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It is very nice to have minor league games again, and minor league box scores to obsess over...
Joe Palumbo had a strong first inning for Round Rock, but had command issues after the first, and ended up giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks in 2.1 IP, striking out 4. Ryder Ryan had a scoreless inning of work, and Hunter Wood, who has been talked about as a potential addition to the pen in the majors at some point this year, retired all 5 batters he faced, 3 by strike out.
Curtis Terry continued his early season mashing, homering twice, and Carl Chester picked up his second home run of the year. Anderson Tejeda was 1 for 4 with a walk and Leody Taveras drew a walk.
Frisco got stomped badly enough that a catcher pitched the final two innings of the game. Yerry Rodriguez didn’t get out of the second in his AA debut, allowing 4 runs in 1.1 IP, walking 2, allowing 3 hits (including 2 home runs), and striking out 4.
Alex Speas threw 1.2 scoreless and struck out 4 but walked 3. Blake Bass gave up a home run, two other hits and two walks in an inning of work while allowing three runs. Hever Bueno was quite bueno (and I so want him to make the big leagues so we can all say things like that about him) with 3 Ks in 2 perfect innings.
Davis Wendzel had a pair of hits, including his second home run of the season. Ryan Dorow went 2 for 5 with a home run. J.P. Martinez and Bubba Thompson each double, and Sherten Apostel was 1 for 5.
Avery Weems, who came to Texas in the Lance Lynn trade, made his Rangers debut for Hickory tonight, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three. Seth Nordlin struck out 4 while giving up 2 runs in 3.2 IP.
Hickory only picked up 2 hits, but one of them was a David Garcia grand slam, the switch-hitting catcher’s first of the season. The other hit was by Blaine Crim, who also drew a walk.
Down East rallied late with three runs in the ninth to beat Kannapolis, 5-4. Someone named Nick Krauth got the start and threw five shutout innings, striking out 4 and not walking anyone. Leury Tejada struck out 3 and walked 1 in two shutout innings. Gavin Collyer had some issues, allowing 3 runs in .2 IP, walking 1 and allowing a hit while striking out 1.
Like Hickory, Down East didn’t have many hits, but they made them count. Keyber Rodriguez had a two run home run in the 7th. Dustin Harris had a single, and Jayce Easley (I typed Damian initially then caught my mistake), Cristian Inoa and Cody Freeman all doubled, with Freeman and Easley also drawing walks. Easley, who has primarily been an infielder, played center field in this game.