Esteury Ruiz has been dynamic when he’s made contact. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Chihuahuas 10, Las Vegas Aviators 6
Key Stats: SS Luis Urías 3-for-4, 3HR (7), 2BB, K; CF Michael Gettys 3-for-6, 2R, K; DH Matt Batten 2-for-5, 2B, 2R; 2B Pete Van Gansen 2-for-5, 2B; RHP Bryan Mitchell 1.1IP, 2H, 2ER, 3K, 3BB
Prospect Watch: It’s not entirely clear what Luis Urías might do for his next feat of strength, but the 21-year-old infielder is making the case loudly for his return to the big league roster. Urías homered in each of his first three trips to the plate and drew a pair of walks Sunday, finishing the five-game series in Vegas 10-for-24 with a 1.333 slugging percentage. He clubbed a two-run shot to left in the first and a three-run opposite-field bomb in the second then led off the fourth with a blast into the swimming pool in center. Depending on the severity of Fernando Tatis Jr.‘s injury for the big league club, Urías could well have punched his ticket back to the Majors. … Fellow infielders Matt Batten and Pete Van Gansen each had a single and double in the bottom two spots in the lineup. Both are hitting well north of .300 and contributing around the infield defensively. … All six Chihuahua pitchers worked through trouble all day. Bryan Mitchell, activated from the IL to make the start, couldn’t get through the second inning. walking three while recording four outs.
Arkansas Travelers 4, Sod Poodles 2
Key Stats: DH Jorge Oña 3-for-4, 2B; SS Owen Miller 1-for-3, BB; RHP Jesse Scholtens 5IP, 4H, 2R, 5K, 3BB
Prospect Watch: Jorge Oña accounted for half the Amarillo offense, collecting three of the club’s six hits, including a double for the lineup’s only extra-base hit of the day. The 22-year-old outfielder, who has made 10 of his 22 starts at designated hitter, leads the offense in most categories. He’s cut his strikeout rate, increased his walk rate and is hitting the ball for more power this season after reworking his swing at instructs last fall. … Edward Olivares drew a walk and swiped his third base of the year out of the second spot in the order. Like many Amarillo hitters, he’s scuffled away from the friendly confines of his new home park, posting an OPS nearly 300 points lower on the road. … After failing to make it out of the first inning in his last start, Emmanuel Ramirez came out of the bullpen for an inning of relief on his normal throwing day. The righty was tagged with the loss after a run came around thanks to a pair of wild pitches. He’s walked seven over his last 4.2 innings of work.
Inland Empire 66ers, Storm 4
Key Stats: C Luis Campusano 1-for-3, SF; RF Jack Suwinski 1-for-4, 2B; 2B Esteury Ruiz 2-for-4, 3SB (10); LHP Tom Cosgrove 6IP, 8H, 5ER, 3K, 1BB
Prospect Watch: Inland put up a four-spot in the fifth inning then held off Elsinore as the Storm dropped their fourth game in five contests. Tom Cosgrove allowed a leadoff hitter to 66ers diminutive infielder Leonardo Rivas on a full count offering, then didn’t allow another runner to reach second base until the fifth. But in that frame, he yielded a homer and triple among four hits, a walk, and hit a batter. 22-year-old did manage to come back for a scoreless sixth inning as he pushed his season-high pitch count to 93. … Esteury Ruiz, who had seen his OBP drop 100 points over the previous 10 games, was the only Storm hitter to reach base multiple times Sunday. The 20-year-old made the most of it, swiping three bases to extend his team lead to 10 on the year. His hyper-aggressive approach is limiting his impact for the Storm as Ruiz has struck out in a third of his plate appearances and drawn only five walks. … After giving up his first run of the year in his last outing, Evan Miller turned in another scoreless frame Sunday. The Indiana native, taken in the 22nd round in 2016, has quietly emerged as a reliable late-inning righty over the last year.
South Ben Cubs 6, TinCaps 1
Key Stats: DH Luis Almanzar 1-for-2, BB; SS Xavier Edwards 0-for-0, BB SB (8), CS (5);
South Ben Cubs 11, TinCaps 2
Key Stats: 3B Luis Almanzar 1-for-2, 2B, BB; 2B Justin Lopez 1-for-2, 2B; RF Agustin Ruiz 1-for-3, 2RBI; RHP Angel Acevedo 3IP, 6H, 8R (6ER), 2K, 4BB, WP, 2HBP
Prospect Watch: Ryan Weathers was removed from the opener of Sunday’s doubleheader after only two effective innings. While there’s no information from the Padres, he looked just a bit awkward fielding a comebacker for the final out he recorded. It didn’t appear major, but the TinCaps got Tom Colletti up early in the top of the third. More info as it becomes available. … The TinCaps waited out Cubs pitchers for 11 walks but managed to go just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position on the day. Xavier Edwards, who was successful on 22 of 23 stolen base attempts last year, opened the day by walking and stealing second. But he was then thrown out at third on the front-end of a double-steal and ejected for arguing the call. He’s been caught five times in 13 attempts and third time in as many games. He chose to stay close to home the only time he reached in the nightcap. … Luis Almanzar reached base four times between the two contests. While his average and strikeout rate continues to be troubling, the third baseman has also been drawing walks at a 14 percent clip and sports an encouraging .161 IsoP rate through 19 games.
