The Chihuahuas ended their three-game losing streak and the Missions blew a late lead. In Lake Elsinore, Michel Baez showed the form that made him a top prospect in Fort Wayne last year. The TinCaps were rained out and despite an extra-inning loss for Tri-City, Dan Dallas is lighting up the Northwest League. Three games in the AZL and more from Saturday.
Chihuahuas 9, Sacramento River Cats 4
Key Statistics: C Brett Nicholas 2-4, 2B, HR (15), 4 RBI; RF Forrest Allday 2-4; CF Matt Szczur 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI; 2B Luis Urias 1-4, BB; RHP Brett Kennedy (W, 9-0) 7.0 IP 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
Brett Nicholas is one of the leaders in doubles and RBI in the PCL. (Photo: Grant Wickes)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas broke their three-game losing streak as Brett Kennedy got his ninth victory of the season without a loss. Kennedy lowered his ERA to 2.53 in 78.1 innings. In 10 of his 14 starts he has given up one earned run or less. … Recently acquired Padres’ uber-prospect Francisco Mejia was a late scratch from the game, but was in the dugout and was available for pinch-hitting duties. No official word on the reason for the late scratch. … In his absence, Brett Nicholas had another big night. The left-handed hitting Nicholas, who is third in the Pacific Coast League in doubles (25) and RBI (68). is splitting time between first base, catcher, and DH. His OPS this year is more than 100 points higher than he’d posted in over 1,600 PCL plate appearances prior to this season.
Frisco RoughRiders 6, Missions 5
Marcus was in Frisco tonight and also had the good fortune to be there with MadFriars star photographer Grant Wickes. You can read Marcus’ story and see Grant’s pictures here.
Storm 8, San Jose Giants 1
Key Statistics: C Luis Torrens 2-4, 2B, RBI; DH Jorge Ona 2-4, 2 RBI; SS Chris Baker 2-4, 2 RBI; 3B Hudson Potts 1-4, HR (17), 2 RBI; RHP Michel Baez (W, 3-7) 7.0 IP 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 9 K.
Hudson Potts at the plate with the Lake Elsinore Storm (Photo: Cherished Memories)
Prospect Watch: Tonight Hudson Potts hit his 17th home run, and is well on track to pass the 20 that he hit last year in Fort Wayne – the third highest total in franchise history. Around Padres’ podcasts or sports-talk, a frequent question is ‘if Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Luis Urias are the shortstop and second baseman of the future, then who will be the third baseman?’ The 19-year-old Potts is the player that everyone should be keeping an eye on to answer that query. He leads the California League in doubles (32) and extra-base hits (50), is fifth in slugging percentage (.514), second in total bases (182) and has a slash line of .277/.346/.520. As with last year, his numbers are better so far in the second half than the first at .302/.357/.594 with 17 extra-base hits in his last 27 games. His walk rate is also up significantly from last year even as he’s striking out less often. … Six-foot-eight Michel Baez had his second consecutive seven-inning start and posted a pitching line more reminiscent of what he did last year in Fort Wayne. Baez had back problems in the offseason and there’s reason to wonder how much they’ve affected him this year, but still has a 2.97 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75.2 innings in one of the better hitters’ leagues in the minors.
Clinton LumberKings 3, TinCaps 0 (Suspended in the third inning)
Key Statistics: CF Jeisson Rosario 1-1; C Luis Campusano 1-1; LHP MacKenzie Gore 2.0 IP 2 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Prospect Watch: MacKenzie Gore opened the game by striking out the side, but the second inning in a steady rain didn’t go so well. A few walks, a double, a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Luis Campusano to go along with another single led to the LumberKings putting three runs on the board. Gore threw 46 pitches, 27 of them for strikes. On the season he has 45 strikeouts in 36 innings against 12 walks…The TinCaps and LumberKings will continue the suspended game tomorrow which will be nine innings, followed by a second game after a 30-minute intermission which will be seven innings.
Eugene Emeralds 2, Dust Devils 1 (10 Innings)
Key Statistics: SS Owen Miller 1-4, 3B, RBI; RF Aldemar Burgos 1-4, BB; RHP Angel Acevedo 6.0 IP 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K; LHP Dan Dallas2 IP, 1 H, 4 K; RHP Diomar Lopez (L, 2-2) 2.0 IP 2 H, R, K
Prospect Watch: The Dust Devils had great pitching as they only gave up one earned run against the former Padres’ affiliate Eugene, but could only muster a pair of hits on the night…After having two seasons somewhat lost to injuries, Dan Dallas has been fantastic in relief for the Dust Devils. He has 32 strikeouts in 19.2 innings and has given up just seven walks and eight hits. Tri-City play-by-play announcer Chris King said on his broadcast last night that there isn’t a better reliever in the league.
Game 1: AZL Padres-1, 9, AZL White Sox 8 (7 innings)
Key Statistics: DH Xavier Edwards 1-3, RBI; 1B Nick Gatewood 2-4, RBI; RHP Kyle Lloyd 2.0 IP 2 H R 3 K; RHP Hansel Rodriguez 1.0 IP 1 H, 2 R, (1 ER) BB, 2 K
Game 2: AZL Padres-1, 9, AZL White Sox 8 (7 innings)
Key Statistics: LHP Alexuan Vega 1.2 IP 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Nick Thwaits 3 IP, 1H, 0R, 4K, 0BB
Prospect Watch: As noted yesterday in the Daily, Xavier Edwards was back in the lineup as a DH but hasn’t been in the field since June 26. In eight games in the AZL he is hitting .429/.514/.429…Two relievers of note also appeared in the game, Kyle Lloyd made his second appearance, this time for two innings, instead of one. The organization will probably send Lloyd back out as a reliever to either San Antonio or El Paso instead of as a starter, as he was for the early part of the year with the Chihuahuas. Hansel Rodriguez, who was the best reliever in the Midwest League for the TinCaps in the second half last year, had his second outing of the year. Rodriguez found success in Fort Wayne when he limited himself to throwing his four-seam fastball and slider. … Ohio high schooler Nick Thwaits worked three scoreless in his second professional appearance. The club’s 15th-rounder, Thwaits has recorded seven strikeouts while allowing two baserunners in his five innings of work.
AZL Padres-2, 10, AZL Mariners 6
Key Statistics: 2B Tucupita Marcano 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB; C Alison Quintero 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; RF Payton Smith 2-4, 3 RBI.
Prospect Watch: In about every Daily I’ve written in the past few months, I’ve raved about Tucupita Marcano. The 18-year old Venezuelan is hitting .386/.504/.432 (that OBP is not a typo) and is third in the league in batting average while playing both shortstop and second base…Catcher Alison Quintero, 18, was one of the Padres’ numerous J2 signings in 2016 and is hitting .282/.363/.338. With Campusano and Blake Hunt in Fort Wayne and Tri-City, San Diego has some serious teenage catching depth at the lower levels. … Payton Smith, 18, had his best night as a professional and could be a player to follow. He was selected in the 22nd round and signed for $125,000 out of Strom Thurmond High School in Aiken, South Carolina, where he starred both on the mound and in the outfield. At six-foot-five and 225 pounds, he has the physical tools anyone would be impressed by.
We will have upcoming features from San Antonio and Tri-City, along with first-hand reports from the Arizona League. If you want to read more, please consider subscribing here.
