Reggie Lawson delivers for Lake Elsinore (Photo: Cherished Memories)
Chihuahuas 7 – Round Rock Express 6
Key Stats: LHP Jerry Keel 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K; 2B Luis Urias 0-3, Sac, K; C Francisco Meija 0-4, RBI; DH Raffy Lopez 2-3, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB; 1B Allen Craig 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB; SS Javy Guerra 2-4, 3B, 2 R
Prospect Watch: On a night when Luis Urias and Francisco Mejia failed to reach base, the Chihuahuas still scored seven runs and walked off with their seventh straight victory. Raffy Lopez has hit safely in every start since being sent down. He has reached base 13 times over six starts including three times Tuesday to raise his OPS in the Pacific Coast League above .900 on the season. While he only started two games in the first 10 days after he was demoted, he didn’t let it affect his play and has been back in the starting lineup the last four games. … As bad a season as this has been offensively for shortstop Javy Guerra, he has never let it affect his Gold Glove-caliber defense. Guerra was regarded as a top prospect when he was acquired because he paired that defense with strong offensive production, but he has never been able to match the .279/.329/.449 line he had in 2015. A friendlier offensive environment in the PCL has bumped up his OPS 30 points this season, but his production is just as far below league average and he’s striking out at a career-worst rate. With his ninth triple Tuesday, he has as many as he did in the previous three years combined.
Springfield Cardinals 5 – Missions 4
Key Stats: RHP Lake Bachar (L, 2-6) 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K; CF Buddy Reed 1-3, 2 RS, BB, SB (46); LF Josh Naylor 3-4, 2 2B, BB; 3B Ty France 2-5, RS, RBI; SS Peter Van Gansen 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Buddy Reed reached base multiple times just twice in his first 17 games with the Missions. After drawing a walk and singling Tuesday, he has now done it in three of his last four games. He has yet to have a truly dominant game to get his numbers up, but has at least raised his OPS 28 points and stolen six bases in the last six games. He hasn’t had an extra base hit in two weeks and has been hitting both more grounders and pop flies since arriving in Double-A. … From someone coming out of a slump to someone who already busted out of his, LF Josh Naylor collected three more hits, including a pair of doubles, and now has eight hits and three walks over his last four games. Naylor has passed his extra-base hit total from last year in five fewer games andhas walked 16 more times while striking out 25 times fewer. With a walk and no strikeouts Tuesday, the 21-year-old brought his season total of walks to strikeouts back to 1:1, not something you see normally from a power hitter.
Subscribers can check out John’s interview with Austin Allen, whose dedication to improvement behind the plate has put him in a great spot this year.
Visalia Rawhide 4 – Storm 2
Key Stats: RHP Bryan Mitchell 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; RHP Reggie Lawson 5 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 2 K; RF Jorge Oña 2-4, 2B, RS; LF Nate Easley 2-3, 2 2B, RS, RBI, BB
Prospect Watch: Even in the minors on a rehab assignment, righty Bryan Mitchell struggled to throw strikes. Mitchell walked three and has allowed 10 runners in 6.1 innings as he tries to return from elbow pain that sent him to the disabled list in June. … After two horrendous road starts where he allowed 19 earned runs over 7.1 innings, righty Reggie Lawson enjoyed pitching back at home. Over his last three home outings, Lawson, who turned 21 last week, has allowed just five runs in 17 innings for a 2.65 ERA. … With two more hits Tuesday, Jorge Oña has raised his OPS back over .700 for the first time since June 23, when he went into 1-for-24 slump. In six August games, Oña is hitting .421/.542/.684 with five walks and only three strikeouts
The TinCaps had a scheduled day off Tuesday. Mackenzie Gore gets the start on the road Wednesday.
Pioneer All-Stars 13 – NWL All-Stars 10
Key Stats: SS Owen Miller 1-4, 2 RBI; 2B Olivier Basabe 0-3, RBI; RHP Henry Henry IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 K; RHP Jordan Guerrero IP, ER, BB, K;
Prospect Watch: Henry Henry was named the All-Star game starter, but allowed hits to four of the first five batters of the game, before striking out the final three he faced… Right-handed reliever Jordan Guerrero technically gave up his first run of the NWL season. He came on to retire the final two batters in the fourth, before walking and striking out a batter in the fifth and being removed. The next pitcher allowed three hits, scoring the run, giving Guerrero an earned run without allowing a hit.
AZL Padres-1 6 – AZL Giants Orange 2 (7 innings)
Key Stats: RHP Dalton Erb 4 IP, H, R, 3 BB, 3 K; 1B Lee Solomon 2-4, 2B, RBI; C Michael Cantu 2-4, 2 2B, R, RBI; 3B Luis Guzman 2-3, 2B, R
AZL Giants Orange 9 – AZL Padres-1 0 (7 innings)
Key Stats: RHP Jeferson Garcia 4 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; DH Nick Gatewood 1-3, 2B
AZL Cubs 6 –AZL Padres-2 4
Key Stats: LHP Gabriel Morales 3.1 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K; C Alison Quintero 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; 3B Johny Homza 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Along with fellow lefty Joey Cantillo, 19-year-old Gabriel Morales has been the anchor of the Padres-2 pitching staff. He threw 3.1 scoreless innings Tuesday and has not allowed a run in four of his eight outings, and boasts a 3.08 ERA on the season. While he is averaging over a strikeout an inning, he has now walked 22 in 26.1 innings. … Nick Gatewood doubled in both games and now has 20 extra-base hits in 37 games. The 21-year-old has logged only 51 innings in the field as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury, but has been about 20 percent better than league average at the plate. … Neither Tucupita Marcano nor Xavier Edwards were in the lineups Tuesday. They are reportedly on the move to Tri-City. Their promotions would likely correspond with All-Stars Owen Miller and Olivier Basabe moving up to Fort Wayne, and Luis Almanzar shifting back to the desert.
