The Seattle Mariners just put an 8-2 beatdown on the Tampa Bay Rays, proving they are absolutely for real in this early season grind. But while our M's were dropping bombs, there was some action in the minor leagues that directly impacts the Emerald City. Our own Inland Empire affiliate took a 4-2 loss to the Ontario Tower Buzzers on Sunday, with Buzzers sluggers Jaron Elkins and Easton Shelton both launching bombs to seal the deal.
Dodgers Minor League Hitters Are Heating Up
Talk about an offensive explosion! Great Lakes infielder Logan Wagner went absolutely wild at second base on Sunday, smacking two homers and driving in three runs in the Loons' 3-1 win over the Dayton Dragons. He wasn't the only one crushing it either, with Charles Davalan also homering in that game. Out in Oklahoma City, the Comets blasted the El Paso Chihuahuas 8-0. Ryan Ward was a major force there, going yard and driving in three. Zach Ehrhard added three hits including a double, scoring twice. Jack Suwinski matched him with three hits and a double, and James Tibbs III also chipped in with three hits. These guys are seeing the ball like beach balls right now, and it's exciting to watch what they are doing down there.On the Mound and the Streak That Keeps Going
Pitching wise, Oklahoma City’s bullpen pulled off a perfect performance against El Paso, with nine different relievers each tossing a scoreless frame. That's just beautiful to see, right? Over in Tulsa, the Drillers fell 3-1 to the Springfield Cardinals. Wyatt Crowell started strong with three scoreless innings of relief, but then ran into trouble in the seventh, walking a pair and giving up a two-run double that ended up being the difference. Christian Zazueta struck out three across three innings, allowing one run in a shortened start, his only time pitching on four days rest this season. For Ontario, Luis Carias snagged the win with one run allowed over six innings of relief, racking up five strikeouts after Brady Smith’s three-inning, seven-strikeout start. Meanwhile, Dodgers outfielders Josue De Paula and Mike Sirota suited up for the National League in the MLB Futures Game. De Paula singled once in two at-bats over four innings. Sirota struck out in his only at-bat, but get this, his ridiculous 72-game on-base streak is still alive and active for when play resumes Friday. Seventy-two games, people! That's insane!What's Next for the Minor League Grind
All four Dodgers affiliates are on their All-Star break this week, but they’re back at it Friday night for shortened, three-game series. And guess what? Our very own Tacoma (Mariners) squad is set to host that high-flying Oklahoma City Comets team. The Comets are coming in hot after that 8-0 shutout, and we just saw the kind of hitting they can bring. You know our Rainiers will be ready for them, but it's going to be a real test for the Tacoma pitching staff. With the M's looking strong in the bigs after that 8-2 shellacking of the Rays, we'll be watching closely to see what these future stars bring to the table right here in our own backyard!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.