Chihuahuas 4, Fresno Grizzlies 2
Key Stats: LHP Logan Allen (W, 2-1) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, 7 K; LF Michael Gettys 2-5, 2 SB (3); SS Luis Urias 1-4, BB, 2 K, E; RF Josh Naylor 1-4, 2B, BB; 2B Peter Van Gansen 2-4, HR (4), 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Make it an even dozen wins in a row for the Chihuahuas. While the offense has propelled the team through most of this winning streak, this time it was the pitching that stepped up. LHP Logan Allen needed only 78 pitches (54 strikes) to get through six innings. In doing so he tied his season high in both innings and strikeouts (seven). More impressively, after allowing 11 earned runs and seven walks over five innings in his first two starts, Allen has allowed four runs and no walks over his last three starts (13.2 innings)… The offensive hero of the game was 5-foot-9 middle infielder Peter Van Gansen. The former 12th round pick is enjoying his 2019 campaign. Last year, Van Gansen set a new career high with four home runs for the Missions. In 2019 he hit his fourth home run on May 1st… After missing the first month of the season, Boog Powell, who has big-league time with Oakland and Seattle, made his first start of the season in center. He went 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. The left-handed hitter will work in an outfield that consists of Alex Dickerson (1.102 OPS), Michael Gettys (.841 OPS) and Josh Naylor (.984 OPS).
Springfield Cardinals 9, Sod Poodles 6
Key Stats: RHP Emmanuel Ramirez (L, 1-4) 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 K, 1-2, 2 RBI at the plate; RHP Andres Munoz IP, 2 K; RF Edward Olivares 2-5, HR (5), 2 RBI; 3B Hudson Potts 1-4, 2B, RS; C Luis Torrens 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI;
John has the game recap from his first look at Amarillo.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8, Storm 3
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño (L, 1-3) 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K; RF Tirso Ornelas 2-4; 2B Esteury Ruiz 2-4, HR (1), 2 RS, RBI; DH Robbie Podorsky 2-4, RBI
Prospect Watch: For the second straight outing, Luis Patino made one bad pitch in the game and the opposition turned it around for a two-run home run. He allowed one more run in due to his own throwing error, but otherwise pitched well. The biggest reason for Patiño’s lackluster outing was the Quakes ability to do something that the major league Padres can’t figure out how to do… work the count. Only six of the 19 batters he faced were a “quick at-bat” (three pitches or less), causing Patiño to throw 83 pitches in the four innings, despite only one walk. Encouragingly, after walking 12 in his first 10 innings, he’s issued only two free passes in the last nine. … Esteury Ruiz hit his first home run with the Storm, a solo shot in the first to give the Storm the lead. April was the first month since Ruiz made his debut with the DSL Royals in 2106 that he did not homer in a full month. Ruiz hit 12 home runs last year to go along with 49 stolen bases. He now has one home run and 10 stolen bases.
Tin Caps 10, Kane County Cougars 4
Key Stats: RHP Efraín Contreras (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 K; 2B Xavier Edwards 5-5, 2B, R, RBI; SS Tucupita Marcano 1-4, R, RBI,BB, SB (3); LF Agustin Ruiz 1-3, R, 4 RBI, BB, 2B; C Juan Fernandez 3-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI
Prospect Watch: On paper, the TinCaps’ 10 runs on 13 hits and five walks look like they were an unstoppable force. However, nearly all the damage came in a nine-run fifth inning, when six batters reached base before the first out. After a Luis Almanzar RBI groundout for the second out, the TinCaps sent another five to the plate in the inning. Xavier Edwards had a bunt single at the beginning of the inning and an RBI double for the last hit of the inning among the five he collected in the game. The middle infielder has collected 15 hits over his last seven games, raising his OPS from .533 to .909, He now leads the league with a .390 batting average. … LF Agustin Ruiz isn’t that far behind, ranking fifth with a .354 average and fourth in the league with 19 RBI. He collected a bases-clearing double in that nine-run fifth and has easily been the most consistent threat on the young TinCaps team.
