (Chase De Jong)