AAA: Round Rock 2, Las Vegas (OAK) 1
Round Rock: 4 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 50-43, 5 GB
SP Kolby Allard: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 73 P / 45 S, 4.01 ERA
RF Bubba Thompson: 1-3, BB, SB (46), .299/.350/.466
Something I’ve never seen before in the minors, although I’m sure it’s happened previously: With one out, runners on second and third, and the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Las Vegas employed five infielders and two outfielders against Sam Huff. This makes sense, in a way. Huff’s grounder rate is actually slightly above average relative to other PCL hitters, and his flies tend to be deep enough to score a runner from third. If the goal is to maximize the chance of winning (often not the case in the minors, even in AAA), I’d be inclined to just walk Huff to set up a force and take my chances with JP Martinez and Dio Arias, but perhaps Oakland wants its minor leaguers to practice this situation. Regardless, Huff one-hopped the CF wall with a smoked liner to end the game.
Ryder Ryan, Nick Snyder, Spencer Patton, John King, and Josh Sborz threw scoreless innings.
AA: Frisco 0, at Arkansas (SEA) 3
Frisco: 4 hits, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 11-10, 4 GB, 47-43 overall
SP Jack Leiter: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 65 P / 39 S, 6.24 ERA
RP Avery Weems: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 5.32 ERA
C David Garcia: 2-3, .245/.291/.410
Both runs against Leiter scored after he’d departed in the 4th. I watched the first three innings, through which Leiter had a reasonable 51 pitches and one walk, but that paints a prettier picture than what was on display, Per usual, often amazing stuff, highly inconsistent command.
Looking at the most recent nine of Avery Weems’ 18 appearances, he’s cut his recent homer rate nearly in half (although it’s still pretty high), nearly eradicated other extra-base hits, and struck out 30% of his opponents. Texas acquired Weems along with Dane Dunning for Lance Lynn. Now 25, Weems will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft if unprotected.
High-A: Hickory 10, at Greensboro (PIT) 9
Hickory: 12 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 10-14, 7 GB, 48-42 overall
SP Mason Englert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 11 P / 9 S, 4.44 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.86 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-4, HR (11), BB, .276/.423/.448
CF Evan Carter: 3-4, SB (16), .277/.375/.479
2B Thomas Saggese: 2-6, 2B, .313/.362/.500
The teams averaged 8.7 runs per game during Greensboro’s Tribute To High Desert weekend. Thomas Saggese collected seven hits, four for extra bases, in the three-game set. In roughly the same number of plate appearances as last year’s total, Saggese has 23 more hits but 21 fewer walks. He’s also cut his strikeout rate from 30% to 23%.
Low-A: Down East 3, at Carolina (MIL) 7
Down East: 8 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 13-10, 4.5 GB, 46-43 overall
SP Ryan Garcia: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 58 P / 41 S, 1.57 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, 2B, .204/.299/.289
RF Jose Rodriguez: 2-3, 3B, HBP, .219/.298/.312
1B Abi Ortiz: 2-4, HR (6), .208/.291/.322
Josh Gessner’s relief outing (0.2 IP, 6 R) was peak wildness for a walk-free outing. Gessner hit two batters (one on a 3-0 pitch), had runs score on a balk and wild pitch, and had a batter reach first on a strikeout / wild pitch. After him, Jackson Leath (1.1 IP), Juan Mejia (1 IP), and Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa (1 IP) were scoreless with a strikeout apiece.
Cam Cauley is hitting .273/.347/.500 in his last 11 games.
Today’s Starters
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Five Years Ago Yesterday
I mentioned Jurickson Profar’s .282/.462/.410 line in Round Rock since being optioned in early July in the context of trade value. At the time, Texas had 23-year-old Rougned Odor at second, 28-year-old Elvis Andrus at short, and 23-year old Joey Gallo spotting for Adrian Beltre at third among other duties.