One veteran pitcher excelling in Triple-A, and another rehabbing in Class-A were among the highlights of the Dodgers minor leagues on Saturday night.
Player of the day
Veteran left-hander Cole Irvin continues his solid season with another win for Oklahoma City, his Pacific Coast League-leading 11th of the season, and Irvin’s 6 2/3 innings lowered his PCL-best ERA to 3.36. Irvin allowed only one hit, a single to lead off the sixth, and walked two while striking out eight.
It’s been a big week for Oklahoma City starters striking out eight, with Irvin joining Emmet Sheehan on Wednesday and Tyler Glasnow on Friday.
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Triple-A Oklahoma City
The Comets scored once in the first inning and nothing more, and strong pitching made it hold up to beat the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies).
Zach Ehrhard and Ryan Ward had consecutive one-out singles in the opening frame, putting runners at the corners, and a James Tibbs III sacrifice fly brought home the game’s only run.
Paul Gervase and Seth Halvorsen each pitched scoreless innings to close out the win.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers must have been fast and furious when relievers (Carson) Hobbs and (Evan) Shaw allowed five runs in the fifth inning in a loss to the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners).
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Those runs off Tulsa’s bullpen came immediately after Christian Zazueta was lifted after four scoreless innings and six strikeouts. The Dodgers gave their top pitching prospect more time in between starts, with him pitching Saturday on seven days rest. Zazueta’s 82 2/3 innings is already a career high, topping his 71 innings in 2024 between rookie ball and Class-A.
Joe Vetrano homered for the second game in a row. Josue De Paula had two hits, as did fellow outfielders Taylor Young and Kole Myers.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons scored in five different innings to beat the South Bend Cubs. Catcher Gio Cueto singled and hit a two-run home run.
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Eduardo Quintero singled twice, walked twice, scored a run, and stole his 40th base of the season.
Joseilyn Gonzalez got the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, with five strikeouts.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers scored eight runs off rehabbing starter Yusei Kikuchi in a blowout win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels). Kikuchi’s last three rehab starts came against a Dodgers affiliate, along with opposing Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow last week in Triple-A.
Ontario had its own rehabber on Saturday with Blake Treinen, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts. Treinen is on the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation, and is eligible to return as early as next week.
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Marlon Nieves struck out seven and walked five in five scoreless innings.
Second baseman Kellon Lindsey, the Dodgers’ 2024 first-round draft pick, homered and tripled in the win.
Saturday scores
Sunday schedule
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10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Tyler Gough) vs South Bend (Ethan Flanagan)
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4:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) vs. Albuquerque (Jack Mahoney)
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5 p.m.: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) vs. Arkansas (Adam Leverett)
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5 p.m.: Ontario (Cam Leiter) at Rancho Cucamonga (CJ Gray)
