Agustin Ruiz is action for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Chihuahuas (16-19): El Paso split a series with last-place Oklahoma City and now open up a series against first-place Sugar Land. Evan Miller will get the start in game 1.
Eguy Rosario. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
NW Arkansas Naturals 3, Missions 2
Key Stats SS CJ Abrams 0-for-3, HBP; RHP Caleb Boushley (L, 2-3) 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 K; 2B Eguy Rosario 1-for-4 2B; DH Yordan Rodriguez 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI
Prospect Watch: Nearly two years ago the MLB draft featured a clear number one (Adley Rutschman) followed by five players that many scouts argued could go in any order. The Royals picked next and got high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr while the Padres, who picked seventh, got the last of the batch, CJ Abrams. Today, they met in Double-A, and unfortunately, the match-up did not go Abrams’ way. Witt went 3-for-5 coming only a single shy of the cycle, while Abrams went 0-for-3, reaching base only on a hit by pitch. As has been previously mentioned, Abrams suffered a leg injury at the end of May and missed some time. He is running, fielding, and hitting fine, but he has generated little power recently. Since coming back from the injury on May 30, Abrams is hitting .306/.368 (both great) but slugging .347. The bright side is after no extra-base hits for two weeks, Abrams had a pair of doubles in the Missions’ previous series. He will also have a chance to get revenge on Witt as they have another four games against the Royals Double-A affiliate. … Yorman Rodriguez homered Wednesday — his first as a Mission. The 23-year-old was promoted a few days ago from Fort Wayne. .. Dylan Coleman, who was traded from the Padres to the Royals along with Edward Olivares as part of the Trevor Rosenthal, closed out the game for Naturals by striking out the side for his fourth save of the year. So far on the year, Coleman has struck out 23 batters in 15 innings against only three walks for a 2.40 ERA.
Roster Moves: The Missions announced that outfielder Dwanya Williams-Sutton was promoted to San Antonio, prior to the game Wednesday evening. The 23-year-old has battled some nagging injuries over the past few years but when healthy, he has been an on-base machine. In 17 games for the TinCaps, the former East Carolina product is hitting .265/.455/.490 with a pair of homers.
Infielder Taylor Kohlwey was promoted to El Paso as well. This will be Kohlwey’s second stint in the Sun City this season. Between the two Texas affiliates, the 26-year-old is hitting .263/.357/.358 with a homer and 21 RBI.
Matt Waldron has been impressive for Fort Wayne in 2021. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Dayton Dragons 3, TinCaps 2
Key Stats: RHP Matt Waldron (L, 2-2) 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 4 K; RF Agustin Ruiz 1-for-4, 2B; SS Justin Lopez 1-for-4 RBI; LF Grant Little 1-for-4, RBI
Prospect Watch: This was one of those “tip your cap games.” The TinCaps were scalding balls, but the Dragons made some nice catches in the gap or at the wall. On the other side, TinCaps starter Matt Waldron was giving up blooper after blooper. Waldron gave up seven hits in six innings, but only two of them were hit hard. Waldron normally sits low-90s, but makes up for the lack of elite speed with great movement and location on all his pitches. It is how Waldron can have a 2.74 ERA which ranks in the top ten in the HAC (High-A Central), and why it is so frustrating to watch Waldron place a perfect 92 mph fastball on the outside corner, only to have the batter flip it over the second baseman’s head for a single. Still though, not a bad outing for Waldron. … Agustin Ruiz was one of those players that hit into some bad luck, and ultimately ended the day 1-for-4 with a double. Ruiz has been crushing the ball this year ranking in the top ten in the HAC in home runs (9), RBI (26), and slugging percentage (.513). …After just a month in full-season ball, the Padres already felt that right-handed pitcher Jose Geraldo was good enough to be promoted. In 22.1 innings with Lake Elsinore, Geraldo had a 2.42 ERA striking out 24. In his first inning in High-A, Geraldo made quite the impression by striking out the side in a perfect inning.
Zack Mathis has also been impressive in the field for the Storm. (Photo:Mike Wilson)
Storm 6, Inland Empire 66ers 2
Key Stats: RHP Levi Thomas (W, 1-2) 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; 2B Euribiel Angeles 2-for-5, 2 RBI; LF Jarryd Dale 1-for-5, RS, 2 RBI; 1B Sean Guilbe 1-for-3, 2 RS, RBI; 3B Zack Mathis 2-for-3, 2 RS, 2B, BB
Prospect Watch: CF Robert Hassell III received his second straight day off. … Instead, it was a full team offensive effort. Everyone except Josh Mears reached base safely, but of the 15 Storm baserunners, only one of them was an extra-base hit. Zack Mathis once again led the way on offense. He reached base three times and scored two of the Storm’s six runs. The undrafted infielder from LSU raised his slash-line to .300/.425/.383. … Levi Thomas picked up his first professional win. Thomas was drafted in the fourth round of last year’s draft, and with no season in 2020, this is the first action he has seen in the Padres’ organization. The righty from Troy University is averaging over 10 K/9 this year but has a 5.23 ERA, due mainly to big innings. Most of his starts this year have been hampered by one big inning that stops a great start in its tracks. Hopefully, this win will be the first of very many in his professional career.
Aaron Leasher pitched a strong 5 innings, giving up only one hit and no runs. He appeared to be in total control as he was able to get a mixture of pop ups and fly balls.
Leasher gave a very strong performance for the Mission’s.
He has put together some good outings.