Eugene exploded with a ton of offense to win, led by Velasquez’s hits and Morgan’s slugging.  Meanwhile, a fine effort by Hayden Birdsong in his season debut goes unsupported by the Richmond offense.

AAA: El Paso 3, Sacramento 1

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Player of the Game: CF Luis Matos: 1-3, 1 2B (2), 1 K, 1 HBP

It wasn’t a great night for offense, so I’ll go with Matos, who picked up his first extra-base hit in four days with his double.  He’s 6-for-27 (.222) in six games since returning to Sac, but with two doubles and two home runs.

Other Players to Spotlight:

  • SS Marco Luciano: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SF – Luciano has a mini 4-game hitting streak going, and has a batting line of .371/.489/.457 after nine games.
  • RF Chase Pinder: 1-3, 1 2B (2) – Pinder isn’t playing every day, he’s only been in five games, but he’s off to a nice start, hitting .353/.450/.471 in his first five games.
  • SP Blayne Enlow: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K – The free agent signing had his first start in Reno’s thin air, giving up five runs in 3.0 innings, so he had a bit more solid start this time.

Top Prospect Lines:

  • DH Casey Schmitt: 0-4, 2 K
  • LF Ismael Munguia: 0-2, 1 R< 1 BB

AA: Akron 2, Richmond 1

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Player of the Game: 1B Logan Wyatt: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 2B (1) 2 K

Wyatt knocked in the team’s only run with a 9th inning double, finally starting the offense several innings too late.

Other Players to Spotlight:

  • SP Hayden Birdsong: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 Balk – Birdsong gave up a single on the first pitch of the game, and a full count, 2-out home run later that inning, and that was it, as his curve was working very well.
  • RP Wil Jensen: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K – Strong middle relief appearance for Jensen, who had a 2.53 ERA with a similar role in Richmond last season.
  • RP Clay Helvey: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K – Helvey has a nice start to this year with two shutout appearances, after he had a combined 7.84 ERA last season, mostly from AA and AAA.
  • SS Christian Koss: 1-2, 1 2B (1), 1 K – The recent trade acquisition left the game early after collapsing while running the bases, after stepping on third awkwardly.  No word on his condition.

Top Prospect Lines:

  • RF Vaun Brown: 1-4, 2 K
  • DH Victor Bericoto: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B (2), 1 K
  • CF Grant McCray: 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K

Other Notable Lines:

  • C Andy Thomas: 1-3, 2 K, 1 PB (1)
  • 3B-SS Will Wilson: 1-4, 1 2B (1)

High-A: Eugene 6, Everett 3

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Player of the Game: SS Diego Velasquez: 3-4, 1 2B (3), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (1)

Velasquez led the team in hits as his strong start to the season continues, going 7-for-16 (.438) through four games, with three doubles, and three walks to four strikeouts.

Other Players to Spotlight:

  • 1B Zach Morgan: 2-4, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B (1), 1 HR (1), 1 SB (1) – I very well could’ve named Morgan PotG, and Morgan is now 4-for-10 (.400) to start the year, with two walks and two strikeouts.
  • DH Matt Higgins: 2-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SAC – In 3 games, Higgins is 5-for-9 (.556) with one walk to three strikeouts for a .600 OBP
  • LF Turner Hill: 1-4, 1 R, 1 3B (1), 1 SO – Hill’s second hit of the season is a triple, after he had four in 76 games last season.
  • C Jack Payton: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (1), 2 K, 1 PB (1) – That’s Payton’s first hit this season in three games, as he’s 1-for-12 with four strikeouts and no walks to start the year.
  • RP Ben Madison: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K – I’m surprised Madison is repeating Eugene this year, but this was a great first appearance as he struck out four on way to a save.

Other Notable Lines:

  • SP Seth Lonsway: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 WP
  • RP Nick Morreale: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
  • CF Scott Bandura: 1-4, 2 R, 1 HBP

Low-A: San Jose 7, Visalia 4

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Player of the Game: SS Cole Foster: 3-4, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Foster led San Jose in hits to set the table in their first road game.  He 7-for-17 (.412) through his first four games, with a double and a home run.

Other Players to Spotlight:

  • C Luke Shliger: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (1), 1 BB, 1 PB (2) – Shliger is 3-for-11 to start the season, with three walks and no strikeouts yet in three games.
  • CF Jonah Cox: 2-5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB (3) – Cox’s strong start continues, as he’s 8-for-17 (.471) in his first four games, though they are all singles.
  • 1B Bryce Eldridge: 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (2), 2 K, 1 E (2) – Eldridge has two doubles and one home run in four hits, going 4-for-17 (.235) through five games, with five strikeouts to one walk.
  • RP Junior Flores: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 WP – Nice relief appearance for this 22-year old’s full-season debut.
  • 3B Jean Carlos Sio: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B (1), 1 HBP – Sio is 1-for-6 after two games in his full-season debut.

Other Notable Lines:

  • SP Ubert Mejias: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
  • RP Trent Harris: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP