Ronald Bolaños had his first rough start of the year for Lake Elsinore. (Photo: Cherished Memories)
Albuquerque Isotopes 6, Chihuahuas 2
Key Stats: RHP Francisco Rodriguez Jr. 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K; LF Boog Powell 2-2, HR (3), 2 BB; PH/3B Seth Mejias-Brown 1-2, HR (4), RBI
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas had a rare quiet day offensively, managing just five hits. Key prospects Josh Naylor and Luis Urías, who did draw a walk, went hitless, but neither struck out. Boog Powell, 26, continued his hot start since coming off the disabled list. He homered in his third straight game, and during that stretch has gone 6-for-10. A career .300/.389/.388 hitter in the minors, the minor league free agent signee has a 1.400 OPS through his first nine games with El Paso. … RHP Robert Stock brought in with a runner on first and two outs walked the first batter he faced before getting a groundout to end his inning. In nine outings for El Paso, Stock has walked eight batters in nine innings.
Amarillo had a scheduled off day
After two straight weather cancellations at home, the Sod Poodles had a scheduled day off for their ten-plus hour bus ride to Corpus Christi. Thunderstorms are in the forecast in Corpus through the weekend.
Visalia Rawhide 6, Storm 1
Key Stats: RHP Ronald Bolaños (L, 3-1) 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Jordan Guerrero 2 IP, H, BB; RHP Hansel Rodriguez IP, H, K; DH Robbie Podorsky 2-2, RBI, 2 BB; C Luis Campusano 1-4, 2B
Prospect Watch: The Storm lost big, managing only four hits in the loss. A night after his big breakout, Jeisson Rosario went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts. The story of the night was the pitching. Ronald Bolanos had his first bad outing of the year. On the positive side, most of the damage came on softly hit balls that found the grass and the 22-year-old Cuban wasn’t helped by his defense. Despite the rough outing, Bolaños still boasts a 3.51 ERA. … The recently-reinforced Storm bullpen turned in some quality innings. Elliot Ashbeck, 25, turned in 2.1 scoreless innings as he continued to deliver in his role as a multi-inning option. Big Jordan Guerrero threw two scoreless frames in his second outing back. Every bit of his listed six-foot-five and 296 pounds, Guerrero dials it up to the upper-90s. He has a 2.92 lifetime ERA, but averages nearly 5 walks/9 innings. … Righty Hansel Rodriguez also made his first appearance of the year. After missing most of last season with an elbow injury, Rodriguez briefly appeared in the Arizona Fall League before he was shut down again. Acquired from Toronto in the Melvin Upton deal, Rodriguez struggled as a starter but was unhittable in Low-A after transitioning to the bullpen. He posted a 1.56 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 40.1 innings of relief in 2017, allowing just a .185 average against and 0.89 WHIP. Injuries derailed all of 2018 as he only saw nine innings in Lake Elsinore. His healthy return would be a huge boost to the farm system. … Robbie Podorsky provided most of the Lake Elsinore offense Wednesday, collecting a pair of hits and two walks out of the leadoff spot. He’s posted a .987 OPS in seven games at the top of the Storm lineup.
Roster Moves: Seven days after he went on the Injured List, Gabriel Arias was activated and in the Storm lineup at shortstop.
The TinCaps game was rained out
Fort Wayne bused south to Beloit after their final scheduled game at Wisconsin was washed out. That contest will not be made up.
