2017 Minor-League Player of the Day

[Tom Servo]

Games of Friday, April 28

Asher Wojciechowski, Louisville: 5.2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, 0 runs. On a night with three good starts I'm just gonna go straight down the line. Wojciechowski, 28, a first round pick in 2010 out of The Citadel, was picked up as AAA depth less than 10 days ago and has tossed 9.2 innings of one unearned run ball with one walk and thirteen strikeouts. Did the Reds stumble onto a diamond in the rough in the form of a one-time perceived 200 innings guy? Probably not! But it's April, so one can dream.

Honorable mention: Luis Castillo, Pensacola: 6 inning, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 1 earned run. Castillo was the tough luck loser after allowing three hits and his one walk in the first inning that led to the run, he settled in nicely after that.

Honorable mention: Jesus Reyes, Daytona: 7 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1 earned run. The 24-year-old Dominican has cut down his career walk rate by nearly half in April, which can only bode well moving forward.


In other action, where Dayton got postponed and offense was at a premium:


Dilson Herrera, Louisville: 2-4

Phillip Ervin, Louisville: 2-4, HR, RBI, stolen base. It's been an eventful April for the Alabama boy.

Seth Mejias-Brean, Louisville: 1-3


Josh VanMeter, Pensacola: 1-4, 2B

Gabriel Guerrero, Pensacola: 2-4

Leon Landry, Pensacola: 1-4, 2B

Alex Powers, Pensacola: 2 innings, 0 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs.


Shed Long, Daytona: 3-5

Nick Senzel, Daytona: 2-4, 2B. Nasty Nick starting to put the concerns over his slow start to rest.

Gavin LaValley, Daytona: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI. The Big LaValley launched his 7th HR of the month of April. I'd say Sparks and Jagielo should be very nervous in AA.

Narciso Crook, Daytona: 1-3, BB.

[lollipopcurve]

Games of Saturday April 29

Your Sunday MILPoD scripture reading...
"It is difficult for a long hitter to brace himself against a ball that barely lobs over the plate." -- John J. McGraw, My Thirty Years in Baseball (1923)

Scott Moss and Wennington Romero, Dragons: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0/1 BB, 8 K, win (2). You read that right. Moss and Romero had nearly the exact same pitching line as the two portsiders spearheaded back-to-back shutouts and a doubleheader sweep of Great Lakes. Moss, the 6'5" lefty -- out of the 4th round last year and the University of Florida -- is fairly dominating low A hitters with 41 K and 8 BB in 26 IP. The 41 Ks tops the circuit. The question with Moss is his elbow -- he was almost never healthy enough to pitch in college. The stuff appears legit, but only time will tell if he's durable. Romero, the 5'11" lefty, is third in the league in Ks (33), has a 2.33 ERA over his first 5 starts in full season ball, with a batting average aginst of .194 and WHIP below 1. And he just turned 19 in late January.

Honorable mention
TJ Friedl, Dragon: 4-8, 3 2B, 5 RBI. Back to leading off and back to producing.


Hernan Iribarren, Bat: 2-4

Phillip Ervin, Bat: 1-4 2B. For the most part, Ervin's been in LF, Winker in right.

Tony Renda, Bat: 1-3, RBI. Hitting .333 with 4 BB and only 3 Ks, but had 2 miscues at 2B.

Chacin/Mitchell/Brice/Coleman, Bat pen: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Only Brice is on the 40 man. Mitchell's ERA matches his WHIP -- 1.17 -- and he's getting 2 GBs for every FB.


Blake Trahan, Blue Wahoo: 2-6, HBP

Josh Van Meter, Blue Wahoo: 3-6, BB, 2B, 3 RBI

Gabriel Guerrero, Blue Wahoo, 2-6. Caught stealing twice.

Keury Mella, Blue Wahoo: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. 2 ER over his late 18 IP.

Ariel Hernandez, Blue Wahoo: 2.1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K. ERA below 1.

Jimmy Herget, Blue Wahoo: 2 IP, HBP, zeros, 2 K. 21 Ks in 12 IP.

Geoff Broussard, Blue Wahoo: IP, H, zeros, including the ERA. The 26 year-old is now unscored on in 12.2 IP between high A and AA.

Brennan Bernardino, Blue Wahoo: 2 IP, zeros, 2 K. First go-round in AA is going well for the 25 y-o lefty -- .176 average against and 8:1 K:BB in 10.2 IP.


