One win and one loss in one-run matchups, a blowout victory, and a convincing defeat as well. The Dodgers’ minor league system clubs experienced nearly all kinds of results on Wednesday.
Player of the day
Two home runs, one double, and one single. Josue De Paula had a busy performance, constantly involved in the Drillers’ success against the Wind Surge as the most productive hitter in a blowout win, the Drillers’ 51st on the season.
Already over 60 runs and 60 RBI, De Paula has walked (49) more than he has struck out
(43)—his two home runs have taken him to 15 on the year, already a season-high mark, and he is closing in on a 20-20 season, already with 15 stolen bases.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Nick Frasso set the tone early on for what would be a high-strikeout game for the Comets staff, retiring each of the five hitters he got out via the strikeout. Unfortunately, the offense wasn’t as on point as the pitching staff, dropping 4-3 a game in which it induced 16 strikeouts against just seven from the other side.
Despite being the only Comets hitter with multiple hits, Jack Suwinski didn’t record an RBI or score a run in his three-for-four performance. Ryan Fitzgerald had his 55th RBI on the season, and shortstop Noah Miller now has as many triples (8) as he does home runs (8).
Double-A Tulsa
What’s better than a cycle? Take the usual production of one and replace the triple with a home run. That was the kind of performance that leadoff hitter Josue De Paula had, driving in four and scoring four as well in a 10-3 win for the Drillers.
Christian Zazueta and Wyatt Crowell each covered four solid innings to help Tulsa set up this win, Crowell’s sixth on the season. Beyond De Paula, Mike Sirota also left the yard and tied the 13 homers he recorded a year ago, maintaining just as impressive numbers as he had in High-A before his promotion.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons overcame a late scare and held on to an 8-7 lead to beat the TinCaps; that lead was primarily owed to the efforts of Chase Harlan and Samuel Munoz, with the pair combining for seven of the Loons’ eight RBI. Munoz needed just one hit to do all of his damage with a grand slam in the third inning. Harlan also did all of his damage with just a hit, a three-run single with some nonchalant defense from the TinCaps despite not recording an error.
Loons’ starter Aidan Foeller has yet to lose a game this season, recording his third win with all of the damage against him coming from a pair of solo shots in five innings of work. The TinCaps had the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, but reliever Alex Makarewicz managed to record the game’s biggest out by punching out Ryan Wideman.
Single-A Ontario
Two team home runs, including the second in as many games for Mairoshendrick Martinus, were not enough to prevent a Tower Buzzers loss, falling 9-5 on the road against the Grizzlies despite outhitting the opposition 12 to 9.
Although Martinus homered again, the best individual performance from the Tower Buzzers came from catcher Conner O’Neal, reaching base safely in all four of his plate appearances with three hits and a walk, including a long ball. Counting walks, each of the nine hitters reached at least once, but stranding 10, Ontario left too many opportunities on the table.
Transactions
Right-handed pitcher Wyatt Mills was optioned to Triple-A after the call-up of lefty Charlie Barnes. Lefty Garrett McDaniels was activated off the injured list by the Comets, with Jake Eder placed on it.
Wednesday’s scores
- Oklahoma City 3, Sugar Land 4
- Wichita 3, Tulsa 10
- Fort Wayne 7, Great Lakes 8
- Fresno 5, Ontario 9
Thursday’s schedule
- 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jakob Wright) at Fort Wayne (Carson Montgomery)
- 5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) at Wichita (Preston Johnson)
- 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) vs. Sugar Land (Josh Hendrickson)
- 6:50 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Fresno (Ethan Cole)
