Dodgers minor league news

Drillers clinch postseason berth with 9-2 win

Jared Walker, Connor Wong homer in big victory

By Craig Minami Aug 27, 2019, 8:00am PDT

As we enter the last full week of the regular minor league season the Tulsa Drillers were able to secure their spot in the post season.

Drillers clinch playoff berth with 9-2 win @ Amarillo! Tulsa with 15 hits including 3 run pinch hit HR by Jared Walker. Drillers to meet Arkansas in best of 5 divisional series starting September 4 @ Little Rock. Drillers still looking to clinch 2nd half title outright.
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) August 27, 2019

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City and Rancho Cucamonga lost and Great Lakes and Ogden won their games.

Also over the weekend, the Dodgers Dominican Summer League teams completed their 2019 seasons, neither DSL Dodgers Shoemaker or DSL Dodgers Bautista made the post season.

However, the AZL Dodgers Mota team won their second-half division title and became the fourth Dodger minor league team to qualify for the post season. The Arizona League has a single-elimination playoff, if the Dodgers win on Tuesday, they will move on to the semifinal on Wednesday. The two winners on Wednesday play a championship game on Thursday.

And reportedly there will be a rehabbing Dodger pitcher on the mound on Tuesday.

Ross Stripling said he will pitch three innings in an Arizona Summer League game on Tuesday. How he does and feels will determine if he’s activated Sept. 1 or needs more buildup. He will return as a long reliever.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 24, 2019

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers lost 7-2 in a rain-shortened game to the Cubs. After retiring the Cubs in the top of the sixth, the game was stopped. And then, following a 1 hour and 15 minute delay, the game was called due to rain storms in the area.

Mitchell White took the loss for the Dodgers. He gave up a three-run homer that accounted for all the scoring against him in the three innings he has pitched. The 2016 second round pick has seen AAA batters hit .300 and 13 home runs against him in 60⅔ innings pitched.

Gavin Lux went 0-for-3 and DJ Peters also went 0-for-3, striking out all three times. Peters has had an August swoon at OKC, hitting .139/.295/.181 in 82 plate appearances with no home runs and 34 strikeouts.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers clinched their playoff berth with a 9-2 win over the Sod Poodles (Padres) on Monday night. Leo Crawford pitched three innings to pick up the win. He gave up six hits and one run.

Five players had multiple hits, Omar Estevez and Connor Wong each had three hits.

And Donovan Casey, Jordan Procyshen and Errol Robinson, had two hits apiece.

Jared Walker hit a three-run pinch hit homer and Connor Wong hit a solo shot.

The Drillers can still win the second half division title, they currently have a two-game lead over the Arkansas Travelers.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes lost 5-2 to the 66ers (Angels) on Monday. The Quakes still set a new club record of 43 road wins this season.

Austin Hamilton took the loss, he gave up four runs in four innings pitched.

The last two relievers for the Quakes, Brett de Geus and Melvin Jiminez combine to pitch the final three scoreless innings. They struck out six and gave up one hit.

Devin Mann hit his 18th home run. Starling Heredia had three hits including a double.

The Quakes will finish their regular season with seven home games before starting their defense of their 2018 California League title.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons won 11-7 over the Lugnuts (Blue Jays) with a 12-hit attack at Lansing. They jumped out in front with a five-run second inning. Four runs scored on a very rare play.

LEONEL VALERA. INSIDE-THE-PARK GRAND SLAM.

You read that right.

6th inside-the-park HR in @greatlakesloons franchise history. Gotta believe the first ever that drove in four runs. Wow. #Dodgers
— Brad Tunney (@brad_tunney) August 27, 2019

The Lugnuts would then go in front 6-5 but the Loons retook the lead by scoring six more runs over the last five innings. They did that despite going 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

Justin Hagenman got the win for his 2⅔ scoreless innings in relief.

Justin Yurchak and Chris Roller each had three hits for the Loons.

Advanced Rookie Ogden

The Raptors were down by three runs going into the seventh inning, they would rally to win 11-5 over the Vibes (Brewers). The Raptors scored four runs in the seventh and five runs in the eighth to take the game.

Sauryn Lao hit a grand slam home run to put the Raptors in front 6-5 in the seventh inning.

Marco Hernandez went 4-for-4, Jorbit Vivas had three hits. Jimmy Titus had two doubles and drove in two runs.

Transactions

Catcher Garrett Hope assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Great Lakes
Catcher Cesar Mendoza assigned to Ogden from Rancho Cucamonga
Great Lakes activated outfielder Romer Cuadrado from the 7-day injured list
Right-handed pitcher Adolfo Ramirez assigned to Ogden from AZL Dodgers Lasorda
Left-handed pitcher Franklin De La Paz assigned to Ogden from AZL Dodgers Lasorda