Luis Urias had a multi-hit All-Star game, while Luis Patiño continued to dominate the Midwest League. Elsewhere Buddy Reed made his Double-A debut, and the AZL squads scored 18 runs in two shortened games.
PCL All-Stars 12 – IL All-Stars 7
Key Stats: RHP Brett Kennedy IP, 4 H, 3 ER, K; SS Luis Urias 2-5, 2 RS, RBI
Prospect Watch: Luis Urias led off the game at played shortstop, despite rarely playing shortstop during the regular season. After striking out to begin the game he hit line drive singles to both left and right field in his next two at bats. Both hits were part of big rallies that helped the PCL to an 8-1 lead after three innings.
Former Padres to make the All-Star game include Kevin Quackenbush (0.2 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K); Chad Huffman (0-4), Christian Bethancourt (1-2, RBI), and Rocky Gale (1-2, RBI).
Frisco RoughRiders 4 – Missions 3
Key Stats: RHP Jacob Nix (L, 1-2) 4 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER; SS Fernando Tatis Jr 1-4, RS; 3B Ty France 1-4, HR (12), 2 RBI; DH Taylor Kohlwey 2-3, RS
Prospect Watch: RHP Jacob Nix returned from the DL and was rusty. After escaping the first, Nix allowed six straight line drives. Four landed for hits leading to two runs. It would have been more had it not been for a great catch by Fernando Tatis Jr. who then doubled the runner off second. This was the first time in his career Nix recorded neither a walk nor a strikeout. … OF Buddy Reed made his Double-A debut. After popping up on the second pitch he saw he would then commit an error the first chance he got in the outfield. He finished the day 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
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Storm 10 – Inland Empire 66ers 4
Key Stats: RHP Pedro Avila (W, 5-6) 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; LF Nate Easley 3-5, HR (1), 2 RS, 2 RBI; CF Edward Olivares 2-4, HR (7), 2 RS, RBI, BB, 2 SB (13); 1B Brad Zunica 1-2, HR (12), 2 RS, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Prospect Watch: One of the forgotten people this season for the Storm has been Brad Zunica. After posting an .864 OPS last year with the TinCaps, many thought he would easily hit 20+ home runs in the hitter friendly Cal League. However after his first two months he had a .682 OPS with only four home runs. Since then he has heated up, hitting eight home runs over his last five weeks and posting an .880 OPS during that time. With Buddy Reed gone and Jorge Ona posting a .422 OPS over the last month, the Storm might need to lean more heavily on Zunica. … Speaking of picking up the slack, over the last two weeks Edward Olviares has gotten hot and stayed hot. The CF has hit .329/.365/.494 over his last 19 games with 13 runs scored and four stolen bases.
TinCaps 8 – Cedar Rapids Kernels 4
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño (W, 3-3) 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K; SS Gabriel Arias 2-5, 2B, 2 RS; 3B Luis Almanzar 1-3, HR (2), 2 RS, 2 RBI, BB; 2B Kelvin Melean 3-4, 2B, RS, RBI
Prospect Watch: For the second straight start Luis Patiño did not allow a run to score. Over his last three starts he has allowed one run on six hits over 17 innings (0.53 ERA). Over his last eight starts only four runs have scored. During that time he has gone 39 IP, 24 H, 4 ER, 11 BB, 47 K, 0.92 ERA, 0.897 WHIP. Patiño was removed after only 77 pitches (45 strikes), where he struck out two of the final batters he faced. He is already only 10 innings behind his total from last year, so it remains to be seen if the Padres scale back his starts to have him end the year at around 100 innings… INF Kelvin Melean had struggled throughout most of the year in Lake Elsinore, before appearing to turn the corner three weeks ago. During that span Melean was hitting .333/.357/.410, which made it surprising when he was sent down to make room for Rudy Girron. In the three games since being sent down, Melean has carried on his hot streak, going 6-for-10, with three doubles and two walks. By comparison he had only nine doubles and seven walks in 49 games with the Storm.
Hillsboro Hops 11 – Dust Devils 0
Key Stats: RHP Adrian Martinez (L, 0-2) 5 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K; SS Owen Miller 1-2; SS Oliver Basabe 1-2, 2B;
Prospect Watch: It was a game to forget as the Dust Devils were shutout. They only managed to get one runner into scoring position the entire game and that didn’t happen until the seventh inning. Mason House who was a hyped third round pick from last year, hit .293/.354/.463 last year in the AZL. So far this year (18 games) .121/.288/.276 with 32 strikeouts in 58 at bats. The same can be said of former TinCaps Reinaldo Ilarraza (.205/.262/.256 14 K in 39 AB) and Tre Carter (.203/.280/.365 27 K in 74 AB). They are three players the Dust Devils need to rebound in order to succeed offensively.
AZL Padres(1) 6 – AZL Reds 3 (suspended after 4)
Key Stats: RHP Efrain Contreras 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; DH Nick Gatewood 3-3, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI; LF Jaquez Williams 2-3, RS; 1B Carlos Luis 2-3, RS; CF Jawuan Harris 2-3, 3B, RS; C Michael Cantu 2-2, 2B, 3 RBI
AZL Padres(2) 12 – AZL Mariners 1 (completed after 5)
Key Stats: RHP Michell Miliano 4 IP,2 H, ER, BB, 6 K; C Luis Roman 2-4, 2 HR (2) 5 RBI; DH Jonny Homza 1-3, HR (1), 2 RS, 2 RBI, BB; 3B Sean Guilbe 1-3, HR (1), RBI, BB;
Prospect Watch: While the game wont go into the stats until it becomes final, Nick Gatewood smashed his third and fourth home runs of the season. The 11th round pick will be carrying an OPS over .900 including hits in seven of his last eight games… In the game that did get completed, Michell Miliano had his best start of the year and tied for the best start of his career. His six strikeouts tied a career high, while the two hits is a new low for the 6’3” right hander. While Miliano gave up nine earned runs over his first five innings, he has allowed two runs over his last eight innings.
