Oklahoma City Comets (Triple-A) — W, 6-5 vs Salt Lake

Our guys in OKC needed some thump in the middle of the order, and Ryan Fitzgerald delivered it. The third baseman went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, a walk, and all three of his RBIs coming on the big fly. That’s the kind of damage a lineup needs from the five or six hole — one swing to change the complexion of a game. Fitzgerald has been quietly solid this year, and nights like this are why he keeps getting run out there.

Noah Miller continues to look comfortable at the Triple-A level. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base. Miller’s ability to get on base and contribute in multiple ways is exactly what we want to see from a young shortstop still establishing himself. Zach Ehrhard swiped a bag as well, though the bat was quiet (1-for-4 with a K).

On the mound, Cole Irvin picked up the win but it wasn’t exactly dominant — 5.1 innings, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, and just 2 strikeouts. Irvin is a veteran arm who knows how to navigate a start without his best stuff, and that’s what this was. He kept OKC in it long enough for the offense to hold up. Sometimes that’s enough. The bullpen had to lock it down from there in a one-run game, and they did.

Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) — L, 4-9 vs Arkansas

This one was over early, and the reason was on the mound. Patrick Copen had one of those nights you just want to flush — 4.2 innings, 9 earned runs, and 5 walks. The strikeout number was actually fine (9 K’s), which tells you the stuff was there but the command absolutely was not. When you’re walking guys and then leaving pitches over the plate to clean up the mess, Double-A hitters will make you pay. And Arkansas did. Copen falls to 3-1 but the ERA is going to look a lot different after this one. A bad start, nothing more. We move on.

The Drillers’ lineup actually swung the bats reasonably well in a losing effort. Elijah Hainline hit a solo homer and reached base three times (2-for-4, walk). Joe Vetrano launched a two-run shot of his own, though the three strikeouts on his line are worth watching — the power is real, but so is the swing-and-miss. Jake Gelof went 2-for-4 and scored a run, while Kyle Nevin was 2-for-4 with a walk. Josue De Paula added an RBI double in a 2-for-5 night.

Zyhir Hope didn’t get a hit (0-for-2) but drew three walks against two strikeouts. That’s a weird line, but for a young hitter working on his approach, I’ll take the discipline. Getting on base three times without a hit still helps a lineup.

Kendall George went 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot. George has the tools to be a real catalyst at the top of a lineup — we just need to see it with more consistency. Two hits is a fine night. Build on it.

Great Lakes Loons (High-A) — Split Doubleheader vs Lake County (L 13-15, W 7-2)

Where do we even start with Game 1? A 13-15 loss is the kind of box score that makes you blink twice. The Loons scored 13 runs and still lost, which tells you everything you need to know about how the pitching staff fared. But the offensive performances were genuinely impressive even in a loss.

Mike Sirota was the story of the entire doubleheader. In Game 1 he went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, two walks, four RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. That is an absurd line. He reached base in all five plate appearances. Then in Game 2 he moved to right field, went 0-for-2, but still drew two walks, scored twice, and stole another bag. Across both games: 3-for-5, 5 walks, a homer, 4 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, 4 runs scored. That’s a prospect having a day. Keep an eye on this one.

Eduardo Guerrero was right there with Sirota in Game 1 — 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs. He added another extra-base hit in Game 2 (1-for-2, double, walk, stolen base). Guerrero’s been making a lot of contact lately and he’s doing it with authority. Nico Perez also raked across both games, going 4-for-9 combined with three doubles, three RBIs, and a run scored. Perez keeps finding gaps.

Eduardo Quintero had a rough first game at the plate (0-for-3, two walks, two K’s) but made up for it with his legs — three stolen bases and two runs scored. In Game 2 he flipped the script offensively, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI while scoring twice. That second game was the more complete version of what Quintero can be.

Jose Meza chipped in a 2-for-5 line with an RBI and a stolen base in Game 1. Charles Davalan reached base three times (hit, walk, HBP) and swiped two bags. Jose Izarra provided the big blow in Game 2 with a three-run homer — 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs. When you need one swing to put a game away, that’s the one.

The real difference in Game 2 was Logan Tabeling, who was outstanding. He went 5.1 innings, struck out 9, walked just 2, and allowed only 1 earned run. After the staff got torched in Game 1, Tabeling came out and gave the Loons exactly what they needed — length and dominance. Nine punchouts in just over five innings is legit. He picks up his first win of the year and earns it.

Ontario Tower Buzzers (Single-A) — L, 1-2 vs Rancho Cucamonga

A tough, tight loss for Ontario in a game where runs were hard to come by on both sides. Isaac Ayon deserved better than the loss. He went 5.1 innings, gave up just 1 earned run, struck out 5, and walked only 1. That’s a quality outing at any level, and for a young Single-A arm, that kind of efficiency and command is exactly what development looks like. Sometimes you just don’t get enough run support, and this was one of those nights.

The Ontario offense managed just one run on the evening. Chase Harlan was the most productive bat, going 1-for-2 with two walks — he was on base in three of his four plate appearances. Mairoshendrick Martinus went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Not much else to report from the lineup. When you score one run, there isn’t going to be much to celebrate. The Buzzers will need more from the bats moving forward.

ACL Dodgers (Rookie) — L, 12-13 vs ACL Royals

Another wild, high-scoring affair that didn’t go our way — 12-13 in a game that had just about everything. The ACL Dodgers swung the bats well enough to win most games. They just couldn’t stop the bleeding on the pitching side.

Bryan Gonzalez Garcia had a monster night at the plate — 3-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, four RBIs, and two runs scored. That is a serious stat line from a third baseman at any level, and at the rookie league level it jumps off the page. (This is a name to remember.) Elias Medina also went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double, driving in a run and scoring twice. Two guys with three hits and extra-base power — on most nights, that’s enough to win.

Landyn Vidourek hit a two-run homer in a 1-for-2 night with a walk. Aidan West drove in two with a double (1-for-4, walk). Brendan Tunink was 2-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Javier Herrera reached base once and scored twice. That’s a lot of production up and down the lineup — and they still lost by a run.

The pitching tells the story. Angel Cruz took the loss and the blown save, giving up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings with 2 walks. He did strike out 4, so the stuff plays — it was about the free passes in a tight game. Rookie ball is where you figure this out. Still, dropping a game where your offense puts up 12 runs stings.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — Off Day

The DSL Dodgers did not play today.