Billings led the week for the system, winning five of six despite finishing out of the playoff money in the season's first half. The Dragons looked solid as well, winning four, but they are still mired in the Midwest League cellar. Bakersfield and Pensacola are struggling. The Wahoos need a few more wins if they're going to go to the playoffs in the franchise's first season.

Compared to many other clubs, it’s been a very successful year for the Reds’ Top 20 prospects. Good to great news for each of the top eight; #9 Yorman Rodriguez has bounced back after a poor start. #10 Henry Rodriguez has overcome injury to hit decently at Triple-A, while #12 JC Sulbaran has been solid at Pensacola prior to his trade. #15 Kyle Lotzkar, finally healthy, has been up (making the Futures Game) and down (his entire July), with #16 Juan Duran, #17 Gabriel Rosa and #19 Junior Arias all young enough to regain their prospect luster. #13 David Vidal, #14 Tim Crabbe, and #18 Tucker Barnhart have struggled to make the jump to Double-A on their first attempts. The only outright craters have come from #11 Neftali Soto and #20 Denis Phipps, and the former is 23 and in his first Triple-A go-round.
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AAA Louisville Bats

Record this week: 3-3.

Overall: 43-69. Last. Only one worse than 44-win Toledo.


7/26: Todd Redmond was great in his debut Louisville start. So maybe you can forgive him a sophomore slump (L 7-7, 3.58, 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR) in the Bats’ 10-7 defeat at the hands of Buffalo (NYM). Redmond did go 2-for-2 with a double, while LF Cody Puckett hit a three-run homer (#5) and 1B Neftali Soto was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, and two RBI (.226).

7/27: Soto hit a two-run homer (#13) in the sixth to snap a 1-1 tie and put Louisville past Buffalo, 3-1. Bats take three of four. Tim Gustafson soldiered through five (4.64, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) but Donnie Joseph picked up the win (4-0, 2.49, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K). JJ Hoover got save #7 (1.37, 2 K).

7/28: Off to Toledo (DET, 42-66) in the battle to see who isn’t the worst team in the IL. (The Bats came in at 41-68.) Louisville trailed most of the game but scored three in the visitors’ eighth to make it a 4-3 deficit.

Then this:

Louisville Top of the 9th
• Pitching Change: Chris Bootcheck replaces Luis Marte.
• Bill Rhinehart bunt grounds out, pitcher Chris Bootcheck to first baseman Danny Dorn.
• Denis Phipps singles on a line drive to center fielder Matt Young.
• Didi Gregorius singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Matt Young. Denis Phipps to 2nd.
• Henry Rodriguez flies out to left fielder Jerad Head.
• Neftali Soto singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jerad Head. Denis Phipps scores. Didi Gregorius to 3rd. Neftali Soto to 2nd on the throw.
• Chris Bootcheck intentionally walks Mike Costanzo.
• Cody Puckett hits a grand slam (6) to left center field. Didi Gregorius scores. Neftali Soto scores. Mike Costanzo scores.
• Pitching Change: Rob Waite replaces Chris Bootcheck.
• Felix Perez singles on a line drive to left fielder Jerad Head.
• Corky Miller flies out to center fielder Matt Young.

Puckett’s grand slam was homer #6 (2-for-5, .244) while both LF Felix Perez (.289, RBI) and 3B Henry Rodriguez (.315, 2 2B, RBI) had three hits. SS Didi Gregorius added a single, triple, and two runs (.314) while Soto was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a double (.229). Sean Gallagher worked eight for the win (W 9-7, 4.86, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR).

7/29: The Bats strike another blow for the inept warriors of good! Puckett’s two-run homer (#7) in the top of the ninth set up a 3-1 victory. Gregorius had homer #5 and a single. Chad Reineke had a fantastic start (W 4-7, 4.46, 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K). Hoover allowed a run in the ninth but still got save #8 (1.61).

7/30: How often do you see an eleven-inning game where both sides score in each of the final three innings? Sadly for the Bats, it was Toledo who picked up the 10-9 win to move into a one-game advantage over the Bats, 44-68 to 43-69. Joseph ended up with the blown save and loss (4-1, 2.86), one of four earned by Louisville relievers. Puckett hit a ninth-inning homer for the third straight game (#8, 3 RBI, .248) while Rodriguez added #3 and Perez doubled twice and walked twice

7/31: Toledo whipped the Bats 7-3 on Bullpen day. Kanekoa Texeira started for the called-up Todd Redmond (L 0-3, 3.05, 2 IP, 1 ER). Travis Webb was hit hard in his two innings (4.74, 2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER). 2B Chris Valaika was 2-for-4 with two runs and homer #6 (.240) while Soto had a single and double (still .229). CF Denis Phipps got up to .208 with a 2-for-4.

