WALKER BUEHLER ALLOWS 4 RUNS IN 4 IP IN REHAB START
Walker Buehler got out of Los Angeles to start another minor league rehab assignment, but still found himself mired in traffic all night in Oklahoma City. The Dodgers right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in his four innings against Tacoma, the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate.
Manager Dave Roberts said multiple times on the homestand at Dodger Stadium over the last week that Buehler would need one or two rehab starts before a potential return. Given that Roberts told reporters in Houston earlier Friday that the plan was for Buehler to pitch five innings, it figures to be at least one more rehab game, at least, for Buehler.
Buehler’s first few hits were soft singles, but he was hit gradually harder as the game went on, including three 100-mph exit velocities in the fourth inning. The problem was he did not have a clean inning and exacerbated things by allowing five stolen bases, helping Tacoma score in three different innings against him.
Buehler averaged 93.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, maxing out at 95.2 mph. He got seven swinging strikes on the night. Buehler has been on the injured list with hip inflammation since June 19.
Player of the day
Fitting that on the same day Buehler pitched in the minors, Ferris did as well. Left-hander Jackson Ferris continued his excellent run for Great Lakes, striking out seven in his seven innings, the latter tying his career high from three starts ago.
Ferris has pitched at least six innings in five of his last six starts, with a 1.93 ERA and 40 strikeouts against only eight walks in 32⅔ innings for the left-hander during that time.
On Friday, Ferris did allow one run on five hits, which stuck him with a tough-luck loss in a 1-0 game.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City scored only once in a loss to the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners).
All five relievers after Buehler pitched scoreless innings.
Rehabbers
Brusdar Graterol pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Michael Grove pitched a scoreless seventh, each stranding a one-out single. It was the third game with Oklahoma City for both pitchers.
Ryan Brasier, who’s been sidelined with a right calf strain since April 29, started a rehab assignment on Friday with Oklahoma City, but did not pitch in this game.
Double-A Tulsa
Dalton Rushing homered in the ninth inning for the game’s first run, in Tulsa’s win over the Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers). That’s four extra-base hits in the last three games for Rushing, who had two hits on Friday.
Damon Keith followed Rushing with a double in the ninth inning, and later scored on a sacrifice fly for an insurance run.
Chris Campos struck out six and walked two in his 4⅓ scoreless innings. Lucas Wepf pitched the final two innings scoreless for the win, with three strikeouts.
Former No. 3-overall draft pick Kumar Rocker struck out four in three innings in his start for Frisco, making his Double-A debut. His lone hit allowed was to Rushing.
High-A Great Lakes
Despite the gem by Ferris, the Loons couldn’t score and lost 1-0 to the Lake County Captains (Guardians). Great Lakes has six singles and five walks, but were caught stealing once, got picked off once, and were hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Catcher Nelson Quiroz hit two hits. Outfielder Chris Newell walked twice and singled. Josue De Paula walked three times, and has a .451 on-base percentage in 17 games since getting promoted to High-A.
Second baseman Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft just 12 days prior, made his pro debut for Lake County in this game. Ferris struck him out twice, but Bazzana’s third-inning fielder’s choice drove in the game’s only run.
Low-A Rancho Cucamonga
The Quakes took the lead in the sixth inning and tacked on late to beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). Cameron Decker doubled twice and scored the first two runs.
Samuel Muñoz had three hits, including a double, and drove in two. Kendall George singled home a run, walked, and also stole a base, his 29th steal in 68 games this season.
Luke Fox struck out four and walked none in two innings in his start, and in 17⅔ innings in Low-A has a 32.4-percent strikeout rate. Fellow 2023 draft pick Eriq Swan followed with two scoreless innings of his own.
Jose Gonzalez struck out three in 2⅓ innings of relief.
Transactions
Triple-A: Pitchers Walker Buehler and Ryan Brasier joined Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment. Chris Vallimont, who started on Thursday, was released, after am 8.57 ERA in 42 innings, with 33 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Double-A: Reliever Ryan Sublette was placed on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday.
Low-A: Outfielder Zyhir Hope was activated off the injured list after missing three months with a shoulder injury. Hope played in seven rehab games over the last week and a half in the Arizona Complex League, whose regular season ended on Thursday. Pitcher Eriq Swan was activated off the injured list. Infielder Alexander Albertus was placed on the injured list.
Friday scores
- Tacoma 4, Oklahoma City 1
- Tulsa 2, Frisco 0
- Lake County 1, Great Lakes 0
- Rancho Cucamonga 5, Inland Empire 2
Saturday schedule
- 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Peter Heubeck) vs. Lake County (Matt Wilkinson)
- 5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) vs. Tacoma (Emerson Hancock)
- 5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Carlos Duran) at Frisco (Nick Krauth)
- 6:35 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Wyatt Crowell) at Inland Empire (Andre Sanchez)