The Los Angeles Dodgers' contingent of Double-A hitters were out in full force Monday, as Keibert Ruiz, DJ Peters and Will Smith combined for eight hits, including three home runs, to support a strong pitching performance from Dennis Santana and lead Tulsa past Midland, 6-4.
Ruiz, the Dodgers' No. 3 prospect (No. 52 overall), led the way with a pair of home runs, as he started the Drillers' scoring with a two-run shot in the second inning before connecting on a second two-run blast in the fifth and finishing 2-for-5. The home runs were the first of the season for the 19-year-old catcher, who had not collected an extra-base hit in his first eight games prior to Monday's outburst.
Peters, meanwhile, continued his torrid start to the season by posting his third three-hit performance (3-for-5) in his past five games. One of those hits was a solo home run, giving the Dodgers' No. 6 prospect homers in back-to-back three-hit games. Overall, the 22-year-old slugger has gone deep four times in 10 games this season while hitting .362.
Smith also tallied three hits for a second straight game and reached base in all five of his plate appearances, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and a hit by pitch. The Dodgers' No. 9 prospect has collected six hits in his past two games to lift his average from .235 to .364.
On the mound, Santana, 22, proved nearly untouchable in his third start for the Drillers. The Dodgers' No. 10 prospect recorded 10 of his 13 outs in 4 1/3 innings via the strikeout, as he allowed just one hit and one walk while throwing 48 of his 73 pitches for strikes. The right-hander has pitched to 1.93 ERA early this season, posting 22 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings.