Around The Minors; Bradley Lit Up,Walk Off Homers, Extra Innings

Aug 1, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Steven Wright (35) pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Postseason Minor League News on the anniversary of Sammy Sosa’s 60th home run from the 1998 record breaking race.

>Top Diamondbacks prospect, and winner of  Southern League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher award, Archie Bradley appears to finally met his match. The 20 year old right hander went 12-5 with a 1.97 ERA during the regular season, but last night, in the Southern League’s championship series, the Birmingham Barons lit him up for 6 earned runs over 5 innings. Bradley struggled with his command all night, walking four with only a pair of strikeouts, and the Barons defeated the Mobile Baybears 8-3.  a The best of five series continues tonight at 7:05 PM in Mobile.

>In game two of the PCL finals, the Omaha Storm Chasers triumphed over the Salt Lake Bees, 2-1. The Storm Chasers won the game in the bottom of the ninth off of a a solo shot by DH Brian Fletcher. Fletcher, 24, has had a terrific year in the Royals system, hitting a career high 17 home runs with a .292 average, and could have a shot at making the show in 2014. The Bees player who served up the decisive home run? Former Nationals all star closer, Chad Cordero. Now 31, Cordero is attempting a comeback with Los Angeles. Its not going well, as Cordero has posted a 5.44 ERA in AAA. I guess its better than the 8.66 ERA he posted for the Toronto affiliate back in 2011.

>It took 15 long innings, 35 combined hits, 116 at bats and 16 walks but the Inland Empire 66ers finally prevailed over the Lancaster Jethawks to capture the California League title. After entering the ninth with a 3-2 lead, the Jethawks’ closer Travis Ballew blew the lead on a seeing eye RBI single by first baseman Brian Hernandez. That was the last action the game would see for some time as both bullpens combined to hold the game scoreless in the fifteenth. Then in the top of the inning, C Abel Baker, who had five hits on the day, lofted an RBI double to score Angel Rosa from second, and take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

>Knuckleballer Steven Wright was brilliant, but the Pawsox still lost game two of their five game championship series against the Durham Bulls 2-1. Wright had his flutterball dancing as he tossed 6 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run (he gave up 2 unearned runs) while striking out six. The Bulls’ JD Martin, however, was better and had stronger defense, as he threw 6 innings of one run, one walk ball en route to the victory. A former first round pick who has spent most of his career in the minors, Martin, 30, has been brilliant in AAA for the Rays, going 16-4 with a 2.75 ERA.