Luis Campusano has had three multi-hit games in the last week for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
Key Statistics: LF Robbie Podorsky, 3-for-4, R, RBI, SB (1,2); C Luis Campusano, 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI; RF Ben Ruta, 1-for-3, BB, RBI; RHP Brett Kennedy (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Jordan Guerrero, IP, 2 H, ER, K; RHP Aaron Northcraft (S, 1) IP, BB, K
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas used a four-run second inning to win their third straight. … No matter what level he plays at, all Robbie Podorsky does is hit. The left fielder had three singles out of the second spot in the order and he also stole a pair of bags. The 26-year-old was promoted earlier in the week after El Paso saw several players promoted to San Diego. Between San Antonio and El Paso, Podorsky is hitting .371/.436/.514 with just three strikeouts in 39 plate appearances. … Luis Campusano slugged a pair of doubles and drove in a run Friday night. The 2019 California League co-MVP has fared much better in Triple-A, posting an .857 OPS in nine games after scuffling badly with the big league club. One thing to watch with Campusano is his strikeout rate. In 36 Triple-A plate appearances, he has struck out in roughly 28% of his plate appearances. In his breakout campaign in High-A back in 2019, his K-rate was just 12%. … Brett Kennedy went five solid innings to earn his first professional victory since 2018 when he was in the big league rotation. The 26-year-old went five and allowed just one earned run, striking out two. Through two starts, Kennedy has only four strikeouts in eight innings. Kennedy has had success in the upper minors before injury and could be a rotation option in San Diego if he can string together a few good outings.
Kyle Overstreet has been on a tear for San Antonio. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Midland RockHounds 6, Missions 1
Key Statistics: 3B Kyle Overstreet, 3-for-4, R, 2B; 1B Brad Zunica, 2-for-4, 2B; LHP Aaron Leasher (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K; LHP Jerry Keel, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K.
Prospect Watch: The Missions lost their fourth straight in Midland and have been outscored 30-12 so far in the series. … Kyle Overstreet, who was at third base Friday, doubled and scored a run as part of a three-hit night. The 27-year-old, playing his third straight season for a Padres’ Double-A affiliate, is off to a scorching .394/.429/.545 start in eight games. … Big first baseman Brad Zunica had a pair of hits, including a double, in the Missions’ loss. The powerful slugger was playing behind Taylor Kohlwey in the season’s first week but with Kohlwey’s promotion to El Paso, Zunica should have a clearer path to playing time for the moment. The 25-year-old hit 16 homers with the Sod Poodles in 2019. … Aaron Leasher struggled with his command and was knocked around by Midland. The former Morehead State star allowed eight baserunners in just 2.2 innings, issuing three walks. Leasher displayed good command with High-A Lake Elsinore in 2019 but has walked five in 5.2 innings so far in two starts with the Missions this season.
Jonny Homza was one of the few bright spots for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Lake County Captains 8, TinCaps 2
Key Statistics: C Jonny Homza, 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, R; 1B Luis Almanzar, 2-for-3, 2B; RHP Moises Lugo, 4 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Felix Minjarez (L, 1-2) 2 IP, H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 2 K.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps lost on the road against the Indians’ High-A club and now have dropped five straight. … Jonny Homza had a homer as part of a 1-for-3 night. In addition to his improvements defensively, he is also showing signs of growth with his bat. Homza has above-league average offensive numbers that have been enhanced by a 19% walk rate. … First baseman Luis Almanzar had a pair of hits, including a double. While the ship has sailed on Almanzar developing into an up-the-middle infielder, his bat has shown some signs of life in the Summit City. Almanzar, still just 21, has a .929 OPS in 20 plate appearances, though his strikeout rate remains an issue. … For the second straight outing, Moises Lugo pitched well before the game unraveled after he left. Lugo pitched four innings and allowed just one run on two hits and owns a 2.25 ERA through eight innings. The 22-year-old righty, yet another member of the 2016 international class, worked on short pitch counts when last we saw him in 2019 after he lost most of the 2018 season to injury.
Inland Empire 66’ers, Storm 2
Key Statistics: CF Robert Hassell III, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; LF Joshua Mears, 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, BB; RF Jarryd Dale, 1-for-2, BB; RHP Jesus Lugo (L, 0-1) 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K.
Prospect Watch: The Storm made four more errors in another loss to Inland Empire. Lake Elsinore has lost three of four, committing 16 errors in the process. … Robert Hassell III doubled in his final at-bat to extend his hitting streak to five games. The first-rounder has been an on-base machine to start his pro career, boasting a .282/.451/.590 while playing in every game so far this year. … Outfielder Joshua Mears slammed his first homer of the year, a laser shot that hit the scoreboard in left field. The stout outfielder has had some growing pains early on which isn’t out of the ordinary for a player his age. Mears has struck out in roughly half of his plate appearances to start the year. When Mears does connect, his power is as impressive as any player in the organization. If he can make more consistent contact, his power potential is special.
