Dodgers Minor League Baseball Blog

Jesus Castillo dropped to 2-4 on the season with a rough start in Inland Empire’s 11-8 loss to High Desert.  He gave up seven runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout in just two innings pitched.

Most of the offense came via the long ball.  Blake DeWitt hit a solo shot, James Tomlin hit a three run homer and Ivan DeJesus hit a two run homerun.

Alberto Bastardo improved to 1-2 on the season with a nice start in Inland Empire’s 9-4 win over the Quakes.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with five strikeouts in six innings of work.

Blade DeWitt had a nice day at the plate in the win.  He went two for four with a homerun, two RBIs and a run.  Ivan DeJesus singled twice and he scored two runs.

The pitching wasn’t quite there in Inland Empires 9-8 loss to Modesto.  All five pitchers that they used gave up at least one run with Jesus Castillo giving up three runs in five innings in his start.

Russell Mitchel had a big game at the plate.  He went two for seven with a homerun, a double and four RBIs.  Ivan DeJesus went four for five with a run while Lucas May went two for five with two runs and two RBIs.

Inland Empire topped Modesto 6-3 and Ivan DeJesus provided a nice piece of the hitting with a solid game at the plate.  He went two for four with a triple and two RBIs.  Blake DeWitt also had a nice game and he went two for four with a double and two runs.

Marlon Arias picked up the win with five solid innings.  He gave up two runs on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Miguel Pinango was roughed up by Lancaster today in a 7-2 loss.  He gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in four innings of work.

Lucas May drove in both Inland Empire runs on two hits.  Ivan DeJesus went two for four with a walk and a run.

Inland Empire got it done in a 5-3 ten inning game.  Lucas May was a man at the plate and he went three for five with a double, a homerun and three RBIs.  Ivan DeJesus finished with two hits and two runs.

Ramon Troncoso picked up the win with two innings of shutout relief.  James McDonald struck out six in five innings but he also gave up two runs.

These rehab starts really aren’t that fair as Inland Empire lost to MLB Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon.  They did tag him for two runs at least, and that’s something that should be encouraging.

Alberto Bastardo had a rough start.  He took the loss and he gave up three runs on five hits and two walk with four strikeouts in just 2 1/3 innings.  Jordan Pratt game up a run in 4 1/3 innings but he struck out seven in an impressive relief appearance.

Ivan DeJesus went three for four with a double and a run while Blade DeWitt went two for four with a double, a run and an RBI.

Jamie Hoffman had a monster day at the plate last night in the 66ers 9-7 win over High Desert.  He went four for five with a homerun, three RBIs and three runs scored.  Shortstop Ivan De Jesus also had a good game with two doubles, an RBI and one run scored.

Alberto Bastardo had a rough game in the opening day start.  He gave up four runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work.

Remember there was a tie at the bottom and tied for tenth on my list is Ivan DeJesus.  The shortstop mostly cashed in because he finished fifth on the Baseball America list.  He was tenth on John Sickels’ and didn’t even show up on Kevin Goldstein’s.  DeJesus was the Dodgers second round pick in 2005 and he had a mixed season after getting drafted.  He tore up the Gulf Coast League but he struggled at Ogden.  In 2006 he spent his entire season at Low A and was pretty mediocre.

DeJesus is a great fielder but he doesn’t have much in the way of power.  He has a grand total of one homerun in 676 and his slugging percentage is only .325.  He’ll turn 20 in May so the power could develop but he doesn’t even hit many doubles.  He does seem to have a good eye at the plate though and he could make a solid leadoff hitter if he continues to develop in on that end.  He’s also been playing a bit over his head so it’ll be interesting to see how he does in 2007 with some time most likely at Inland Empire in the Caly League.