Nick Senzel, Tortuga: 1-4 2B (8)

Shed Long, Tortuga: 1-4, 3B

Tanner Rainey, Tortuga: IP, zeros. ERA at 1.64.


Tyler Stephenson, Dragon: 1-2, 2 R, 2B (6). He's been a steady producer out of the cleanup spot. Now hitting .319 with a .420 OBP and .913 OPS. This kid may be the most important prospect in the system.

[mace]

Games of Sunday, April 30

Alex Webb, Dayton . . . 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Hats off to you if this fellow was on your radar. Webb, a 6-3 righthander, was drafted in the 9th round last year out of British Columbia, pitched well enough in Billings to earn his way to Dayton, and broke his foot. This was his first appearance of 2017, which, I hope, explains how he got the nod here in spite of not lasting five innings. Ties go to the story.

Honorable mention: Wendolyn Bautista, Daytona . . . 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. In case you're wondering, no, it wasn't Bautista's best start ever. The 24-year-old Dominican, whose ERA now sits at 2.38, posted a 9-inning, 4-hit shutout late last August for Dayton.

Honorable mention: Aaron Fossas, Dayton . . . 2 IP, 1 K. The Wake Forest product has now thrown 17 scoreless innings on the season. His WHIP checks in at 0.65.

Also notable on a day when the Dragons completed a 4-game sweep against the defending Midwest League champions, outscoring the Great Lakes Loons (a Dodger farm) by a composite 30-2 . . .

Luis Gonzalez, Dayton: 2-3, HR (1), BB, 3 R. Shortstop is finding his stroke after being on the DL with a shoulder strain. Batting .323.

Shed Long, Daytona: HR (4), 3 RBI. Swinging lustily after a slow start.

Jackson Stephens, Louisville: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Had a shutout working through six, before a couple homers happened.

Deck McGuire, Pensacola: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Seven years after being drafted in the first round by Toronto, Deck is stacking the Wahoo rotation.

Ismael Guillon, Pensacola: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Garrett Boulware, Daytona: 2-3, BB, R.

Nick Senzel, Daytona: Double.

Narciso Crook, Daytona: 1-3, BB, R.

Jake Paulson, Daytona: 2 IP, zeros.

Tanner Rainey, Daytona: 1 IP, zeros. Curiously, he hasn't struck anybody out in his last three appearances (after striking everybody out in his first five).

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 1-3, BB, RBI.

Dilson Herrera, Louisville: Double, run.

Michael Beltre, Dayton: 2-4, R, RBI. Solid .789 OPS.

John Sansone, Dayton: 1-3, BB, 2 RBI. Seven RBIs in last four games.

Brantley Bell, Dayton: 1-4, 2B, R, SB (10).

Andy Cox, Dayton: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

Ryan Hendrix, Dayton: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Has fanned 22 in 11.2 innings.

Josh VanMeter, Pensacola: 2-4, 2B, BB, 2 R.

Gabriel Guerrero, Pensacola: 2-5, 2B, RBI.

Adrian Nieto, Pensacola: 2-4, BB, R.

Alex Blandino, Pensacola: 1-2, BB. Stepped in when Taylor Sparks left after being hit by a pitch.

[mace]

Games of Monday, May 1

Forgot that texasdave said he'd be unavailable today. So, hastily--and it's a good day for that, with little else of note on the farms last night--we'll limit it to this:

Austin Ross, Pensacola . . . 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K. Suffice to say, the Louisianan's return to a starting role has gone swimmingly. The guy's 28, but there's also the 0.79 ERA, not to mention the 0.84 WHIP. Nice pickup, Reds. And sorry, Pensacola, but it doesn't look like he'll be around much longer.

Also (no honorable mentions) . . .

Austin Brice, Louisville: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. On the 40-man.

Leon Landry, Pensacola: 2-4, 2B, R, SB (1). The only Reds farmer with more than 1 hit on the evening.

Sarkis Ohanian, Daytona: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. His 12 strikeouts in 6.1 innings are right on pace with last year, when he K'd 61 in 35 IP for Dayton.

