Ivan Castillo. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Sugar Land Skeeters 7, Chihuahuas 3
Key Stats: 2B Ivan Castillo, 2-for-4, RBI; DH Webster Rivas, 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI; RHP Evan Miller 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, K;
Prospect Watch: It was a tough game for the Chihuahuas in their first-ever matchup with Sugar Land (which is located in the greater Houston metropolitan area). Starting pitcher Brett Kennedy took a liner off his leg on his first and only pitch of the game. Kennedy, in his seventh year in the organization, is looking to put himself in the conversation for when the Padres need reinforcements to the big league rotation. His early exit did not help his cause, with a 7.88 ERA in eight innings so far. …Ivan Castillo returned to Triple-A with two hits and an RBI. His average in action for El Paso is now .438 as he continues to show the hot bat which earned him a promotion to San Diego during the Padres’ COVID-19 mini-crisis. … Designated hitter Webster Rivas had two hits, including a home run Thursday night. The 30-year-old catcher saw significant spring training action in 2021 after slashing .296/.406/.488 in 149 plate appearances for El Paso in 2019. …Evan Miller came on in relief of Kennedy and kept El Paso in the game with three solid innings of work. Miller was a 22nd round pick in 2016 from Purdue University in Fort Wayne, the rare prospect who played minor league ball in the same town he played college ball. Miller pitched in the Mexican Pacific Winter League in the off-season, where he went 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings across seven appearances for the Tomateros de Culiacan.
Missions 3, Frisco RoughRiders 1
Key Stats: LHP Aaron Leasher (W, 1-1), 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K; LHP James Reeves (H, 1), 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K; RHP Nick Kuzia (H, 1), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB; RHP Jose Quezada (S,2), 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, K; 1B Kyle Overstreet, 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; CF Jack Suwinski, 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB;
Prospect Watch: CJ Abrams extended his on-base streak to 15 games by reaching base after being hit by a pitch. He also reached base on an error. Despite his 0-for-3 night, he managed to score two runs for the Missions. … Aaron Leasher picked up his first win of the season with a dazzling five innings. The 2017 sixth-round pick out of Morehead State spent most of his 2019 season with Lake Elsinore, where he went 10-8 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 appearances (19 starts) for the Storm. … The Missions had a fever, and the only prescription was more lefties as James Reeves relieved Leasher and was perfect for two innings. In six appearances for San Antonio, Reeves has a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings since joining the Padres organization in an off-season trade for OF Greg Allen. … Jose Quezada picked up his second save of the year. The 2018 10th round pick has a 1.23 ERA in five appearances for the Missions. He made 21 appearances in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, racking up a 7.15 ERA in 22.2 IP for the Caneros de Los Mochis in the offseason. … Kyle Overstreet paced the Missions offense with two doubles and two RBI. The veteran utility player joined the Padres organization via the University of Alabama in the 14th round of the 2015 draft and is slashing .370/.404/.500 in an electric start at the plate this season.
Dwanya Williams-Sutton continues to swing it. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Lansing Lugnuts 12, TinCaps 1
Key Stats: RHP Austin Smith, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; RHP Ethan Skender. 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K; RF Dwanya Williams-Sutton, 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI
Prospect Watch: Tough night for the TinCaps as Lansing jumped out to a four-run lead in the first three innings. Austin Smith stopped the bleeding with scoreless seventh and eighth innings. The 2015 second-rounder has found himself moved to the bullpen, where he’s had a 5.63 ERA in eight innings this year, despite a commendable 1.13 WHIP. Smith, now 24, will be eligible for free agency at the end of the 2021 campaign. He has yet to advance beyond High-A. … Ethan Skender closed the game out for Fort Wayne. Normally an infielder, Skender brought an entertaining and successful end to a very long night for the TinCaps. He took over for LHP Mason Feole who allowed five earned runs without recording an out. Feole walked three batters, allowed two hits and uncorked two wild pitches. The former UCONN hurler had Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted in the 10th round in 2019. He’s allowed seven earned runs in just three innings so far in 2021. … Dwanya Williams-Sutton brought all the offense for Fort Wayne with a home run in the 6th inning, his second of the year. The East Carolina product was a fifth-round pick in 2018 and is slashing .231/.394/.538 for Fort Wayne.
Storm 7, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6 F/10
Key Stats: CF Robert Hassell III, 2-for-4, R, RBI; 1B Brandon Valenzuela, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R; 2B/RHP Kelvin Alarcon (W, 1-0), 2-for4, RBI, R, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K;
Prospect Watch: The Storm walked this one off in extras as Gilberto Vizcarra singled home Brandon Valenzuela in the bottom of the 10th against mortal rival Rancho Cucamonga. … Valenzuela’s two-hit night brought him to a slash line of .279/.371/.459. The 20-year-old C/1B had been praised for his defense, and so far in 2021, he’s showing the stick to match his glove. … Robert Hassell III had another multi-hit night for the Storm. The 2020 first-rounder has 17 hits in 15 games in his first professional season. Hassell III has also drawn a league-high 14 walks. … Kelvin Alarcon starred at the plate and on the mound, earning his first professional win while getting two hits and an RBI at the plate. The 22-year-old made his seventh appearance on the mound as a professional, but second this year. Alarcon has played sparingly for the Storm this year and is hitting .235/.278/.235 in 18 plate appearances. He was part of the Padres’ 2015 international draft class.
