Rodrigo Orozco debuted with Amarillo Thursday night. (Photo: John Moore)
Tacoma Rainiers 7, Chihuahuas 6
Key Stats: CF Michael Gettys 0-5, 3 K; 3B Seth Mejias-Brean 3-5, K; LF Josh Naylor 1-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, K; 1B Ty France 4-5, 2 RBI, R; C Austin Allen 1-3, 2 BB, K; 2B Matt Batten 2-4, HR, R, RBI, K; RF Jacob Scavuzzo 2-5, HR, R, RBI, 3 K
Prospect Watch: Through the first 15 games, Ty France owns a stellar .415/.478/.785 slash line with as many extra-base hits (12) as strikeouts. Since the beginning of last season, he also owns a .284 average against southpaws with 23 extra-base hits, 15 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 169 at-bats. Since Eric Hosmer owns a career 81 wRC+ against lefties, France could be an intriguing option to get some starts at first if he hits his way onto the major league roster. …Teammate Austin Allen is quietly putting together an equally impressive season at the plate, raising his average to .311 and his on base percentage to .392.
Roster Updates: Esteban Quiroz headed to the disabled list, so Pete Van Gansen was called up to join the Chihuahuas.
Sod Poodles 8, Corpus Christi Hooks 4
Key Stats: CF Rodrigo Orozco 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, K; SS Owen Miller 1-3, R, 2 BB; 3B Hudson Potts 1-3, SB< R, RBI, BB, K; LF Jorge Oña 1-2, RBI, BB, K; 1B Brad Zunica 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K; SP TJ Weir 5 IP, 4 K, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 H
Prospect Watch: Against former first-rounder J.B. Bukauskas, the Sod Poodles offense cranked out eight runs on a night where a notched only one extra-base hit, a home run by Rodrigo Orozco in his season debut. The center fielder was acquired from the Blue Jays in the Socrates Brito trade. He teamed with Edward Olivares in Low-A in the Toronto system. … Hudson Potts swiped his second bag of the season but has struck out in every game but three games on the year. In fact, Potts has multiple strikeouts in eight games while collecting a walk in only six games. At 20 years of age, he is still quite young for the league; however, 54 strikeouts in 130 Double-A at-bats scream for significant adjustments. Subscribers can read Ben’s piece with Sod Poodles’ starter T.J.Weir from yesterday.
Roster Updates: Orozco was added to the roster to backfill for Van Gansen. Amarillo also shuttled pitchers, activating Blake Rogers and Kazuhisa Makita, while moving Kyle Lloyd and Nick Kuzia back to Extended Spring. The moves reversed Monday’s transactions.
Inland Empire 66ers 5, Storm 1
Key Stats: RHP Mason Thompson 5 IP, 5 ER, 6 K, 4 BB, 4H; LF Robbie Podorsky 1-3, R, BB, K; CF Jeisson Rosario 1-2, 2 BB, K; RF Tirso Ornelas 1-3, RBI, K; SS Gabriel Arias 1-3, BB, K
Prospect Watch: After a pair of injury-plagued seasons, righthander Mason Thompson has seen an uptick in velocity that has led to an increase in strikeouts with 14 in 12.2 innings. However, he has also walked 11 hitters. He generally only struggled with walks against southpaws in 2018, but it’s been an issue with hitters on each side of the plate this year as his fastball continually sails high. … Offensively, Lake Elsinore mustered just one run and collected no extra-base hits. The lone run scored on a Tirso Ornelas sacrifice fly that brought Robbie Podorsky home in the top of the first. Both hitters continue to carry averages over .300 and on-base percentages around .400.
TinCaps rained out
The homestand opener against West Michigan was rained out Thursday. The clubs will play a doubleheader Friday night.
