Jordy Barley has made plenty of loud contact early in the Tri-City season. (Photo: Mike Wilson)
Oklahoma City Dodgers 3 Chihuahuas 2
Key Statistics: SS Luis Urias, 1-for-4; RF Jose Pirela, 2-for-4, R; CF Boog Powell, 2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI; RHP Miguel Diaz, 2 IP, H, K; LHP Travis Radke, 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB; RHP Andres Muñoz (L, 2-2) IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K.
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas lost at home to the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate as they hit the halfway point in their season at 43-27. … Ty France went 0-for-4, snapping his nine-game on-base streak. Earlier in the day, France was named the PCL Player of the Week after hitting six homers between June 10-16. The 24-year-old hasn’t missed a beat since being demoted a few weeks ago posting a 1.472 OPS in 10 games for El Paso. … Outfielder Boog Powell broke out of a slump and had a pair of doubles in the El Paso loss. Powell, 26, is hitting just .205/.327/.318 in June, after having a huge May. … With Logan Allen getting called to San Diego for his big league debut Tuesday, Monday turned into a bullpen game for the Chihuahuas. Miguel Diaz started and pitched two scoreless innings, notching a strikeout. Diaz is back in El Paso after a rough outing in Coors Field and he could well get another start before the PCL hits its All-Star break on July 7. The former Rule 5 pick did stretch out as a starter in Amarillo as he completed his rehab assignment. … RHP Andres Muñoz took the loss Monday, as he allowed a run on a pair of hits. The flame-throwing righty has been a little more hittable in the PCL but is still averaging more than a strikeout per inning. It’s hard to remember that Muñoz doesn’t turn 21 until January.
Roster Moves: While Allen wasn’t officially activated in San Diego, the Chihuahuas still added a couple of arms to their roster. LHP Travis Radke was promoted from Amarillo, in time for Monday’s game. The southpaw pitched three scoreless innings out of the ‘pen for El Paso. RHP Steven Wilson was also promoted from Lake Elsinore, where he has been dominant this season. While it’s not clear he’ll pitch much, Nick Margevicius was also optioned to El Paso as the big league staff restocks after the weekend adventures at Coors Field.
For our subscribers, read David Jay’s interview on how Logan Allen bounced back from a disappointing Spring to get back on track for his big league debut tonight.
Sod Poodles 8 Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2
Key Statistics: SS Ivan Castillo, 2-for-5, R; RF Edward Olivares, 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI; 2B Owen Miller, 2-for-4, R, BB; C Luis Torrens, 3-for-4, 2 R, BB, 2B, RBI, SB (1); DH Kyle Overstreet, 2-for-5, 2 RBI; 1B Brad Zunica, 1-for-4, R, 3B, BB, 2 RBI; CF Buddy Reed, 2-for-4, R, SB (10); RHP Lake Bachar (W, 3-2) 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K; RHP Evan Miller, IP, 2 K.
Prospect Watch: The Sod Poodles beat down the Royals’ Double-A affiliate Monday night. The win gave Amarillo the first-half title and guarantees a playoff berth in their inaugural season. … Catcher Luis Torrens had three hits and reached base four times in the victory. The 23-year-old backstop continues to mature and has been one of the most improved players in the system this season. Torrens hasn’t gotten to his power much at the plate, but his line-drive stroke and patience at the plate have propelled him to a .801 OPS. After walking in 5% of his plate appearances last year with the Storm, Torrens is walking 12% of the time this season, which would rank in the top ten in the Texas League, if he had enough at-bats to qualify. … Second baseman Ivan Castillo extended his hitting streak to five games with two more hits. The 24-year-old is 9-for-22 during the stretch. The former Indians and Blue Jays farmhand is hitting .345, which will put him at the Texas League when he has enough at-bats to qualify later this week. … RHP Lake Bachar struggled with command but pitched well enough to earn the win. Bachar allowed just two runs on two hits but he walked four. The former fifth-rounder is in the midst of the best stretch of his season, as he has allowed just three earned runs in his last 18 innings of work. … After winning Texas League player of the week honors earlier in the day, Owen Miller celebrated with two more hits and a walk Monday. The infielder went .565 and only struck out twice in 24 plate appearances to claim the award.
Roster Move: With Travis Radke joining El Paso, RHP Evan Miller was promoted from Lake Elsinore. Miller pitched a scoreless inning Monday, striking out two, including rehabbing big leaguer, Hunter Dozier. Miller worked as the Storm closer and led the Cal League with 10 saves in 11 chances. Miller was slated to pitch in the Cal League All-Star Game but obviously won’t be in San Bernardino tomorrow. Storm RHP Caleb Boushley took Miller’s place on the South Division roster.
Single-A All-Star Break
The Storm and the TinCaps have reached the all-star break. Both teams will resume play on Thursday. We will have coverage of the Cal League All-Star game from San Bernardino Tuesday, as the Storm will have seven players on the roster.
Hillsboro Hops 8 Dust Devils 1
Key Statistics: SS Jordy Barley, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; DH Logan Driscoll, 1-for-4, 2B; RF Tyler Benson, 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB, SB (1); LHP Omar Cruz (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K; RHP Wen-Hua Sung, 2 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K; RHP Deacon Medders, IP, 2 K.
Prospect Watch: The Dust Devils lost their series opener against Hillsboro as the Diamondbacks affiliate tacked on five late runs to blow it open. … The Dust Devils’ offense has struggled out of the gate, but Jordy Barley has hit safely in all four games after his double Monday. Through four games, the 19-year-old is hitting .294/.278/.706 with four extra-base hits and six strikeouts in 17 plate appearances. As we have mentioned in the past few days, Barley is probably the player with the most upside on the early Tri-City roster. … Logan Driscoll also added a double in four at-bats. Driscoll has gone 1-for-4 in each of his starts. … LHP Omar Cruz got the start and struggled in his three innings of work. The 20-year-old lefty had trouble throwing strikes and walked four in his four innings of work. Cruz, 20, had similar issues with control last season in the Northwest League but the Mexican-born lefty averaged well over a strikeout per inning. … RHP Deacon Medders pitched a scoreless inning in his professional debut. The Padres’ 20th round pick out of Alabama struggled with command throughout his collegiate career but struck out more than one per inning in the Cape Cod League last summer and posted a 14.5 K/9 rate in the SEC this year.