[Tom Servo]

Games of Tuesday, May 2


Jose Lopez, Daytona: 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 0 runs. A guy who has flown under the radar to this point, it looks like Lopez might be ready to breakout if his first 5 starts in A+ are any indication (27 strikeouts to 3 walks in 28 innings with a 1.61 ERA). I also realized now that Lopez would pair very well with Luis Castillo for talented right-handers who share names with early-mid 00s second basemen.

Honorable mention: Taylor Trammell, Dayton. 2-3, 2 BB, RBI. Last year's #35 pick overall has predictably started slow in his first taste of full-season ball, but a solid strikeout to walk ratio seems to indicate he isn't especially overmatched and could put it together soon.


In other action, with Pensacola getting a breather and only the Dragons delivering a W:


Beau Amaral, Louisville: 1-5, 2B

Juan Perez, Louisville: 1-3, BB, stolen base

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 3-4. Yes, all singles. No, I remain unworried. The boy can hit.

Sebastian Elizalde, Louisville: 2-4, 2B

Rob Brantly, Louisville: 2-4, HR, RBI.



Nick Senzel Daytona: 2-4, 2B. Batting average up to .288 for Nasty Nick, so take a deep breath if you were ready to panic over the first few weeks.

Gavin LaValley, Daytona: 2-4

Reydel Medina, Daytona: 2-3, 3B, RBI

Chris Okey, Daytona: 1-4

Juan Martinez, Daytona: 2 innings, 0 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs.

Tanner Rainey, Daytona: 1.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 run. Tasked with throwing two frames of a tied game on the road, Rainey got the first 5 outs but a solo HR ended the night for everyone in Fort Myers.


James Vasquez, Dayton: 1-3, BB

John Sansone, Dayton: 0-2, 2 BB

Brantley Bell, Dayton: 3-4, RBI, stolen base. No real power of note but Bell is off to a solid start in his repeat of A ball.

Michael Beltre, Dayton: 2-3, BB, RBI. Beltre continues to be a bright spot for Dayton while fellow OFer Jose Siri tries to get it all straightened out.

Andrew Jordan, Dayton: 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1 run, 0 earned runs. A nice bounceback effort following a 4 inning, 7 run drubbing last week, Jordan doesn't turn 20 for another three months.

Jesse Stallings, Jesse Adams, Joel Kuhnel, Dayton bullpen: Combined for 4 innings of 1 hit, 1 walk, 7 strikeout ball to hang up zeros and ensure the Dragons the win. Kuhnel picked up his 4th save by striking out the side, the college starter might have found his ideal role.

[mace]

Games of Wednesday, May 3

Vladimir Gutierrez, Daytona . . . 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K. Over his last three games, the Cuban righty has allowed but three earned runs over 17 innings, striking out 23 and walking nobody. Looks like the Reds have been blessed with manna from Havana.

Honorable mention: Sarkis Ohanian, Daytona . . . 1 IP, zeros, 3 K, Sv (1). The Dukie's last 6 outs have come by strikes. Overall, he's put up 15 K in 7.2 innings. Just like last year.

Honorable mention: John Sansone, Dayton . . . 3-3, RBI. The Florida Stater has become a fixture in the Dragons' lineup, trailing only Friedl in extra-base hits.

Also notable on a night when Pensacola lost on Tyler Mahle's turn . . .

Chadwick Tromp, Daytona: 3-4, 2 RBI. Raised his average 77 points.

Alfredo Rodriguez, Daytona: 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI. Working on that slugging percentage.

Robert Stock, Daytona: 1 IP, zeros.

Brandon Dixon, Louisville: Grand slam.

Dilson Herrera, Louisville: 2-3, BB. As the DH.

Asher Wojciechowski, Louisville: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K. ERA 0.66. Maybe 78 pitches approached his limit; but inquiring minds want to really know why the former compensation pick was pulled after 4 innings.

Taylor Trammell, Dayton: 2-4, R, RBI.

Michael Beltre, Dayton: 1-2, BB.

Gabby Guerrero, Pensacola: 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI.

Angelo Gumbs, Pensacola: 2-4, BB, SB (2).

Tyler Goeddel, Pensacola: 1-4, 2 R, SB (1). Inserted into the leadoff spot after arriving from Louisville. Heaven knows the Wahoos could use some offensive help.

Blake Trahan, Pensacola: 2-4, R, RBI.

Tyler Mahle, Pensacola: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K. We've been spoiled.

