Tirso Ornelas clubbed two more extra-base hits Sunday. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Chihuahuas 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 4
Key Stats: CF Auston Bousfield 2-for-4, 2B, R, OF Assist; 2B Luis Urias 2-for-4, BB, K; C Brett Nicholas 3-for-4, 2RBI; RHP Seth Simmons 6IP, 7H, 4ER, 3K, 2BB, 3HRA; RHP Rowan Wick 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0K, 1BB; RHP Trey Wingenter 1IP, 2H, 0R, 1K, 0BB
Prospect Notes: As we turn to July, every analysis of the trade market indicates the bullpen market runs through the San Diego Padres. That makes figuring out options to fill any openings from within a priority. Righties Rowan Wick, 25, and Trey Wingenter, 24, combined for three innings of scoreless work Sunday in their efforts to lay claim to potential openings. Wick, who was promoted from San Antonio prior to the game, was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals just as spring training began and cleared off the 40-man just as it ended. A Canadian native, Wick was originally drafted by St. Louis as an outfielder, but his career stalled out and he converted to the mound in 2014. Like fellow Cardinals conversion Robert Stock, Wick relies primarily on a big fastball. In just over 31 innings for the Missions, he struck out 42 but walked 22. He’s seen a little improvement in his control recently and will be given a chance to show he’s ready. Wingenter picked up his second save in as many opportunities. The big righty with a bigger fastball and nasty slider has struggled a bit walks this year, but opponents are hitting just .200 against him and have struck out more than once an inning. Wick could leave via minor league free agency and Wingenter would be Rule 5 eligible if they aren’t added to the 40-man this winter. … Even with Raffy Lopez back in El Paso, Brett Nicholas is getting more opportunity behind the plate. The 29-year-old has caught three of the last four as he continues to post an OPS above .900 in what is shaping up to be his fifth season spent primarily in the PCL.
Arkansas Travelers 3, Missions 1
Key Stats: Ty France, 2-for-4; DH Josh Naylor 1-for-4, R; 2B Pete Van Gansen 2-for-4, RBI; LHP Jerry Keel 4IP, 6H, 2ER, 2K, 0BB;
Prospect Watch: With Fernando Tatis getting a regular day off (the time off over the All-Star break and the extra breathers over the last few weeks – not to mention his production – make it look more and more like he’ll be a Futures Game participant), the Missions managed only seven singles and didn’t score until a two-out, bases-loaded infield hit by Pete Van Gansen in the ninth inning. Michael Gettys couldn’t come through with the go-ahead run on base though and the Missions dropped their second straight. Gettys, who went on a hot streak early in the month, is five for his last 27 with 15 strikeouts and no walks. When he has made contact this year, the 22-year-old Georgian has done damage – his .204 ISOP trails only Tatis and Austin Allen on the team. However, only Rod Boykin has struck out more often, and just four others in the league have whiffed with his frequency.
Storm 7, Modesto Nuts 4
Key Stats: CF Edward Olivares 3-for-5, HR (6), 2R; 3B Eguy Rosario 2-for-5, 2B, R; C Marcus Greene, Jr. 2-for-4, HR (2), 2RBI; SS Kelvin Melean 3-for-4, 2B; RHP Chris Paddack 6IP, 10H, 4ER, 4K, 0BB
Prospect Watch: Chris Paddack gave up a career-high 10 hits and only struck out four, but still pitched well enough to claim the win on a hot night in Modesto. The 22-year-old righty once again issued no walks – he has given away only four free bases in 52.1 innings for the year and hasn’t allowed more than one in any outing. The right-handed Texan matched his season high with six innings of work but did so without reaching 80 pitches. … Edward Olivares posted his second consecutive three-hit game, including a leadoff homer. The 22-year-old Venezuelan has hit in 10 straight coming out of the All-Star break and is hitting .381 over that stretch. The homer was just his second extra-base hit in the streak and he’s walked just once during the surge – in line with his barely five percent walk rate for the season.
