The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined to a 2-2 record. Reno and Amarillo would pick up the wins.
Best Pitching Performance: Reno RHP Humberto Mejia – 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, W (1-2)
Best Hitting Performance: Reno C Daulton Varsho – 3 for 5, 2B, BB, 2 HR (9), 6 RBI, 3 R
AAA: Reno Aces 15, Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 2
Another close game that Reno put away late with some big offense. Humberto Mejia was very stingy in his 3rd start in AAA, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 6 in 6 innings. Reno would take the lead for good in the 5th, as back to back run scoring doubles by Drew Ellis and Seth Beer would allow Reno to score 3 and take a 4-1 lead. Reno would tack on 3 more runs in the 7th. After Ellis was hit by a pitch, Beer drove him home once again with a double. A couple walks would load the bases with 1 out, with a sac fly and a single scoring 2 runs to make it 7-2.
Reno would use another 8-run 8th inning to put the game to bed. Daulton Varsho would open up the inning with a home run. A single and a walk would put two on before Matt Lipka would triple to center to drive home two and scoring himself on a throwing error during the relay attempt. After a groundout, Reno would load the bases on a HBP and a pair of walks before Varsho would get a second chance to bat in the inning. He would crank another ball out to left-center, this time for a grand slam, to put the exclamation mark on the inning.
2B Andrew Young: 3 for 5, 2 2B, BB, 3 R, 1 K
C Daulton Varsho: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 HR (9), BB, 6 RBI, 3 R
RHP Humberto Mejia: 6 iP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K
AA: Amarillo Sod Poodles 8, Midland RockHounds (OAK) 2
Top prospect Alek Thomas returned to the lineup and Amarillo’s offense and defense looked much better with him there. Tyler Holton pitched well for 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. 8 of Amarillo’s 11 hits went for extra bases and the defense was able to turn 3 double plays in this game. The bullpen was outstanding again, allowing nothing over the final 3 innings.
Amarillo took the lead in the 2nd, thanks to a -run outburst. Michael De La Cruz singled before back to back doubles by Luis Alejandro Basabe and Jose Herrera allowed them to take a 2-1 lead. A single and a forceout at 2nd would result in the 3rd run scoring. From that point, the Sod Poodles were able to ramp up the pressure on offense, tacking on runs in the 3rd, 5th, and 7th before applying the knockout punch with a 2-run 8th.
CF Alek Thomas: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB, RBI, 1 K
RF Jake McCarthy: 1 for 5, 3B, R, 4 K
SS Geraldo Perdomo: 2 for 4, R
High A: Hillsboro Hops 7, Eugene Emeralds (SFG) 10
This game more or less followed the script of the last game, as the Hops took a fairly sizeable lead early and watched it go as soon as the starter left the game. A 5-run 3rd inning, which was fueled by free passes and timely extra base hits, allowed Hillsboro to take a 5-1 lead. Unfortunately the lead would not hold, as Slade Cecconi wasn’t sharp and the bullpen was not very good behind him.
Cecconi struggled to command anything in this game, surrendering 4 hits and 5 walks over 3 2⁄3 innings. After leaving the game, the first batter to face Kyler Stout would hit a grand slam to put Hillsboro behind 6-5. Bad defense and walks contributed to another 4-run 5th inning against Hillsboro, putting them at a 10-5 disadvantage. The deficit ultimately proved to be insurmountable despite a Buddy Kennedy homer to lead off the 7th and a sac fly scoring a run in the 8th.
DH Tristin English: 0 for 2, BB, HBP, RBI, 1 K
RHP Slade Cecconi: 3 2⁄3 IP, 4 H, 5 R (5 ER), 5 BB, 4 K
Low A: Visalia Rawhide 2, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) 3
Despite another quality start from Brandon Pfaadt, the Rawhide were unable to get this one to the finish line. Pfaadt would give up just 3 runs in 7 innings and put Visalia in position to try to take this one. A.J. Vukovich would drive home a run in the first with a double to take a 1-0 lead. The Quakes would counter with 2 runs in the bottom of the first. Visalia’s offense would be held in check for most of the game, getting just 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 batter hit by a pitch.
The score remained 2-1 for the longest time, until Visalia broke through in the 6th. Neyfy Castillo would single with 1 out, then proceed to use his speed to create a run. After stealing second, he advanced to 3rd on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. After turning things over to the bullpen, Denson Hull would allow a single and a double for the deciding run for this game.
3B A.J. Vukovich: 1 for 4, RBI, 1 K
RHP Brandon Pfaadt: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K
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