Salt Lake City Bees 6, Chihuahuas 5
Key Stats: 3B Matt Batten 2-for-5, HR (9); LF Brett Sullivan 3-for-5, 2B; CF Luis Liberato 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB; 1B Kelvin Alarcon 2-for-5; LHP Jose Castillo 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Matthew Batten came off of the COVID list and had a pair of hits. (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
Prospect Watch: El Paso rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth and had the go-ahead run on base with no outs, but came up short in their comeback attempt to drop the series finale at Salt Lake. Matt Batten came off the COVID list and picked up right where he’d left off before the 10 day layoff. The 26-year-old infielder singled and connected on his ninth homer of the season and now has a .306/.412/.548 slash line through 42 games. … Luis Liberato had a pair of doubles for his third multi-hit game of the series. After struggling to a sub-.550 OPS through the first six weeks of the season, the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic has been making much more consistent and authoritative contact. