Daily Farm Report: Memphis erupts for 14 runs

Memphis Redbirds 14, Round Rock Express 2

Chris Ellis (SP) - 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

Randy Arozarena (LF) - 2-4, 3B, HR, RBI, K

Dylan Carlson (CF) - 2-5, HR, RBI, 2 K

Justin Williams (RF) - 3-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, K

Andrew Knizner (C) - 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB

Memphis cruised through this bought with Round Rock, already leading 6-2 before piling on eight additional runs in the seventh and eight innings. Nine runs came via the long ball, with the quintet of Arozarena, Carlson, Knizner, Nogowski and Williams all going deep. Williams’s homer was his third at Triple-A this year, extending the hot month he’s enjoyed since joining the Redbirds. In 25 games, Williams has slashed a robust .364/.442/.561 while walking a career high 13.0% of the time. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, however, as the line is heavily supported by an unsustainable .467 and he’s still hitting the ball into the ground at very high rates.

And now, the obligatory Dylan Carlson update: now eight games in, Carlson is hitting .529/.579/.941. I’ll just leave that here.

The Redbirds are now 62-67.

Springfield Cardinals 8, Frisco RoughRiders 4

Angel Rondon (SP) - 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Juan Yepez (1B-LF) - 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, K

Kramer Robertson (2B) - 1-4, BB, SB

Let’s take the long view of Angel Rondon’s season. For starters, after spending last season split between State College and Peoria, this year Rondon has worked his way through Palm Beach and up to Springfield. In that span, he’s made 26 starts, with 18 of them coming at Double-A. In total, he’s thrown 151 innings, struck out batters at a 8.70 K/9 clip, and walked batters at a 3.28 BB/9 pace, all amounting to a 2.92 ERA and 3.87 FIP.

After the win, Springfield sits at 58-71.

Palm Beach 3, Bradenton Marauders 0

Alvaro Seijas (SP) - 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Patrick Dayton (RP) - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Luken Baker (1B) - 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K

Nolan Gorman (DH) - 2-4, 3B, RBI, K

The Cardinals were out-hit seven to six in this contest, yet still managed to pull out the win. Four of the clubs six hits went for extra bases, including doubles from Scott Hurst and Luken Baker, a triple from Nolan Gorman, and a home run from Baker. On the flip side, Alvaro Seijas limited the Marauders to a lone double among their seven hits.

The bullpen came in to provide a pair of dominant innings and close out the game. Lefty Patrick Dayton and righty Ramon Santos pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, allowing just one hit and striking out five. Dayton has spent the entire season at Palm Beach, and while his K/9 has taken a hit, he remains an intriguing relief arm.

Palm Beach is now 56-68.

Peoria Chiefs 2, Quad Cities River Bandits 1

Logan Gragg (SP) - 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Brendan Donovan (DH) - 2-4

Imeldo Diaz (SS) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K

Speaking of intriguing relief arms, Logan Gragg was impressed between State College and Peoria since being nabbed in the eight round this year. Overall he’s thrown 36.2 innings, and in that time he’s whiffed 42 against 14 walks. Reports on Gragg are few and far between given how peculiar his collegiate path was, so it’ll be interesting to see what tidbits trickle out of the prospectverse this off-season.

The win improves Peoria to 49-79.

Batavia Muckdogs 9, State College Spikes 5

Adrian Mardueno (SP) - 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Jack Ralston (RP) - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

David Vinsky (CF) - 3-5, RBI, K

Pedro Pages (C) - 1-4, RBI, BB

The loss drops State College to 33-32.

Elizabethton Twins 14 @ Johnson City Cardinals 4

Luis Ortiz (SP) - 2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Victor Garcia (LF) - 1-3, HR, RBI, BB, K

Todd Lott (DH) - 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

After a strong start, Todd Lott has fallen off as of late at Johnson City. He came out of the gate well, batting .288/.342/.462 for a 118 wRC+ through July 31. Turn the calendar to August and things get, well, scary. His walk rate has cratered from around 6% to 1.7%, his strikeout rate has gone up by about the same magnitude, and the game power has completely evaporated. In all, Lott is enduring a miserable .161/.175/.232 month of August. In case you’re wondering, that amounts to a wRC+ of 4. Yes, 4.

After the loss, Johnson City sits at 32-30.

GCL Marlins 9, GCL Cardinals 3

Nathanael Heredia (SP) - 2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

Luis Tena (RP) - 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Patrick Romeri (RF) - 1-3, 2B, BB, K

DSL Cardinals Blue 8, DSL Twins 6

Wilmer Ortega (SP) - 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Darlin Moquete (CF) - 4-5, HR, 4 RBI

G.A. Rodriguez (RF) - 2-3, 2B, BB

Luis Rodriguez (1B) - 2-4, 3B, RBI

~

MEM: Austin Warner

SPR: Johan Oviedo

PMB: TBD

PEO: TBD

SC: Junior Gonzalez

JC: Julio Puello