Josh Naylor unloads for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Las Vegas Aviators 9 Chihuahuas 6
Key Stats: RHP Bryan Mitchell 3.2 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; LF Travis Jankowski 1-5, R; CF Michael Gettys 1-5, HR (24), 2 R, 2 RBI; RF Josh Naylor 4-5, 2 2B, R, RBI; C Austin Allen 3-5, 2B, HR (13), 3 RBI
Prospect Watch: If there is any place in the PCL where the ball flies more than in El Paso, it is Las Vegas. Returning big-leaguers Josh Naylor and Austin Allen took full advantage of it. Allen has had back-to-back three hit games, and led the team with seven total bases Tuesday. He hit his 13th home run in just his 44th Triple-A games – a pace for 40 across a full season. … Naylor has collected six hits in his first two games back with the club and is now hitting .314. The last time he finished the year with over a .300 batting average was in his rookie year as an 18-year-old in the GCL. Despite spending over a month in the majors, Naylor, who has 13 homers and 21 doubles between El Paso and the big leagues, still has a chance to pass his career highs of 17 and 29. … On the other side, Bryan Mitchell continues to struggle. Since e hwas reactivated from the DL, Mitchell has allowed 20 earned runs on 24 hits and 10 walks in just 8.2 innings. That is a .500 BAA, 20.77 ERA, and a 3.92 WHIP. That makes the 16 runners he allowed in 6.1 innings before the injury look palatable in comparison.
Sod Poodles off day
Amarillo took the 550 mile ride to Springfield, where they’ll open Wednesday.
Lancaster JetHawks 10 Storm 5
Key Stats: 2B Xavier Edwards 4-5, R; C Luis Campusano 2-5; SS Gabriel Arias 2-5, R, RBI; RF Jack Suwinski 2-3, HR (8), 2 RBI, BB; RHP Reiss Knehr 4.1 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 6 K, 2 BB; RHP Nick Kuzia 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 5 K, 2 BB
Prospect Watch: Also playing on the moon this week are the Storm, who opened a series in Lancaster. The temperature only registered 98 degrees at first pitch with a nice wind blowing straight out. The hosts put up a six spot in the first inning and rolled from there. Reiss Knehr, who’s been a solid contributor for the Storm a year after the Padres drafted him in the 20th round, saw his ERA spike almost a run and a half as he got his first taste of baseball in the high desert. … Despite the conditions, the Storm managed only one extra-base hit, a two-run jolt by RF Jack Suwinski to get the Storm closer. His eighth home run puts him just two away from his career high. After a strong April, the 20-year-old Suwinski has had a tough year, but has rebounded somewhat in July. The Illinois native has hit in five of his last six games and has two homers in the last 10. … The Storm’s biggest problem all night was hitting the ball on the ground. Luckily for Xavier Edwards, he has the speed to beat out many would-be infield outs. Edwards legged out a grounder to first and got two more through the infield as part of his four-hit night. This was Edwards’ first multi-hit game in almost a week. After striking out eight times in his first eight games with the Storm, Edwards has not struck out in his last 17 at bats.
TinCaps Day off
Fort Wayne resumes in Bowling Green on Wednesday.
Spokane Indians 15 Dust Devils 4
Key Stats: RF Matthew Acosta 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB; 3B Kelvin Melean 3-4, R; C Jonny Homza 3-4, 2B, R
Prospect Watch: John Conniff, has the game story from the clunker in Pasco.
AZL Padres-1 and Padres-2 Day off
The Padres’ affiliates stick to the AZL routine with an off-day every fourth day.
