Luis Patiño has bounced back from a shaky start to 2019. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Chihuahuas 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
Key Stats: LHP Dietrich Enns (W, 4-1) 7 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K; CF Michael Gettys 1-4, HR (10), RBI; SS Luis Urías 0-3, BB; RF Josh Naylor 2-3, RS, BB; 1B Jason Vosler 1-3, HR (6), 2 RBI; 3B Matthew Batten 3-4, R, RBI
Prospect Watch: Michael Gettys hit a home run on the first pitch he saw as the Chihuahuas’ lead-off hitter for the second consecutive day. The homer, his tenth of the year, gives him the team lead over Ty France and puts him into fifth place in the league. More impressively, Gettys did not strike out and has only one whiff in the last three games. Gettys still leads the league with 48 strikeouts, but the pack is catching up to him. … As a team, the Chihuahuas continue to hit .316/.384/.585 even without some of their biggest early contributors like France, Alex Dickerson, and Jose Pirela. While key prospects continue to make a difference, many of the lesser-known guys have driven the team to its PCL-best 23-9 record. On Tuesday, Matt Batten, drafted in the 32nd round just two years ago, paced the club with three hits to push his Triple-A average to .341. Jason Vosler, acquired from Chicago to in the deal to move Rowan Wick off the 40-man last winter, hit his sixth homer of the year and is walking more and striking out less than he did in the PCL last year to jump his 130 points. Dietrich Enns, signed as a minor league free agent at 27, gave up only one run over a season-high seven innings. The lefty has pitched to a 4.54 ERA, which is good for third among starters in the extremely tough environment of the PCL’s Pacific Southern division.
The Sod Poodles doubleheader was cancelled
More inclement weather resulted in the cancellation of both games of a doubleheader. Make-up dates have not yet been set. The team will bus to Corpus Christi on a scheduled day off Wednesday before getting back underway Thursday.
Storm 5, Visalia Rawhide 1
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño (W, 2-3) 6 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 4-4, 3 2B, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI; 1B Olivier Basabe 2-3, RBI, BB; 2B Esteury Ruiz 2-3, RBI
Prospect Watch: Tuesday served as Luis Patino’s California League coming out party. While he’s shown flashes in his last few starts, he put it all together for the first time against Visalia. After the 19-year-old allowed a leadoff triple in the second, only one other batter even got into scoring position, and that was due to an error. Patiño threw a season-high six innings, tied his high with seven strikeouts. He allowed only two hits to drop opponents’ batting average to .182. He has posted a 17:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last 16 innings. … Speaking of coming out parties, fellow 19-year-old Jeisson Rosario had his own. Rosario went 4-4, with three doubles and an inside the park home run to collect as many total bases as he had in his last 15 games combined. The sudden power outburst, which jumped his OPS from .519 to .622, included just his a fifth home run in 198 professional games. Rosario has always had great defensive tools and shown a strong eye at the plate, but his power has always been his drawback. If Rosario can hit the ball hard to go along with his lifetime .372 OBP, he will be a serious weapon.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3, Tin Caps 2
Key Stats: RHP Efraín Contreras 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 4 K; 2B Xavier Edwards 1-4, SB (10); 3B Tucupita Marcano 1-4, R; RF Agustin Ruiz 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI;
Prospect Watch: For the third time in six starts, Efrain Contreras threw five innings of one-run ball, this time allowing a season-low three hits. The stocky righty has now struck out 31 in 28 innings which is especially impressive considering the Juarez native had yet to throw a professional inning this time a year ago. He’s still working with a cap of around 80 pitches, but should stretch out later in the season. … Offensively, the team got one big hit from Agustin Ruiz but were exceptionally quiet the rest of the game. While Ruiz has been the closest thing the TinCaps have had to an RBI threat, leading the club with 22, he has also struck out at least once in 23 of his last 25 games, including twice Tuesday.
