Bus Leagues Express: September 12

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Home runs lead to early exit for Odorizzi: Although Omaha scored the first run in the PCL Championship, their lead was short lived. From the 2nd to 4th innings, Reno got to Jake Odorizzi four nine runs, and the Royals prospect couldn’t complete the 4th inning. In 3.2 innings, Odorizzi allowed four home runs, two to Ryan Budde and the others to Mike Jacobs and Tyler Kuhn. With plenty of run support, Trevor Bauer still walked a tightrope trying to retire Storm Chasers. Although he only allowed one run, Bauer walked five in 6.2 innings, and only 56% of his 114 pitches were strikes. In the later innings, Reno would tack on four more runs as they rocked Omaha to a 13-1 final to take a 1-0 series lead.

Martinez shuts down Napoli, RoughRidgers: Frisco finished the regular season pretty hot and followed it up with a sweep of Corpus Christi in the Texas League semis, but they were stopped dead in their tracks by Springfield in game one of the championship. It was a good time for Carlos Martinez, a Bus Leagues Top 100 prospect, to have his best outing of the year. The Cardinals righty struck out seven in seven scoreless innings, only walked one batter and threw 65% of his pitches for strikes. Martinez wasn’t quite as sharp in AA as he was in Palm Beach to start the year with his strikeouts dropping a bit, but he still finished with a career high 104.1 innings across two levels. Mike Napoli began his rehab appearance for Frisco, going 0/2 and playing seven innings behind the plate. He’s expected to play a couple more games for the RoughRiders. In the 5-0 win, Springfield scored all five runs on three homers with Mike O’Neill‘s three run blast being the biggest. It was just the second home run of O’Neill’s career.

Lakeland’s late comeback forces game five: None of the first three games in the Florida State League Championship have been decided by more than two runs, and that continued Tuesday night in Lakeland’s 5-3 win. This forces a decisive game five, but Jupiter was just outs away from winning the series. Up 3-2 in the 8th inning, Jupiter allowed the first three Flying Tigers of the inning to reach base. A sac fly tied the game, and a James Robbin double after that plated the go-ahead and insurance runs. The Hammerheads would get the tying run on base in the 9th, but he never advanced past first base. Lakeland’s Drew VerHagen was solid again, striking out six and allowing two runs in two innings. In the loss, Christian Yelich‘s strong postseason continued with two more hits.

Lancaster rallies to reach Cal League Championship: Leads are never safe in some Cal League facilities, particularly High Desert and Lancaster. The JetHawks proved that in their 9-5 win at home to send them to the league finals for the first time since 2008. After getting slammed for three 1st inning runs, Astros pitching prospect Nick Tropeano settled in and only allowed one more run the rest of the way in his six inning outing. Lancaster kept plugging away, but they still found themselves trailing 6-5 late in the game. In the bottom of the 8th, the JetHawks collected four consecutive two out hits to plate four runs to take their 9-5 lead. Jorge De Leon retired High Desert in order in the 9th to clinch the series.

Schlosser outduels Johnson in pivotal game three: Game three in a best-of-five series is absolutely critical, and it was Lynchburg coming out on top 1-0 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Carolina League Championship. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the 5th. With two outs and runners on first and second base, Dan Brewer‘s single brought home David Rohm. Erik Johnson, who has been fantastic in the White Sox organization this year across two levels, was saddled with the tough luck loss, allowing one run with six strikeouts in six innings. Lynchburg’s Gus Schlosser was just better last night. He struck out seven in seven scoreless innings and has now thrown 15 scoreless playoff innings as he earned his second playoff win.

Asheville blows out Greensboro to even series: A night after allowing Greensboro slugged their way to a game one win, Asheville came out swinging themselves. Trevor Story‘s leadoff home run set the tone as Asheville went on to win 10-3. Story’s solo homer was the first of five 1st inning runs, and they knocked Greensboro starter Jose Urena out after two innings with seven runs charged to his line. The Tourists would eventually go up 10-0 before the Grasshoppers would finally get on the board with three runs in the 9th. William Swanner drove in three runs, and the Tourists hope he’s heating up at the right time in the midst of a rough postseason.

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