Kevin Shackelford, Louisville: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, Sv (3).

Phillip Ervin, Louisville: 1-3, R, RBI.

Rob Brantly, Louisville: 1-3, 2B.

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 1-3, R. Hanging out at the singles bar.

[RedlegJake]

MiLPOD May 4th

TYLER STEPHENSON - 3 hits including a game clinching 9th inning grand slam, plus a walk earns Tyler the nod over Jesus Reyes

Honorable Mention - Jesus Reyes pitched 7.2 shutout innings for Daytona allowing 6 hits with no walks and just 2 strikeouts

Honorable Mention - Chad Tromp whacked three hits with 2 RBI as catchers had a good offensive night (though Chad was tonight's DH)
****

Louisville is off and Pensacola was rained out

****

Daytona whipped up a 7-0 win to move to 15-13

Blake Butler, 3B - 2 hits, a walk, doubled and scored

Chad Tromp, DH - 3 hits, 2 RBI

AlfRod SS - 2 for 5 with a run

Narciso Crook, RF - 2 run homer

Chris Okey, C - 2 run single, made his one hit count anyway

Mitch Piatnik, CF - 2 singles and a run

Pitching

Jesus Reyes - 7.2 shutout innings, 6 hits/0 walks, 2 strikeouts for the win (3-0 2.61 ERA) GS 76

Sandy Lugo with 1.1 shutout relief innings
****

Dayton wins 7-2

Jose Siri, CF - 2 for 5 with a run

Tyler Stephenson, C - 3 hits and a walk, 9th inning grand slam homer sealed the game

Avain Rachal, 1B - 2 singles and a walk, run

Brantley Bell, 2B - singled, walked and scored

Luis Gonzalez, SS - pair of singles, hitting .343

Michael Beltre, RF - double, 2 walks, run and 2 RBI

Pitching
Scott Moss - 5 innings, 1 unearned run, 5 hits/4 walks, 5 Ks - too many walks but otherwise a strong start

Ryan Hendrix - fanned 2 in an inning of scoreless relief

Aaron Fossas - 2 innings of fairly medicore relief - 2 hits, a walk, an ER and 2 Ks, probably his worst performance to date

Joel Kuhnel slammed the door with a scoreless 9th
****

[Tom Servo]

Games of Friday, May 5


Wennington Romero, Dayton: 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 0 runs. An impressive start on paper that's even more eye-opening when you remember that Romero is only 19 years old (born January 1998). The young Dominican lefty pitched well in the Dominican Summer League, pitched well in the AZL rookie league, and now has a 1.91 ERA in 6 starts in the Midwest League, with 39 strikeouts to 6 walks in 33 innings. Pretty good! You can read dougdirt's scouting report of Romero here, though Doug notes in the comments that Romero's continued growth means it is time for an update, and I heartily suggest donating to his Patreon for his fine work.


In other action, where it sure seems like the slow down on the Tuesdays and Fridays when I recap their performances...



Tony Renda, Louisville: 2-5, RBI

Zach Walters, Louisville: 1-4, 2B, RBI. 2017 and Reds org debut for the now minor league vet once traded for rentals of Jason Marquis and Asdrubal Cabrera.

Sebastian Elizalde, Louisville: 1-4

Chad Wallach, Louisville: 1-4

Jackson Stephens, Louisville: 6 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts, 2 earned runs. Like in his last start it was the longball that hurt Stephens, but he's getting back on track after a rough start to his AAA career.

Barrett Astin, Louisville: 2 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 1 earned run.



Josh VanMeter, Pensacola: 1-3, BB

Gabriel Guerrero, Pensacola: 2-3, BB

Aristides Aquino, Pensacola: 0-4, 2 K. Early returns on the big jump to AA not so good for AA.

Adrian Nieto, Pensacola: 1-3, BB

Luis Castillo, Pensacola: 1.2 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 5 earned runs. You know, for a blowup outing, that line isn't too disastrous. Did boost the ERA up to 3.38 on the year though.

Domingo Tapia, Pensacola: 3.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, 1 earned run. The former starter in the Mets system served as longman in this one. He's struck out 19 batters in 15 innings with the Wahoos.



Shed Long, Daytona: 2-4

Nick Senzel, Daytona: 2-4

Gavin LaValley, Daytona: 1-3, BB

Chad Tromp, Daytona: 1-3. A personal favorite of mine, Chadwick has been raking this week.

