Albuquerque Isotopes 7 – Chihuahuas 1
Key Stats: LHP Joey Lucchesi (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K; 2B Luis Urias 1-3, R, BB, 2 K; SS Javy Guerra 1-3, 2B
Prospect Watch: LHP Joey Lucchesi was sent down so he could stay on his throwing schedule and build up innings. While he did finally make his Triple-A debut, Lucchesi didn’t make it out of the third inning. Albuquerque’s elevation rivals that of Coors field, so the scoring isn’t a big red flag. The bigger concern is that only 33 of Lucchesi’s 68 pitches were strikes. Lucchesi is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Mets, so this should be his one and only start in the PCL. … The duo of former Saint Louis Cardinals position players continue to anchor the back end of the Chihuahuas bullpen. Rowan Wick, the 25-year-old former outfielder from Canada, worked another scoreless inning on Wednesday, striking out a pair. After holding Double-A hitters to a .198 average, the hard-throwing righty has allowed only five hits in his 8.1 innings of work since a promotion to El Paso.
Missions 7 – Midland RockHounds 2
Key Stats: LHP Logan Allen (W, 10-4) 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K; C Webster Rivas 2-4, HR (3), 2 R, RBI; RF Michael Gettys 2-4, 2 RBI; CF Buddy Reed 1-4, R, SB (36); SS Fernando Tatis Jr 0-5, 2 K
Prospect Watch: For the first time in his career, Logan Allen pitched into the eighth inning. He was taken out of the game at exactly 100 pitches after a bloop single to center. He had retired 20 of the previous 22 before that hit. He also earned his league- and system-leading tenth win of the season. While wins are not the go-to number, Allen now has as many wins as he did in his first three years in the minors combined as he consistently works deep enough into games to get decisions. Allen did make two mistakes in the game and both went for home runs. However they were both solo shots – the first he has given up since May 25. … DH Josh Naylor singled in the first and has now hit safely in eight of his last nine games, carrying a .333 average over that time. Even with two strikeouts tonight, his six walks match his strikeout total over that time frame, and he owns a 51:48 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the year. This is the first time in his career that those numbers are so close.
Storm 4 – Modesto Nuts 1
Key Stats: RHP Reggie Lawson (W, 6-3) 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K; RHP Pedro Avila (S, 1) 2 IP, H, 3 K; C Luis Torrens 1-3, 2B, RS, BB; RF Jorge Oña 2-4, HR (5), 2 RS, 2 RBI; 1B Brad Zunica 1-4, 2B, RS
Prospect Watch: Jorge Oña hit his second home run in a week. The bad news, before last Thursday’s, the big Cuban hadn’t hit one since May 14. Even with two hits Wednesday, Oña still has a slash line of just .167/.203/.317 in 15 July games. … Reggie Lawson had his best start in a month, and was able to go seven innings for the first time since a May 14th outing, also against Modesto. The 20-year-old threw 103 pitches, only six more than he had in any of his three previous starts when he didn’t make it past the fifth. Like many pitchers in the organization, Lawson is now well beyond his previous career high in innings pitched. His workload over the final six weeks of the season will be worth watching. … Pedro Avila, one of the pitching prospects who should have no limits on his availability for the rest of the way, wound up working just two innings in a scheduled piggyback situation. The 21-year-old righty didn’t walk a batter in his shortest outing of the year and earned his first career save.
Burlington Bees 6 – TinCaps 2
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño 4 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K; RHP Mason Thompson IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 4-4, HR (2), 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Jeisson Rosario led off the home half of the first with his second home run of the year. He then singled home Gabriel Arias in the second for the second run of the game. This was his third four-hit game of the year, and raised his slugging percentage to .369 – the highest it has been since May 8. Rosario is hitting .333/.400/.537 in July. … For the eighth time in 10 starts, Luis Patiño allowed fewer than two runs in a start. The one run that did score came in on a balk. At the end of the fourth, Patiño was still hitting 96 MPH with his fastball, but he gave way after 73 pitches. … After an off-day Tuesday and another one coming next week, the TinCaps kept Mason Thompson on his regular throwing schedule to work an inning of relief Wednesday. The big Texan is well ahead of a 100 inning pace right now, so this allows him to manage his workload.