8/1: Off.

Good piece on SS Didi Gregorius. The Curacaoan also made the Team Photo section of BA’s Prospect Hot Sheet.

Positivity in the name of OF Denis Phipps, as he hit .262/.342/.383 in July to get up to .208/.278/.331 overall.

Transactions: 7/31: RHP Todd Redmond recalled by the Reds to fill a day before the arrival of Jonathan Broxton; LHR Donnie Joseph off to Kansas City. 8/1: C Dioner Navarro’s contract purchased by Cincinnati to cover for the concussion/suspension of Devin Mesoraco. INF Mike Costanzo designated for assignment; he’ll be available again if and when he clears waivers. RHS Todd Redmond back from Cincinnati.

Around the minors: San Diego optioned OF Jeremy Hermida back to Triple-A. The 28-year-old hit .250/.333/.375 in 13 games for the Padres in 2012, following 20 games of .225/.354/.400 after SD claimed him on waivers from the Reds late last season.

AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos

This week: 2-5.

Overall: 20-19 second half, three games behind Montgomery (TB). 54-54 overall.


7/26: Huntsville (MIL) got a tiebreaking unearned run off Wilkin de la Rosa (L 0-1, 2.45) in the seventh to pull out a 3-2 win. Pensacola didn’t get a hit after the sixth. Daniel Corcino looked good (3.23, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 86 pitches/52 strikes). Curt Partch turned in two strong innings of relief (4.25, 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K). LF Don Lutz was 3-for-4 with a double and solo homer (#2, .235).

7/27: The Stars scored several runs late, but Pensacola started with a lead and kept adding insurance runs to it, hanging on for a 7-5 victory. JC Sulbaran got the W (7-7, 4.04, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). Justin Freeman managed save #11 (2.96, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2-2 IRS). 3B David Vidal was 2-for-4 with two RBI (.234). 1B Beau Mills doubled twice (.279) and RF Josh Fellhauer kept his solid season going (2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, .293). CF Ryan LaMarre also had two hits and two RBI (.283). SS Billy Hamilton had a triple and a walk… and no steal attempts.

7/28: Pensacola got three in the first, then hung on 6-4 behind five strong from Wirfin Obispo (W 2-0, 2.63, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) and scoreless relief work from Drew Hayes, Mark Serrano, and de la Rosa (save #1, 2.32, 1.2 IP, 1 H). Hamilton swiped bags #10 and #11 (2-for-4, R, RBI, .321). LF Bryson Smith had a two-run triple. LaMarre walked four straight at-bats, picking up steal #25 and scoring two runs along the way.

7/29: Off

7/30: MAKEUP MADNESS against Tennessee (CHC, 15-20) resulted in a Smokies sweep- 6-3 and 3-2. Serrano was hammered in the first inning of the opener for five runs (L 6-3, 3.34, 4 IP, 10 H, 6 ER). A Smith triple plated two of the three Wahoos runs while Hamilton had a base hit, a RBI, and steal #12. C Mark Fleury’s two-run homer (#1) got the Wahoos on the board in the nightcap, but they couldn’t get the tying run. Tony Cingrani again pitched very well for the first three innings, but some combination of bad D from Hamilton led to two fifth-inning unearned runs (L 5-3, 2.15, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).

7/31: Suspended in the fourth inning with the Smokies leading 2-1. Kyle Lotzkar started and showed flashes, but ultimately ended with an uninspiring line (3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K).

8/1: MAKEUP MADNESS (SORT OF!) The game from the previous night was finished, with the Wahoos briefly tying the score in the top of the fifth before Tennessee got the two deciding runs off Brian Pearl (L 1-2, 7.29, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR) in the bottom of that inning. Drew Hayes took care of the last two (3.38, 1 BB, 1 K). Fellhauer was 2-for-4 with a triple (.292) and LaMarre 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI (.284). Hamilton did nab steal #13 and knock in a run with a single.

The seven-inning regularly-scheduled game saw Corcino shut down the Smokies for five innings (3.09, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K) but Partch give up the game’s only run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer by Tennessee’s Justin Bour, the brother of former Reds farmhand Jason Bour. Curt fell to 4-4.

As expected, the Blue Wahoos re-upped their affiliate deal with Cincinnati. Pensacola is now a Reds affiliate through 2016. They lead the Southern League in per-game attendance (4,684) and have sold out 34 of 54 dates.

Brawlin’ between two of the Wahoos’ competitors in the Southern League.

