The two top affiliates in the system continue to roll as El Paso and San Antonio cruised to easy victories. Things were not so positive for the A-ball teams, as both squads lost, extending losing streaks.
Chihuahuas 14, Las Vegas 51’s 0
Key Statistics: LF Franchy Cordero, 3-for-6, 2B; LF Travis Jankowski, 2-for-6, R, RBI; RF Franmil Reyes, 3R; 1B Brett Nicholas, 2-for-4, 3R, 2B, HR (2), 2RBI, BB; 3B Diego Goris, 3-for-5, 3R, HR (1), 3RBI; SS Javy Guerra, 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2RBI; 2B Dusty Coleman, 1-for-4, 2RS, HR (1), 2RBI, BB; RHP Kyle Lloyd (W, 1-0) 7IP, 5H, BB, 10K; RHP Colten Brewer, IP, 3K.
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas wrapped up their five-game series in Las Vegas in emphatic fashion and took four of five games from the 51’s. … Franchy Cordero inched his way closer to San Diego, as the rehabbing outfielder had three hits, including a double in the El Paso blowout victory. Cordero is 6-for-14, with a homer and only three strikeouts in a limited sample with the Chihuahuas in 2018. … One of the most encouraging storylines of El Paso’s series was the new-found offensive success of shortstop Javy Guerra. The shortstop had two hits and went 6-for-16 in the series, with a pair of homers. Guerra has struck out six times in 16 at-bats, so the plate discipline hasn’t improved much. … RHP Kyle Lloyd pitched well, earning his first win of the year. The splitter-specialist threw seven shutout innings, striking out ten. Lloyd made one start in San Diego last year and more work like he produced on Monday could be worth another opportunity down the line.
Missions 5, Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2
Key Statistics: RF Forrest Allday, 2-for-5, R; C Austin Allen, 3-for-5, HR (3), R, RBI; DH Kyle Overstreet, 3-for-4, 2R, 2B, HR (1), RBI; RHP Jesse Scholtens (W, 1-0) 6IP, 2 H, BB, 8K; RHP Rowan Wick, IP; RHP Robert Stock, IP, H, 2R (both unearned), BB, 3K.
Prospect Watch: The Missions cruised to their fourth straight win behind a couple of homers and an excellent outing by RHP Jesse Scholtens. … Catcher Austin Allen slammed his third homer in four days — tying teammate Josh Naylor for the Texas League lead. We’ve chronicled Allen’s power throughout the last year but Allen has only struck out twice in 20 at-bats to start 2018. … Kyle Overstreet, who DH’ed, also homered for San Antonio as part of a three-hit night. Overstreet quietly had a nice year between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last season and can play all over the infield, as well as catcher. … RHP Jesse Scholtens turned in one of his best outings as a professional Monday night, throwing six shutout innings to earn the victory. While pitchers like Cal Quantrill and Joey Lucchesi grabbed the headlines in Lake Elsinore a season ago, it was Scholtens who led the squad in innings. Scholtens, 24, isn’t topping any prospect lists but has been a steady performer since entering the organization as a low-cost senior sign in 2016.
Visalia Rawhide 7, Storm 1
Key Statistics: 3B Hudson Potts, 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI; 2B Eguy Rosario, 1-for-3; RHP Ronald Bolanos, (L, 0-1) IP, 3H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, K; RHP Elliot Ashbeck, 3IP, 3K.
Prospect Watch: The Storm lost their fourth straight, dropping their series-opener in Visalia. … The only run for Lake Elsinore came off the bat of Hudson Potts, who hit his first Cal League homer. The Storm offense has been awful to start the season, but the 19-year-old Potts is off to a .375/.412/.813 start. The team is hitting a collective .190/.231/.293 through the five games. … RHP Ronald Bolanos started and allowed three runs in the first before getting pulled. The 21-year-old Cuban import had an up-and-down stateside debut, struggling with command of his fastball. … RHP Elliot Ashbeck threw three perfect innings, striking out three as the former Bradley righty makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. Ashbeck has not allowed a hit in five innings of work so far in 2018. At 24, Ashbeck is the oldest player on the Storm roster.
Lansing Lugnuts 10, TinCaps 1
Key Statistics: CF Jeisson Rosario, 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB; RF Tre Carter, 2-for-5; SS Justin Lopez, 2-for-4; LHP Tom Cosgrove (L, 0-1) 4IP, 5H, 5ER, 4BB, 3K; LHP Ben Sheckler 4IP, 8H, 4ER, K.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps lost their fifth in a row to start the season, losing big at home in the brutally cold weather. Fort Wayne has been outscored 44-15 to start the year. … Jeisson Rosario hit an inside-the-park homer, his first of the year. Rosario had a very successful pro debut last season in AZL last season and is off to a nice .294/.333/.471 start in the season’s first week. … LHP Tom Cosgrove struggled in his season debut, allowing five earned runs, five hits, and four walks in his four innings of work. Cosgrove was a 12th-rounder in 2017, out of Manhattan.
TinCaps Notes: Former #3 overall pick MacKenzie Gore is slated to make his 2018 debut tomorrow. … The TinCaps made a few roster moves today, placing RHP Adrian Martinez on the Temporarily Inactive list and RHP Will Stillman and RHP Joe Galindo were sent back to extended spring training.
