Feb 22, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Partch pitches during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark. (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

Bats Lose in Extras

Looked like a “W” was headed the way of the Bats heading into the home half of the 8th. The Bison got to Curtis Partch (pictured) for the game-tying run on an Andy LaRoche single. In the 11th, LaRoche struck again. This time, it was a game-winning double off Mike MacDougal to plate Mauro Gomez and 10,249 Bison fans left happy.

W: Perez, J (1-1, 1.74) ; L: MacDougal (0-1, 2.57)

Henry Rodriguez: 2-6
Felix Perez: 2-5, R
Emmanuel Burriss: 2-4
Greg Reynolds: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Next Game: 5/4 @ Buffalo, 1:05 PM ET

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

How Do You Lose on a Walk?

The Blue Wahoos jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Ryan LaMarre drove one home with a double and Steve Selsky singled in the other. Unfortunately, those would be the last and only runs the Blue Wahoos would score. They lost the lead in the 8th (same inning as the Bats) when Lee Hyde walked Montgomery’s Mark Thomas with the bases loaded and Mikie Mahtook would score the game-winning run.

Pensacola made an exciting bid to tie it in the 9th as LaMarre started things off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Selsky. A Tucker Barnhart ground out sent LaMarre to third with two outs. After Bryson Smith was plunked to put runners at 1st and 3rd, Brodie Greene grounded out to end the game.

W: Nevarez (2-0, 0.00) ; L: Hyde (1-3, 7.59) ; SV: Sandoval (6)

Ryan LaMarre: 3-4, RBI (5)
Daniel Renken: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Next Game: 5/4 v. Montgomery, 7:30 PM ET

Speaking of LaMarre. Catch this form the other night…

Bakersfield Blaze

Aw, Nuts!

Back and forth early, but the Nuts posted two bigger innings than the Blaze. Marquez Smith continues to blast the ball in California as he accounted for half of the Blaze runs with his 4th home run since being signed in mid-April. The other Blaze home run came from an inside-the-park jaunt from Kyle Waldrop, but Modesto took advantage of the Blaze’s poor fielding and plated four unearned runs.

W: Alsup (2-2, 4.03) ; L: Allen, J (1-3, 5.81) ; SV: Oberg (6)

Marquez Smith: 3-4, HR (4), 2 RBI (6), R

Next Game: 5/4 @ Modesto, 10:05 PM ET

Dayton Dragons

Rain, Rain, Go Away…

Well, the rain wouldn’t go away, forcing the cancellation of the tilt with the LumberKings. The game will not be rescheduled.

Next Game: 5/4 @ Kane County, 7:30 PM ET

Transactions

Bakersfield – Assign Wes Mugarian from Dayton
Dayton – Assign Joseph Housey from Billings

To hear all of the games of Reds affiliates, simply go here. A complete listing of all MiLB teams and their audio feeds are on that page. Best part, it’s FREE!

From 2012: Negron is congratulated by left fielder Ryan Ludwick (48) and right fielder Jay Bruce (32) at the end of the game against the Cleveland Indians at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Indians 12-5. (Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

The month of April wasn’t all that kind to the Reds affiliates. In looking at the standings for each league, none of the four teams that are currently in action are over .500. I know the whole gig about the farm is to develop these guys into the next Reds star. Plus, the managers and coaching staffs of these teams have certain edicts from Cincy that they must adhere to or face the music.

There have been some good things in the personal development area. We will be touching upon that within the next few days.

Now, to the games…

Louisville Bats

W: Arredondo, J (1-1, 3.60) ; L: Friend (1-1, 7.07)

Felix Perez: 2-3, 3 RBI (13)
Denis Phipps: 2-4, RBI (7), SB (5)
Kristopher Negron: 2-4, HR (2), 4 RBI (7), R
Neftali Soto: 1-2, 3 R
Jose Arredondo: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 SO

Just a little time – like five innings – but once the offense got going, it got going. Call it the Perez and Negron show for last night. The Bats duo drove in 7 of their 9 runs including a grand slam from Negron in the Bats 6th inning.

