Francisco Mejia is settling in just fine with his new organization. (Photo: El Paso Chihuahuas)
Monday night featured just three games stateside, with the TinCaps emerging as the only victor. El Paso and Tri-City both suffered late-inning losses, just like the big league club.
Salt Lake Bees 4, Chihuahuas 3
Key Statistics: C Francisco Mejia, 2-for-4, R, HR (2), RBI; SS Javy Guerra, 1-for-2, R, BB; LHP Jerry Keel, 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP T.J. Weir (L, 2-1) IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, K.
Prospect Watch: El Paso gave up two runs in the ninth and lost on the road in Utah. … Catcher Francisco Mejia had a pair of hits, including his second homer as a Padre farmhand (he has nine overall). Mejia was 1-for-16 in his four starts prior to Monday night. The prized prospect is hitting a solid .298/.359/.439 for El Paso since joining the organization. … Jerry Keel pitched well again, tying a season-high by throwing 7.1 innings. The big lefty allowed just a pair of earned runs but only struck out one batter. Keel has a solid 3.42 ERA in eight starts in Triple-A and has held left-handed hitters to a .179 average.
The Missions had Monday off, as did the Storm. Both teams will be in action tomorrow.
TinCaps 3, West Michigan WhiteCaps 2
Key Statistics: CF Jeisson Rosario, 2-for-4, 2 R; PR-LF Jack Suwinski, 1-for-3, R, HR (8), 2 RBI; 2B Esteury Ruiz, 1-for-2; RHP Mason Thompson, 4 IP, H, 3 K; RHP Jose Quezada (W, 1-1) 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Evan Miller (S, 5) 0.2 IP, 2 H.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps got the win at home, beating the Tigers’ Low-A affiliate. … RHP Mason Thompson came off of the disabled list and pitched well, allowing just one hit in four shutout innings. It was Thompson’s first outing since July 18. According to Dylan Sinn of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Thompson touched 95 mph with his fastball and sat at 93-94 mph during his four innings of work. The 20-year-old starter has had ups-and-downs this season, but has flashed tantalizing stuff. His biggest obstacle going forward will be his health. … Outfielder Jack Suwinski was going to get the day off, but entered the game in the first inning after Olivier Basabe injured his hand sliding into second on a stolen base. It sounds like a relatively minor injury from which Basabe, who got his first start of the year in the outfield, should return fairly quickly. Suwinski homered in three at-bats, his eighth of the year. The Chicago-born outfielder shook off a miserable July and is hitting a scorching .372/.440/.674, with three homers in August.
Hillsboro Hops 3, Dust Devils 2 (10 innings)
Key Statistics: SS Tucupita Marcano, 3-for-5, RBI; LF Grant Little, 2-for-4, 2B, SB (8); RHP Cole Bellinger, 6 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 5 K; RHP Korey Anderson (L, 0-1) 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, 2 K
Prospect Watch: Tri-City allowed a pair of runs in the tenth inning and lost at home. … Yeah, Tucupita Marcano might be for real. The infielder had three more hits Monday night and has raised his Northwest League average to .381. Marcano has struck out just once in 22 plate appearances since being promoted to Tri-City. The left-handed swinging Marcano doesn’t have much power yet, but his bat-to-ball skills are very reminiscent of Luis Urias and his frame has room for some physical projection. At two levels this year, the 18-year-old owns a .486 OBP. … SS Xavier Edwards went hitless but he drew a pair of walks and stole his second base with Tri-City. … RHP Cole Bellinger pitched well, allowing just one earned run in six innings of work. The 18-year-old hasn’t shown big velocity but the Padres still saw enough to send him to Tri-City. Bellinger has strung together some good outings but has yet to find much consistency.
Subscribers can read our interview with Dan Dallas, who has struck out over 44 percent of the batters he’s faced this year.
Both AZL teams had the night off.
I think this is the link to the comments by Sinn on Mason Thompson … http://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/tincaps/20180814/suwinski-delivers-big-blow-early … very encouraging!