Cam Leiter just absolutely went off in his High-A debut for Great Lakes, striking out seven batters in three and a third scoreless innings. Yeah, you read that right: SEVEN K’s. He kept those two hits and two walks stranded, too, showing some serious composure for a guy in his first professional season. This dude, a second-round pick last year out of Florida State, just got promoted from Class-A after rocking a 3.09 ERA and a massive 36.1-percent strikeout rate in 18 starts for Ontario. Talk about making a statement in your first game after a bump up!
Dodgers Affiliates See Mixed Results in Minor League Action
It wasn’t all lights out across the Dodgers’ minor league system. Down in Triple-A, Oklahoma City pulled off a 5-1 win over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Jackson Ferris allowed just one run through five innings, setting the tone for the Comets’ victory. Austin Gauthier was clutch with two hits, while James Tibbs III doubled and walked. Zach Ehrhard chipped in with an RBI single and even swiped a base. Hyeseong Kim also got in on the stolen base action and played center field, stepping up after Alek Thomas got called up to Los Angeles. Solid win there, showing some real depth.
Double-A Tulsa, though, couldn’t quite seal the deal in a tight one-run loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles, 7-6. It was a back-and-forth battle that just didn’t break their way. Chris Newell absolutely crushed a grand slam in the losing effort, and Taylor Young and Jake Gelof both added solo dingers. Starter Patrick Copen took the loss, despite six strikeouts, but giving up six runs in six innings is a tough way to go.
Heartbreak in High-A and a Tough L for the 66ers
Things got wild for High-A Great Lakes. After Leiter’s stellar start, their relievers just couldn’t hold it down. They gave up the tying runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, and then the walk-off run in the 10th for a crushing 6-5 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Oof, that’s a gut punch. Shortstop Emil Morales tried to keep them in it, doubling and singling, driving in a pair. Right fielder Eduardo Quintero also doubled and walked, but it wasn’t enough.
And down in Class-A, our boys in the Inland Empire 66ers (that’s our Mariners affiliate, if you forgot!) took an L against Ontario, 4-3. They were up, but Ontario dropped three runs in the seventh inning to flip the script. Oswaldo Osorio hit the game-tying homer in that seventh inning and drove in another run earlier with a sacrifice fly. Starter Joel Cruz went four scoreless, but also walked four. Rough one for the 66ers, man.
What’s Next on the Diamond?
The minor league grind keeps on rolling! Tomorrow, Tulsa and Amarillo run it back at 10:05 a.m. PT, with Wellington Aracena pitching for Tulsa. Great Lakes, after that tough walk-off loss, is at Fort Wayne at 10:05 a.m. too, with Tyler Gough on the mound. Oklahoma City plays Sugar Land again at 12:05 p.m., Emmet Sheehan pitching. And our Inland Empire 66ers get a shot at redemption against Ontario at 5:05 p.m., with Aiden Butler pitching for them. Every single one of these games matters for these young guys fighting to make their mark. You gotta watch these future stars, man!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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