Missions righty Jake Nix delivers one of his improving changeups. (Photo: Grant Wickes)
With more than half the system having All-Star night off, there were still plenty of fireworks on the farm. El Paso hit four home runs while Jacob Nix and Adrian Martinez showed flashes of brilliance for their clubs.
Chihuahuas 8 – Albuquerque Isotopes 2
Key Stats: LHP Jerry Keel (W, 2-1) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 10 K; 3B Cory Spangenberg 3-4, 2 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB (2); 2B Luis Urias 1-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB, SB (2); SS Javy Guerra 1-4, HR (9), RBI; AJ Kennedy 1-4, HR (1), RBI;
Prospect Watch: LHP Jerry Keel set his season high with 10 strikeouts. On a night at elevation, when the wind was blowing out, the Chihuahuas hit four home runs, while Keel managed to keep hitters off balance and keep the ball in the yard. It was his second quality start in three outings since joining El Paso. … 3B Cory Spangenberg was sent down last week to give the Padres much needed pitching help. Since his demotion, he has hit safely in all six games including eight hits over his last three games. Over the six game stretch Spangenberg has a cool .500/.500/.917 slash line. He would be eligible to rejoin the Padres when they open the second half on Friday.
Midland RockHounds 4 – Missions 2
Key Stats: RHP Jacob Nix (L, 1-2) 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K; SS Fernando Tatis Jr 1-4, SB (16); CF Buddy Reed 1-4, RS, 2 SB (35); C Kyle Overstreet 2-4, 2B, RBI
Prospect Watch: Righty Jacob Nix returned to form, allowing only one earned run over six quality innings. After the first start of his career without striking out a batter last time out, he struck out five Tuesday night. Nix retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced. This season, Nix has a 1.88 ERA, .209 BAA, and a 0.94 WHIP. … While RF Michael Gettys went 0-3 at the plate, he made a few terrific plays in the outfield including throwing two runners out on the bases… Buddy Reed collected his first Double-A hit then proceeded to steal two bases. Reed leads the organization with 35 stolen bases this year.
Neither the TinCaps nor the Storm had games as they got to watch the All-Star Game
Dust Devils 10 – Vancouver Canadians 4
Key Stats: RHP Adrian Martinez (W, 1-2) 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; LHP Dan Dallas 1.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K; C Blake Hunt 2-5, 2 RS; 1B Justin Paulson 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RS; DH Luis Asuncion 2-5, 2B, 2 RS, 3 RBI; LF Tre Carter 2-3, 2 RS, 3B, RBI, BB
Prospect Watch: While Adrian Martinez’s final numbers don’t appear impressive, through six innings, he had allowed just five runners to reach base. He allowed four of the first five runners to reach in the seventh. Ultimately three runs crossed the plate. Still this was by far his longest and best start of the season. The righty from Mexicali has big velocity, but struggled both with control – he walked 12 in 17.1 innings for Fort Wayne – and command – opponents have hit .347 against him at two levels this year because he’s left to many fastballs in the middle of the zone and hasn’t been able to spot his breaking ball. The 21-year-old is just over two years removed from Tommy John Surgery. … Continuing his impressive run through the Northwest League, lefty Dan Dallas struck out another three over 1.2 scoreless innings. Not only has he struck out 28 in 17.2 innings, but he hasn’t allowed a hit in eight innings this month. The Buffalo native is holding opponents to a .125 average, though he has walked seven on the year. … Last season, Tre Carter got off to a hot start for Tri-City, then hit a rough spot and never really recovered. This year, he got off to a quick start in the Northwest League, then hit a rough stretch. But now the 21-year-old outfielder has hit in six straight and has kept his strike zone to bounce back from it. He’s walked at a 10% clip and made progress to bring his K rate below 30% in his second pass at short-season ball.
There were no games in the AZL as they enjoy the All-Star festivities.
