Wow! It was an exciting day of games on Friday with some huge performances in the minor leagues!
For the PCL’s Las Vegas 51s, center fielder Matt den Dekker was a triple short of the cycle, going 3/5 with a double and a home run, scoring three times while Noah Syndergaard had a solid game on the mound (5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and added a single at the plate. For Memphis, Randal Grichuk continues his torrid pace at the plate, going 2/4 with yet another home run (his eighth).
In the International League, Gregory Polanco made headlines yet again, getting on base four times with a 3/4 game and adding a walk and a stolen base. Polanco has been in a “slump” lately and his batting average has fallen to “only” .380. For the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS), Brian Goodwin unloaded with a 4/5 game that included a double.
For the Bowie BaySox (BAL), first baseman Christian Walker went 3/5 with his ninth home run of the year, scoring twice and driving in two. Erie Sea Wolves (DET) shortstop Eugenio Suarez had a 3/6 day, hitting his sixth home run of the season and driving in four. For the Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF), Kyle Crick was dominant through six innings, striking out six and not allowing a run on just two hits and one walk.
In the Texas League, Miles Head, a first baseman for the Midland RockHounds (OAK), went 3/4 with his fourth home run and three RBI.
For the Southern League’s Mobile Bay Bears (ARI), A.J. Schugel threw 6 1/3 shutout innings with seven hits and one walk against while striking out five. For Pensacola (CIN), Robert Stephenson added eight strikeouts to his total but took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in seven innings. For Huntsville (MIL), Drew Gagnon threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his fourth win, allowing only two hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Feb 17, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo during team practice at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Probably the biggest performance of the day came from the Rangers’ #4-ranked prospect (according to MLB.com), Joey Gallo as he slugged three home runs to bring his season total to 17. He also added a single, scored all four times and drove in five. He’s hitting .345 so far this season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League.
For Wilmington, one of K.C.’s top prosepcts, Sean Manaea had a better start, allowing just one run (on six hits and two walks) and striking out six in four innings.
In the California League, Lancaster JetHawks (HOU) center fielder Teoscar Hernandez had five RBI thanks to a 2/6 game with a home run and a stolen base. Oakland’s CAL league affiliate, the Stockton Ports, got two-hit games from six different players: Bruce Maxwell, Renato Nunez, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder, Daniel Robertson and Aaron Shipman with Olson, Pinder and Robertson going deep and Pinder and Robertson adding a double to his home run.
In the Florida State League, righty Austin Brice struck out nine in six innings for the Jupiter Hammerhaeads (MIA) while allowing just one run on four hits and two walks. Toronto Blue Jays’ lefty prospect Daniel Norris made his longest start of the season, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts but didn’t earn a decision. His ERA is 0.90 so far this season.
There were some outstanding performances in Class-A ball with the Lake County Captains’ Robbie Aviles throwing six almost-perfect innings as he returns from Tommy John surgery last year. Aviles, a 6-foot-4 righty retired his first 17 batters before plunking his 18th and retiring the next batter on a strikeout to finish off his night with a final line of six scoreless, hitless innings without walking anyone and striking out three.
For the Kane County Cougars, Cubs’ prospect Paul Blackburn struck out eight in six innings while allowing just one run on two hits and a walk to move his record to 4-1. Nick Travieso earned his fifth win of the season, allowing two runs (only one earned) on three hits with six strikeouts in six innings for the Dayton Dragons (CIN). The Quad Cities River Bandits (HOU) got eight strikeouts over six innings from Chris Lee.
For the Beloit Snappers (OAK), Kyle Finnegan threw seven scoreless innings with four hits and one walk against, striking out five.
In the South Atlantic League, there was another pitcher coming back from injury who had a dominant outing. Washington Nationals’ #5 prospect, lefty Sammy Solis, went to work for the Hagerstown Suns and allowed only four hits and striking out seven over six innings in his first start. Solis is already 25 and is on a rehab assignment after having pitched as high as the Carolina League last year. Expect him to get to Double-A shortly.
For the Asheville Tourists (COL), center fielder David Dahl had himself a day, going 2/5 with two triples, scoring once and driving in two and teammate Max White went 2/3 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored.