Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (5/12)

Triple-A: @ Round Rock 6, Oklahoma City 5

The RedHawks took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh behind six strong innings from starter LHP Mike Ballard (5.14 ERA), but after getting the first out in the seventh, Ballard allowed an infield single and gave way to RHP Byran Corey (0-1; 6.10) who allowed the inherited runner to score as well as three more over the final three frames.

2B Jose Vallejo (.419 / .471 / .484) continued to wield the hottest stick in the Oklahoma City lineup, going 3-for-4 with a walk to drive in two runs. Rehabbing CF Josh Hamilton doubled and drew a pair of walks in five plate appearances and RF Brandon Boggs (.258 / .405 / .320) singled twice in five at-bats.

Double-A: Frisco 6 @ Midland 5 (13 Innings)

Filling in for DH Ben Harrison, who had been ejected in the 10th inning, Adam Fox smacked a one-out triple in the 13th and came in to score on a Johnny Whittleman ground out to give Frisco their third straight win over Midland and a chance to go for the road sweep when the two tee it up later this morning.

1B Justin Smoak (.355 / .474 / .555) doubled and drew a pair of walks in a 2-for-4 outing and C Manny Pina (.438 / .489 / .638) slammed a three-run homer, his fourth of the year, and drew a walk in six trips.

RHP Willie Moscoso (4.82 ERA) gave up three runs on four hits and five walks while fanning just two over the first five and RHP Kea Kometani (1-0; 5.28) earned the victory by shutting the RockHounds down on two hits and no walks, punching out three over the final two frames.

RHP Andrew Laughter gave the Riders 2.1 scoreless innings of relief and RHP Brennan Garr shut Midland out through the tenth and eleventh. RHP Pedro Strop (18.90 ERA) struggled again, blowing a save opporutnity by allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth that sent the games into extra innings.

Advanced-A: Bakerfield

Travel day in the Cal League. They’ll start a three-game set against Modesto tonight. The series will also include the completion of an April 29 game that was suspended due to a power outage.

Class-A: @ Lakewood 4, Hickory 3

The Crawdads got another workmanlike effort from 19 year old RHP Carlos Pimentel (3.69 ERA) who allowed three runs on three hits — two of which left the yard — while fanning five in six innings of work before handing the ball to RHP Mark Hamburger (1-2; 1.98) who worked two scoreless frames before surrendering the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

3B Erik Morrison (.382 / .405 / .765) had an RBI double in his only at-bat and 1B Clark Murphy (.234 / .286 / .287) had a double and a walk in a 2-for-3 outing to drive in one.