Tulsa Drillers 18 Sod Poodles 9
(Best of five series is tied at 1)
Key Stats: CF Taylor Trammell 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B, HR; RF Edward Olivares 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB; RHP Jacob Nix 1.2 IP, 7 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Taylor Trammell homers in the Texas League Championship Series Wednesday. (Photo: John Moore/Amarillo Sod Poodles)
Prospect Watch: The Soddies scored eight runs in the first inning behind a triple and a home run by Taylor Trammell, but it wasn’t enough on a night that the wind was blowing out in the home run haven of Amarillo. Tulsa pounded out 18 hits to send the series back to Oklahoma tied. … Trammell’s defense in center and his ability at the plate have been on full display in the playoffs. The nearly-22-year-old has hit in six of seven postseason games, posting a .444 average and 1.000 slugging percentage while scoring five runs, though he’s also struck out 11 times. After struggling through most of his first stint in the Padres organization, the dynamic outfielder has finished the campaign with a bang to position himself for a longer look in spring training next summer. He’ll have a chance to make a closing statement with three games away from Hodgetown, where his OPS was more than 300 points higher than at other Texas League venues … The big first inning didn’t give the Sod Poodles the lead for as Tulsa jumped Jacob Nix for four homers. The righty, who has spent the entire year on the disabled list for the big league club after suffering an elbow injury during spring training, gave up nine runs while recording just five outs. It’s a disappointing finish for the 23-year-old’s extended rehab stint after Nix had posted a strong 18:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his three previous outings. It remains to be seen whether the Padres will activate him from the 60-day Injured List for the final weeks of the big league season. … Edward Olivares continued his strong postseason, slashing a homer the other way as part of a 2-for-3 night with two walks. A late-season slump cost the 23-year-old outfielder a chance at a 20/20 season, but the campaign made the Padres’ decision to put him on the 40-man last winter look wise.
Visalia Rawhide 2 Storm 1
(Best of five series tied at 1)
Key Stats: RHP Efrain Contreras 4 IP, H, BB, K; CF Jeisson Rosario 2-4,2B; RBI, BB; C Luis Campusano 2-4;
Prospect Watch: Kevin had coverage live at the Diamond.
Hillsboro Hops 3 Dust Devils 1
(Hops take the championship 3-2)
Key Stats: RHP Nick Thwaits 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, K; 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza 0-2, 2 BB, R; 3B Kelvin Melean 2-4, RBI; DH Nick Gatewood 2-4, 2B
Reinaldo Ilarraza scored the lone run for the Dust Devils, predictably after a walk. (Photo: Mike Wilson)
Prospect Watch: The Dust Devils made a valiant run at the Northwest League championship, but in the end came up just short. The Dust Devils challenged early, putting runners on base in each of the first four innings, but managed just one hit in nine trips to the plate with runners in scoring position. Over the final five frames, they didn’t even create many opportunities, scratching out only one hit while striking out 10 times. … After leading off the game with a walk, Reinaldo Ilarraza scored Tri-City’s only run on a Kelvin Melean single. The pair of 2015 international free agent signees were both contributors throughout the season. Ilarraza hit just .222 on the year, but drew 49 walks to post a solid .356 on-base percentage. He kept it up in the postseason, with five walks in the last two games and reaching at a .405 clip despite just one extra-base hit in 38 trips to the plate. Melean, who turned 21 last week, had two of Tri-City’s six hits on the night. After rough stints at both Single-A stops to begin the year, the infielder hit .308/.400/.400 for the Dust Devils to put himself back in the mix for the 2020 campaign. … Nick Thwaits took the loss, giving up a pair of runs over four innings of work. The 20-year-old righty, who earned an overslot bonus to sign with the club out of high school in Ohio in the 15th round last June, showed flashes this year, but struggled to incorporate some mechanical improvements and allowed opponents to hit .298. Thwaits struck out just three and walked four in his two postseason starts.
