Sugar Land Skeeters 8, Chihuahuas 1
Key Statistics: 1B Nick Tanielu 1-for-3, RBI, BB; RHP Brett Kennedy (L, 1-2) 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K: RHP Jordan Guerrero 2 IP, H, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas have now dropped six in a row as their offense was held dormant at Constellation Field. … Nick Tanielu‘s second-inning single accounted for the lone El Paso run. The Chihuahuas were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. … Brett Kennedy took the loss, tossing four innings while surrendering three earned runs. The Fordham product and former big leaguer has a 7.50 ERA through four starts. He’s allowed six free passes in 12 innings has he works his first meaningful action since 2018. … A bright spot in the El Paso bullpen has been Jordan Guerrero. The hard-throwing right-hander threw two shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 0.75. Guerrero, 24, has issued just two walks in 12 innings and he has held opponents to a .205 average. The 2015 draftee is a possible candidate to help aid the big league bullpen at some point this season.
Jose Azocar patrolling center field. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Missions 7, NW Arkansas Naturals 5
Key Statistics: CF José Azocar 2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 SB, BB; RF Jack Suwinski 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB; 2B Eguy Rosario 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI; LHP Osvaldo Hernandez 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), BB, 3 K; RHP Henry Henry (W, 1-0) 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The Missions mounted a 4-1 lead early and survived a late rally to hang on for the road win. … José Azocar posted a multi-hit effort out of the leadoff spot as San Antonio was once again without top prospect CJ Abrams. Azocar also swiped a pair of bases, giving him five on the season. … Jack Suwinski blasted a pair of doubles to help boost the offense. The 22-year-old Chicago native has struggled to make consistent contact throughout his minor league career but has a respectable .800 OPS in his first season in Double-A. Seven of his 11 hits on the year have gone for extra bases. … Osvaldo Hernandez pitched well across four innings, allowing only an unearned run. The 23-year-old Cuban continues to work his way back from missing most of 2019 with shoulder issues. … Henry Henry earned the win in relief, allowing one hit and a walk in three efficient innings of work, tossing 35 pitches. The 22-year-old has held opponents to a .163 average while posting a solid 3.65 ERA through 12.1 frames.
Agustin Ruiz is now tied for third in the HiA Central with five homers. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
South Bend Cubs 12, TinCaps 10
Key Statistics: 3B Ethan Skender 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI; DH Dwanya Williams-Sutton 2-for-3, R, RBI, SB, 3 BB; RF Agustin Ruiz 2-for-6, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI; SS Justin Lopez 1-for-5, HR (2), R, 3 RBI; RHP Gabe Mosser 5 IP, H, 0 ER, 5 K; RHP Carter Loewen (L, 0-1) 0.1 IP, H, 5 ER, 3 BB, K
Prospect Watch: Fans at Four Winds Field were treated to a little bit of everything in the contest, including a wild benches-clearing brawl in the middle of a rainy eighth inning that resulted in four ejections, as Fort Wayne lost in a slugfest. The TinCaps looked poised to win going away early, posting a six-run first inning on the strength of a pair of home runs, courtesy of Agustin Ruiz and Justin Lopez. Ruiz added a double but is still hitting just .194 on the season as his strikeout issues persist. Lopez, 21, has also struggled to make consistent contact, posting a near 38 percent strikeout rate through seventeen games. The Venezuelan is an easy plus defender, but will have to make serious strides offensively to reach his ceiling. … Ethan Skender reached base safely three times out of the nine spot, quietly raising his average to .302. The 24-year-old has been Fort Wayne’s primary third baseman, though he’s also logged innings at first and second so far. … Lost in the sea of offense was the standout pitching of starter Gabe Mosser, who tossed five stellar innings, allowing just a lone baserunner. The 24-year-old from tiny Shippensburg College (PA) lowered his ERA to 2.08 in his return to the Summit City. … Carter Loewen took the loss, allowing two bases loaded walks, while recording just one out. The Hawaii product by way of British Columbia saw his ERA jump from 3.38 to 11.12.
Storm 8, San Jose Giants 7
Key Statistics: 2B Euribiel Angeles 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB; 3B Zack Mathis 2-for-3, 2 R, BB; CF Joshua Mears 1-for-4, R, BB, 3 K, 3 SB; RHP Dwayne Matos 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K; LHP Jose Garcia (W, 1-1) 2 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm did their best impersonation of their parent club, swiping seven stolen bases as they erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to steal a road victory. … With Robert Hassell III out of the lineup, Joshua Mears patrolled center field and had a sixth-inning to remember. After a leadoff single, Mears proceeded to steal second, third AND home. The 2019 second-round pick out of Federal Way in Washington state, has battled strikeout issues, but possesses intriguing athleticism for his size, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, and boasts an on-base percentage north of .400. … Euribiel Angeles laced a pair of singles while adding three stolen bases of his own. The 19-year-old is in his first season of stateside ball, having posted a quality season in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. … Dwayne Matos got the start for the Storm, pitching around some traffic on the bases to post a respectable start against a loaded Giants lineup. Matos, 20, has a 2.08 ERA across his 17.1 innings thus far.
