Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
May 6th, 2022 Scoreboard
- Triple-A Oklahoma City 9, Albuquerque 2
- Double-A G1 Tulsa 2, Wichita 7
- Double-A G2 Tulsa 0, Wichita 10
- High-A Great Lakes 5, Beloit 2
- Low A Rancho Cucamonga 4, Lake Elsinore 0
======
It never gets old, another outing, and lots of punchies from Clayton Beeter:
In Beeter’s last two outings combined, he has pitched 8.0 innings of one-run ball, and he has struck out 16. For the season, he has struck out 45.6% of the hitters he has faced.
Another thing to keep an eye on — Beeter tossed a career high 66 pitches, and he was still hitting 95 mph up until the end. His previous top was 55 pitches, so while his future role isn’t set in stone, he continues to be ramped up as if he will start long-term.
——
After a rough start to the season, it all came together for Jerming Rosario, who picked up the first full season W of his career:
For Rosario, whom the Dodgers signed back in 2018 out of Peravia, Dominican Republic, his calling card coming into this season was advanced command. His walk rates at the Dominican Summer League (8.5% at 17 years old) and the Arizona Complex League (8.4% at 19) were both impressively low for his age. Things haven’t been nearly as dialed in thus far with Rancho Cucamonga, running a walk rate that was more than double at 19.3% coming into this start.
In this outing, 42 of Rosario’s 59 pitches were strikes, and he had only one three-ball count all night, so a hint of the promise he showed at the training complex back fields resurfaced for a bit. Also, the one baserunner that reached via HBP was the first hitter in the top of the 5th, his final inning. It has often occurred that a pitcher who is cruising like this, out of the windup the whole time, loses command when they have to switch to the stretch for the first time. Not so with Rosario tonight, he kept pounding the zone, with 10 of his next 13 pitches going for strikes.
Rosario’s next rotation turn should come on Thursday, May 12th in Stockton. Stringing together back to back starts showing good command would be a real positive.
——
It was a tough day at the ballpark for Tulsa, getting swept in a doubleheader, but along with Beeter, Michael Busch managed to provide a bright spot:
Busch’s nine homers ranks second in the Texas League.
——
Alex De Jesus really got into one for Rancho Cucamonga:
This homer ended up being the game winner. De Jesus went 2/4 on the evening, adding a single, and also reaching via a base on balls, raising his OPS to .876.
——
Great Lakes has received tremendous starting pitching in their series against Beloit, and Cole Percival kept the ball rolling:
Starting pitchers for the Loons have allowed just two runs in the first four games of the series.
As for Percival, whom the Dodgers signed as a free agent back September 2020, he lowered his ERA to 2.18, and it was his fifth consecutive outing allowing one earned run or less.
And yeah, that little hip shimmy he does as he come set, it ought to bring a certain old friend to mind.
——
It’s always good to see some guys flash the leather, so here’s a couple solid defensive efforts — the first one is from Austin Gauthier for Rancho Cucamonga, who kept a no-hitter alive with this diving play:
Then there’s Ryan Noda, ranging about as far as you’ll see a first baseman go:
And covering first base was Justin Hagenman, the pitcher, and this is not the kind of throw they’re used to picking. On both ends, it’s simply a fantastic play.
——
Lastly, Rancho Cucamonga tossed a little shade after their win:
A Padres affiliate having a celebration after an ultimately meaningless accomplishment? Yeah, that tracks.
