Alex Dickerson just keeps hitting when he’s healthy. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 5, Reno Aces 5 (Suspended in the 11th inning)
Key Statistics (stats are unofficial): CF Michael Gettys, 2-for-5, 3B; 1B Alex Dickerson 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, BB, R; RF Jose Pirela, 2-for-4, HR (3), R, RBI; LHP Logan Allen, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; LHP Paco Rodriguez, 1.2 IP, H, 2 K.
Prospect Watch: El Paso and Reno were tied at five in the 11th inning when the game was suspended due to a PCL travel curfew. The game will resume on July 15. … LHP Logan Allen pitched relatively well on Monday, after a pair of nightmare outings to open the season. Allen allowed a pair of runs in five innings — his longest start of the year — while notching seven strikeouts. The 21-year-old southpaw has walked 10 batters in as many innings to start the year, including three on Monday. Allen seemed like a near lock to make his big league debut this season but he will need to command his stuff better in order to earn an opportunity. … Alex Dickerson hit his third homer of the year as part of a 1-for-3 afternoon. Dickerson has missed the last two season after having back surgery in 2017 and Tommy John surgery last year. So far, Dickerson has only played first base with El Paso but his bat has looked as good as ever. Through 38 plate appearances, the Poway native is hitting .294/.429/.569.
Midland RockHounds 9, Sod Poodles 0
Key Statistics: CF Buddy Reed, 1-for-4; C Luis Torrens, 2-for-4; RHP Emmanuel Ramirez (L, 1-1) 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Kyle Lloyd, 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R (1 ER), BB, K.
Prospect Watch: After averaging six runs a game during a seven-game homestand, the Sod Poodles were shutout on the road in Midland. … Outfielder Buddy Reed had a double in four plate appearances. Reed is 4-for-12 over his last three games and has homered six times since last Monday. Reed didn’t K on the night after striking out 16 times in 45 plate appearances going into Monday’s game. … RHP Emmanuel Ramirez took the loss despite pitching pretty well. Ramirez allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings of work. The 24-year-old Ramirez has been in the Padres’s system since signing as an international free agent at the end of 2012. The Dominican righty has been more of an organizational arm in the past, but the addition of a split-fingered fastball last year has helped him emerge as Amarillo most consistent starter during the first few weeks of 2019.
Arms in, arms out: Amarillo made a pair of roster moves before the game, sending RHP Blake Rogers and Kazuhisa Makita back to extended spring training. RHP’s Kyle Lloyd and Nick Kuzia replaced them on the active roster. Of note, Makita had a 9.00 ERA in seven innings for the Sod Poodles in 2019. He appeared in 27 games for the Padres in 2018.
Lloyd, who had been delayed early in spring because of shoulder soreness, pitched Monday night and allowed five runs (one earned), while recording just two outs.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4, Storm 1
Key Statistics: RF Tirso Ornelas, 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2B; 2B Esteury Ruiz, 2-for-3, RBI, SB (7); 1B Olivier Basabe, 1-for-3, BB; LHP Aaron Leasher (L, 0-1) 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; RHP Elliot Ashbeck, 3 IP, H, 2 BB, K.
Prospect Watch: The Quakes put up a four-inning first inning and the Storm never recovered as Elsinore lost their second consecutive game. … Right fielder Tirso Ornelas had a pair of hits and drew two walks in the loss. Ornelas has been a force thus far in the Cal League, posting a .348/.456/.565 batting line, each good enough to rank in the top 10 on the circuit. He has also drawn 10 walks and is tied for the league lead with 11 runs scored. … Aaron Leasher allowed four runs in the first but then locked in for the rest of his outing. Leasher allowed a pair of two-run shots in the first inning before shutting down the Quakes offense over the last four frames. The former Morehead State star has a 3.60 ERA through 10 innings.
Dayton Dragons 4, TinCaps 1
Key Statistics: LF Grant Little 1-for-4; C Blake Hunt, 1-for-4; RHP Angel Acevedo (L, 0-1) 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 7 K.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps managed just four singles and were shut out on the road. … Outfielder Grant Little singled in four at-bats and is hitting .333/.409/.359 through ten games. Twelve of Little’s 13 hits have gone for singles. … RHP Angel Acevedo took the loss despite a solid start. The 20-year-old hurler from Venezuela allowed a pair of unearned runs in six innings. Acevedo has walked just one batter while striking out 11 in 13 innings for the TinCaps so far in 2019. The physically-mature righty relies more on movement and a balanced arsenal than on big velocity.
Roster moves: The TinCaps placed LHP Hazahel Quijada on the injured list after he left Sunday’s game with elbow discomfort. RHP Adrian Martinez was called up from extended spring training to give Fort Wayne a fresh arm. The 22-year-old from Mexicali wracked up 26 strikeouts in 17 innings for Fort Wayne last year, but also allowed batters to reach at over a .400 clip.
