Oklahoma City Comets (Triple-A) — L, 5-9 vs Albuquerque

Not the night we were looking for in OKC. The Comets put up a fight with the long ball but couldn’t overcome a rough stretch in the middle innings. Ryan Ward got things going with a solo homer — he continues to flash that pop that makes you believe he’s got a big-league future as a bat-first option. Ward also drew a walk, so the plate discipline was fine. The strikeout is part of the package with him at this point, but the power plays.

James Tibbs III also went deep, finishing 1-for-4 with a homer, a walk, and two runs scored. The two strikeouts are worth noting — Tibbs is still adjusting to upper-level velocity and breaking stuff — but the damage he did when he connected was real. He’s a guy we want to see turn those multi-strikeout nights into something less frequent as the season moves along. Still, homering at Triple-A as a young hitter is nothing to dismiss.

Zach Ehrhard was the offensive standout by volume, going 3-for-5 out of the center field spot. He’s been quietly solid, and a three-hit night like this is the kind of consistency that gets noticed. Noah Miller chipped in with a 2-for-3 line, two RBIs, and a walk — efficient work from the shortstop spot. Ryan Fitzgerald added a 2-for-5 night out of left field.

On the mound, Christian Romero gave us 5.1 innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs. That’s a decent enough outing to keep the team in it — not dominant, but competitive. The two walks are manageable. The problem came after he exited. Jake Eder picked up a blown save, allowing two earned runs in his single inning of work. Eder is a name we’re watching closely in his continued comeback, and nights like this are part of the process. One inning, one strikeout, but two runs across. He needs those outings to turn into clean frames as the season progresses.

Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) — L, 3-13 vs Arkansas

This one got away from Tulsa in a big way. A 3-13 loss doesn’t leave a lot of silver linings, but Kyle Nevin did his best to carry the offense, going 1-for-4 with a three-run homer. That’s the kind of damage you want from your third baseman — one swing, three runs. Nevin has legitimate pop and he showed it in what was otherwise a forgettable game for the Drillers.

Kendall George went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. George’s speed continues to be a weapon, even on a quiet night at the plate. What we’re really looking for from him is more consistent contact and on-base work to make that speed play up even further. Josue De Paula went 0-for-2 but drew two walks and scored a run. That’s a mature approach from a young outfielder — he didn’t chase, took what the pitcher gave him, and got on base twice. Sometimes the box score line doesn’t show the full picture, and this is one of those cases.

The pitching staff took the brunt of this one. Thirteen runs allowed tells you all you need to know. We’ll move on.

Great Lakes Loons (High-A) — Postponed (0-0)

The Loons and Dayton Dragons did not complete their game, with a final score of 0-0 recorded. We’ll look for Great Lakes to get back on the field soon.

Ontario Tower Buzzers (Single-A) — L, 2-3 vs Fresno

A tough one-run loss for Ontario, and this is the kind of game that stings because the pitching was good enough to win. Hyun-Seok Jang turned in a quality start — 5.0 innings, three strikeouts, one walk, two earned runs. That’s a solid outing for a Single-A arm. Jang commanded the zone, limited free passes, and gave his team a chance. You can’t ask for much more from your starter at this level.

At the plate, Emil Morales led the way, going 2-for-5 with a double and both of Ontario’s RBIs. He was the only Buzzer who really came through in a run-producing spot. Ching-Hsien Ko had a nice 2-for-3 night out of left field with a double and a hit-by-pitch — he was on base three times, which is exactly the kind of table-setting you want to see. Mairoshendrick Martinus went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a stolen base from the second base spot. The speed is a tool, and he’s using it. Two runs on the board just wasn’t enough tonight.

ACL Dodgers (Rookie) & DSL Dodgers (Rookie)

Neither the ACL Dodgers nor the DSL Dodgers were in action on Wednesday.