The system leading all of minor league baseballs in home runs continued its tear as Franmil Reyes clubbed a pair of homers. On the mound, Fort Wayne’s Osvaldo Hernandez was the sole starter to post a solid game, striking out six without a walk over six innings.
Reno Aces 6, Chihuahuas 5
Key Stats: RHP Brett Kennedy 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 7 K, BB; RF Franmil Reyes 3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, K; SS Luis Urias 0-3, BB, R, 2B Cory Spangenberg 1-5, 4 K; PH Walker Lockett 1-1, 2B
Prospect Watch: In his first trip to the plate, Franmil Reyes saw only one pitch. He nailed a fastball down the heart of the plate for his eighth homer of the season. Seven innings later, “La Mole” did the exact same thing on a pitch down the middle, which brings his season home run total to nine over the first 27 games. The big man has jumped his slugging percentage 138 points in two days. His .616 mark is second among active Chihuahuas behind Brett Nicholas. …For the first time all season, Brett Kennedy allowed more than one earned run as he got shelled for five runs between his second and third time through the order. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old still sports a sterling 2.45 ERA and a 35:11 strikeout to walk ratio. …The recently demoted Cory Spangenberg pull off the inglorious Golden Sombrero, striking out four times in five trips to the plate.
Ty France hit home run number five on Thursday night. (Photo: Grant Wickes)
Missions 13, Frisco RoughRiders 6
Key Stats: RHP Miguel Diaz 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 2 K, 3 BB; SS Fernando Tatis Jr. 3-7, 2B, 3B, 2 R, K; LF Josh Naylor 2-4, RBI, BB; 3B Ty France 1-2, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 1B Austin Allen 1-4, 2 RBI, BB; DH Michael Gettys 2-5, RBI, R, 2 K, 2 SB; CF Rod Boykin 3-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K; 2B River Stevens 2-5, BB, K
Prospect Watch: While San Antonio failed to match Tuesday’s 20-run outing, they continued their offensive barrage against a Frisco team with a league-worst 5.72 ERA. Every starter collected at least one hit. … Fernando Tatis Jr. had a double and triple among his three hits Thursday. Over his past five games, the 19-year-old has seven extra-base hits and has driven in seven runs. In that span, he owns a robust .347 average with three walks times and six strikeouts in 27 plate appearances. … Third baseman Ty France jacked his fourth home run in three days to push his slugging percentage more than 100 points higher than his career mark. But that isn’t nearly as intriguing as this stat line for him this season: 12 walks, 11 strikeouts and 12 hit-by-pitches. … Both Michael Gettys and Texas League Player of the Month Austin Allen, kicked off the game with line drive doubles to right field, providing an early lead. Gettys also swiped his third and fourth bases of the year. … After a string of five short but strong starts, former Rule 5 draftee Miguel Diaz coughed up four runs in just 2.1 innings. The 60 pitches he threw Thursday are a season high.
Storm 8, Inland Empire 66ers 5
Key Stats: RHP Pedro Avila 4 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 5 K, 3 BB; RP David Bednar 1 IP, K, BB, W; RHP Lake Bachar 4 IP, 3 K, 0 ER, 0 BB; DH Edward Olivares 2-5, 3B, K, R; CF Buddy Reed 3-5, 2 2B, 3B, R, RBI, K; 3B Hudson Potts 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, K, BB; LF Taylor Kohlwey 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB
Prospect Watch: Buddy Reed continues to flat out rake, nailing a triple in the first and a pair of doubles later in the contest. His .981 OPS has been unbelievable and he’s certainly made some strides. His strikeout and walk rates had remained red flags even as he started the year with strong production. Over his last seven games though, the 23-year-old has struck out only five times with three walks. … 19-year-old Hudson Potts belted his fifth home run of the year, putting him on pace to replicate his impressive power numbers from last year. The 28 strikeouts compared to six walks suggests he still needs to make some adjustments, but Potts struggled through the first half of 2017 before displaying tangible growth at the plate over the closing months of the season. … After amassing 117 strikeouts in 85.2 innings at Fort Wayne last season, Pedro Avila has seen a precipitous drop in wipeouts in 2018. The Venezuelan had struck out four or fewer batters in every start before getting five on Thursday, but his strikeouts accompanied a season high-tying four runs allowed. He has a paltry 17:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26.2 innings. … Following an 0-for-15 stretch, Edward Olivares broke out of his slump with a triple to start the game. … Subscribers got a profile on David Bednar before he went out and picked up the victory with a scoreless inning of work.
TinCaps 3, Beloit Snappers 2
Key Stats: LHP Osvaldo Hernandez 6 IP, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB, 7 H; CF Jeisson Rosario 0-3 BB, 2 K; 3B Esteury Ruiz 2-4, 2B, R; SS Justin Lopez 3-4, 2 2B, K, DH Gabriel Arias 0-3, BB, 3 K; RF Tirso Ornelas 0-4, K; RP Travis Radke 3 IP, 5 K, ER, 2 H, BS
MadFriars’ reporter Travis Barnett was live at Parkview Field to catch Osvaldo Hernandez’ solid start.
