Best streams of 2019: Marathon madness

Over the past two seasons, a series of new rules was implemented to keep Minor League games from getting out of hand in extra innings. Sometimes, however, chaos can’t be contained.

While these rules have been added to the 60-game Major League season in 2020, these highlighted contests are certainly not indicative of a typical extra-inning game in the Minors. Looking back on these games, fans can see teams going blow-for-blow at the plate with the game on the line and know that there’s plenty of opportunity for thrilling and enjoyable extra-inning baseball in this format.

Here are four of the most exciting extra-inning contests in 2019 that you can watch during the MiLB.TV free preview. Head over to Twitter to vote on which one will be streamed as the Game of the Week, presented by Applegate, on Facebook Live this Thursday!

66ers get by on a bloop and a blast

Cam Williams broke the July 15 game open with a no-doubter of a three-run homer in the 15th inning to secure Inland Empire’s 10-6 victory. Jordan Zimmerman, Orlando Martinez, Gleyvin Pineda, Michael Stefanic and Devin Davis put the 66ers in front with RBI singles in each of the final five frames before Williams’ blast. Davis also opened the scoring with a two-run double in the first. The Nuts stayed in the fight without the benefit of an RBI hit in extra innings, scoring single runs in four consecutive innings, first on a wild pitch before three sacrifice flies. Top Mariners prospect Jarred Kelenic and 22nd-ranked Joe Rizzo put Modesto on the board with back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth. Tyler Smith ended the madness with a double play in the 15th, bringing a conclusion to 26 consecutive days of games for Inland Empire. Highlight: Williams crushes no-doubt homer | Watch Game

Insurance proves vital for Reed, Round Rock

AJ Reed already filled the box score when this May 29 game reached its last legs. But it was his fourth hit, an RBI single in the 13th, that provided the necessary insurance run for the Express in the 13-12 victory. Both teams scored twice in the 11th and once in the 12th. Drew Ferguson bashed a unique two-run, leadoff homer against Tyler Depreta-Johnson, Nashville's shortstop who was working his second inning on the mound, before Taylor Jones singled and scored the decisive run on Reed’s knock. Andy Ibanez responded with a two-run double, but the Sounds ultimately fell short. Alex De Goti also collected four hits for Round Rock. Ferguson, Jones, Yordan Alvarez and Josh Rojas, who didn’t enter the game until the fourth inning, all had three hits. For Nashville, Ibanez, Delino DeShields and Carlos Tocci combined to go 9-for-20 with eight RBIs and five runs scored. Highlight: Reed knocks in an insurance run | Watch Game

Johnson provides happy ending to Betts’ big week

Though it may have been Chris Betts’ week, it certainly was Kaleo Johnson’s day on April 18. It wasn’t easy for Johnson to steal the spotlight from his Bowling Green teammate, who was 7-for-16 with four homers and 10 RBIs over a four-game stretch, including two blasts that April night. Betts had the Hot Rods up in the ninth, 3-2, but Great Lakes’ Dillon Paulson forced extra innings with an RBI double. The modified extra-innings rules sometimes make for quick offense, but good pitching is still difficult to overcome and neither team scored in the 10th or 11th. Johnson planted a two-run shot onto a nearby highway to start the 12th, but Great Lakes matched that on a groundout by Niko Hulsizer and a single by Dan Robinson. Ford Proctor broke the tie with an RBI single in the 13th and Johnson busted it open with a two-run double that made it 8-5. Trey Cumbie struck out the side in the 13th to seal the victory for Bowling Green. Highlight: Johnson parks long home run | Watch Game

Ramiz provides Fourth of July fireworks

In an extra-inning contest, one run doesn’t make for a safe lead, especially when the inning starts with a runner in scoring position. Such was the case on Independence Day in Lexington. After the home squad forced extras on a Freddy Fermin homer and Reed Rohlman's RBI double, the Legends and the Power produced single runs in the 10th and 11th innings. But after a scoreless 12th, West Virginia made sure to put things out of reach. Joseph Rosa broke the tie with a double, Charlie McConnell drew a bases-loaded walk and Ryan Ramiz put the game out of reach, 12-7, with a grand slam. Julio Rodriguez -- MLB.com’s No. 18 overall prospect -- collected two hits, including a run-scoring knock in the 10th, a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Highlight: Ramiz bashes grand slam | Watch Game