Chris Okey, Daytona: 1-3

Ty Boyles, Daytona: 5.1 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs. Boyles is still only 21, but he already feels like an afterthought in the Reds system. Solid start though.

Jake Paulson, Daytona: 2.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts, 0 runs.

Tanner Rainey, Daytona: 1 inning, 0 hits, walks, or runs, 3 strikeouts. After a few outings were he was merely good as opposed to dominant, Rainey went back to basics with striking out the side to pick up the save in a 1-0 win.



John Sansone, Dayton: 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.

Brantley Bell, Dayton: 2-4, 2B

Luis Gonzalez, Dayton: 3-4, RBI, stolen base. Maybe the 22-year-old Dominican infielder is tired of southwest Ohio after spending all of 2015 and 2016 with the Dragons, he's currently batting .385 and perhaps dreaming of Daytona Beach (even though there are no clear vacancies).

Michael Beltre, Dayton: 1-3, BB, 2 RBI

Andy Cox, Dayton: 3 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, 0 runs. A nice three inning save for the Tennessee product who, if we're being honest, was mostly drafted last year to save money and give Nick Senzel a familiar face last year.

[lollipopcurve]

Games of Saturday May 6

Your Sunday MILPoD scripture reading...
"The most difficult problem a manager confronts in building up a pitching staff is the rookie twirlers, with great natural ability and dozens of faults, who have made a reputation in the minor leagues."
-- John J. McGraw, My Thirty Years in Baseball (1923)

Tanner Rainey, Tortuga: IP, zeros, 2 K save (3). A nod to his dominance so far. Rainey entered a bases-loaded, no out 9th and slammed the door on a Jupiter Hammerhead rally. He's allowed 7 baserunners in 15.2 IP, so the WHIP stands at 0.32. Shades of Carlos Gonzalez in Bakersfield a few years ago, or something more?

Honorable mention
Tyler Stephenson, Dragon: 2-3, 2B (7), 2 HBP. So, Stephenson was on base in 4 of 5 trips. OBP now at .398. Looks like the Midwest League is trying knock our big cleanup-hitting catching prospect off the plate.

Also notable...

Zach Walters, Bat: 3-5, RBI. Walters has been suddenly dispatched to the 3 hole in the Bat lineup and has responded with 4 hits in his first 9 ABs.

Rob Brantley, Bat: 3-5, RBI. DeShields had him hitting cleanup.

Tony Renda, Bat: 2-4, BB, 3B, 2 RBI. 6 BB and 5 K on the season -- that'll get you noticed by the current front office.

Jesse Winker, Bat: 2-5, 2 RBI, OF assist. His game-tying infield single capped a 4 run game-tying comeback in the 9th.

Brandon Dixon, Bat: 1-1, pinch-hit 2B and scored the game winner in the 10th.

Dilson Herrera, Bat: 2-4, sac

Alejandro Chacin, Bat: 1.2 IP, zeros

Kevin Shackleford, Bat: 2 IP, zeros, 4 K, win. He's walked a bunch of guys, but holding AAA hitters to a .156 average so far.


Ariel Hernandez, Blue Wahoo: IP, BB, 2 K. Now has 18 K in 12.1 IP, but 9 BB.

Jimmy Herget, Blue Wahoo: IP, zeros, 2 K. 25 K in 14 IP and only 5 BB. Neither Herget nor Hernandez has allowed a HR.

Ismael Guillon, Blue Wahoo: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K. Could not bail out Keury Mella, but eventually could strike out a bunch of Lookouts.



Austin Orewiler, Tortuga: 1.2 IP, BB, K

Robert Stock, Tortuga: 2 IP, zeros, 3 K

Shed Long, Tortuga: 1-2, BB, RBI

Nick Senzel, Tortuga: 1-3, BB. Steady as she goes.

Reydel Medina, Tortuga: 2-4, RBI

Mitch Piatnik, Tortuga: 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 R


Alex Webb, Dragon: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K The British Columbian was a 9th rounder last year, likely a budget sign, and he's been providing value since entering the system (a WHIP below over the 10 games he's pitched in).

Jesse Stallings, Dragon: 2 IP, H, K, win.

