Brett Nicholas continues to hit in El Paso. (Photo: Grant Wickes)
Reno Aces 3, Chihuahuas 1
Key Stats: RHP Luis Perdomo (L, 3-2) 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 K; C Brett Nicholas 2-3, 2B, HR (11), RBI, BB; 2B Luis Urias 0-3. BB
Prospect Watch: RHP Luis Perdomo continued his run of successful starts since his demotion. In each of his five starts, Perdomo has gone at least six innings and has allowed two or fewer runs in four of the five. Perdomo is still boasting a WHIP below 1.00, a notable mark for a starter in any league, but an exceptional one for a starter in the hitter-friendly PCL. It is also a huge improvement over the 2.5 WHIP he had in his four starts in San Diego. In 35 innings with El Paso, Perdomo has allowed fewer hits than he did in his 14 innings with the Padres (25 vs 26). We’ll work on getting more info on mechanical and approach changes that might go along with the improved results. … With growing concern about the ability of AJ Ellis to stay with the Padres for the year, the next man up might be Brett Nicholas. After another multi-hit game, Nicholas is now up to .303/.371/.620 and he is second on the team with 11 home runs. The 29-year-old has seen time in the majors with Texas each of the last two years, and while no longer still a prospect, if he keeps on hitting it might be difficult for the Padres to keep him in Triple-A. He has been behind the plate in 10 of his last 12 games in the field.
Corpus Christi Hooks 5, Missions 4
Key Stats: LHP Logan Allen 6+ IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K; SS Fernando Tatis Jr 2-4, 2 HR (8), 2 RBI, K; LF Josh Naylor 0-2, 2 BB; 3B Ty France 1-4, 2B, RS
Prospect Watch: After a disappointing April, top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. is having a terrific May. In 14 games in May this year, he is hitting .333/.441/.719 with 16 runs, 11 extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and eight walks in 14 May games. He hit two more homers on Tuesday – both no-doubters at 400+ feet. After the slow April, Tatis is now tied with Austin Allen and Josh Naylor for the team lead and second in the league with eight home runs. He also ranks sixth in total bases (73) overall, but first with 51 total bases in May. With one strikeout on the night, he has dropped his strikeout rate just below 30 percent for the night. … Lefty Logan Allen finished with his worst line of the year, allowing four runs in six-plus innings. However, entering the seventh inning he had blanked the Hooks. Allen walked the first hitter before giving up three straight hits and was removed. All four batters eventually came around to score. Allen, who turns 21 next week, had never worked into the seventh inning as a professional until April 29 but has done so in four straight outings. Even after the bad final frame, Allen still leads the league in wins (five) and strikeouts (51), and his 2.98 ERA ranks him ninth in the league.
Storm 8, Inland Empire 66ers 4
Key Stats: RHP Adrian Morejon (W, 2-3) 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K; 2B Eguy Rosario 2-5, RS, RBI; CF Buddy Reed 3-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RS; DH Luis Torrens 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; C Marcus Greene Jr 2-3, 2B, RS, BB; 3B Matthew Batten 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI
Prospect Watch: It was all about Adrian Morejon as the lefty again stole the show. He struck out six in the first four innings, as he cruised. The fifth was a different story. After Morejon fielded a comebacker, he threw it away down the first baseline and then didn’t seem like the same pitcher. Four of the next five batters reached base before the 19-year-old Cuban gave way in the sixth inning. It was a small lapse in judgment, but shouldn’t take away from the fact that his repertoire is looking cleaner, generating more swings-and-misses. If he can cut down on the walks – he’s issued 14 in 34 innings – he can be unstoppable. … Speaking of unstoppable, Buddy Reed had his second consecutive three-hit game. After a 4-for-29 slump, Reed has seven hits over his last 14 at-bats to get his average back up to .329, good for fifth in the league. He ranks in the top five in the league in runs, hits, batting average, and doubles. As well as Reed has produced, he has walked six times in 36 games, giving him one of the lowest walk rates in the Cal League. His strikeout rate has continued to trend down and he’s at 24% for May.
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, TinCaps 1
Key Stats: LHP Osvaldo Hernandez 5 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 4 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 1-3, RS, BB, SB (11); RF Tirso Ornelas 2-3, 2B, BB; 3B Justin Lopez 2-4
Prospect Watch: Juan Fernandez has reached base safely in all 21 games so far this year. He went 0-2 with a walk in tonight’s game. The 19-year-old Venezuelan hasn’t really gotten going offensively despite the streak, sporting just a .250/.280/.417 line after strong showings in the DSL and AZL in his first two professional seasons. … Lefty Osvaldo Hernandez returned from the disabled list to throw five solid innings. He missed only 11 days. His two hits allowed represent a season-low. He has allowed just four earned runs over his last 21.2 innings (1.66 ERA). The 20-year-old big-budget Cuban’s production struggled across three levels last year (3-6, 5.02 ERA) but he also showed the ability to dominate hitters with 67 strikeouts in 52 innings.
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