D-backs Farm Rumblings: A combined no-no and a torrid Socrates Brito
Jun 18, 2018, 7:04 AM
Here’s a quick look at what went on in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system last week.
| Team | League | Week/Overall | Standing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Reno Aces | Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) | 4-2 / 33-37 | Tied for 3rd place in Pacific Northern Division (9.5 games behind Fresno) |
 |
Jackson Generals | Southern League (Double-A) | 4-2 / 39-30 | Clinched First Half North Division title |
 |
Visalia Rawhide | California League (High-A) | 4-3 / 37-33 | Finished first half in 2nd place in North Division (7.0 games behind Stockton) |
 |
Kane County Cougars | Midwest League (Single-A) | 5-2 / 35-34 | Finished first half in 4th place in Western Division (4.5 games behind Quad Cities) |
 |
Hillsboro Hops | Northwest League (Short-season Single-A) | 3-0 / 3-0 | 1st place in Northwest League |
 |
Missoula Osprey | Pioneer League (Rookie) | 1-1 / 1-1 | Tied for 2nd place in North Division (0.5 games behind Helena) |
 |
Diamondbacks 1 | Dominican Summer League | 4-2 / 8-5 | 3rd place in Dominican Summer League Baseball City (1.0 game behind Orioles and Padres) |
|
Diamondbacks 2 | Dominican Summer League | 2-4 / 5-8 | Tied for 5th place in Dominican Summer League San Pedro (6.0 games behind Rangers) |
How many Generals does it take to throw a no-hitter? – Well, five is the answer. Thursday night in Jacksonville, Jackson starter Justin Donatella struck out four and walked two over three no-hit frames. Then the rains came. A delay that lasted nearly two hours knocked Donatella out of the game, but the bullpen quartet of Daniel Gibson, Kirby Bellow, Kevin Ginkel and Brad Goldberg finished off a combined no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Jumbo Shrimp.
“We have a pretty good pitching staff,” Dontella said, according to MiLB.com. “Just to be able to see the kind of work that we’ve been putting in come to fruition is a pretty special moment for our pitching coach and our pitching staff. It was nice the way it worked out.”
BREAKING: @jacksongenerals hurlers Justin Donatella, Daniel Gibson (@d_gibs_6), @KirbyBellow, Kevin Ginkel (@ginks_sd) and Brad Goldberg (@B_Gumbo30) combine for the 13th no-hitter of the Minor League season. #Dbacks GAMEDAY: https://t.co/EKNYSDzBzG pic.twitter.com/0jS337QOZB
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 15, 2018
A General celebration – The next night, the Generals beat the Jumbo Shrimp again, 3-1, to wrap up the first-half Southern League North Division title.
Generals clinch First Half North Division title for second time in three years https://t.co/Yk3ozPpqgh pic.twitter.com/WtfjPUTCvP
— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) June 16, 2018
Blistering Brito – There may not be a hotter hitter on the planet than Reno outfielder Socrates Brito. The 25-year-old batted .600 (15-for-25) with four homers and 11 RBI. His OPS of 1.883 was first among all minor leaguers last week. Might want to clear some space for a Player of the Week Award, Socrates.
473 feet last night. 449 feet tonight.
Socrates Brito is feeling SUPER. pic.twitter.com/PHgpTBgCtu
— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 17, 2018
Tomas comes up big – Reno outfielder Yasmany Tomas had a big hit for the Aces in a 7-6 road win at Memphis on Monday. Tomas delivered a two-run homer in top of the ninth to give the Aces the lead. Reno got three runs in the ninth against Memphis closer Greg Holland, who is in Triple-A on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a hip injury.
TOP OF THE 9TH. TWO OUTS. DOWN BY ONE. ONE ON.
YASMANY TOMAS HITS A TWO-RUN BOMB!
