Gray deals but Drillers lose late, Loons ride offense to victory

The Dodgers’ affiliates went 1-2 in playoff action on Wednesday, while offenses fell silent everywhere but Great Lakes.

Player of the day

He might not have earned the win, but Josiah Gray continues to confound Double-A hitters. Gray exited Tulsa’s playoff opener with a 1-0 lead after the fifth inning, where he again held opponents to just four hits and walk while striking out six. Gray quickly put his most recent rough start in the rear view mirror and put together his first scoreless outing since his first two with Tulsa.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers could not back Gray with either offense or relief pitching, allowing the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) to come back for the 2-1 win. Ryan Moseley and Nolan Long each allowed a run in relief, with Long’s unearned run allowed in the eighth landing him the loss.

The Drillers reached base 12 times but could only come away with one run on a solo home run from Conor Wong. Cristian Santana and Donovan Casey each had a pair of hits, while Carlos Rincon walked twice.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes could only muster three hits (just two off of starter/former All-Star Garrett Richards) in a game one shutout loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres). Jacob Amaya led the offense with a pair of hits, including a double off Richards, the Quakes’ only extra base hit.

Gerardo Carillo held the Quakes in the game over seven strong innings of work. Carillo allowed both Storm runs on five hits, striking out four. Melvin Jimenez struck out one and walked one in a scoreless inning of relief.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons were the lone victorious playoff team, defeating the Lake County Captains (Indians) 6-4. The Loons had 14 hits, led by Leonel Valera’s four for five night. Romer Cuadrado also had three hits, while Justin Yurchak went two for four with a home run.

Ryan Pepiot pitched two scoreless innings at the starking, striking out two and walking two. Justin Bruihl earned the win in relief, allowing one run over 2.2 innings. Aaron Ochsenbein slammed the door in relief, striking out three in the ninth inning for the save.

Short Season Ogden

The Raptors could not get the bats going in a 3-1 loss to the Orem Owls (Angels). Andy Pages made the game look promising with a home run in the first, his 17th of the year. The Raptors would net just two more hits, another from Pages and the final from Eddys Leonard.

Jeronimo Castro suffered the loss after allowing all three Owls runs in 3.1 innings of work, striking out six. The Raptors’ bullpen would hold the Raptors close and the Owls scoreless, led by Hunter Speer and his 1.2 innings.

Transactions

Class-A: Rancho Cucamonga activated RHP Michael Grove from the injured list, placing LHP Austin Drury on the temporarily inactive list.

Wednesday scores

Arkansas 2, Tulsa 1

Lake Elsinore 2, Rancho Cucamonga 0

Great Lakes 6, Lake County 4

Orem 3, Ogden 1

Thursday schedule

4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Robinson Ortiz) vs. Lake County (Ethan Hankins)

5:10 p.m.: Tulsa (Leo Crawford) at Arkansas (Justin Dunn)

5:30 p.m.: Ogden (TBD) vs. Orem (TBD)

7:00 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (John Rooney) at Lake Elsinore (Reiss Knehr)