Round Rock Express 9, Chihuahuas 6
Key Statistics: 1B Nick Tanielu 3-for-4, R; 2B Gosuke Katoh 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R; RF Brian O’Grady 1-for-4, HR (12), RBI, R; RHP Jesse Scholtens (L, 3-8) 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, BB, 6 K
Prospect Watch: El Paso struck first but Round Rock rode a four run second inning to victory on the road. Brian O’Grady gave the Chihuahuas a short-lived lead in the first inning with a solo home run, his 13th of the season. The 29-year-old is mired in a bit of a slump, coming off a rough August when he hit just .229 for the month. …With Luis Campusano‘s absence from the lineup continuing, Rancho Bernardo High product Gosuke Katoh stepped into the spotlight. Batting out of the nine spots, Katoh enjoyed a three hit night, collecting his 20th double of the season. The 26-year-old has enjoyed hitting in the friendly confines of Southwest University Park, slashing .331/.411/.496 in 46 home contests. … Jesse Scholtens took the mound for El Paso and ultimately was tagged with the loss. The right-hander surrendered six earned runs before giving way in the sixth inning. The former Wright State Raider had not allowed more than three earned runs in his last four starts, dating back to July 13.
Missions 12, Frisco RoughRiders 7
Key Statistics: CF Esteury Ruiz 2-for-6, HR (9), RBI, 2 R; RF Agustin Ruiz 2-for-5, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 R; SS Eguy Rosario 3-for-6, 2 RBI, SB, R; RHP Moises Lugo 3 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Mason Fox (W, 3-3) 1 IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Jose Quezada (S, 16) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Moises Lugo has established himself with a solid 2021 campaign. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Prospect Watch: In a see-saw affair that saw multiple lead changes, the Missions rode an eighth inning surge to buck the RoughRiders in Frisco. Agustin Ruiz put the visitors on top in the second inning with his fifth home run since his early-August promotion. Power has not been in short supply for the 21-year-old from Hermosillo, Mexico, but a 32:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio has limited the talented outfielder to just a .216 on base percentage thus far. … Not to be outdone, Esteury Ruiz (no relation) made his presence felt just one inning later, launching his ninth home run of the campaign. After a sterling August, Ruiz has started off September with a .160/.276/.280 line in seven games. … Moises Lugo took his turn on the hill after missing his last time through the rotation. The 22-year-old tossed three efficient innings, allowing just one hit. The talented right-hander has now thrown 86 innings on the season, more than double the workload he produced in 2019. After three abbreviated starts in Double-A, Lugo’s ERA sits at 2.53, with 15 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. …In a game defined by two offenses that combined for 25 hits, the back end of the San Antonio bullpen closed the door on Frisco, as Mason Fox earned his third win in relief. The 24-year-old has struggled to find his footing in 2021, with a WHIP of 2.48. Opposing hitters are batting a whopping .373 off Fox this season.
TinCaps Postponed
The Lugnuts and TinCaps were unable to get underway as rain forced the postponement. The teams will play a doubleheader Wednesday.
Storm 14, Visalia Rawhide 4
Key Statistics: 2B Max Ferguson 4-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 3 R; DH Cole Cummings 1-for-6, HR (1), 4 RBI, R; 1B Matt Acosta 3-for-5, 2 RBI, SB BB, R; LF Lucas Dunn 2-for-4, 2 BB, R; LHP Bodi Rascon 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K; RHP Luarbert Arias (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Max Ferguson reached base at a .415 clip in the desert before his promotion. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: There was no shortage of offense on display from the Storm as Lake Elsinore used a 16 hit attack to overwhelm Visalia. Max Ferguson made quite an impression in his Storm debut, amassing four hits and adding a pair of stolen bases, including a steal of home. The 2021 fifth-round selection out of the University of Tennessee was viewed as a potential first round choice before a rough spring season saw his stock drop. If the tools come together, the talented infielder could be a tremendous bargain. … With Joshua Mears back on the 7-day IL, Cole Cummings joined the club and helped provide some power of his own. The former UC Santa Barbara Gaucho notched his first home run in a Storm uniform as part of a four RBI night. The 23-year-old undrafted free agent has posted an .893 OPS in his first 25 games as a pro. … Bodi Rascon made his second start since his run-in with COVID, allowing two earned runs across three innings. The 6-foot-5 southpaw from Decatur, Texas has been limited by injuries to just 30 innings since being drafted in 2019. … Luarbert Arias evened his record at 1-1 as he collected the win in relief of Rascon. The enigmatic 20-year-old has showcased the ability to miss bats, with 49 strikeouts in just 27.2 innings, but has struggled with consistent command, walking 19 batters.
ACL Brewers Gold 8, ACL Padres 4
Key Statistics: CF Edwin Rojas 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 R; RF Justin Farmer 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB; RHP Justin Lange 1 IP, H, ER, BB, K; RHP Ryan Bergert 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K; RHP Alan Mundo (L, 1-2) 1 IP, 3 H, 5 R (4 ER), BB, 2 K
Justin Lange returned to the mound on Tuesday. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: Nine innings was not enough to settle this contest, but the ACL Brewers Gold broke a 3-3 deadlock in the tenth with a five run outburst to seal victory in the desert. Edwin Rojas supplied a multi-hit night, including his fifth double. After enjoying a standout campaign in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, the 19-year-old Venezuelan hasn’t enjoyed the same success stateside, posting an OPS of just .611 thus far in Arizona. …With some movement in the system, some new faces are getting opportunities, Justin Farmer chief among them. The former Florida International standout reached base safely three times, twice via walk. In mostly part-time duty since signing as an undrafted free agent, the toolsy outfielder has a 7:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … After a shoulder issue kept him out of action for a month, Justin Lange returned to the mound and worked one inning. In a microcosm of his season, the hard throwing right-hander from Llano, Texas walked a batter, struck out a batter and uncorked two wild pitches. … Ryan Bergert continued the stellar start to his career, relieving Lange and tossing a pair of scoreless innings. The Canton, Ohio native has eight strikeouts across seven innings in the desert, and has allowed just two runners.