Lake County Captains 6, TinCaps 4
Key Stats: DH Tirso Ornelas 2-for-4, 2B, HR (8); 3B Esteury Ruiz 1-for-4, HR (8); CF Jeisson Rosario 2-for-4, 2B, SB (15); LHP Nick Margevicius 5.1IP, 7H, 5R (3ER), 6K, 0BB
Prospect Watch: Jeisson Rosario got off to a fast start this year, but then faded in May. He’s getting the second half going with a bang as well, and will hope to keep it going. The speedster had a single and double and swiped his 15th base on Sunday, and is carrying a cool .323/.436/.419 line out of the All-Star break. The performance of the many teenaged hitters down the stretch should be one of the key storylines to watch from Fort Wayne this summer. … Tirso Ornelas rode a big spike in walk rate and power to a solid .837 OPS in June even as his batting average fell to .244. The lefty with the sweet swing doubled and homered on Sunday. … Nick Margevicius took the loss and had his ERA creep back over 3.00, but he extended his streak to 26 innings without a walk. He’s struck out 22 in that span.
Dust Devils 12, Boise Hawks 5
Key Stats: CF Grant Little 2-for-4, BB, 2RBI; 1B Luis Asuncion 3-for-5, 2 2B, CS; 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza 2-for-3, 2B, BB; RF Aldemar Burgos 2-for-4, BB, 3R; LHP Ramon Perez 5IP, 3H, 3ER, 6K, 3BB, HBP
Prospect Watch: On the same day the Padres announced the signing of their first-round pick, compensation-round pick Grant Little made his professional debut in center for the Dust Devils. He walked in his first plate appearance and collected a pair of RBI singles in the game. Little will likely move around the field but expect him to remain anchored in the third spot in the lineup this year. … Luis Asuncion continues to pound the ball for the Dust Devils. His two doubles Sunday moved him back into a tie for the league lead with eight and his .519 slugging percentage gives him the team lead by more than 50 points. The 21-year-old Dominican is still adjusting to first base but has a chance to establish himself as a viable prospect at the position. … Aldemar Burgos, drafted as a relatively inexperienced product of the Carlos Beltran Academy in 2015, entered the year with a sub-.300 career slugging percentage. But he’s hit in every game so far and owns a .460 mark so far this season.
AZL Mariners 7, AZL Padres-1 6
Key Stats: SS Ruddy Giron 1-for-3, HR (1), 2BB; 3B Lee Solomon 2-for-2, HR (2), 2BB; 2B Jarryd Dale 2-for-4, 2B; 1B Carlos Luis 2-for-4, 2B; LHP Omar Cruz 4IP, 3H, 1ER, 4K, 1BB; RHP Martin Carrasco 2IP, 1H, 3R (0ER), 1K, 0BB;
AZL Cubs 9, AZL Padres-2 3
Key Stats: 3B Jonny Homza 2-for-4, 2B, BB; 1B Jason Pineda 3-for-5, 2 2B; DH Michael Suarez 1-for-3, BB; RHP Manny Guzman 4IP, 8H, 6ER, 7K, 1BB
Prospect Notes: Michael Suarez collected his first professional hit in his second game. A strong lefty out of high school in Miami, Suarez signed as a 38th-round pick. … Jason Pineda, the youngest position player in the 2017 draft, has been on fire to start the year. The corner infielder had a pair of doubles and single to push his slash line to .450/.540/.725. He also has eight walks against just eight strikeouts in 50 trips to the plate. … Omar Cruz‘s four-pitch mix has been a lot for AZL hitters to handle. The 19-year-old signed out of Mexico on July 2 last year, gave up his first earned run and his second walk, but he’s been stellar in his first three professional outings. The six-foot-one lefty sports a 19:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 12 innings. Opponents are hitting just .182. … Ruddy Giron‘s rehab assignment likely came to a close Sunday, but he went out with a bang. He led off with a homer and drew a pair of walks. He also played the entire game at shortstop. He’s injured each hand this season but seems ready to go. … Xavier Edwards continues to sit after a hot start. We don’t have an update on what we assume is an injury.