This is a great piece on OF-1B Donald Lutz, in case you were wondering why everyone refers to him as German even though his MILB.com player card says he was born in New York. He really would be a pioneer if he made the big leagues.

Yet another piece on Billy Hamilton.

Transactions: 7/27: RHR Josh Ravin activated from the DL. 7/31: RHS JC Sulbaran traded to Kansas City. 8/1: RHS Chad Rogers promoted from Bakersfield.

High-A Bakersfield Blaze

This week: 1-5.

Overall: 16-23 second half. 57-52 overall. Playoff-bound.


7/26: Ow. With a 1-0 lead going to the eighth against San Jose (SF), the Blaze needed just six more outs. But Chris Joyce had all kinds of trouble in his first game back- some his and some his defense’ (L 3-4, 6.08, 1.1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) and the Giants got three in the eighth and four in the ninth to win it 7-1. Bakersfield finished with four errors. Dan Renken turned in seven shutout innings (4.74, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K).

7/27: Again the bullpen blows it late, with Stockton (OAK) getting two unearned in the top of 9 off losing pitcher Blaine Howell (L 0-1, 4.05, 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) and winning it 9-7. Tim Crabbe worked five (2.50, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K). Neither Dan Wolford (6.43, 1 IP, 2 ER) nor Jamie Walczak (5.35, 2 IP, 3 ER, 2 HR) did very well in middle relief. RF Steve Selsky was 2-for-3 with a double and homer #9 (.341). 1B Stephen Hunt, the Blaze’ big surprise last season, went 3-for-4 with two doubles (.214). CF Theo Bowe had three hits, two runs, and steal #39 (.340).

7/28: Tanner Robles gave up just one run over six (4 H, 2 BB, 6 K), but got the loss anyway as Stockton won a 6-0 shutout. Robles has a 1.84 ERA since his promotion (5 G, 29.1 IP, 25 H, 8 BB, 31 K). 2B Niko Vasquez was a perfect 4-for-4 (.250). Bowe had two more hits and steal #40.

7/29: Bakersfield broke its three-game losing streak, hanging on 6-5. The Ports got two in the seventh and one in the eighth, but Chris Joyce notched the save to atone for the mess of three days previous. Chad Rogers got the win (6-4, 3.15, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 8 K) in what may turn out to be his final Blaze start. C Chris Berset hit homer #3, with Moose Mattair adding #17 and Selsky (#10, two-run shot).

7/30: Off.

7/31: The Blaze headed to San Jose (SF, 18-21) to face (again) the team they bested in the first half. The Giants got a bit of revenge, scoring early and often off Josh Smith (L 7-7, 3.97, 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR) and Dan Wolford (6.79, 1.1 IP, 3 ER) and winning 8-6. SS Devin Lohman hit homer #12 and added a double (.241, 2 R, 2 BB).

8/1: Kyle McMyne gave up the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the ninth (BS #6, L 2-2, 5.16, 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER) as the Giants walk off with a 7-6 victory. Dan Renken survived a four-spot in the first to hold San Jose to one run over the next five (4.88, 6 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 HR). Lohman kept raking, lashing three hits, stealing two bags (25), and driving in two. Vasquez added two hits and two RBI (.254) and CF Kurtis Muller had two hits and two runs scored (.223, 3B). Selsky hit homer #11.

Transactions: 8/1: RHS Chad Rogers promoted to Pensacola. RHR Mike Griffin activated from the DL. The Reds released LHR Aguido Gonzalez, 24, who hadn’t pitched in 2012. Gonzalez had some success in 2008 and 2009, rising as high as advanced A-ball, but pitched in only a few games the past couple seasons due to injury.

Low-A Dayton Dragons

This week: 4-3.

Overall: 15-23 second half. 45-63 overall.


7/26: James Allen out-and-out dominated the Great Lakes Loons (LAD, 15-18) for seven one-hit shutout innings (W 7-3, 3.43, 1 BB, 2 K). Carlos Contreras gave up a two-run homer in the ninth, but still got save #11 in a 3-2 win thanks to the tremendous foresight of the Dragons’ offense adding two in the top of the inning. 2B Ryan Wright was 2-for-4 (.293) while RF Yorman Rodriguez had a triple (.283).

7/27: Dayton survived a four-run Loons eighth to win 7-5 and take two of three! Robert Stephenson was fantastic in his full-season debut, permitting one hit and one unearned run over five (W, 2 BB, 6 K). Cole Green was charged with the four in the eighth, although three of those were let in by El’Hajj Muhammad. Contreras managed save #12 (3.40). 1B Sean Buckley had three hits and two RBI (.252), Rodriguez two hits and two runs scored, and SS Juan Perez three hits and a RBI (.258, 3B).

