The Diamondbacks Minor League affiliates combined for a 2-2 record. Visalia would win on a walkoff double and Hillsboro would pitch a shutout for their win. Luis Frias, Slade Cecconi, and Liam Norris took the mound for their respective teams.
Best Pitching Performance: Hillsboro RHP Slade Cecconi – 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, W (1-2)
Best Hitting Performance: Visalia 1B Ramses Malave – 3 for 4, 2B, 2 HR (4), 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 K
AAA: Reno Aces 6, Sacramento River Cats (SFG) 9
Despite a decent start from Humberto Castellanos, Reno’s bullpen completely let them down. Reno would score the first two runs in the game off Aaron Sanchez, scoring on a wild pitch in the 2nd and Seth Beer driving in Ildemaro Vargas in the 3rd to take a 2-0 lead. After starting off with three zeros, but then Reno would allow runs in each of the next 5 innings with crooked numbers in the final 3. Very tough to win when that happens.
Reno had a decent game scoring, collecting 10 hits and 5 free passes. A pedestrian 3 for 12 clip with runners in scoring position limited the amount of scoring they did despite getting plenty of changes throughout the game. They were able to capitalize on some miscues by the River Cats when they happened.
LF Andrew Young: 1 for 4, HBP, R, K
1B Seth Beer: 1 for 4, HBP, RBI, 2 K
AA: Amarillo Sod Poodles 6, Corpus Christi Hooks (HOU) 8
Luis Frias got off to a very rough start in this game, walking 4 and allowing a 3-run homer while only recording 2 outs in the 1st inning before getting yanked. Amarillo would fall behind 5-1 before starting to put things together on offense, but the bullpen was unable to keep the Hooks off the scoreboard. Despite a bad bullpen, there was a late charge in the game as the Sod Poodles scored 3 times between the 7th and 8th innings to make it a 1-run game.
CF Alek Thomas: 1 for 5, RBI, 1 K
RHP Luis Frias: 2⁄3 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, L (2-4)
High A: Hillsboro Hops 2, Spokane Indians (COL) 0
Pitching made the difference in this game as all the runs in this game scored on one play. A pair of walks followed by a double steal would put two runners in scoring position for Cam Coursey, who singled to left to plate both runners. That was enough run support for Slade Cecconi, who put up six zeros on the board with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts in the outing. In addition to great pitching, the Hops played outstanding defense with turning a double play and catcher Nick Dalesandro being a perfect 2 for 2 in thwarting stolen base attempts. The bullpen would not allow a hit in the final two innings to carry this one, as Denson Hull pitched a scoreless 7th and Julio Frias pitched the final 2 innings for the save. The win is Cecconi’s first official win in pro ball, so yay milestones.
DH Blaze Alexander: 1 for 4, 2B, 2 K
3B Tristin English: 1 for 4, 2 K
RHP Slade Cecconi: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, W (1-2)
Low A: Visalia Rawhide 6, Fresno Grizzlies (COL) 5
Visalia would fall behind early in this game, but were able to utilize a big 5th inning in order to get themselves back in it. Ramses Malave carried the offense in the early stages, hitting a solo homer in the 2nd and a 3-run homer in the 5th that gave them a 5-4 lead. The lead would not hold up for very long, as Fresno evened things up in the 7th. The game would remain tied until the bottom of the 9th. In a tie game, Visalia wasted little time in walking this game off with a couple of singles putting the winning run at 2nd for A.J. Vukovich. Vukovich would pick up his 2nd RBI of the night with a double to right to score Ronny Simon from 2nd.
3B A.J. Vukovich: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI, R
LF Jeferson Espinal: 0 for 3, BB, 2 K