Farm Report: Sam Bachman Impresses In Debut As Offense Ranks Supreme From Coast To Coast

Luis Aviles Jr. leads the offensive charge for Rocket City with five runs batted in, Inland Empire enjoys a walk party in central California and the long-awaited organizational debut of 2021 First Round pick Sam Bachman highlight a wild Sunday in the Angels Minor League system.

Player of The Day

Right-Hander Sam Bachman delivered a strong performance in his Angels organizational debut with High-A Tri-City Dust Devils. The Miami (OH) draftee spun a two-inning shutout, striking out two and yielding just one hit in his first pro start.

Prior to being selected 9th overall in this year’s MLB Draft, Bachman finished up his junior year of college going 4-4 in 12 starts with a sub-two ERA (1.81) and a BAA of .147. He accumulated seven 9+ strikeout appearances in 59.2 innings pitched.

Triple-A Salt Lake

The Bees were the only anomaly to the offensive explosion from Angels farm hands as they scratched for only one run in an 11-1 loss on the road to the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s). Infielder Mike Stefanic drove in Luis Rengifo on a Sacrifice-Fly in the first for an early 1-0 lead. However, right-handed starter Kyle Tyler, who was called up from Double-A Rocket City the night prior, was only able to survive two innings allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits. The Bees record fell to 38-44 as they have currently split the series with Las Vegas through four games, with two remaining before a day off on Wednesday.

Double-A Rocket City

Who could not be shocked and awed by the entire Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas lineup on a day where they drive in 26 runs on 23 hits! This, coming off a 14-run performance less than 24 hours before. Spearheaded by outfielder Izzy Wilson, he dropped a 6-for-7 day at the plate which included a double, two-run home run and 10 total bases.

First baseman David MacKinnon, who leads Double-A South in doubles with 22 entering the day, added two more to his resurgent season and fellow infielder Luis Aviles Jr. cracked not one, but two home runs for a total of five runs batted in.

Even though the pitching staff had plenty of room for error if need be, reliever Cristopher Molina was lights out coming from the bullpen. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic native tossed 5.1 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and two walks, while striking out a pair as well.

With a 26-3 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), the Trash Pandas (41-40) took four of six in the week-long series and now trail the Birmingham Barons (White Sox) by only two games in the Double-A South-North division standings. Up next, the Trash Pandas continue their Tennessee two-step as they travel to Kodak to take on the Smokies for six.

High-A Tri-City

As pitching dominated the night for Tri-City, the bats showed their vow of support with six runs on seven hits leading to a 6-2 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (Giants). Angels No. 12 Prospect Livan Soto drove in two with a two-out triple in the seventh, securing his 15th multi-hit game of the season. Tri-City improves to 32-52 and returns home to Gesa Stadium in Pasco, WA for the first time in two weeks to begin a series with Spokane (Rockies) on Tuesday.

Low-A Inland Empire

Low-A West (formerly known as the California League) has always been known for high scoring games. Today was no different in the Inland Empire 66ers 13-7 win over the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks), but if you look at the box score there was a twist. Even though 13 runs crossed the plate, only five hits were collected in total. What was the secret weapon you ask, 14 walks and a hit batter will do the job just fine. On-Base Percentage does not discriminate in baseball and as Brad Pitt would say in the movie “Moneyball”:

Besides walks, the play of the game came from DH Gabe Matthews. In just his eighth professional game, the former Oregon Duck blasted his third home run, this of the grand slam variety, placing the 66ers ahead 8-1 after two innings and proving to be the game-winning hit. The Sixers (42-41) split the six-game series with Visalia three games apiece and find themselves in second place, 5.5 games behind the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers) in the Low-A West-South division. After the off day tomorrow, Inland Empire returns home to southern California to face the aforementioned Quakes.

Transactions

Triple-A: RHP Aaron Slegers recalled by Los Angeles Angels

Triple-A: RHP Andrew Wantz optioned to Salt Lake

Double-A: RHP Kyle Tyler assigned to Salt Lake

Double-A: RHP Jose Marte assigned to Salt Lake

High-A: RHP Luis Alvarado released

High-A: RHP Cole Duensing released

High-A: RHP Luis Ramirez released

High-A: LHP Eric Torres assigned to Tri-City

High-A: RHP Glenn Albanese Jr. assigned to Tri-City

High-A: RHP Jake Smith assigned to Tri-City

High-A: RHP Sam Bachman assigned to Tri-City

Low-A: LHP Jerryell Rivera released

Low-A: RHP Andrew Peters assigned to Inland Empire

Low-A: RHP Ryan Costeiu assigned to Inland Empire

Low-A: RHP Brandon Dufault assigned to Inland Empire

Low-A: 2B Kyren Paris activated from the 7-day IL

Sunday Scores

Las Vegas Aviators 11 | Salt Lake Bees 1

Rocket City Trash Pandas 26 | Chattanooga Lookouts 3

Tri-City Dust Devils 6 | Eugene Emeralds 2

Inland Empire 66ers 13 | Visalia Rawhide 7

Monday Schedule

7:05 p.m. PT: Salt Lake Bees (TBD) @ Las Vegas Aviators (RHP Daulton Jefferies)