ACES LEAD, 7-6 pic.twitter.com/O9jS0gU2bR
— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 11, 2018
Widener sets a new career-high – Taylor Widener went six innings Wednesday night and allowed just three hits while walking two and striking out 12 in an 11-3 win over Jacksonville. The 12 strikeouts were a career-high for Widener, besting his previous mark of 11 set on May 19 in a win over Pensacola. Widener is second in the Southern League with 89 strikeouts — 2nd only to Mississippi’s Touki Toussaint (a former D-back prospect), who has 92.
ICYMI: Our guy Taylor Widener was aces last night, striking out 12 Jumbo Shrimp to push the Generals a little closer to a First Half North Division title! Can't wait to watch him start next week's All-Star Game in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/4YzVIvqGmK
— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) June 14, 2018
Big week for Miroglio – Rawhide catcher Dominic Miroglio, a 20th round pick out of the University of San Francisco last summer, terrorized California League pitching last week, batting .400 (10-for-25) with a home run and 11 RBI. Miroglio was also added to the California League All-Star roster, joining teammates Daulton Varsho, Emilio Vargas, Kevin McCanna, Tommy Eveld and Tyler Mark.
You’ll get nothing, and like it – Visalia’s pitching got really stingy in their series with San Jose, notching back-to-back shutouts of the Giants. Friday night, Emilio Vargas and Tyler Keele combines on a 6-0 blank job. Vargas allowed eight hits and a walk over five innings while striking out seven and Keele came in to work four innings of scoreless relief while striking out four on the way to his first save of the season.
Then on Saturday, Shelby Miller, still on a rehab assignment from the D-backs, went 6.2 innings and yielded just three hits while striking out 10. He combined with Tyler Mark and Kevin McCanna on a three-hit shutout in an 8-0 win. Miller threw 81 pitches, 56 for strikes.
Shelby Miller was dominant for the #Rawhide in 6.2 innings of work, striking out 10 and allowing 3 hits.
Also the offense scored 8 runs, so that was fun.https://t.co/Rd5FgfWg6Y pic.twitter.com/wJFsTT8ZD4— Visalia Rawhide (@VisaliaRawhide) June 17, 2018
Bain of hitters’ existence – Kane County right-hander Jeff Bain continued his solid pitching last week. Monday night, Bain pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just six hits and one run while striking out nine in a 7-3 win over Clinton. Then on Saturday, the former Cal Golden Bear went six innings, allowing six hits and four runs with seven strikeouts in an 8-5 win over Wisconsin. For the week, Bain went 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA, 16 strikeouts and one walk. He’s won his last four starts and is 6-1 on the season with a 2.91 ERA on the season.
Starting fast – The Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League started their season with a 5-2 win over Everett Friday night and then exploded early on offense Saturday. The Hops plated 12 runs in the first inning of a win over Everett. Andy Yerzy had a three-run double and Francis Martinez clubbed a two-run homer in the inning, during which Hillsboro sent 15 men to the plate. Everett pitching also issued four consecutive bases-loaded walks in the inning. Hillsboro managed just three hits the rest of the game, but the cushion was big enough for a 12-6 victory. Everett starter Carlos Hernandez managed to retire only one batter, gave up four hits and two walks while yielding seven earned runs. His ERA for the game was an astronomical 189.00.
FINAL: Hops 12, Everett 6!
Hops score a single-inning franchise record for runs with 12 in the first and cruise to victory. Your Hops are 2-0! #AllHoppedUp pic.twitter.com/VFKIvtmTxc
— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) June 17, 2018
Welcome to affiliated ball – The Osprey got their first win of the year by beating Billings 12-4 Saturday. Joe Robbins, a 24-year-old, who played with the independent Lincoln Saltdogs last season after wrapping up his collegiate career at Louisiana-Lafayette, had a grand slam in the eighth inning to highlight the scoring.
Quick Hits
• Reno infielder Ildemaro Vargas had two hits, including an RBI double, in Sunday’s 8-6 win over Omaha. Vargas extended his hitting streak to 16 games.
• Kane County infielder Jasrado Chisholm homered in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Wisconsin, giving the prospect a career-high 10 dingers on the season.
