Oklahoma City Comets (Triple-A) — W, 5-4 vs Round Rock

Zach Ehrhard did everything tonight. The right fielder went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored in a one-run win over Round Rock. That’s about as clean a box score line as you’ll see from a guy at Triple-A, and it was the difference in a game our pitching staff had to grind through. Ehrhard has been swinging a hot bat and this was the kind of performance that forces the front office to pay attention.

River Ryan picked up the win to move to 3-0, but the line wasn’t exactly dominant — six innings, four earned runs, three walks against four strikeouts. He survived more than he cruised. That said, Ryan did enough to keep the Comets in it, and getting through six frames has value on its own. The walk total is worth watching. If he can tighten the command, the stuff plays. If he can’t, innings like tonight become losses instead of wins.

Wyatt Mills locked it down with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for his fourth save, punching out two. He walked one but didn’t let it snowball. That’s exactly what you want from the back end. James Tibbs III didn’t get a hit but drew three walks, which is the kind of patient at-bat that shows maturity at this level — he’s making pitchers come to him. Alek Thomas chipped in two RBI on a 1-for-4 night.

Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) — W, 7-3 vs Amarillo

The Drillers bashed four home runs in this one and made it look easy against Amarillo. The power was spread across the lineup, which is exactly what you want to see from a Double-A club developing together. This was a complete offensive showing.

Jake Gelof went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI. He’s a guy we’ve been watching closely, and nights like this — where the hit tool and the power show up in the same game — are encouraging. Josue De Paula launched a two-run homer in a 1-for-5 night. The strikeout and the extra-base power are both part of his profile right now. The question with De Paula has always been how often the contact comes — but when it does, it leaves the yard. Elijah Hainline also went deep with a two-RBI homer and drew a walk, though the two strikeouts came with it. Frank Rodriguez added the fourth homer from the catching spot, a solo shot.

Mike Sirota had the best overall night at the plate — 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a stolen base. That’s a complete line. He got on base four times and created havoc when he did. Zyhir Hope added a double and a stolen base of his own, going 2-for-5 out of right field.

Payton Martin earned the win to move to 2-2. Six innings, three earned runs, and two strikeouts. The four walks are the blemish here — same story we often see with young arms at this level who have the stuff but are still refining the command. He got through it and kept the lead, so credit where it’s due, but that walk rate needs to come down as Martin moves forward.

Great Lakes Loons (High-A) — L, 1-4 vs Lansing

Not much to report here — the Loons fell 1-4 to Lansing in a game where the offense simply didn’t show up. No standout batting or pitching lines to highlight from the box score. Sometimes a team just gets shut down. We’ll move on and hope for a better showing tomorrow.

Ontario Tower Buzzers (Single-A) — L, 7-9 vs Stockton

The Buzzers scored seven runs and still lost. That tells you everything you need to know about the pitching side of this one. But the offense at least made it interesting, and a couple of names stood out.

Joendry Vargas had the best night in the lineup — 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBI, and a run scored from the shortstop spot. That’s an encouraging showing from a young infielder. Keep an eye on this one. Chase Harlan matched the RBI total with three of his own, smacking two doubles in a 2-for-5 night. That’s good situational hitting. Landyn Vidourek added a solo homer and drew a walk, going 1-for-3, and Javier Herrera collected two hits including a triple.

Mason Estrada got the ball and lasted four innings, giving up four earned runs on three walks with three strikeouts. When you’re issuing that many free passes at Single-A, you’re going to get hurt. The walks put him in trouble and Stockton made him pay. Mairoshendrick Martinus went 1-for-5 but did come around to score twice. One of those names you just don’t forget.

ACL Dodgers (Rookie) — L, 3-12 vs ACL Reds

A rough one in the Arizona Complex League. The Reds put up a dozen runs and the ACL Dodgers never had an answer. Luis Gamez went four innings, allowing two earned runs on three walks with just one strikeout — he kept it somewhat manageable in his outing, which means the damage came after he exited. The bullpen got hit hard.

Offensively, Daniel Mielcarek had the most productive day — 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI from the shortstop spot. Abel Lorenzo went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Jhon Gil reached via a hit-by-pitch and a single, swiping two bags and scoring a run. Reyli Mariano didn’t get a hit but walked, stole a base, and scored a run. In a blowout, you take the small positives where you can find them.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — Split: L 0-6 vs DSL Red Sox Red / W 8-6 vs DSL Braves

The DSL squad split a pair on Thursday. The first game was a shutout loss to the DSL Red Sox Red — no offensive highlights to speak of. A game to forget.

The second game was a different story. Leider Padilla carried the offense with a monster game — 1-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. When a single swing drives in four runs, that’s impact. He was the story here. Yojackson Laya chipped in two RBI and a run scored from the third base spot, and Rafy Peguero reached base three times (a hit and two walks) while scoring a run. Moises Acacio walked, singled, stole a base, and scored a run out of center field — the kind of all-around game you like to see from a young outfielder.

On the mound, Micheal Morfe picked up his first win of the season with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out one. Nehemias Valdez earned the save despite allowing an earned run in his inning of work. He got the job done, even if it wasn’t clean.