Louisville 9, Indianapolis 8
The Bats walked-off against the Indy Indies thanks to a late error, capping a 3-run 9th inning comeback in a game where Louisville trailed 6-2 in the 2nd inning after an early, costly error of their own. Daniel "Do" Wright got the start for the Bats and weathered 5 early unearned runs to make it through 5 IP of 2 ER, 10 H, 2 K ball, but it was JJ Hoover picking up the win despite allowing...you guessed it...a dinger in his 1.1 IP. Tony "Shoulder, Knee, & Toe" Renda had another big night, going 2 for 5 with a dinger, 3 ribbies, and a pair of runs scored, Kyle "Dammit Cartman" Waldrop had a 2 for 4 evening with a pair of doubles, and Seth Mejias-Brean tossed a casserole in the oven for the third time in four games as part of his own 2-hit evening.
Jesse Winker returned to the Bats' lineup after a rehab stint in Arizona, but went 0 for 4.
Homer Bailey will make another rehab start for the Bats on Friday and aim to not just fucking walk a guy, with first pitch against Indy set for 7:05 PM ET.
Pensacola 9, Jacksonville 0
The Blue Wahoos put a thumpin' on the Suns on Thursday, and many of the big names Cincinnati Reds system played large roles. Alex "TOOT" Blandino whacked a solo dinger (bringing his average "up" to .191 on the season), and Eric "Dammit Kyle" Jagielo had a monster 2 for 3 evening that featured a pair of runs scored, a walk, and a dinger of his own. As friend of the blog Kourage Kunhdahl noted on Twitter, Jagielo has finally started to hit with authority after a rather Blandinoish 1st half of the season. Taylor Sparks chipped in with a pinch-hit 3-run dinger, too, but that all was bested by 2012 1st round pick Phil Ervin. Phlerv went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored, 2 dingers, and the combined thumpitude backed another solid start by Tyler "Flogging" Mahle - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 2 K.
Rookie Davis will take his 2.84 season ERA to the mound on Friday against Jacksonville, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM ET.
St. Lucie 5, Daytona 2
"Shake &"Jake Paulson fell to 0-6 after being bonked around for 8 hits and 3 ER in just 2.1 IP, and the Dragonas never could fight there way back into Thursday's affair. Angelo "Mein" Gumbs paced the offense with a 2 for 4 night that included both a ribbie and a run scored, Gavin LaValley doubled and scored, and Aristides Aquino didn't blast five extra base hits for what seems like the first time in forever.
TBD gets a start for Daytona on Friday despite having been scheduled to pitch eleventy games in the past week, and he'll face off against the Baby Mets beginning at 6:30 PM ET.
Dayton 8, Beloit 6
The Dragons got 5 runs between the the Bottom of the 6th and Bottom of the 7th innings to come back to beat the Snappers on Thursday, and it's amazing how a team like Dayton suddenly looks half dang decent when rostered with guys like Nick Senzel, Tyler Stephenson, and Chris Okey. Both Senzel and Stephenson went hitless in this one, but they both walked and scored (players get paid to do that!) as Luis "& the News" Gonzalez backed them up with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies from the back-end of the order. As for Okey, he went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, and this team has suddenly become a go-to to view the top talent in the Cincinnati system.
Ty Boyles will toe the rubber on Friday against Beloit, with first pitch set for 7:00 PM ET.
Billings 8, Grand Junction 3
Riley Pint was the 4th overall pick in the recently completed 2016 MLB Draft, and at times he was mentioned as a possible selection of the Reds with the 2nd overall pick. Instead, he fell to the Colorado Rockies, which meant he got to tangle with the Mustangs on Thursday instead. The young Reds prospects lit him up, tagging him for 4 ER, 5 H, and more walks than strikeouts in his 2.2 IP, continuing their teamwide offensive surge. Rehabbing Beau Amaral went 2 for 4 with a dinger, double, and a walk, Taylor Trammell walked and scored, SS Hector Vargas went 2 for 3 with a walk and a pair of ribbies, and John Sansone posted a huge 3 for 5 night that included a dinger.
That offense helped back a once-again dominant Antonio Santillan, who K'd 5 while allowing just a single earned run in 6 IP. It's still crazy early in his career, but the 19 year old 2nd round pick from the 2015 draft has flashed some serious talent so far in just 14 career apperances.
2015's 13th round pick Andrew Jordan will get Friday's start against Grand Junction, with first pitch set for 9:05 PM ET.
AZL Dodgers 7, AZL Reds 4
Either bookmark this box score, or return in 15 months, googling "calliope funnebagos reds reds reds shimmy ya." My guess is that if there's something of note down the line that needs to direct you to this box score you'll then be able to find it. Hopefully it's because Nick Hanson evolved into something awesome or someone I'm massively overlooking turns into the next great amazeball. Otherwise, just "go Reds!"
The Baby Reds will take on the Jung Padres on Friday, with first pitch set for 10:00 PM ET.