Arredondo hurled three perfect innings of relief and rebounded from his effort where he went only 1.1 innings and allowed 3 runs to the Iron Pigs.

The Bats end April in 3rd place in the IL’s West Division, 7.5 games behind first place Indianapolis.

Next Game: 5/2 @ Buffalo, 7:05 PM ET

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

No game last evening. The Blue Wahoos will begin May in last place (tied with the Mobile BayBears) in the Southern League’s South Division, but only 4 games back of the Mississippi Braves.

Next Game: 5/1 v. Montgomery, 8:00 PM ET

Bakersfield Blaze

W: Johnson, J (2-1, 8.02) ; L: Soptic (2-1, 8.04) ; SV: Pearl (2)

Juan Perez: 2-3, 2 BB
Dominic D’Anna: 2-5, 3 RBI (12), R
Chris Berset: 2-4, 3 RBI (6)

The Blaze went into San Jose, who leads the Cal League North Division, got in an early hole, and pecked away at that deficit and eventually got the win. D’Anna returned from the disabled list to make an impact with a bases clearing double in the Blaze 7th. That would be the difference in the game.

Next Game: 5/1 @ San Jose, 10:00 PM ET

Dayton Dragons

W: Boyd, J (1-2, 3.68) ; L: Peralta (0-3, 5.29)

Alejandro Chacin: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO

Dragons starter Sal Romano was hit with a hard-hit grounder which led to his removal after only 1 inning of work. The Dragons offense only produced a pair of hits as Dayton ended April on a sour note.

They sit in 6th place (of 8 teams) in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division, 10.5 games behind 1st place Bowling Green.

Next Game: 5/1 @ Clinton, 7:30 PM ET

Transactions

Louisville – Assigned Ray Chang from Pensacola
Pensacola – Assigned Mike Gilmartin from Bakersfield
Bakersfield – Activated Dominic D’Anna from 7-day DL

April 18, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Batting practice balls await use by the Atlanta Braves before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Last few days have been a little tough on everyone that is a fan of the Reds and the organization. Quite frankly, there haven’t been a whole lot of wins. The big guys in Cincy now own two straight wins after dropping a trio of games in Washington, DC. Maybe some of the guys in the farm system can get on a roll now.

And maybe last night is a sign of things to come…

Louisville Bats

W: Corcino (1-4, 7.65) ; L: Morgan (1-2, 3.23)

Neftali Soto: 4-4, HR, 2), 2 RBI (9), 2 R
Felix Perez: 2-4, RBI (10)
Daniel Corcino: 6 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 5 SO

Considering the train wreck that was Corcino’s last start, he seemingly flipped a switch and got the result he sorely needed.

Next Game: 4/30 v. Lehigh Valley, 11:05 AM ET

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

W: Smith, J (3-2, 5.16) ; L: Jokisch (3-1, 1.84) ; SV: Hayes (1)

Devin Lohman: 2-3, R
Ryan LaMarre: 2-3, RBI (4)
Josh Smith: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO

W: Hatley (1-0, 2.79) ; L: De La Rosa, W (0-1, 9.64)

Tim Crabbe: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 SO

Two great pitching efforts from the Blue Wahoos starters. A shame they were unable to score runs in the second game to reward Crabbe with a W.

Next Game: 5/1 v. Montgomery, 8:00 PM ET

Bakersfield Blaze

The Blaze had the day off.

Next Game: 4/30 @ San Jose, 10:00 PM ET

Dayton Dragons

W: Cisco (2-1, 3.00) ; L: Love (1-2, 5.40) ; SV: Klimesh (1)

Jeff Gelalich: 2-4

Tanner Rahier drove in a pair of runs with his first home run as a member of the Dragons. Jesse Winker cracked his second of the season and Drew Cisco went 7 innings in getting his second win of the season.

Next Game: 4/30 v. Burlington, 7:00 PM ET

Transactions
Cincinnati Reds: Recall Donald Lutz from Pensacola

To hear all of the games of Reds affiliates, simply go here. A complete listing of all MiLB teams and their audio feeds are on that page. Best part, it’s FREE!