Big righty Michel Baez is leaving his mark in the Cal League. (Photo: Cherished Memories)
Three of the top pitchers in their respective league got the start today and none of them disappointed. Combined Luis Perdomo, Michel Baez, and Osvaldo Hernandez threw 18 innings and allowed just four earned runs.
Chihuahuas 5, Fresno Grizzlies 4
Key Stats: RHP Luis Perdomo (W, 6-2) 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 K; SS Luis Urias 2-4, R, 2 K; RF Franmil Reyes 1-4, R; LF Shane Peterson 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; 1B Diego Goris 3-4, 2B, RBI
Prospect Watch: On a cool 104-degree night in El Paso, the Chihuahuas stayed hot to win their eighth straight game. They are now two behind Salt Lake City in their division. Luis Perdomo had his third consecutive quality start and his seventh in his last nine starts. When Perdomo is on, he induces a lot of groundouts; he got 10 on Wednesday. More impressive is his command. After walking nine in 14 big league innings, the 25-year-old righty has not allowed more than two walks in any PCL game and did not walk a batter Tuesday. Perdomo’s 3.10 ERA currently ranks fifth in the league now that he has thrown enough innings to qualify. … Luis Urias has now hit in five straight games and has reached base safely in 11 straight. However he has also struck out in five straight games, and with his next strikeout will equal his total of 65 from last season in nearly 50 fewer games.
No game for the San Antonio Missions as they prepare to return from the All-Star break.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5, Storm 0
Key Stats: RHP Michel Baez 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HBP; CF Buddy Reed 1-3, BB, 2 outfield assists; RF Jorge Ona 1-4, 2B
Prospect Watch: The Storm were shut out of the second consecutive night. The game remained scoreless until the ninth when hard-throwing Dauris Valdez came on and walked three of the first five batters he faced. Five runs scored in the frame and that was the game. … Earlier Michel Baez got his first post-break start and continued to look strong. While he was not as sharp as he has been, he still allowed only five baserunners over five scoreless. He threw 77 pitches, 46 for strikes, and had a Baez-esque 3:1 flyout to groundout ratio, similar to Chris Young. There is a good chance Baez will have his innings closely monitored the rest of the season, as he is already only 10 behind last year’s total. If he goes five innings the rest of the way he would finish with around 110 innings.
TinCaps 3, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1
Key Stats: LHP Osvaldo Hernandez (W, 5-3) 6 IP, 9 H, ER, BB, K; LF Robbie Podorsky 2-3, BB, SB (15); 1B Luis Campusano 2-3, 2B, BB; 3B Luis Almanzar 2-3, 2B, HR (1), RBI, HBP
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps swept the Hot Rods thanks to great pitching. Tuesday the Hot Rods went up against Aaron Leasher, who owns the fifth-best ERA in the league. Wednesday, they drew the league-leader, Osvaldo Hernandez who dropped his mark to 2.18. Despite posting a season high in hits and season low in strikeouts, the 20-year-old lefty still allowed just one earned run. After surrendering three earned runs in each of his first two starts, Hernandez hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in the 10 starts since. … In the span of two at-bats, Luis Almanzar had his best game of the season. In his first plate-appearance, the 18-year-old infielder doubled to center. He came back with his first home run of the season to lead off the fifth, one that proved to be the game-winner. While his numbers this season have still been horrendous, he was able to raise his OPS 56 points (from .478 to .534) in the game. He still has a long way to go but the current three-game hitting streak ties his season best.
Dust Devils 9, Vancouver Canadians 2
Key Stats: RHP Henry Henry (W, 1-0) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 2 K; LHP Dan Dallas 1.1 IP, BB, 3 K; SS Owen Miller 3-5, HR (2), 2 RBI; C Blake Hunt 1-3, RS, 3 BB; LF Michael Curry 3-5, 2 2B, RS, RBI; RF Dwanya Williams-Sutton 3-4, 2 2B, RS, 2 RBI; DH Mason House 2-5, 2B
Prospect Watch: The Dust Devils pounded out 17 hits in a blowout win against Vancouver. Six different players had multi-hit games, including third-round pick Owen Miller. Miller has hit safely in all but two of his starts. … Speaking of reaching base safely, Blake Hunt has done so in every game this season. The three walks give him 14 in 11 professional games against only four strikeouts. … Starter Henry Henry turned in his third straight strong outing for the Devils after a brutal run in Fort Wayne earlier this year. The big righty has immense natural ability and plenty of physical tools to build on but has struggled to convert them into on-field success. Lefty Dan Dallas has allowed just one earned run in 9.1 innings this season while striking out 15. Last year Dallas managed only 10 innings (allowing 10 runs), so this season marks a big step forward for the former seventh-round pick as he works healthy for the first time.
AZL Brewers 7, AZL Padres-1 1
Key Stats: RHP Efrain Contreras 3 IP, 3H, 1R (0ER), 3 K; SS Ruddy Giron 1-2; 3B Yerry Landinez 1-3, 2B, RS;
AZL Royals 7, AZL Padres-2 1
Key Stats: RHP Michel Milano 3 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, BB; SS Tucupita Marcano 3-4, 2B, RS; 1B Jason Pineda 2-4, RBI
Prospect Watch: After Moises Lugo failed to record an out, 18-year-old Efrain Contreras made his stateside debut. The righty from Juarez opened his year in the DSL, but posted 25 strikeouts and allowed only 15 runners in 19.1 innings of work there. … Former TinCap and Storm infielder Carlos Belen threw a perfect 1,2,3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to wrap up the game. It was only his second game since the Padres decided to convert him into a pitcher. … Big name J2 signing Michel Milano made his second appearance of the year for the AZL team. In both instances, he was hammered. Milano has gotten worse results this year than he did in 2017 when he allowed 16 runs in 15 innings, even as his velocity has crept back up. The Padres are still very high on him, so chalk it up to a work in progress. … Xavier Edwards got the day off. Rehabbing infielder Ruddy Giron got the start in his place and should be ready to rejoin the Storm.
