Angels on the Farm: Mike Fish walks-off Bees, 66ers collapse

Salt Lake Bees (17-35)

The highest level of the Angels minor league affiliates continued to struggle on Monday, falling to the suddenly hot Fresno Grizzlies 10-6, completing a 8-game homestand that saw the team win just three games and fall 15.5 games behind in the PCL – Pacific Southern Division.

Justin Thomas got the start for the Bees, and we roughed up for 6 runs in the first two innings. However, he would get into a groove and throw 5 shut-out frames to finish his day. After the Bees clawed their way back into the game, Yoslin Carrera and Cory Rasmus would come on in relief of Thomas, but would yield 4 runs (3 earned) over the next two innings to close out the game.

The offense was paced by 3rd baseman Luis Jimenez and center fielder Matt Long, who combined to go 6-9 with a pair of runs scored, 3 RBI, and a home run (Long). Efren Navarro, Tommy Field, and Roberto Lopez (HR), also contributed hits on the afternoon. Unfortunately, the rest of the offense was plagued by strike-outs.

Matt Long – 2/5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI
Tommy Field – 1/4, R, 2 K
Ian Stewart – 0/4, 3 K
PH – Shawn O’Malley – 0/1
Efren Navarro – 1/4, BB, K
Luis Jimenez – 4/4, 2 2B, R, RBI,
Taylor Lindsey – 0/3, R, BB
Zach Borenstein – 0/4, BB, 3 K
Luis Martinez – 0/4, RBI
Roberto Lopez – 1/2, HR, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI

Justin Thomas – 7 IP, 9 Hits, 6 Runs, 5 ER, 4 K, 2 HR
Yoslan Herrera (L, 0-2) – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Cory Rasmus – 0.1 IP – 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 HR

Arkansas Travelers (24-25)

The Travelers fell a game below .500 after a rough showing against the San Antonio Missions, missing out on the sweep and losing 8-0. The loss drops them 2.5 games behind the Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League North.

This loss was hung on the offense, as the Travelers managed just 1 hit off of Missons’ start Matt Branham, and just 4 overall for the game.  Coupled with the lone walk issued by Branham, Arkansas put only 5 men on base over the course of the afternoon. Erik Komatsu reached twice, collecting a triple and a walk. Alex Yarbrough chipped in a double, while Andrew Melker and Drew Heid also contributed singles on the day.

Kyle McGowin took the loss in his first start with Arkansas after being promoted from Inland Empire earlier this week. A home run in the second by Jason Hagerty and a pair of RBI doubles accounted for the three runs surrendered by McGowin who actually pitched pretty well. Overall, he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3 and walking none.

Kramer Sneed came on in the 6th, and promptly got lit up, surrendering 5 runs on 4 hits and a walk. He was relieved by Kevin Johnson and Carmine Giardina, who held the Missions hitless over the final 2.2 innings.

Adam Melker – 1/4, 1 K
Drew Heid – 1/4, 1 K
Alex Yarbrough – 1/4, 2B
Brian Hernandez – 0/4
Jimmy Swift – 0/4, 1 K
Zach Zaneski – 0/4, 1 K
Erik Komatsu – 1/2, 3B, 1 BB, 1 K
Vance Albitz – 0/3
Andy Workman – 0/3

Kyle McGowin (L, 0-1) – 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
Kramer Sneed – 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB
Kevin Johnson – 1.2 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K
Carmine Giardina – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Inland Empire 66ers (18-34)

The 66ers stormed out to a 5-0  lead after three innings, but a sixth inning implosion allowed the Lancaster Jethawks to tie it up, eventually falling to the Jethawks 6-5.

Empire starter Elliot Morris was cruising through the first 5 frames of his first California League start. However, the wheels fell off in the sixth, when Astros top prospect Carlos Correa got things started with a single. After an error by Jose Rondon and Danry Vazquez loaded the bases, Inland went to the bullpen and brought in Michael Smith, who allowed a grand slam off the bat of Dan Gulbransen to knot up the game.

The go-ahead run would come around in the 8th, when Jairo Diaz allowed an RBI single to Roberto Pena to score Vazquez with the winning run.

Error aside, Rondon had a solid game for the 66ers. The Angels #6 prospect notched 3 hits and a run scored, but was also caught stealing.  Alex Allbritton added a pair of base knocks, while the pair of Joe Welk and Zach Wright each collected home runs on the afternoon.

Sherman Johnson – 1/5, R
Jose Rondon – 3/4, R, CS
Dennis Raben – 0/5, K
Wade Hinkle – 1/3, R, BB
Zach Wright – 1/4, R, HR, 3 RBI
Mark Shannon – 0/3, BB, K
Joe Weik – 1/3, 1 R, BB, HR, 2 RBI
Alex Allbritton – 2/4
Chevy Clarke – 0/3, BB, K

Elliot Morris – 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 earned), 4 BB, 1 K
Michael Smith – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, BB, K, HR
Jairo Diaz (l, 2-3) – 2 H, 1 R

Burlington Bees (25-24)

After falling behind 5-0 to the River Bandits, the Bees stormed back to win in walk-off fashion, topping Quad Cities 7-5 in the 10th inning.

Mike Fish went deep twice in the game, but saved his second for the big moment, hitting a two-run shot with one out in the 10th.  The Angels #19 prospect finished the day with 3 hits and 3 RBI. Eric Aguilera also collected a pair of hits on the afternoon, including his fourth home run of the season, which put the Bees within a run in the 8th.

Ryan Etsell got the start for Burlington, but an error by Aguilera lead to 3 unearned runs. Overall, he went 5 innings, surrendering 6 hits and 5 runs, while walking 2 and striking out 4. He was relieved by Brian Loconsole, Grant Gordon, and Alan Busenitz, who combined threw 5 innings of 2 hit, shut-out baseball to give the Bees a chance.
Kody Eaves – 1/5, 3B, RBI
Chad Hinshaw – 1/5, R, 2 K
Mike Fish – 3/5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K
Eric Aguilera – 2/4, R, HR, RBI, K
Angel Rosa – 1/4, K
Brandon Bayardi – 0/3, R, 2 K
Ramyelmy Mendoza – 1/4
Stephen McGee – 1/2, R, RBI
Erick Salcedo – 0/3, R, BB, K

Ryan Etsell – 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R (2 earned), 2 BB, 4 K
Brian Loconsole – 2 IP, H, K
Grant Gordon – 2 IP, H, K
Alan Busenitz (W, 1-3) – IP, 0 H, 0 K