It was a strange one across the organization, as every affiliate except San Antonio took the loss in some high-scoring affairs. Most notably, El Paso finished a suspended game, only to have the following, regularly scheduled contest suspended later in the evening due to more inclement weather. In the Arizona Complex League, the Brewers Gold have yet to begin play due to health and safety protocols, so the ACL Padres got an extra night off rather than making the trip to Maryvale.
Evan Miller has found ways to deliver all year for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Albuquerque Isotopes 14, Chihuahuas 3
Chihuahuas 5, Isotopes 3 (Susp – T5)
Key Stats: RHP Miguel Diaz 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Evan Miller 2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K, 1-for-1, 2B, 3 RBI; SS Matt Batten 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB, 2 SB; 1B Gosuke Katoh 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB
Prospect Watch: This game started on July 5th with two scoreless innings from Miguel Diaz. Diaz, one of many pitchers riding the shuttle between the minors and San Diego this year, was actually making his first appearance of 2021 for El Paso. He had been sent down twice before, but was recalled to San Diego before throwing an inning either time. Diaz, who has a 2-1 record and 2.55 ERA for the Padres in 14 appearances (two starts), made four starts for the Chihuahuas in 2019. … Evan Miller had a forgettable outing on the mound, allowing three earned runs in two innings, but got them all back with his bat. Miller hit a double in the 5th inning before play was suspended Monday, driving in three runs. It was Miller’s first professional hit in only his sixth career plate appearance. … Matt Batten swiped two of his eight stolen bases of 2021 as he continues a red-hot start to July for El Paso. A 2017 32nd-round pick out Quinnipiac, Batten is slashing .381/.435/.476 for the month, and added a double and scored a run. … The ever-versatile Gosuke Katoh raised his average to .303 on the year, building on a June in which he hit .317 with a .400 mark in his first five games of July. The Yankees drafted Katoh out of Rancho Bernardo High in the second round in 2013.
Aaron Leasher in action for the Missions. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
San Antonio Missions 5, Amarillo Sod Poodles 4
Key Stats: LHP Aaron Leasher, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 PO; LHP Joe Beimel 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 K, 0 BB; RHP Nick Kuzia (W, 2-4), 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K; CF Jose Azocar, 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB; SS Eguy Rosario, 2-for-4, RBI, BB
Prospect Watch: Aaron Leasher cruised through six strong for the Missions, allowing only one earned run. The Morehead State alum is 4-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 11 starts for San Antonio, and last gave up more than one earned run on June 1st. Opponents are hitting just .222 against the lefty on the year. … The Missions walked off on a tenth-inning single off the bat of Jose Azocar, who had an impressive night at the plate and on the base paths. Acquired in the offseason as a minor league free agent after eight seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization, Azocar’s defense in center field is highly regarded by the Padres organization. … Nick Kuzia pitched two innings for his second win of the year, despite allowing an unearned run when the extra innings runner scored on a single after taking third base on a wild pitch. Kuzia, signed as a free agent by the Padres after the 2017 Draft, has made 15 appearances in relief for the Missions with four holds and two saves, as well as a 1.02 WHIP in 19.2 innings of work. … CJ Abrams’s injury has led to more time at shortstop for Eguy Rosario, who had his second straight two-hit game. Rosario, a 21-year-old infielder from the Dominican Republic, signed with the Padres as a free agent in the summer of 2015.
Lake County Captains 12, TinCaps 3
Key Stats: C Jonny Homza, 2-for-5, 2B, R; LF Tirso Ornelas, 0-for-2, 2 BB, RBI; RHP Moises Lugo 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 BB; RHP Austin Smith, 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K;
Jonny Homza is in the midst of a breakout season. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: After the first inning, this game was tied at two, before getting very out of hand for Fort Wayne. The Jonny Homza Breakout Experience continues, as the catcher who slashed .305/.412/.488 in June is batting .474 in his first five games of July. His OPS is now .914, good for sixth in High-A Central, and well above his career number of .704. Among other notables for the Alaska native is an .873 OPS against lefties, and .919 against righties. As Homza continues to perform and put up numbers that aren’t too “splitty” observers have definitely taken notice of his offense. … Tirso Ornelas drove in his 27th run with a first inning walk. The team leader is Agustin Ruiz with 38. Ornelas, a 21-year-old native of Tijuana, joined the Padres organization as a free agent prior to the 2017 season. … Austin Smith made the only scoreless outing of the night for the TinCaps, and did so by making all his outs via strikeout. Smith, the 51st overall pick of the 2015 Draft, has appeared with the TinCaps in five straight seasons. His 35:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26.2 innings on the season is the best of his career.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11, Storm 7
Key Stats: SS Euribiel Angeles, 4-for-5, R; CF Robert Hassell III, 3-for-5, 2 R; LF Angel Solarte, 2-for-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI; C Gilberto Vizcarra, 2-for-4, 2 R, BB; 2B Jarryd Dale, 1-for-5, 2 RBI;
Prospect Watch: The Storm lost a high-scoring affair against their bitter rivals from up the road, but the Lake Elsinore offense did not disappoint, headlined by a four-hit night for Euribiel Angeles, who is officially one of the hottest bats in the organization. Angeles, who turned 19 in May, is now batting .344 for the Storm. A 2018 signing out of the Dominican Republic, Angeles’ natural ability at the plate has impressed the organization in his young career. … Robert Hassell III added three hits as two of the Storm’s youngest players impressed with the bat. Hassell, not to be outdone by his fellow teenager on the roster, has batted an even .500 in his last five games, going 10-for-20 with three doubles. … Angel Solarte had one of his most impressive evenings of the season, smacking a pair of doubles and driving in three runs. A native of Venezuela, Solarte signed with the Padres in the summer of 2017. His doubles tonight brought him up to six since joining the Storm, and his RBI total is now 16 in 81 at-bats for Lake Elsinore. The outfielder has added significant muscle mass since his two seasons in Rookie ball. … Gilberto Vizcarra contributed a pair of base hits and a matching total of runs scored while getting the start behind the plate. A native of Mexicali, the 22-year-old Vizcarra is in his first full-season campaign since joining the Padres organization in October, 2016. … A base knock for Jarryd Dale and two runs batted in continue his best professional campaign stateside for the native of Melbourne, Australia. Still just 20 years old, Dale signed with the Padres in July of 2017. His baseball acumen and raw offense has drawn the attention of the organization as he debuts in full-season ball after last being seen in the then-Arizona League in 2019.
ACL Padres did not play (ACL Brewers – Gold COVID-19 protocols)