Vancouver Canadians 2 – Dust Devils 1 (10 innings)
Key Stats: RHP Cole Bellinger 6 IP, 6 H, BB, 2 K; CF Grant Little 1-3, 2B, BB; SS Owen Miller 1-4, 3B
Prospect Watch: For the first time in his young career, Cole Bellinger worked six innings, deep enough to earn a Quality Start. He needed only 72 pitches (47 strikes) to get through his night. The slightly-built 18-year-old finished the start retiring eight of the final nine batters he faced. After allowing a double to open the game, he didn’t let another Canadians runner to reach second. A pair of pickoffs helped his cause. … Shortstop Owen Miller, who tripled in four trips to the plate, has been one of the biggest highlights for the Dust Devils this season. The third round pick is hitting .323/.367/.441 and leading the club in most offensive categories. … After enduring an 0-for-25 stretch, Luis Asuncion has hit in four of his last five, collecting three hits along the way and only striking out once. The right-handed first baseman has drawn only three walks in 101 plate appearances on the season, half his rate at the same level last season.
AZL Padres-1 2 – AZL Indians-1 1
Key Stats: RHP Hansel Rodriguez IP, K; RHP Kyle Lloyd IP, 2 K; RHP Luarbert Arias 4 IP, 7 H, ER, 3 K; CF Jawuan Harris 1-3, HR (2), 2 RBI
AZL Padres-2 8 – AZL Angels 1
Key Stats: RHP Michell Miliano 2.2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 7 K; Tucupita Marcano 2-5, RS, RBI, BB, 2 SB (6); 2B River Stevens 2-4, RBI; C Luis Roman 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, 3 BB
Prospect Watch: Hansel Rodriguez finally made his 2018 debut, working one perfect inning as he continues a slow slog back from elbow pain late in spring training. The Dominican allowed just two earned runs over his final 30 innings with the TinCaps in 2017, striking out 46, and was slated to open the year at the back of the Lake Elsinore bullpen. However, he went on the DL on opening day and didn’t begin throwing from a bullpen mound until about a month ago. The 21-year-old, acquired from Toronto two years ago, will get a short ramp-up in the AZL before he rejoins an affiliate. … Kyle Lloyd, who hadn’t appeared in a game since early May, also made his first rehab appearance . The 27 year-old, who made his major league debut last year, had a rocky first month with El Paso before shutting it down with pain from a bone spur in his elbow. He struck out two of his three batters Wednesday. … Tucupita Marcano just keeps hitting. The 18-year-old infielder was impressive from early in Spring Training and has not slowed down. With two more hits and a walk Wednesday, he owns a .386/.490/.434 line with more than twice as many walks as strikeouts on the year. He’s reached in all but one game this season.
Hey Ben I was at the Missions game last night and Allen looked great. I’ve seen him a few times and was shocked he was sitting 90-91 with the FB, each time I’ve seen him previously he was solid 92-94, the gun may have been off in the stadium. But, he spots his fastball so well and he just gets after it on the mound. The most impressive thing for me was after he gave up the 2nd HR, on a good pitch, he comes back and strikes out the next due hitter on six consecutive pitches. That first homerun was a bomb, but the second nobody thought would carry, we were all stunned when it went over because he was fooled and lunged for it…but that’s baseball. Allen was a bulldog once again and he really went after hitters, fun to watch him compete. His stuff isn’t the greatest but when he spots it like he does, he’s tough to square up, he kept a good offensive team off balance all night. My favorite player to watch is Naylor. He makes it look so easy and his approach at the plate is impressive, but he almost looks bored at times. Every time I’ve seen him at the plate, he looks too advanced for the level, his feel for the strike zone is ever bit as good as Urias, and his bat to ball skils is impressive. What impresses me the most is his unselfish play, and headiness for the game of baseball. I’ll be honest too, he’s a lot better athlete than he’s given credit for, he runs well for a guy with so much excess adipose tissue LOL…scored from second on a one-hop single to Left Field, he moves well. I know he’s a man without a position, but it’s shocking to me he doesn’t get more love from evaporators, his bat is materializing into what every scout said it would. The power will come, his ability to make contact and get on base is the separator for me….