Another solid start for Ferguson, Drillers win 5-1

Oklahoma City remained unbeaten at home, Tulsa won behind power and pitching. Rancho Cucamonga gave up one big inning in their loss while Great Lakes loss another close one at home.

Player of the day

Caleb Ferguson was the Dodgers pick in the 38th round in 2014. The 21-year old left-hander spent all of 2017 at Rancho California and he had a solid year with a 2.87 ERA in 122⅓ innings pitched. He averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings against 4.04 walks per nine innings.

Ferguson made his sixth start for Tulsa on Friday and he pitched six scoreless innings. Ferguson’s strikeout rate is 9.2 per nine innings against a 2.66 walks per nine innings rate so far in 2018.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers defeated the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) 5-1 on Friday night. The Dodgers remained undefeated at home with a 13-0 record. Their 20-6 record is the best start since the franchise rejoined the Pacific Coast League in 1998.

Manny Bañuelos was both the pitching and hitting star in the game. Bañuelos is now 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA. In this game, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked three and struck out five.

Bañuelos would help his cause when he came up with the bases-loaded and one out in the bottom of the second. Bañuelos doubled in all three runs, his first three RBI this season.

Jake Peter and Henry Ramos had two hits and Mike Ahmed scored two runs.

Scott Alexander and Pat Venditte each pitched one scoreless inning in relief.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers got a solid start and three home runs to outscore the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) 10-3, Caleb Ferguson pitched six scoreless innings and DJ Peters, Will Smith and Drew Jackson each homered.

Peters, Yusniel Diaz, Keibert Ruiz, Connor Joe and Errol Robinson each had two hits. The Drillers scored ten runs despite going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Caleb Ferguson started and pitched six scoreless innings. Dylan Baker and Corey Copping closed out the game.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes dropped the first game of their road trip, losing 8-1 to the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks). A six-run inning from the Rawhide put the game out of reach.

Jordan Sheffield pitched 4⅔ innings, gave up three runs and eight hits. He struck out four and walked two. Isaac Anderson did not pitch well, in one inning, he gave up five runs (one earned).

Four errors, two each for the Gavin Lux and Omar Estevez helped the Rawhide score four of the eight runs.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons dropped a 2-1 game at home at against the Kane County Cougars (Diamondbacks). Two runs in the second inning proved to be enough for the Cougars.

Edwin Uceta started and pitched four innings, giving two runs and three hits. Uceta walked two and struck out six.

Great Lakes had just four hits and received five walks. They were 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position.

Transactions

Triple-A: Los Angeles optioned left-handed pitcher Edward Paredes to Oklahoma City; Los Angeles recalled infielder Breyvic Valera from Oklahoma City; infielder Mike Ahmed assigned to Oklahoma City from Tulsa.

Class-AA: Infielder Angelo Mora assigned to Tulsa from Oklahoma City; Tulsa activated infielder Connor Joe from the 7-day disabled list.

Class-A: Los Angeles recalled right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler from Rancho Cucamonga; Rancho Cucamonga activated catcher Steve Berman from the 7-day disabled list.

Friday’s scores

Oklahoma City 5, Colorado Springs 1

Tulsa 10, Arkansas 3

Visalia 8, Rancho Cucamonga 1

Kane County 2, Great Lakes 1

Saturday’s schedule

4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jesus Vargas) vs. Kane County (Jeff Bain)

4:10 p.m.: Tulsa (Yadier Alvarez) at Springfield [Cardinals] (Ryan Helsley)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Brock Stewart) vs. Colorado Springs (TBD)

7:00 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Tony Gonsolin) at Visalia (Riley Smith)