7/28: Buckley hit his second homer of the game (#10) and RF Kyle Waldrop followed a batter later with a solo shot (#7, .272) but that left Dayton a run short against Lake County (CLE, 16-17) in a 6-5 defeat. Wes Mugarian fell to 0-3 (7.97, 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER).

7/29: The Captains commandeered Ryan Kemp (L 1-4, 4.65, BS #3, 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER) for the deciding runs in the sixth and seventh to win 4-3. Stalin Gerson had a strong start (4.16, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K). Rodriguez had two hits and two RBI (.295) and DH Spencer Dickinson was 0-for-2 but walked three times and scored twice (.154).

7/30: LC finishes a three-game sweep with an 11-2 rout. 2B Joe Terry hit homer #5 and Jake Johnson bounced back after three straight poor starts (L 1-4, 5.15, 6 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), but that was about it for highlights.

7/31: Terry homered again (#6) and Contreras (save #13, 3 K, 3.28 set down the last five Lansing Lugnuts (TOR, 23-13) of the game to finish a 5-4 Dragons victory. Terry went 3-for-4 overall with two RBI (.256) and Waldrop added three hits of his own (.277, RBI). James Allen had a quality start (3.51, 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K). Carlos Gonzalez (3-3) got the win in relief.

8/1: Dayton supported Stephenson with three in the bottom of the first, then finished solid to win it 4-2. Stephenson has had two great Low-A starts (W 2-0, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) and hit 101 on the radar gun (!). El’Hajj Muhammad (2.68, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and Mike Dennhardt (save #1, 1.94, 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) took care of the other four innings.

Transactions: 7/26: OF Jefry Sierra placed on the DL. OF Spencer Dickinson activated. RHS Radhames Quezada placed on the DL, with RHS Robert Stephenson up from Billings to replace him. 8/1: 1B Aldi Guzman back to the AZL Reds. RHR Nick Masset up from the AZL on rehab.

Rookie-Pioneer

This week: 5-1.

Overall: 3-1 second half. See below for news on the first half.


7/26: Off.

7/27: Ismael Guillon had no problem with Helena (MIL), shutting them out for the first six of a 7-0 win. He walked no one and struck out five (W 3-1, 2.57). RF Jesse Winker launched his first pro homer (.340, 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) and 3B Seth Mejias-Brean (#5) and 1B Robert Maddox (a PL-leading #9) also homered.

7/28: Billings stomped the Brewers again, 15-8. Sal Romano pitched well (W 2-4, 5.63, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), although his bullpen got beat up a bit. Every Billings batter except C Wagner Gomez, who scored two runs and drew a walk, had at least one hit. SS Zach Vincej is hitting .391 after going 2-for-4 with his first pro homer.

This ended the first half of the PL season, with the Mustangs finishing in second place with a 21-17 record. This was three games behind the division winners.

7/29: Sweep! Three in the home seventh led to a 5-3 victory. The Mustangs got those runs on a sacrifice-bunt-turned-throwing-error, an infield single by LF Matt Lentz (.211, 2-for-3) and a double-play grounder. Whatever it takes, right? Drew Cisco turned in four solid (3.80, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) and Alejandro Chacin got the win (4-0, 2.30, 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K). Sean Lucas got the last out for save #4.

7/30: Five wins in a row! The Mustangs whipped the first-half division champions Great Falls (CHW, 0-1) 9-4. Jose Amezcua got his first win (W 1-4, 4.40, 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). Mejias-Brean had three hits and three RBI (.395) and 2B Robert Ramirez had two hits, two runs, two RBI, and two steals (6, .255).

7/31: Six! Billings built a 4-1 lead and hung on 4-3 with the help of perfect innings from Jesus Adames (3.97, 2 K) and Lucas (save #5, 3.12, 3 K). Joel Bender got the victory with four innings (6.67, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) following two from Jon Moscot (2.25, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). Winker had two hits and a RBI (.350).

