Wednesday 6/20/2012 Minor-League Updates

[mace]

Those wacky, rampaging Bats win again, 5-3, in spite of their 1-2-4 hitters going 0-15 and Scranton WB home runs from Russell Branyan and Jack Cust. Felix Perez was 3-3 with a couple doubles. Jordan Smith seems to be getting on a little roll as the closer.

[JaxRed]

Tough open for the Az Reds. First minor league game ever, and they have to put up with that long bus ride to Cleveland's stadium.

[mace]

Opening night lineup for AZL Reds:

Ty Washington 2B (bit of a surprise there)
Brent Peterson SS
Tanner Rahier 3B (that didn't take long)
Brayan Arias LF
Avain Rachal DH
Jonathan Reynoso RF
Argenis Aldazoro 1B
Julio Morillo C
Elliott Hargreaves CF

Pedro Diaz P

[mace]

Diaz, 19 and a righthander, pitched strictly in relief last year for the DSL Reds: 34.1 IP, 25 H, 18 BBm, 29 K, 2.36 ERA.

[mace]

O'Rear went 3 innings for Billings: 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

[corkedbat]

I had thought Rachal was signed as a pitcher, but he's DHing tonight for the AZ Reds. They and the Mustangs are starting out offensively like they'll fit perfectly with the rest of the system.

[mace]

You're right, he was listed as a RH pitcher (out of a Texas high school). Interesting.

Yeah, the two rookie league teams both trail 2-0, and neither has a hit (although it's only been two innings for the AZL Reds).

[mace]

Well now. Billings breaks through with 4 in the fifth; no matter that only two were earned. Big hit was a double by Sammy Diaz.

Guillon has followed O'Rear with (so far) two innings of one-run relief. Has struck out three and, most important (for him), not walked anyone.

[corkedbat]

Ha! Musta pissed the Billing boys off. They put up a four spot in the bottom of the 5th.

Billings Bottom of the 5th
Pitcher Change: Patrick Smith replaces Andrew Barbosa.
Spencer Dickinson singleson a line drive to right fielder Justin Bianco.
Taylor Wrenn walks Spencer Dickinson to 2nd.
Fray Sosa out on a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Tyler Bream. Spencer Dickinson to 3rd. Taylor Wrenn to 2nd.
Brandon Dailey reaches on fielding error by shortstop Pedro Ruiz. Spencer Dickinson scores. Taylor Wrenn to 3rd.
Jon Matthews walks. Brandon Dailey to 2nd.
Sammy Diaz doubles (1) on a ground ball to right fielder Justin Bianco. Taylor Wrenn scores. Brandon Dailey scores. Jon Matthews to 3rd.
Jesse Winker out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Breland Almadova. Jon Matthews scores.
Carlos Sanchez strikes out swinging.

[texasdave]

Billings was no-hit through for by Andrew Barbosa - a 36th round draft choice. He walked three and struck out six. Not bad for a 36th-rounder.

[mace]

It's contagious! The AZL boys put up 6 in the third.

Edit: And before I can add to that, and note Tanner Rahier's first professional HR--not bad for a kid playing his first game just out of high school--corked gets on the board with the inning summary (below).

[corkedbat]

and the AZ boys answer with a six-run 3rd. Big blow - Rahier's first dinger. Maybe I should talk trash more often.

AZL Reds Top of the 3rd
Julio Morillo singles on a ground ball to shortstop Dorssys Paulino.
Elliott Hargreaves grounds into a force out, shortstop Dorssys Paulino to second baseman Yhoxian Medina. Julio Morillo out at 2nd. Elliott Hargreaves to 1st.
With Ty Washington batting, Elliott Hargreaves steals (1) 2nd base.
Ty Washington singles on a line drive to center fielder Andrew Campbell. Elliott Hargreaves scores. Ty Washington to 2nd on the throw.
With Brent Peterson batting, wild pitch by Dillon Howard, Ty Washington to 3rd.
Brent Peterson singles on a line drive to center fielder Andrew Campbell. Ty Washington scores.
With Tanner Rahier batting, throwing error by Dillon Howard on the pickoff attempt, Brent Peterson to 2nd.
Tanner Rahier homers (1) on a fly ball to center field. Brent Peterson scores.
Brayan Arias flies out to right fielder Victor De Jesus.
Avain Rachal walks.
Jonathan Reynoso hit by pitch. Avain Rachal to 2nd.
Argenis Aldazoro reaches on fielding error by shortstop Dorssys Paulino. Avain Rachal scores. Jonathan Reynoso scores. Argenis Aldazoro to 2nd.
Julio Morillo flies out to center fielder Andrew Campbell.

[texasdave]

Billings got their four runs on two hits.
AZL Reds got their six runs on four hits.

Anything can happen in rookie ball.

[mace]

Guillon gave up two more in his third inning, and Billings is tied 4-4 in the sixth.

[corkedbat]

Not to make too much of it, but I love seeing a kid like Rahier get off to a good start early