TJ Friedl, Dragon: 1-4, BB, 3B, SB (7)

Taylor Trammell, Dragon: 2-5, 2B, RBI, CS

John Sansone, Dragon: 1-5, HR (2). Adding some fiber to the middle of the Dragons lineup with 24 RBI so far.

Brantley Bell, Dragon: 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI. Son of Jay is now over .300.

[mace]

Games of Sunday, May 7

Brandon Dixon, Louisville . . . 4-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, SB (3). The former Arizona star and jack of many positions (six last year, although he had only one game at the spot he has played the most this year, third base) has been known to go off on ridiculous rampages. This is how they start. He needs one to put a horrid April behind him.

Honorable mention: Nick Senzel, Daytona . . . 3-4, HR (2), 3 RBI. Up to .305, whether or not it seems like it.

Honorable mention: Andrew Jordan, Dayton . . . 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K, W (3-3). Extra credit for being 19. This follows a 5-inning start with 3 hits and no earned runs allowed.

Also notable on a day when the Blue Wahoos, losing twice (5 straight now, and 10 of 12), managed to fall to 15-15 in spite of Tyler Mahle, Austin Ross, Luis Castillo, and a 13-5 start . . .

Tyler Goeddel, Pensacola, (2 games): 4-7, 2B, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB (4). Former Rule Fiver (Phillies) is leading off for the Wahoos.

Austin Ross, Pensacola (game 2): 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K. ERA at 0.87.

Lisalverto Bonilla, Louisville: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Wasted were his best start as a Bat and a 4-run lead.

Brantley Bell, Dayton: HR (1). Another, a grand slam, was wiped off the board by a disputed foul call.

Taylor Trammell, Dayton: 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 SB (10).

James Vasquez, Dayton: 2-4, 2B, RBI.

T.J. Friedl, Dayton: 2-5, SB (8).

Jose Siri, Dayton: 1-4, 2B, R, SB (12). Every Dragon outfielder swiped a bag or two.

Aaron Fossas, Dayton: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Uncelebrated stuff, and a 0.44 ERA.

Patrick Riehl, Dayton: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, Sv (1). Portsmouth, Ohio, native locked down a 1-run lead to put the Dragons at 20-10.

Hernan Iribarren, Louisville: 3-5, 2B, 2 R.

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 1-3, 2 BB, R, RBI.

Louis Coleman, Louisville: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. My longshot to make the club out of spring training until he got sidelined with something or other.

Toolshed Long, Daytona: 2-4, 2B, R. Is it just me, or does it seem like Shed and Senzel always hit, or don't hit, on the same days?

Blake Butler, Daytona: 1-1, 2 RBI. Pinch single capped a 2-out, 2-run, 8th-inning rally that lifted the Tortugas to their 5th straight win.

Jonathan Crawford, Daytona: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K. A consistent producer of unusual lines.

Sandy Lugo, Daytona: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Kept it close.

Juan Martinez, Daytona: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, W. Clutch late relief.

Blake Trahan, Pensacola (game 1): 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI.

Aristides Aquino, Pensacola (game 1): 1-2, 2B, R, HBP.

Brian O'Grady, Pensacola (game 2): 1-2, 3B, R, RBI.

[texasdave]

Games of Monday, May 8

Tony Santillan, Dayton....The would-be Texas Tech Raider was definitely on his game last night. He struck out 10 batters and did not walk anyone. Santillan's only real blemish was a solo shot. When Santillan gains some consistency, he will rocket up the prospect lists. He now has fanned 35 batters in 33 innings.

Honorable mention: Ryan Hendrix, Dayton...Another Texas product, Hendrix played his college ball at Texas A&M. He struck out 5 last night in 2 hitless innings of relief. He now has struck out 29 in 14.2 innings out of the pen. That works out to a 17.8 K/9.

Honorable mention: Tyler Mahle, Pensacola...6 innings pitched, 7 Ks, 1 BB. He allowed just 2 earned runs. Performances like this are the norm, not the exception from Tyler.

Honorable mention: Tyler Goeddel, Pensacola...Recently sent down to Pensacola, Tyler seems to like it here. 3-4 - 2 SGL, DBL, BB, 2 RBI. Goeddel is hitting a snappy .381 since becoming a Wahoo.

Ariel Hernandez, Pensacola...2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. ERA - 1.88.

Geoff Broussard, Pensacola...1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA - 0.90. Broussard has been unscored upon in 13 of 14 outings this season.

