I thought I would get going with the PreStros this morning, and let the Constable troll for more ugly uniforms.
Summary
* Affiliates went 3-1, combined record of 145-119
* Oklahoma City walked off in a wild finish
* Corpus channelled the power of sevens to win
* Lancaster continued steamrolling the opposition
* Quad Cities let the side down. Sigh.
Oklahoma City (36-31)
This one was a wild one. Oklahoma City, at home to the Salt Lake Bees (25-42), jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, then the game started see-sawing, with Oklahoma scoring four runs in the last two innings, and walking off 7-6 winners.
Bumpy Bit: Paul Clemens got the start, and was solid in 4 innings (4H, 1R/ER, 2BB, K). The lack of strikeouts could be considered a concern. However, of more of a concern was Ross Seaton giving up 4 runs in 3 innings (3IP, 4H, 4R/ER, BB, K) and Alex White giving up one in one (1IP, 2H, R/ER, BB, K, HR). Kevin Chapman eventually got the win (IP, BB, K).
Flat Bit: I wonder who may be in the middle of it all... Matt Duffy!! He had a good night: 3-4, 2B, HR, 3RBI, R, doubling in the walk-off run with one out. Marc Krauss hit a pinch-hit three run home run (1-1, HR, 3RBI, R) to tie the game in the eighth. Carlos Perez was on base twice (1-3, BB, R) and Enrique Hernandez (at shortshop) went 2-5 with an RBI. Ronald Torreyes walked twice (0-3, R, CS) and Domingo Santana went 1-5, R.
Man of the Match: Matt Duffy, again! His AAA Career looks thusly: .225/.295/.625 with 5HR in 40AB's. Kudos to Krauss-y.
Corpus Christi (32-33)
Ok, people, this sh&t is getting real!! Today, I was overtaken by a car that had three sevens in it's numberplate. Then, I had to ring a toll free hotline, which ended with a 7. I read an article on the new Boeing 777X. Now I hear that Corpus beat the Frisco RoughRiders (38-26) by 7-0, scoring 7 runs in the 7th inning. I am not sure what it means, but if the world ends tomorrow, it sure has been fun writing on this site. Or, perhaps this is all the doing of the CIA, and I am being monitored.
Bumpy Bit: Well, Frisco scored no runs, so we have some credit to hand out here. Starting was Luis Cruz (3.2, H, BB, 6K) who absolutely dominated, but was lifted when he reached his pitch count (60). Relieving (and getting the win) was Tyson Perez (3.1IP, 5H, 2BB), and finishing was Richard Rodriguez (2IP, H, 2K).
Flat Bit: Anatomy of a seven-run inning: single, sac-bunt and error which allows the runner to reach, single (loaded bases), triple (bases cleared), RBI single, single - runner to second, sac bunt (first out of the inning) - runners to 2nd and 3rd, bases clearing double (2 RBI), RBI triple, groundout, flyout.
Pretty much everyone got one hit, aside from MP Corkinos. Andrew Aplin hit a double (1-3, 2B, R), Ruben Sosa and Jonathan Meyer hit triples (both 1-4, and Meyer had 3RBI). No walks.
Man of the Match: Lets go with Luis Cruz - one of the most dominating (but short) outings of the year. Kudos to the rest of the pitching staff, too.
Lancaster (43-24)
I think it is time to flip-flop the top two teams of this list, especially given that the Iowa Cubs are sitting at 33-30. The JetHawks smoked the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (30-37) by a score of 16-3. There should be a mercy rule in MiLB. Anyhow, the JetHawks scored in the first five innings (1, 6, 4, 2, 1 runs respectively) to win a laugher. This win clinches the South Division first-half title for the JetHawks.
Bumpy Bit: Chris Devenski got the start, and was plenty solid, giving up both of his runs on one swing of the bat. I am guessing that, after the six-run second inning, he was expected to pound the zone, and that is what he did. 6IP, 3H, 2R/ER, 7K. Matt Heidenreich relieved (2IP, H, 2K) and Daniel Minor opened the door a tiny, wee crack by allowing a run in the ninth (IP, 3H, R/ER, 2K). However, he was able to get the third out before the Quakes managed a further 14 runs.
Flat Bit: Plenty to see here... Anthony Kemp - leading off - 4-5, BB, 2B, 3R. Danry Vasquez had an awesome night at the plate (5-5, 2x2B, 2RBI, 4R). Home runs were hit by Rio Ruiz (2-6, HR - Grand Slam, 6RBI, R), Roberto Pena (2-6, HR, R, RBI), Conrad Gregor (2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, 3R) and Jack Mayfield (1-5, HR, 2RBI, R). Jordan Scott had a great line from a nine-hole hitter (1-1, 4BB, 2R, RBI). Carlos Correa proved unequivocally that he is NOT READY for AA going 2-4, 2BB, 2B, 2RBI, R. Disappointing... and from our top prospect too.
On the Correa topic - I have been intermittently doing the PreStros for a while now, and it is noticeable that he accumulates hits and walks, but rarely seems to have a gaudy 5-5, 2HR day. But he managed to get on base 4 times tonight, and he generally is awful consistent night after night. Not sure why, or what it means, but it seems to be an interesting pattern.
Man of the Match: Anthony Kemp and Danry Vasquez can take the award, with a sub-award to Rio Ruiz. Not Carlos Correa, however. We may see him back in Quad Cities soon. No Hi-A All Star game for you, Correa! And, speaking of Quad Cities...
Quad Cities (34-31)
Quad Cities rallied late against the Cedar Rapids (29-27) team but fell one run short to lose 5-4. Both teams scored 3 in their final at-bat (with QC batting in the top of the ninth). Both teams scored one in the second. The difference was the Kernels also scoring one in the first, which was unearned.
Bumpy Bit: Evan Grills wore the loss, but was pretty solid while giving up a few base runners: (5IP, 7H, 2R, 1ER, 6K). The earned run was on a solo home run. Edison Frias relieved, and did well for the first two innings of relief, but he was touched up for 3 runs in his third inning (3IP, 5H, 3R/ER, K).
Flat Bit: Chase McDonald (2-4, 2R), Ronnie Mitchell (1-3, BB) and Jon Kemmer (1-3, BB) were all on base twice. Chan Moon had the only extra-base hit (1-5, 2B). Austin Elkins made one of hit at-bats count (1-2, 2RBI).
Man of the Match: In the absence of any significant standout offence, lets give it to Evan Grills, whose one unearned run (or, alternatively, the home run) lost him the game.
Thanks for reading. Stay on the look out for "coincidences" involving sevens.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
