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By Jon Weisman
Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias, the two Dodger starting pitchers displaced by Mat Latos and Alex Wood, each had early exits from their first starts back with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week.
Bolsinger was hit in the forearm Tuesday by a batted ball and departed after three-plus innings, after allowing three runs on six hits. Don Mattingly relayed to reporters Wednesday that Bolsinger isn’t expected to miss his next scheduled start.
Frias, who was officially optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, started Wednesday for Oklahoma City, pitched one shutout inning and then took his leave. Mattingly told reporters after the Dodgers’ victory in Philadelphia last night that Frias “felt something” and was removed as a precaution, then added today that Frias was undergoing further tests.
Joe Wieland ended up pitching five innings in relief, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five.
Two other recent Dodger starting pitchers have resumed work for Oklahoma City. Zach Lee allowed one earned run in seven innings (striking out three) August 2, and Brandon Beachy — who was accepted an assignment to Triple-A after clearing waivers — allowed five earned runs in six innings August 3.
Now, on with our tour of the Dodger minor leagues …
Quick impact for Peraza: For those concerned only with the 2015 pennant race, Jose Peraza was on the undercard of last week’s seven-player Dodger acquisition, but the 21-year-old is definitely a candidate for the 2016 Dodger roster. After singling and doubling Wednesday for Oklahoma City, Peraza has a .500 on-base percentage and .739 slugging percentage in his first 25 plate appearances in the organization. He has already started at second base, shortstop and center field.
Also hot in Oklahoma: Kyle Jensen is 16 for his last 34 (.471) with two home runs, three doubles and four walks. Darwin Barney recently had an 18-for-43 run (.419).
Seager, Urias, De Leon back in business: Sidelined July 18-24 with a virus, top infield prospect Corey Seager went 0 for 8 in his first two games back with Oklahoma City. Since then, he has gone 11 for 36 with two doubles, a homer, five walks and a hit-by-pitch for a .405 OBP and .444 slugging percentage.
Urias has made two starts for Double-A Tulsa since his return from eye surgery. Most recently, on August 1, he pitched 5 1/3 hitless innings while striking out six, but walked four. Two of those walks came in the sixth inning, and when they came around to score after he was relieved, Urias ended up being saddled with a 3-1 loss.
Jose De Leon is starting today for Tulsa, his first action since July 16. The 22-year-old has a 4.15 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with Tulsa but has pitched better than that ERA indicates: 1.15 WHIP, two homers allowed and 74 strikeouts (11.8 K/9).
The countdown is over, back to work tomorrow! Pretty pumped! Let's do it!!! #OnAMission
— Jose De León (@JDL_87) August 6, 2015
Designated runners: As Barry Farmer reported for the Tulsa World, the Dodgers have been using fleet minor-leaguer Robbie Garvey (no relation to Steve) as a pinch-runner, with the possibility of deploying him in September, after Major League rosters expand, in that role for the Dodgers’ stretch drive. Garvey has been in 11 games for Tulsa without a plate appearance. In the minors this season, he has stolen 21 bases in 26 attempts, including seven of nine with Tulsa.
Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. passed along the Dodgers are using the same gambit with Edwin Drexler, a 23-year-old, 38th-round pick out of Grambling. Recently promoted to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, Drexler has appeared in nine minor-league games and stolen eight bases (8 for 8 with the Dodgers’ Arizona League rookie team, 0 for 2 with Rancho). Chris Landry wrote a feature on Drexler for the Daily Iberian immediately after the June draft.
Darnell Sweeney and Peraza have 30 and 27 steals this season, respectively.
De Jong run: Acquired from Toronto on July 2, 21-year-old right-hander Chase De Jong has allowed 18 baserunners and struck out 28 in 21 1/3 innings for Rancho. In his past three games, he has pitched 16 innings and allowed only one run and seven baserunners while striking out 24.
Reliever A.J. Vanegas of the Quakes had a streak of 15 2/3 scoreless innings end when he allowed a run August 2. During the streak, from June 17-July 31, Vanegas allowed three hits, walked six and struck out 15.
Hot draftee: Second baseman Willie Calhoun, a 20-year-old fourth-rounder from this year’s draft, was promoted to Single-A Great Lakes after clocking out of Rookie League Ogden with a .371 OBP and .517 slugging percentage. In his first five games as a Loon, Calhoun is 7 for 19 with a double and three walks.
First to 40th: In his most recent start, 2014 first-rounder Grant Holmes struck out seven and allowed seven baserunners in six shutout innings July 31, lowering his ERA to 2.59. Issac Anderson, the Dodgers’ 40th and final pick in this year’s draft, has allowed one earned run in 28 2/3 innings combined with Great Lakes and Ogden, striking out 27.
Tall in the saddle: Miguel Urena, 6-foot-8 righty, has thrown 20 consecutive scoreless innings for the Dodgers’ Dominican Summer League team, allowing 19 hits, walking five and striking out 11.
Team records:
Oklahoma City Dodgers (AAA): 67-44 (first place)
Tulsa Drillers (AA): 48-61 overall, 18-22 second half
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A): 61-47 overall, 20-18 second half
Great Lakes Loons (Low A): 53-54 overall, 15-24 second half
Ogden Raptors (Rookie): 20-24 overall, 1-5 second half
AZL Dodgers: 17-19 overall, 5-3 second half
DSL Dodgers (Rookie): 23-34
Top 10 prospects (as ranked by MLB Pipeline)
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