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A good day for the minor league affiliates as Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Rancho Cucamonga each won their games. Great Lakes dropped a one-run game on the road.
Player of the day
If you were to look at a list of the Dodgers top prospects, you would have to read down the list to find Caleb Ferguson. Three different lists including the one that David Hood put together for True Blue LA named Ferguson the 20th best prospect in the system. The other two were the current MLB Pipeline list and Baseball America’s 2018 Prospect Handbook.
So all Ferguson has done is pitch his third consecutive six-inning start for the Drillers. In the past 18 innings, Ferguson has allowed three runs (one earned), 15 hits and two walks. Ferguson has struck out 16 in those 18 innings pitched.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
The Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak by hitting six home runs in their 8-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals). Donovan Solano, Breyvic Valera, Danny Espinosa and Jacob Scavuzzo each had one home run while Kyle Garlick hit two home runs.
Ariel Hernandez made his first appearance for Oklahoma City, the right-hander retired all six batters he faced. Josh Sborz, like Hernandez, made his first appearance for Oklahoma City and he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
Rocky Gale, Henry Ramos, Valera, Espinosa and Garlick each had two hits. Scavuzzo was also playing his first game for Oklahoma City this season. Scavuzzo has spent most of his minor-league career at Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa, this was his second stop at Oklahoma City.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers defeated the NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals) 9-3 on Thursday behind a solid pitching performance from Caleb Ferguson and a 14-hit attack that included nine extra-base hits.
As noted above, Ferguson had his third consecutive six-inning start. In this game, Ferguson gave up one run and five hits. He struck out eight with no walks.
Ferguson has now pitched 33⅓ innings. He has given up seven runs (two earned), 26 hits and eight walks. Ferguson has struck out 36 so far in 2018.
Drew Jackson hit two doubles and a two-run homer. Luke Raley was 4-for-4 with a triple and a solo home run.
Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
The Quakes jumped out to an early lead and went on to beat the Storm (Padres) 6-2 at Lake Elsinore. In the third inning, the first three batters reached base and then, Jeren Kendall hit a grand slam. For Kendall, it was his first home run of the season.
Later in the third inning, Omar Estevez doubled home Connor Wong to make it 5-0. Wong would later hit his ninth home run to close the scoring for the Quakes.
Tony Gonsolin had pitched in the bullpen for the first two years in the organization. In 2018, Gonsolin has been starting, and he had his best game of the season on Thursday night.
Gonsolin pitched five scoreless innings, he allowed four hits and one walk. Gonsolin struck out six.
Class-A Great Lakes
The Loons lost 4-3 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), the Timber Rattlers got a solid start from Nelson Fernandez and that was enough to hang on to the win.
Fernandez pitched seven innings, gave up a run and three hits. Fernandez did not walk anyone and struck out eight times. Jesus Vargas took the loss.
Starling Heredia went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Brayan Morales struck out three times in four plate appearances.
Transactions
Triple-A: Right-handed pitchers Ariel Hernandez and Josh Sborz and outfielder Jacob Scavuzzo were assigned to Oklahoma City from Tulsa.
Class-AA: Left-handed pitcher Brian Moran was assigned to Tulsa from Oklahoma City. Outfielder Zach Reks was assigned to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga. Infielder Miguel Vargas, who was signed last September to a minor league contract, was assigned to Tulsa.
Class-A: Outfielder Logan Landon was assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Oklahoma City. Infielder Nick Yarnall was assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Great Lakes.
Infielder Eric Peterson was assigned to Great Lakes from Tulsa.
Thursday’s scores
Rancho Cucamonga 6, Lake Elsinore 2
Friday’s schedule
4:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (TBD) at Wisconsin (Dylan File)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Justin DeFratus) vs. Memphis (Kevin Herget)
5:15 p.m.: Tulsa (Frank Duncan) at NW Arkansas (Zach Lovvorn)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Dean Kremer) vs. Visalia [Diamondbacks] (Riley Smith)