Chihuahuas 3, Las Vegas Aviators 2
Key Stats: DH Austin Nola 1-for-4, RBI; RF Tucupita Marcano 1-for-3, BB, CS; 1B Nick Tanielu 1-for-4, HR (6), 2 RBI; CF Robbie Podorsky 1-for-3, 3B; RHP Jesse Scholtens 5 IP 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; RHP LHP Kyle McGrath 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 1 BB; Evan Miller 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, W (2-3)
Evan Miller has been a key contributor to the El Paso pitching staff. (Photo: Jorge Salgado).
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas and Aviators locked up in a rare Las Vegas pitchers’ duel. After managing just two hits through the first seven frames, in the eighth El Paso got a two-run homer from Nick Tanielu. Robbie Podorsky followed with a triple then came in on Austin Nola‘s only hit of the night. Prior to his key hit, Podorsky had collected only one extra-base hit in 35 at-bats since coming off the Injured List. … The three runs held up thanks to a strong outing from the staff. Jesse Scholtens gave up just one earned run through five innings in his best start in a month. Lefty Kyle McGrath followed with 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Evan Miller, who gave up a one run over two innings of his own. Mason Thompson picked up the final out for his seventh save in El Paso. After working just three times in the first two weeks after he was sent back to the Chihuahuas, Thompson came back without an off day Sunday for just the second time in Triple-A and third overall. For Miller, 26, the outing was his sixth straight of at least two innings.
Corpus Christi Hooks 9, Missions 5
Key Stats: 2B Eguy Rosario 2-for-5, 2B; DH Jose Azocar 2-for-5, HR (6), 2 R; CF Jack Suwinski 2-for-4, BB, SB (5); 1B Allen Cordoba 1-for-3, 2B, SF; RHP Brandon Komar 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB; RHP Pedro Avila 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Prospect Watch: The Missions took a 5-2 lead into the ninth, but three relievers combined to cough up seven runs, including a grand slam that gave Corpus the walk-off win. Before the meltdown, San Antonio appeared to be in position to split the series even though scheduled starter Aaron Leasher was a scratch because of a promotion to Triple-A. With the lefty, who posted a team-best 2.56 ERA in 12 starts, out of the mix, Brandon Komar made the spot start and allowed just one run over 3.2 frames. The 22-year-old righty has pitched to a 3.69 ERA in 18 outings across two levels this year. … Four different Missions hitters collected two hits on the day including Jose Azocar, who hit his sixth homer of the year to open the scoring. The 25-year-old outfielder has now matched his combined home run total from the first six years of his professional career. Jack Suwinski collected two hits for his first multi-hit effort in two weeks. Though he came into the series cold, the left-handed outfielder reached base at a .538 clip in six games against the Hooks.
Subscribers can read John’s interview with Leasher from yesterday. We’re thankful for everyone who makes our travel to the affiliates possible and are glad to have a bunch of content for you in the coming weeks.
Erik Sabrowski has stymied Hi-A hitters this year. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
TinCaps 9, West Michigan White Caps 2
Key Stats: SS Chris Givin 2-for-5, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI; RF Agustin Ruiz 2-for-5, 2 RBI; 2B Justin Lopez 2-for-5, 2B; 1B Seamus Curran 2-for-5, 2 2B; LHP Erik Sabrowski 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, HBP; LHP Dan Williams 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K; RHP Edwuin Bencomo 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps rode a six-run fifth inning to victory on Sunday, claiming a series win over the White Caps. While Fort Wayne is in the bottom half of the league in total runs scored, they’ve made a habit of putting together big innings. … While the club lost one breakout lefty prospect to promotion last week, Erik Sabrowski is quickly taking on that mantel in the Summit City. The 23-year-old southpaw worked five more two-hit innings Sunday. Through the first four frames, Sabrowski didn’t allow a hit, but after sitting through his teammates’ outburst in the top of the inning, the Canadian hurler allowed a two-run double and another walk before righting the ship and finishing five for the second straight outing. Drafted out of junior college in Kansas is 2018, he underwent Tommy John before making a professional appearance. He hadn’t logged any official innings before this spring, though he impressed in minicamp and instructs last year. Opponents are hitting a paltry .171 against him and he has a dominant 37:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 innings of work. … Jonny Homza made his first appearance after leaving Tuesday night’s game, collecting one hit out of the DH slot. The 22-year-old catcher had been showing some signs of the workload of his first full season assignment, going just 3-for-26 without an extra base hit over his last seven games.
TinCaps Roster Notes: The TinCaps put righties Carter Loewen and Gabe Mosser on the Injured List before Sunday’s game. Carlos Guarate was promoted from Lake Elsinore to take Mosser’s swing role.
Visalia Rawhide 6, Storm 3
Gabriel Morales can be dominant when he controls the strike zone. (Photo: Dinur Blum)
Key Stats: DH Robert Hassell III 1-for-3, 2 BB, CS (4); CF Joshua Mears 4-for-5, 2 RBI; C/1B Brandon Valenzuela 2-for-5; LHP Gabe Morales 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, 4 BB; RHP Duilio Ochoa 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB; RHP Chase Walter 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 0 BB, HBP
Prospect Watch: Lake Elsinore jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first, but then their offense ground to a halt. While the pitching staff made the lead hold for seven, Visalia tied it in the top of the ninth then put up four runs in the 10th to ice the home team. Lefty Gabriel Morales made the start and worked a season-high 4.1 innings three days after a rocky relief outing. The 22-year-old from Venezuela continued to fight his command Sunday, issuing three walks to push his season total to 28 in 41.1 innings, but he also has struck out 58 batters. Morales had made six consecutive appearances out of the pen since getting hit hard in Rancho last month. … Joshua Mears continued his monster series against Visalia, collecting his second four-hit game as a professional. The big man, who made his 11th start of the year in center on Sunday, has hit in 10 of his last 11 games and finished the series 12-for-25 with with 20 total bases.