8/1: Helena (MIL, 1-2) ended the streak by doing this in the bottom of the ninth:

Helena Bottom of the 9th
• Pitching Change: Alejandro Chacin replaces Matt Wiley.
• Michael Turay singles on a line drive to center fielder Beau Amaral.
• Raul Mondesi grounds out, pitcher Alejandro Chacin to first baseman Robert Maddox. Michael Turay to 2nd.
• Ruben Ozuna singles on a ground ball to second baseman Brandon Dailey. Michael Turay to 3rd.
• Yonki Hernandez reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by second baseman Brandon Dailey. Michael Turay scores. Ruben Ozuna to 3rd. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.
• Andres Martinez hit by pitch.
• Christopher McFarland walks. Ruben Ozuna scores. Yonki Hernandez to 3rd. Andres Martinez to 2nd.
• Michael Reed grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean. Yonki Hernandez scores. Andres Martinez out at 3rd. Christopher McFarland to 2nd. Michael Reed to 1st.
• Alfredo Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Gelalich. Christopher McFarland scores. Michael Reed to 3rd on the throw. Alfredo Rodriguez to 2nd.
• Pitching Change: Jordan Remer replaces Alejandro Chacin.
• Adam Giacalone singles on a line drive to left fielder Daniel Pigott. Michael Reed scores. Alfredo Rodriguez to 3rd.

Four of those runs charged to Chacin were unearned (L 4-1, 2.76, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K). Ismael Guillon had five strong frames to start (2.48, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K). 2B Brandon Dailey, before the throwing error in the ninth, had three hits and homer #3 (.359). Winker had two more hits and two more RBIs. LF Daniel Pigott is also over .350, going 2-for-4 with a triple. CF Beau Amaral had three hits and three runs scored (.255, 3B).

Congratulations to 3B Seth Mejias-Brean, who won the Pioneer League’s Hitter of the Week award for July 23-29. The Arizona product batted .308/.379/.731 (8-for-26) with three homers and nine RBI for the week. He has an active 15-game hitting streak.

Transactions: 7/26: LHP Rich McCaffrey up from the AZL. RHS Robert Stephenson to Dayton. 7/31: McCaffrey returned to Arizona. C Julio Morillo up from the AZL.

Rookie-Arizona

This week: 3-3.

Overall: 10-22,tied for last place.


7/26: Nick Travieso made start number two, and outside of one pitch that left the park as a solo homer, did fine (L 0-1, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). (By the way, here’s some video of the guy if you’re a BP subscriber like me.) The Athletics beat on Jose Williams for six more runs over his two innings, though, and won 7-2. LF Argenis Aldazoro drove in both Reds runs with a triple (.264).

7/27: The Reds scored five runs in the top of the ninth, but a seven-run deficit caused in part by five errors was too much to overcome; the Dodgers win 11-9. 3B Tanner Rahier slammed a three-run homer (#4). DH Brayan Arias hit a two-run shot (#1, 2-for-3, 2 R). Aldazoro added #3. RF Adam Matthews had three hits (.303, RBI). Rehabbin’ Nick Masset whiffed all three Dodgers he faced. Amir Garrett didn’t allow a hit, but he walked five in 1.2 innings (7.88, 1 ER, 3 K). Wandy Peralta (L 1-4, 6.49, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K). Robert Lewis-Walker gave up four hits and three runs in his inning of work (5.00).

7/28: Off.

7/29: VICTORY! The Cubs again prove the sacrificial lambs, 7-3. Aldazoro popped another homer (#4), 1B Jhimmy Lopez had two hits and two RBI (.295) and SS Brent Peterson walked three times and scored twice (.271, steal #9) despite committing two errors. Luke Moran (2.21, 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and Mike Salter (W 2-0, 2.41, 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) pitched well.

7/30: Again Rehabbin’ Masset threw a 1-2-3 inning, but the Brewers won 5-1. Pedro Diaz took over for the next four (L 1-3, 4.76, 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). 2B Humberto Valor singled and tripled (.246) while Arias singled and doubled to raise his average to .291.

7/31: Eight runs in the first three innings managed to get the Reds on their way to a 10-7 win over the Indians at Goodyear. Sixteen Reds hits, four by Peterson (.298, 2 R, 2 RBI) and four by C Jose Ortiz (.462, 2 R, 2 2B). Matthews had three and drove in two to boot. Travieso pitched three innings this time, allowing a three-run homer in the first before shutting down the Papooses for the next two (6.00, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). Mike Saunders set down the next six for the win (W 2-0, 1.71, 4 K). Jackson Stephens got the save five relievers later.

8/1: Boom! The Lil’Reds piled up eight runs over the game’s final third to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 9-2 rout. Peterson lashed three more hits and drove in two from the leadoff slot, while DH Wilfrel Estevez had two hits and two RBI (.239). Amir Garrett pitched pretty well (7.36, 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). Peralta got the win (2-4, 5.70, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K).

Transactions: 7/26: LHP Rich McCaffrey to Billings. 7/31: McCaffrey returned. 8/1: RHP Ibrahim Redan activated. LHP Mason Felt placed on the 60-day DL. 1B Aldi Guzman back from Dayton.