Adrian Morejon was on the mound Wednesday night for the Sod Poodles. Photo: Grant Wickes.
The Chihuahuas had the day off
El Paso begins a series tomorrow against Tacoma.
NW Arkansas Naturals 10 Sod Poodles 5
Key Stats: LHP Adrian Morejon 1.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K; 2B-CF Ivan Castillo 2-5, 2 RS, 2B, SB (8); RF Edward Olivares 1-4, 2 RS, BB, SB (16); SS Owen Miller 3-5, 2B, RS, 2 RBI; C Luis Torrens 3-4, 3 RBI, 2B, BB
Owen Miller was 3-5 on the night. Photo: Grant Wickes.
Prospect Watch: Adrian Morejon struck out the side in the first around a one-out single and looked like the pitcher that has been promised. The second inning was a different story, as five straight batters reached base before he exited the game. The two runs allowed would have been worse had it not been for an outfield assist by Ivan Castillo, who is usually a second baseman. Morejon needed 36 pitches to record the four outs, adding to another difficult outing for the top prospect. …The offense was expected to be led by top prospects Hudson Potts and Jorge Ona. But with both spending a considerable amount of time on the disabled list, the offense has turned to Ivan Castillo. Castillo who was a minor league signee from Toronto spent six years battling injuries and ineffectiveness. He finally produced and stayed healthy last year hitting .304/.345/.448 in High-A. This year in Double-A, he has been arguably one of the most productive hitters in the league hitting .348/.375/.500 across 42 games. Castillo is currently on a seven-game hitting streak where he has hit 13 for 32 with seven runs scored. At 24, it is hard to see him as a prospect, but the way he is playing, he is making a strong case to become one.
The Storm had the night off
Mackenzie Gore is scheduled to start as the Storm look to open up the second half with a win.
The TinCaps had the night off
They begin the second half of the season visiting first-half winner, Great Lakes for the start of a four-game series. Our subscribers can read John Conniff’s Q&A with Fort Wayne manager Anthony Contreras and know that if you decide to join us no money will be set aside to feed David Jay’s Arby’s addiction.
Matthew Acosta was the Padres 12th round draft pick out of USC this year. Photo: Mike Wilson
Dust Devils 2 Hillsboro Hops 1 (10 innings)
Key Stats: RHP Dan Dallas 2 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Starlin Cordero 2 IP, 4 K; RF Matthew Acosta 2-5, RS, RBI; 1B Nick Gatewood 2-4, 2B
Prospect Watch: The Dust Devils had five pitchers each throw two innings. Dan Dallas got the start and continued his scoreless streak with Tri-City. The Northwest League All-Star from last year was dominant last year with his up-tempo fastball/slider combination but struggled with command at Fort Wayne this year. If Dallas gets back on track he should be back in the Sumit City shortly. …RHP Deacon Medders threw the next two allowing the one run. The 20th round pick from this year’s draft allowed a solo shot, but that was his first and only base runner of the year in three innings pitched with four punchouts. …RHP Mason Fox was a slight surprise not to make Fort Wayne as he put up impressive numbers in the AZL last year (.182 BAA, 28 K in 21 IP). The former Garner-Webb grad has allowed only one hit in three innings this year… RHP Starlin Cordero has probably been the best part of the night. The big right-hander, he’s listed at 6-foot-7, which might be an understatement, has been in the AZL for the last three years. He is still only 20, he struck out four over two perfect innings, and now has eight strikeouts against only one run in five innings. … Lastly, RHP Felix Minjarez got the win, throwing two perfect innings. The undrafted free agent signing out of UC-Riverside got the start four days ago, and thus far leads the team with nine strikeouts over seven innings with no walks.
AZL Padres-1 8, AZL Giants Black 0
Key Stats: SS CJ Abrams 3-6, 2 RS, SB (1), 3B Chris Given 3-5, 2 RBI, 2B; RF Josh Mears 0-4, BB, RS; DH Victor Nova 1-2, 2 RS, RBI, 3 BB, SB; C Chandler Seagle 2-2, 2B, RS, 2 RBI, 3 BB; RHP Dylan Coleman 2 IP, H, 2 K; LHP Jesus Gonzalez 5 IP, 4 H, 5 K
AZL Rangers 13, AZL Padres-2 6
Key Stats: RHP Bryan Mitchell 2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 K; RHP Michell Miliano 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K; 1B/P Kelvin Alarcon 2-4, RS, IP, K; LF Taylor Lomack 1-4, 3B, RS, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: After reaching base all five times in his first professional game, top pick C.J. Abrams only reached three times in his encore performance. In two games now Abrams is 7-10 with a home run, stolen base, and a walk. He might be good. … Last year’s fourth-round pick, Dylan Coleman, got the start for the AZL-1 team. Coleman who started the day before MacKenzie Gore made his debut in Lake Elsinore, was sent down after two bad outings. They have been working through mechanical issues, but there is a lot to like about the 6-foot-5 University of Missouri product with a big fastball. … In the other game, Bryan Mitchell, who many Padre fans didn’t even know was still in the organization, got the start in his first rehab appearance. While he did allow a run, not allowing a walk is a big improvement. … The Padres have always been really high on Michell Milliano, but the results have not been there. He started his third go-around in Arizona with two scoreless innings. … Finally, the AZL-2 club has 23 pitchers on the active roster, and probably more who could pitch if the need arose. However, in a blowout game, the Padres turned to third baseman Kelvin Alarcon to finish the game who tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Alarcon posted a .464 OPS with the Dust Devils last year, so it remains to be seen if this was a fluke inning, or if there is more to it.
Coleman played at Missouri State. Not University of MO. UM is MIZZOU. MO State is MSU. Big diff.
You are, of course, correct! Many thanks, and apologies to all the Bears out there!