Austin Orewiler, Daytona...1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Struck out the side in his only inning of work.

Sarkis Ohanian, Daytona...1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. Nice bounceback from his last outing where he faced 3 batters and walked them all.

Andy Cox, Dayton...1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. 1.93 - ERA, 0.75 WHIP.

Gabriel Guerrero, Pensacola...2-5 - 2 S. Has hit consistently for the Blue Fish in 2017. Perhaps their only consistent bat.

Angelo Gumbs, Pensacola...1-4 - SGL, BB. .361 OBP will play.

Eric Jagielo, Pensacola...2-5 - 2 SGL, RS. Eric Jagielo meets the Mendoza Line on the way up. Finally.

Alex Blandino, Pensacola...0-1 - 2 BB, HBP, 2 RS. Alex reached base 3 times without the benefit of a hit. Batting average right at .200, OBP is .351.

Joe Hudson, Pensacola...2-4 - SGL, DBL, RS, 3 RBI. For one night at least, Hudson was a Rock.

Brian O'Grady, Pensacola...0-2 - 2 BB, RS. Does a Blandino, but even better. Hitting .194, OBPing .360.

Narciso, Crook, Daytona...2-4 - SGL, TPL. Only 21, Crook keeps giving flashes of what might be.

Chris Okey, Daytona...1-2, SGL, BB, RS. One of the most quiet 6-game hitting strings that you will ever encounter.

Josciel Veras, Daytona...1-2, DBL, RS. Has played at Dayton, Daytona and Louisville so far in 2017. When will Pensacola give him a call? Was replaced by Reydel Medina mid-game.

Mitch Piatnik, Daytona...1-3 - DBL, 2 RBI. Don't look. .412 OPS. Better days, hopefully, ahead.

Tyler Stephenson, Dayton...0-2 - 2 BB, RS. Too many Tylers in this organization. This particular one is a keeper though. .850 OPS.

James Vazquez, Dayton...2-4 - 2 SGL, RS, RBI. Hitting .321 over his last 10 contests.

Brantley Bell, Dayton...2-3, 2 SGL, HBP, RS, RBI. Hottest Reds' farmhand. Bell has hit .378 over his last 21 games.

[Tom Servo]

Too many Tylers in this organization.

Try writing a letter to the Reds.

[Tom Servo]

Games of Tuesday, May 9


Chad Wallach, Louisville: 3-3, 2B, HR, BB, 2 RBI. A reminder of how early it still is that Wallach raised his batting average 55 points with the strong effort tonight. He's an interesting guy to follow, at age 25 the son of Tim is not exactly a kid but for a catcher his age is hardly unusual given how many big league catchers don't stick as regulars until their mid-to-late 20s. Wallach will take a walk, avoids excessive strikeouts, and has a bit of pop. If he can get do all that while playing solid defense (reviews tend to be mixed like they are with many catchers), ya might have something here.

Honorable Mention: Vladimir Gutierrez, Daytona: 5.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts, 1 earned run. The one run came in Gutierrez's final frame as a deflected single, stolen base, and wild pitch set the stage for the runner to cross, but make no mistake: this was another incredibly impressive start for the young Cuban. In his last 4 starts, he's thrown 22.1 innings and struck out 33 while walking just 1, that being the hot hitting Alex Jackson tonight. This boy good, and might be about ready for a new challenge.


In other action, on a night where everyone but the northern Florida squad earned a W:



Hernan Iribarren, Louisville: 2-4

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 1-4, 2B

Sebastian Elizalde, Louisville: 3-4, 2B

Beau Amaral, Louisville: 1-3, RBI

Asher Wojciechowski, Louisville: 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 1 earned run. Wojo, as the kids call him, keeps his ERA under one after 19.2 innings in the Reds organization, making a decent case for a shot with the big league club.



Gabriel Guerrero, Pensacola: 2-3, 2B, BB. Continues to be the best hitter on an anemic Wahoos club.

Eric Jagielo, Pensacola: 1-3, BB

Adrian Nieto, Pensacola: 1-3, HR, RBI. The obscure backup catcher provided the only run of the game for Pensacola.

