Farm Report: Travis Blankenhorn homers in Kernels’ blowout victory

Triple-A: Rochester Red Wings 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2 (Game 1) (8 innings)

This one went into “extra innings”—meaning, the 8th inning, because it was supposed to be a seven-inning double header game—but the Red Wings actually won! DH Matt Hague hit a solo home run to put the Wings ahead in the top of the 8th, and the Red Sox couldn't answer back.

As for the rest of the game, SP Chris Heston started and did, er, okay? Not great? He lasted four innings, but gave up a two-run home run to C Blake Swihart. That accounted for all the Red Sox runs in the game.

Surprisingly, the Red Wings bullpen was stellar. RP Drew Rucinski through two scoreless innings, giving up only two hits; and RP Michael Tonkin—MICHAEL TONKIN—pitched two perfect innings while striking out four. Wow!

My favorite, 1B ByungHo Park, had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a double, which was the only extra base it for the Red Wings besides Hauge’s home run. The on-fire CF Zack Granite went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

[Box Score]

Triple-A: Rochester Red Wings 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 1 (Game 2)

And this is where CF Zack Granite’s majestic hitting streak ended. Granite only went 0-for-2 with a walk, ending his streak at 17 games.

But the Red Wings still won! Yay! And they did so while getting exactly zero RBI. The first run of the game came in the top of the third thanks to a fielder’s choice. Then, later in the 5th inning, LF Tommy Field scored on a play that included two errors by Pawtucket. Nice.

SP Tim Melville started this one for the Red Wings, and gave up the one earned run over five innings. RP Trevor Hildenberger pitched the other two scoreless innings, giving up only two hits, zero walks, and struck out three.

[Box Score]

Double-A: Chattanooga Lookouts 10, Tennessee Smokies 2

Wow, well look who SMOKED THE SMOKIES!!!

Seriously, though, it was a great day for the Lookouts offense. DH T.J. White had the biggest hit with a three-run home run in the 7th inning, though 1B Andy Wilkins hit a solo-dinger earlier in the game and drove in three runs on the day. Top prospect SS Nick Gordon went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored (thanks wild pitches!).

SP Paul Clemens started for the Lookouts and gave up only one earned run on five hits and a walk over five innings pitched. The only run he gave up was on a solo home run to Smokies 3B Jason Vosler.

[Box Score]

High-A: Ft. Myers Miracle Off

It’s their All-Star break.

[No box Score]

Low-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels 16, Clinton LumberKings 3

Uhhh.... holy beat down!

The Kernels tallied 17 hits and four walks in this win, which almost seems like it could be some kind of record if minor league baseball wasn’t just stupid like that. 3B Travis Blankenhorn—who stole home the day before—got the most hits for the Kernels, going 4-for-5, including a two-run home run in the first inning.

The other offensive standouts here were CF Aaron Whitefield, who went 2-for-3 with FIVE RBI, a two-run homer, a walk, and two runs scored. C Ben Rortvedt went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, and 2B Brandon Lopez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.

SP Max Cordy only lasted 3.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits and two walks, but hey—when your team scores 16 runs, that’s okay.

[Box Score]

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