Gabriel Arias is getting better results with better strike zone command. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Great pitching, timely hitting, and some clutch performances led to every game in the system ending with runs in the final at-bat. El Paso wins a walk-off, Missions win in extras, and the Tin Caps score three in their final at-bat to win.
Chihuahuas 7, Nashville Sounds 6
Key Stats: RHP Walker Lockett 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K; 2B Luis Urias 2-4, 2B, R, BB; 3B Carlos Asuaje 1-4, 2 RBI, BB; C Brett Nicholas 1-3, HR (13), 2 R, RBI, BB; SS Javy Guerra 2-4, R
Prospect Watch: Luis Urias hit a would-be walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, but Dusty Coleman was thrown out at the plate. One batter later, Allen Craig came through with another hit to give the Chihuahuas the win and push their record back to .500. Kazuhisa Makita threw two scoreless innings, allowing only one baserunner. Makita has made five appearances with El Paso. The 33-year-old righty has allowed just two baserunners with six strikeouts over six innings combined in four of them. In the fifth appearance, Makita blew a save and allowed two runs on three hits while recording just one out. Interestingly, the four times Makita pitched well the score was either tied or blowout. In the one bad appearance, Makita was asked to pitch late in the game with the lead. … The good news for Luis Urias is that he has reached base safely in seven consecutive games, including a single and double Wednesday. His longest streak this year is 12 games. The bad news is that he hasn’t been especially hot in his on-base streaks. During this stretch, he has only seven hits but has collected eight walks, giving him 37 in 60 games.
Missions 3, Frisco RoughRiders 1 (10 innings)
Key Stats: RHP Colin Rea 4.2 IP, 0H, 0R 4 BB, 5 K; SS Fernando Tatis Jr. 1-4, R, BB, K, SB (8); LF Josh Naylor 1-5, 2B; 1B Kyle Overstreet 2-5, 2B, RBI; CF Michael Gettys 2-4, 2B, R
Prospect Watch: After allowing 13 earned runs in 11.1 innings over his first three starts, rehabbing starter Colin Rea has allowed just two in the last 9.2 innings. During that span, he has struck out 13 while only allowing 4 hits. Rea threw exactly 90 pitches in his last start and was hoping to come closer to 100 Wednesday, but he lost the plate in the fifth and walked the bases loaded with two outs. He came out at 89 pitches. Before the walks, Rea had retired 13 of 14 batters, including a strikeout of Elvis Andrus. … Michael Gettys collected another multi-hit game tonight. He has raised his season numbers up to .263/.335/.475 from the .210/.288/.381 crater he was on May 7. Both hits Wednesday came off right-handed pitchers, just as much of his success has. Against lefties, when he should thrive, Gettys is hitting .243/.329/.357, while he is slashing .272/.337/.531 with 20 extra base hits against right-handers.
Roster Move: Righty Miguel Diaz was returned to San Antonio from El Paso, taking the roster spot left open when Logan Allen went on the disabled list. Diaz held Texas League opponents to a .148 average to open the year to earn a promotion, but the 23-year-old former Rule 5 pick struggled with control in five PCL games. Allen sprained his ankle during batting practice last week and will likely be on the shelf for a few weeks.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4, Storm 3
Key Stats: RHP Pedro Avila 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K; LF Buddy Reed 0-3, 2 K; DH Austin Hedges 1-4; CF Edward Olivares 2-5, HR (5), RBI; 3B Hudson Potts 1-4, 2B, RS
Prospect Watch: Pedro Avila turned in one of his better starts of the year and was on fire before the sixth inning. After five, the 21-year-old righty allowed one run on four hits while striking out nine. The sixth inning was a different story. He allowed three singles and hit two batters before being removed from the game. This was the second time in a row, Avila has pitched well until the sixth inning (gave up three runs in the sixth last start). His 10 strikeouts on the night tie his season high and give him 69 on the season. This puts him 10th in the league and one behind the team lead, currently held by Chris Paddack who has worked 28 fewer innings. … Buddy Reed left the game in the top of the sixth. He made the last out of the fourth, striking out, but didn’t appear to be in pain. Took the field in the fifth, but Avila struck out the side, and Reed was removed before his next at-bat. We will update when we have news.
TinCaps 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3 (7 innings, resumed from May 30th)
Key Stats: RHP Mason Thompson 3 IP, 3 H, R, 4 K (before the game was postponed), CF Jeisson Rosario 1-4, 2B; 3B Luis Almanzar 2-3, R, SB (2); C Jalen Washington 2-3, RBI
Bowling Green Hot Rods 4 – TinCaps 3 (7 innings)
Key Stats: LHP Tom Cosgrove 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 8 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 2-4, RS, SB (14); SS Gabriel Arias 1-3, HR (1), RBI; LF Robbie Podorsky 2-2, 2B, RBI, BB
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps won the opener by scoring three runs in their last at-bat, and then lost the nightcap by giving up a run in their final at-bat. Jeisson Rosario has played as many games so far this year as he did in his first season last year. Following his aggressive promotion and the brutal April weather in the Midwest League, Rosario’s OPS is down from .773 in the AZL to .722 this year, but he has maintained a strong .391 OBP compared to .404 last year. The 18-year-old has also scored 11 more runs, has more walks, and six more stolen bases so far this year. … Gabriel Arias hit his first career home run in his 108th professional game. Arias, four months younger than Rosario, struggled mightily over his first two months, hitting .200/.269/.259. So far in June, he owns a .273/.351/.424 line. It’s only been 10 games, but the increased production includes a significant decrease in strikeouts and uptick in walks.
