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Ryan Ward continues hot season, drives in six runs for Loons

The outfielder continues to impress for the Loons

By Blake Harris
Downtown Midland

Player of the day

Ryan Ward continues to have an amazing season in Great Lakes. He hit a home run and drove in six runs on Thursday. On the season, Ward is hitting .293 with an OPS of .927. In addition, he has 22 home runs and has driven in 71 runs.

The 2019 eighth round pick has been one of the best hitters across all of the minors for the Dodgers this year. He’s only 23 years old.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

It was an eventful game for OKC, but they came up just short as they fell to the Sugar Land Skeeters (Astros) 9-8. Zach Reks hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to bring OKC to within one run, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.

They scored four runs in the sixth inning, as they cut their deficit to only three runs. Tony Wolters hit a bases-clearing triple and another run came in to score on a wild pitch.

Double-A Tulsa

It was a quiet night for the offense, as they fell to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) 4-1. Their lone run came off the bat of a Kody Hoese single in the sixth inning.

Gus Varland got the start and allowed three runs in three innings. He didn’t have any strikeouts and he issued two walks. Cameron Gibbens followed with two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Austin Drury finished the game with three scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing only one hit.

High-A Great Lakes

The bats were cold in Tulsa, but they were awake for the Loons, as they took down the Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics) 16-7.

The Loons were actually trailing 5-2 in the fourth inning, but a five-run inning helped turn the game around. Ryan Ward, Andy Pages and Carson Taylor each hit a single, bringing in runs to put GL ahead 7-5. Ward was active yet again the following inning, has his double brought in a run. Ward capped of his night with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, giving him six RBI on the night. For the season, Ward has 22 homers.

Overall, seven different players had at least two hits for the Loons.

Gavin Stone made his Loons debut, and it was a bit rough. In his four innings of action, he allowed six runs on eight hits. However, if you want a positive from it, he struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk.

Single-A Rancho Cucamonga

Speaking of offense, there was plenty of it in Rancho Cucamonga. However, they didn’t have enough, as they fell to the San Jose Giants 14-13. In the game, there were a combined 27 runs, 28 hits and eight errors. You truly saw it all. Every player in the Quakes lineup scored a run and five different players had at least two hits.

The Quakes had the tying runner on second base with only one out in the ninth inning, but couldn’t tie the game or walk it off.

I’d attempt to try my best at a play-by-play or recap, but this game was truly all over the place. I highly recommend looking at the box score!

Transactions

  • Aldrich De Jongh assigned to Oklahoma City Dodgers from Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
  • Deacon Liput assigned to Oklahoma City Dodgers from Great Lakes Loons
  • Andre Jackson assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from Oklahoma City Dodgers

Thursday scores

Friday schedule

  • 4:05 p.m. PT: Lansing (TBA) at Great Lakes (TBA)
  • 5:05 p.m. PT: Naturals (TBA) at Drillers (Jose Martinez)
  • 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Ryan Pepiot) at Sugar Land (TBA)
  • 6:30 p.m. PT: San Jose (Wil Jensen) at Rancho Cucamonga (TBA)

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