Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) — W, 10-2 vs Wichita Wind Surge

The best game across our system on the Fourth came from Tulsa, and it wasn’t particularly close. The Drillers jumped all over Wichita and rode a dominant start from Patrick Copen to a comfortable 10-2 win. Copen went four scoreless innings, striking out seven against two walks. That’s the kind of efficiency you want to see from him — he’s now 4-6 on the season, but the win-loss record doesn’t tell the story with this guy. When he’s commanding the zone and missing bats at that rate, the results are going to follow.

Offensively, Zyhir Hope was the headliner. He finished 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. That’s about as complete a night as you can have at the plate. Hope has real pop, and when he’s driving the ball to all fields like this, he’s a tough at-bat for any Double-A arm. Sean McLain was right there with him — 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and a stolen base. McLain continues to show that well-rounded profile we’ve been talking about all year.

Josue De Paula reached base four times (2-for-4, two walks) and scored three runs while swiping two bags. He was a menace on the basepaths and set the table all night. Kole Myers chipped in two hits and two runs, and Taylor Young did the little things right — a hit, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, an RBI, a stolen base. That’s a lineup clicking on all cylinders. The only note: Kendall George went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts, though he did draw a walk and swipe a bag. The swing-and-miss is still something to monitor with him, but the tools are obvious. Frank Rodriguez had a similar story — two RBI but three punchouts in four at-bats. The production was there; the contact quality needs work.

Great Lakes Loons (High-A) — L, 12-13 vs Fort Wayne TinCaps

This one hurts. The Loons put up 12 runs and still lost. That tells you everything you need to know about how the pitching went late, but let’s start with the obvious: Jose Meza had an absurd night at the plate. He went 5-for-7 with a homer, a double, four RBI, and two runs scored. Five hits in seven at-bats. That is a statement game, and Meza is a name to keep tracking. When a guy barrels everything up like that across an extended game, you take notice.

Victor Rodrigues was nearly as good behind the plate and at it — 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and a run scored. Rodrigues getting on base at that clip while providing catching depth is quietly valuable. Cameron Decker added two hits including a double, and Chase Harlan reached base three times (hit, walk, HBP) and scored three runs despite not having his best swing.

On the mound, Brooks Auger gave Great Lakes a solid five innings — five strikeouts, one walk, three earned runs. That’s a perfectly acceptable start. The issue came out of the bullpen. Dilan Figueredo blew the save (his third) despite not allowing an earned run in two innings, which suggests some inherited runner damage. Alex Makarewich also earned a blown save, walking three in two innings. When you walk that many guys in a tight game, you’re asking for trouble, and the Loons found it. Scoring 12 and losing is brutal, but this one falls squarely on the late relief.

Emil Morales drove in two runs but went just 1-for-6 with two strikeouts. Charles Davalan had a double and an RBI while reaching base four times. Samuel Munoz scored twice but struck out twice as well. Lots of offense, just not quite enough to overcome the pitching.

Oklahoma City Comets (Triple-A) — L, 5-7 vs Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Not the result we wanted from OKC, though there were a few individual bright spots. Noah Miller went deep — 1-for-2 with a solo homer and a run scored. Miller continues to flash that raw power at the highest level of the minors, and for a shortstop, that kind of pop plays. Is he ready for The Show? Maybe not yet, but games like this move the needle.

Ryan Fitzgerald had a nice night, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored from the third base spot. He’s been a steady presence in this lineup. James Tibbs III only went 0-for-1 officially but still managed two RBI — likely via sacrifice flies or walks with the bases loaded. Finding ways to be productive without hits is an underrated skill, especially at Triple-A where the margin between the majors and the minors is paper-thin. Still, a 5-7 loss means the pitching staff gave up too much, and the offense couldn’t quite keep pace.

Ontario Tower Buzzers (Single-A) — L, 4-13 vs Fresno Grizzlies

A rough one for the Buzzers. Fresno put up 13 and Ontario couldn’t keep up. The standout was Joendry Vargas, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. That’s the kind of game that matters for a young shortstop finding his footing at full-season ball — staying competitive even when the team around him is getting blown out.

Ching-Hsien Ko continued to flash intriguing tools, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and a run scored. Ko’s ability to hit for extra bases is real. Jaron Elkins only had one hit in three at-bats but showed patience with two walks and drove in a run. Easton Shelton went hitless in three trips but also drew two walks — he’s seeing pitches, which is step one. Conner O’Neal had a similar line from the catching spot: 0-for-2 with two walks and a run. The bats were patient; they just couldn’t string enough together against a Fresno staff that clearly had its way.

ACL Dodgers (Rookie) — L, 4-5 vs ACL Padres

A one-run loss to the Padres’ ACL squad. Elias Medina was the story — 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI. For a second baseman in the Arizona Complex League, showing that kind of pop early in your professional career is a good sign. Keep an eye on this one.

Moises Bolivar went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Abel Lorenzo matched that with a 2-for-3 night of his own from center field. On the mound, Tommy Case gave the team four innings with five strikeouts, one walk, and two earned runs. That’s a solid outing for a rookie-level arm — he did his job and kept the team in it. The bullpen couldn’t hold, and the offense came up one short. It happens at this level. What matters is the individual development markers, and Medina’s homer and Case’s strikeout numbers are encouraging.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — Two Games

Game 1: L, 3-7 vs DSL Royals Fortuna. Not much offense to speak of here. Rubel Arias had the only RBI on a 1-for-3 night with a stolen base. Ezequiel Melburne and Willy Bergolla both reached base and swiped bags — Melburne drew a walk and scored, while Bergolla drew two walks and scored without recording an official at-bat. At the DSL level, you’re looking for athletes who can get on base and use their legs. Both of those guys showed exactly that, even in a loss.

Game 2: L, 3-18 vs DSL Brewers Gold. This one got away early and never came back. Ezequiel Aparicio provided the lone highlight worth circling — 2-for-3 with a homer, a hit-by-pitch, an RBI, and two runs scored. For a catcher to show that kind of bat in the DSL, even in a blowout, it’s worth noting. Juan Macero went 2-for-4 with a walk but was caught stealing. Hendry Arvelo reached base three times (two walks, HBP) but couldn’t manage a hit in two at-bats and struck out twice. An 18-run loss is ugly no matter how you slice it, but these are the youngest players in the organization. The development is measured in months and years, not individual box scores.