Dodgers minor league news

Jeren Kendall hits walk-off grand slam for Double-A Tulsa

The former Dodgers first-round draft pick with the game-winning homer

By Blake Harris@BlakeHarrisTBLA Jun 28, 2021, 5:07am PDT

It was a clean sweep for Dodgers affiliates on Sunday. The Loons played a double-header, but all four teams went undefeated, winning all five games they played. You absolutely love to see it.

Player of the day

Jeren Kendall won the game for the Drillers in style on Sunday. He hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to give Tulsa the come-from-behind victory. Kendall’s career hasn’t panned out the way the Dodgers would have liked, but it was still an incredible moment for the young man.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

A solid day of offense helped the Dodgers pick up the 6-4 win over the Sugar Land Skeeters (Astros). Four different players for OKC recorded at least two hits, including Keibert Ruiz and Luke Raley.

The Dodgers got on the board in the first inning, courtesy of a three-run homer off the bat of Sheldon Neuse. It was Neuse’s third homer of the season. Neuse has been really heating up as of late. Over his last 10 games he has 15 hits and has driven in nine runs.

Keibert Ruiz hit a solo homer later in the game, his ninth of the season in only 30 games. He has an OPS of .950.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers had a thrilling come-from-behind victory, as a grand slam from Jeren Kendall in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Springfield Cardinals (STL Cards) 6-3.

Entering the inning, Tulsa trailed 3-2. Carlos Rincon began the inning with a walk, but back-to-back outs had the Drillers down to their final out. Michael Busch was then hit by a pitch and Hunter Feduccia walked, loading the bases for Kendall. On the first pitch he saw, he crushed one into right field, sending the Drillers home with the victory.

#Dodgers outfield prospect Jeren Kendall sends the @TulsaDrillers fans home happy with a walk-off grand slam. pic.twitter.com/jIivtCKI0s
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 27, 2021

After a very rough start to his season, Michael Grove had his best outing of the year. He tossed 3 ¹⁄₃ innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts.

High-A Great Lakes

The Loons played a double-header against the Lake County Captains (Indians) and the offense was untouchable. In two games, they scored 23 combined runs in only 15 innings and picked up two wins.

In the first game, the Loons picked up the 14-6 victory. They recorded 12 total hits and had four players hit a home run. Joe Vranesh and Juan Zabala each recorded two hits and drove in four runs. They also each had a home run. Aside from the first inning, the Loons scored at least two runs in every inning.

Alec Gamboa had another great outing, as he threw three innings and allowed one run with three strikeouts.

Game 2 was much closer, as the Loons had a walk-off in the eighth inning to win, 9-8. James Outman was the hero, as he singled in the game-winning run.

Leonel Valera hit a grand slam for his 10th homer of the season. The 21-year-old has been one of the best hitters in the entire Dodgers’ minor-league system this season. In addition to his 10 homers, he’s driven in 31 runs and has an OPS of just below .900.

Speaking of great hitters, Andy Pages continues to be the best in LA’s system. The 20-year-old hit his 15th homer of the year, which leads all of LA’s minor-league system.

Low-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes scored five runs in the final two innings, as they defeated the San Jose Giants (Giants) 10-5. Entering the eighth, the game was tied at five runs a piece. After the first two runners reached base, Alex De Jesus drove in two runs with a double. Jonny Deluca followed with a two-run homer, his eighth of the season. De Jesus drove in another run an inning later, giving RC a five-run lead.

Eddys Leonard hit his seventh homer of the season for the Quakes in the first inning, Imanol Varags hit his second homer in the fifth inning and Ismael Alcantara hit his second homer in the fifth inning.