Albuquerque Isotopes 4, Chihuahuas 3
Key Statistics: C Webster Rivas 1-for-4, HR (5), RBI, 2 R; 1B Taylor Kohlwey 1-for-3, RBI, BB; RHP Adrian Martinez 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; RHP Evan Miller (L, 4-4) (BS, 1) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER (1 ER), BB
Adrian Martinez has made progress after a rough start in Triple-A. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas bullpen could not preserve a gem by starting pitcher Adrian Martinez as the Isotopes rallied late to claim the win. Promoted to Triple-A exactly a month ago, the 24-year-old Martinez put forth his best effort yet for El Paso, carrying a shutout into the sixth inning. After allowing 15 earned runs in his first three starts at the new level, the Mexicali native has found a bit of a groove, allowing just five earned runs in his last three starts combined. … With Luis Campusano still out of action, Webster Rivas carried the weight for his fellow backstop, connecting for his fifth home run of the season. The 31-year-old has been pressed into more extended duty in September, posting a solid slash line of .281/.343/.406. …With the Chihuahuas clinging to a one run lead, Evan Miller was tasked with holding the Isotopes at bay. Unfortunately, a misplayed ground ball in center field allowed both the tying and winning run to cross the plate. The 26-year-old has done an immaculate job of home run prevention, giving up just five in 70.1 innings, but has proven to be a bit hittable; allowing 81 hits along the way. John had a profile on the right-handed reliever from his recent trip to El Paso.
Carlos Belen in action for the Missions. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Corpus Christi Hooks 9, Missions 4
Key Statistics: 2B Ethan Skender 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, BB, 2 R; 1B Kyle Overstreet 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R; RHP Carlos Belen (L, 5-3) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The Hooks took advantage of a leaky Missions bullpen, turning a one run contest late into a decisive victory on the road. Ethan Skender continued his solid run at Double-A, connecting on his first home run in a Missions uniform. The 24-year-old’s minor league journey was delayed by injuries until 2019, but he has a .284/.369/.415 line through 132 games. … Kyle Overstreet, one of a handful of 2015 draftees still in the organization, was the only Missions hitter to collect two hits on the night. The 14th-round selection out of the University of Alabama, known for his defensive versatility, has posted a .668 OPS this season, his third consecutive year at the Double-A level. … With a bullpen game on the docket, Carlos Belen took the mound for the Missions. The converted infielder worked a perfect first inning before running into trouble in the second, allowing a two run home run that proved to be decisive. The 25-year-old, coming off a stellar August when he yielded just one earned run, has been unable to replicate those results in September, working to an ERA of 9.00.
Dayton Dragons 10, TinCaps 2
Key Statistics: CF Robert Hassell III 1-for-4, 3B, BB, SB; 2B Ripken Reyes 2-for-3, BB, R; RHP Connor Lehmann (L, 3-4) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 8 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
Robert Hassell III has impressed in his TinCaps debut (Photo: TinCaps)
Prospect Watch: The Dragons rained down fire early at Day Air Ballpark, mounting a nine run lead after just three innings to rout the TinCaps. … A game after he struck out five times, Robert Hassell III rebounded in typical fashion, reaching base twice. The 20-year-old tripled to lead off the game, walked and stole his 33rd base of the season. Despite an uptick in strikeout rate at High-A, Hassell has tapped into more power. Through his first 13 games, his slugging percentage has actually slightly increased from his stint in Lake Elsinore, up to a solid .491 clip. … Former University of San Diego Torero Ripken Reyes enjoyed a multi-hit game, singling twice out of the ninth spot while adding a walk. The 24-year-old has had his season short-circuited by multiple IL stints, bouncing between three different organizational stops. When healthy, Reyes has shown a propensity for reaching base, posting a .412 on base percentage in 2021. … Connor Lehmann took the hill for Fort Wayne and labored through his worst start as a professional, allowing eight earned runs in just 2.2 innings. The former Saint Louis Billiken surrendered leadoff home runs in the first and second inning, then unraveled in the third with four walks before being lifted for Austin Smith. The outing raised Lehmann’s High-A Central League ERA to 8.64.
Storm 6, Inland Empire 66ers 4
Key Statistics: LF Jack Stronach 1-for-4, HR (5), RBI, R; 1B Cole Cummings 1-for-2, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R; C Gilberto Vizcarra 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI; RHP Levi Thomas 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn (W, 3-0) (BS, 2) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; RHP Jason Reynolds (S, 4) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm got out of the gates quickly, lighting up the scoreboard with a four run first inning, then denied a late charge by the 66ers to win at The Diamond. Cole Cummings tacked on another strong performance to his Low-A resume, recording a bases loaded walk in the first inning before launching his second home run. The undrafted signee out of UC Santa Barbara has been a stabilizing force in the lineup, reaching base safely in six of his seven games while hitting .346 and posting an OPS of 1.021. … Speaking of stabilizing forces, there may be no better example than Gilberto Vizcarra, who added three more hits Tuesday. After playing much of the year in the shadow of standout catcher Brandon Valenzuela, Vizcarra has taken to the primary role brilliantly. For the month, the 22-year-old backstop is hitting .400/.429/.600, raising his slugging percentage nearly 40 points since the start of the month. … Levi Thomas ultimately did not factor in the decision, but tossed 4.2 innings for the Storm. The former Troy Trojan has battled command issues in 2021, walking over four batters per nine innings in his first season after the Padres drafted him in the fourth round last year. … Ethan Routzahn remained undefeated, notching his third of the season in relief. The sidewinder out of St. John’s has struck out 33 batters across just 18 innings at two levels this season.
ACL Padres 9, ACL Athletics 4
Key Statistics: DH James Wood 3-for-4, 2 2B, 5 RBI, SB; 3B Nerwilian Cedeno 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2 SB; RHP Victor Lizarraga 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K; RHP Garrett Hawkins W (3-1) 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), BB, 6 K
Victor Lizarraga, the Padres’ youngest player in the ACL, is finishing strong. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: James Wood put together one of his better performances in the desert, single-handedly outscoring the ACL A’s. Coming off a lackluster spring when some industry evaluators questioned both his hit tool and engagement in games, Wood is silencing some of the noise. The 6-foot-7 outfielder with freakish athleticism put all of his skills on display Tuesday, notching a pair of doubles, stealing a base and drawing a walk. The former IMG Academy standout has a .948 OPS to go along with ten stolen bases in 23 games, a combination no other ACL player can claim. …The offense was not the entire story, as RHP Victor Lizarraga turned in another strong performance on the mound. Since returning from a three week layoff on August 23, Lizarraga has been nothing short of dominant. The talented 17-year-old from Montgomery High School has surrendered just one earned run in 11.1 innings, striking out 18. Opposing hitters are batting just .223 off Lizarraga. …Not to be outdone, Garrett Hawkins posted his own stellar three inning stint, striking out six. The Candian righty was charged with a pair of unearned runs, but lowered his ERA to 2.35. The Padres’ ninth round draft selection this year has struck out four or more batters in four of seven appearances in his desert debut.
