Xavier Edwards has been a force at the plate for Fort Wayne. (Photo: TinCaps)
Chihuahuas 7, Sacramento River Cats 2
Key Stats: LHP Jerry Keel 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K; SS Luis Urías 1-4, R, K; C Michael Cantu 2-4, 2 HR (2), 3 RBI; CF Boog Powell 1-4, HR (4), 2 RBI; LF Michael Gettys 1-4, 2B, RS, 2 K
Prospect Watch: Welcome to Triple-A, Michael Cantu. In his first game after being promoted to El Paso, the former undrafted free agent hit a home run in both the eighth and ninth inning to secure the win for El Paso. Signed late in the summer of 2017, the massive receiver hadn’t played above Lake Elsinore. The 23-year-old began his collegiate career as a high-profile recruit at the University of Texas but announced following his 2017 junior campaign he would transfer to D-II Tarleton State where he would play alongside his brother. Later that summer, he changed his mind. Because he was already 21 years old, he was eligible to sign. … As the Padres search for big league bullpen options, three relievers shut the door on Sacramento Tuesday. RHP Robert Stock put two men on base but escaped with another scoreless frame. He has not allowed a run over his last 7.1 innings and is still throwing in the upper 90s, but has allowed nine hits and six walks and continues to struggle with location… RHP Luis Perdomo tossed a one, two, three inning with a strikeout. Perdomo has a 1.54 ERA with only 3 walks and 12 K in 11.2 innings in Triple-A. He has allowed only one run, but eight hits and two walks, in five innings since returning to El Paso earlier this month. … Veteran Carlos Torres finished off the game. The 10-year MLB vet also has a minuscule 2.49 ERA in 25.1 innings with a .226 batting average against.
Sod Poodles 9, Midland RockHounds 4
Key Stats: RHP Kyle Lloyd (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, BB, 6 K; LF Rodrigo Orozco 2-5, 2 RBI; DH Edward Olivares 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB; 3B Hudson Potts 1-4, 2B, R, RBI; 1B Brad Zunica 2-3, HR (7), 2 R, RBI, BB; CF Buddy Reed 1-4, R, K
Prospect Watch: The Sod Poodles jumped out to a 6-0 lead early and never looked back. They were led by 1B Brad Zunica, who collected his first multi-hit game since April 14, and in the process hit his second home run this week. From his last multi-hit game until his current six-game on-base streak Zunica went 2-for-39 and saw his OPS drop from 1.088 to .707. His power comes in bunches, so look for another strong week from Brad. … While Zunica has struggled recently hitting, Edward Olivares has been a key anchor for the offense. Olivares has reached base safely in every game in May, hitting a clean .340/.396/.638. In 11 games this month, he already has four home runs, six stolen bases, 12 runs scored, and 11 RBI.
Storm 9, Stockton Ports 4
Key Stats: RHP Ronald Bolaños 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 2-5, 2 RS, RBI; C Luis Campusano 1-3, 3 RS, HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 BB; 3B Eguy Rosario 2-3, RS, 2 RBI, 2 SB (7);
Prospect Watch: The wind in Stockton at the start of the game was blowing straight out at 16 mph. The Storm took advantage of the storm and jumped out to a 9-2 lead. They sent nine batters to the plate in the first and Eguy Rosario came through with a bases-loaded single. Still just 19, Rosario has plenty of strength in his compact frame but has struggled to have consistency. On a positive sign, Eguy, who has always been a big strikeout hitter, has struck out just one time during his current five-game hitting streak though his overall K rate is right in line with his previous full-season performance. … The only batter to really take advantage of the wind was Luis Campusano who hit his third homer of the year in the third. Like Olivares in Amarillo, Campusano has reached base in all 12 games he has played in May. It’s been an impressive bounce back for Campusano after missing time under the concussion protocol in late April. The former second-rounder hasn’t missed a beat, walking nine times and reaching base at a .404 clip this month. … RHP Hansel Rodriguez rebounded after a shaky last outing to pitch a perfect 1.2 innings with four strikeouts. This was his third game as the Padres ease him back after missing nearly a year.
Lake County Captains 5, TinCaps 4
Key Stats: RHP Efraín Contreras 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K; 2B Xavier Edwards 3-5, 2 RBI, R; 3B Tucupita Marcano 1-5, 2 RBI; Juan Fernandez 2-4, 2 R, BB
Prospect Watch: It was once again the Xavier Edwards show, as the quick-footed second baseman added another three hits. He is now hitting .368/.433/.427. Edwards leads the MWL in both batting average (.368) and OBP (.433) and is third in stolen bases (11). Edwards now has a nine-game hitting streak with 13 hits, three walks, and only two strikeouts during the stretch. … After starting the season 2-for-26, C Juan Fernandez has come on with 14 hits in 30 at-bats over his last nine games. During this streak, Fernandez has raised his OPS from .258 to .665. The 20-year-old Venezuelan returned to Fort Wayne this year after getting into 66 games for the club last year before a wrist injury ended his season.
For subscribers, Travis has a nice interview with today’s TinCaps starter Gabe Mosser up on the site today. As always, if you aren’t already a subscriber, you can get access to all our interviews and premium content any time!
