Farm Report: Stephen Gonsalves strikes out ten in Lookouts loss

Triple-A: Rochester Red Wings 8, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 2

The Red Wings had a couple big innings—scoring three runs in the fourth, and four runs in the ninth—that really made the difference here. The fourth inning featured RBI singles by DH ByungHo Park, RF Niko Goodrum, and SS Bengie Gonzalez, while the ninth inning featured RBI singles by 1B Matt Hague, Goodrum again, and 3B Leonardo Reginatto.

CF Zack Granite also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a RBI, and a run scored. His single in the third inning extended his hitting streak to 15 games, and he’s now batting .338 on the year in Triple-A.

Starting for the Red Wings was SP Aaron Slegers, who gave up only one run over five innings of work. The bullpen was also strong, even though RP Alan Busenitz gave up a rare run over his two innings (he’s still sporting a 2.13 ERA, though). RP Trevor Hildenberger gave up only two hits over two scoreless innings.

[Box Score]

Double-A: Tennessee Smokies 4, Chattanooga Lookouts 1

Poor SP Stephen Gonsalves took the loss in this one, but really he didn’t do that poorly—giving up three runs on only five hits and one walk over seven innings. Oh yeah, and he struck out ten batters!

The main problem was the total lack of offensive support. Though the Lookouts walked five times, they only got four hits. SS Nick Gordon knocked in the only run of the game, but went 1-for-5 overall. The Lookout with the best day at the plate was actually 2B Ryan Walker, who hit ninth. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.

[Box Score]

High-A: Ft. Myers Miracle 3, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2 (Game 1)

All that rain earlier in the week means the Miracle had yet another doubleheader to play yesterday. Game 1 was actually an extra-inning affair, even though it was decided by a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth inning, since these minor league doubleheaders are only supposed to be seven innings apiece.

Anyway, the walk came thanks to a fielding error by Stone Crab 1B Dalton Kelly that allowed Miracle LF Bradley Strong to score. lmao.

Offensive standout for the Miracle was 2B Alex Perez, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. The double was the Miracle’s only extra-base hit in the game.

SP David Fischer started for the Miracle, and was all over the place, walking seven players over five innings. He somehow managed to limit the damage to only two earned runs, though.

[Box Score]

High-A: Ft. Myers Miracle 3, Charlotte Stone Crabs 1 (Game 2)

The extra-innings in Game 1, which also featured an hour and three minute rain delay, meant Game 2 of the doubleheader didn’t even start until 10:00 pm at night. Yikes!

Luckily, this one also went the Miracle’s way, thanks mostly to brilliant pitching, which gave up no earned runs for the Miracle (the Stone Crabs’ only run came on a late error by 3B Rafael P Valera). SP Cody Stashak gave up only three hits and a walk over five innings, while RP Jonny Drozd and RP Tom Hackimer each pitched one inning with no earned runs.

Despite the error, Valera had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and the Miracle’s only two RBI. The third run came on ground into double play by 1B Trey Vavra in the first inning, for which he was not credited an RBI.

[Box Score]

Low-A: Quad Cities River Bandits 5, Cedar Rapids Kernels 4

Down 4-2 going into the top of the eighth inning, the Kernels actually managed to tie this one up 4-4 on a sac-fly by 1B Lewin Diaz and an RBI single by RF Jaylin Davis. Alas, the tie was short lived, as the River Bandits put the pressure on in the bottom of the inning, having one player thrown out at home before finally scoring the go-ahead run on a sac fly by LF Yordan Alvarez.

At least it was a good day for 3B Travis Blankenhorn, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. He also walked and scored two runs.

[Box Score]

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