Wahoos bullpen: Domingo Tapia, Alex Powers, and Jake Ehret combined for a bullpen day and they weren't great but not bad either. Ehret went two scoreless with one punchout while Powers went three innings and allowed a run while striking out three and Tapia drew his first start since 2014, allowing three hits and a walk for three runs but whiffing five in his four innings.



Alfredo Rodriguez, Daytona: 1-3, 2B, BB, stolen base. "im sorry, im sorry, im trying to fix it," I imagine AlfRod would tell you in a text message about his early start.

Shed Long, Daytona: 2-4, 2B

Narciso Crook, Daytona: 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI

Chad Tromp, Daytona: 2-4, 2B. They're forming in straight line. They're going through a tight wind. The kids are losing their minds. Chadwick Tromp!

Robert Stock, Daytona: 2.2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 0 runs. The reclamation project is going pretty well.

Tanner Rainey, Daytona: 2 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs. Hmm, perhaps the multi-inning late-inning reliever theory is spreading throughout the system.



Taylor Trammell, Dayton: 1-3, triple, BB

James Vasquez, Dayton: 2-4

Cassidy Brown, Dayton: 1-3, BB

Brantley Bell, Dayton: 2-4, 2B, RBI. One of the system's hottest hitters stays hot. Unfortunately it seems he'll have to marinate in Dayton as there's no infield opening in Daytona.

Luis Gonzalez, Dayton: 1-3, 2 RBI. Some problem as Bell, though Gonzalez seems lower priority in that regard.

Michael Beltre, Dayton: 1-3

Scott Moss, Dayton: 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 earned run. Not quite Gutierrez numbers, but it's pretty good and definitely a nice rebound after giving out 4 free passes in his last start.

[klw]

Too many Tylers in this organization. This particular one is a keeper though. .850 OPS.

Just wait until they let Mondile out of Extended ST

[mace]

Games of Wednesday, May 10

Luis Castillo, Pensacola . . . 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 K. The strikeouts set a career high for the hard-throwing, strike-throwing, 24-year-old former reliever from the Marlins organization, who accompanied Austin Brice and Isaiah White in the Dan Straily trade. Castillo also tied his personal record (two starts ago) for pitches thrown, with 98 (69 strikes). ERA down to 3.00.

Honorable mention: James Vasquez, Dayton . . . 3-5, 2B, HR (4), 2 RBI. Fourth straight multi-hit game for the first baseman from Central Florida.

Honorable mention: Geoff Broussard, Pensacola . . . 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, W. He's 26, well-traveled, under the radar, and performing handsomely as a free agent signing. The righthander from California has permitted only 5 hits in 12 innings and flashes an ERA of 0.75.

Also notable on a night when Dayton's 6-game winning streak came to an end, though not without late-game excitement . . .

Taylor Trammell, Dayton: 2-run, bottom-9 homer (2) bought the Dragons an extra inning.

John Sansone, Dayton: HR (3), BB. Had a second homer reversed (as Patreon subscribers to redsminorleagues.com were informed).

Brian Hunter, Dayton: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. Strong seasonal debut for the righty from Hartford.

Tyler Goeddel, Pensacola: 2-4, HR (1). Has 4 multi-hit games in last 5.

Alex Blandino, Pensacola: Hero of the organization's only win for the night, cracking a 1-out walkoff homer in the ninth.

Joe Hudson, Pensacola: 1-2, BB.

Shed Long, Daytona: 3-4, 2B. At .301 now. Because he hits.

Chris Okey, Daytona: 1-2, BB, ejected.

Braulio Ortiz, Daytona: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K. First appearance of the year for the 6-7, 253-pound Dominican, who displays an easy familiarity with the base on balls.

Tony Renda, Louisville: 2-4, HR (1), 2 RBI. Played left field. Batting .310, which may not be an accident. Last year, for the Bats and Wahoos, he hit .311.

Jesse Winker, Louisville: Played center field.

Hernan Iribarren, Louisville: 2-4, BB.

Rob Brantly, Louisville: 2-4, 2B, R.

Sebastian Elizalde, Louisville: 2-4.

Kyle McMyne, Louisville: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Relievers get gratuitously stretched out when starters (Jackson Stephens, in this case) can't make it out of the first inning.

Lucas Luetge, Louisville: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K. And sometimes, in so doing, they surprise.

Alejandro Chacin, Louisville: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

Louis Coleman, Louisville: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. That's a lot of Bats for a 7-2 defeat.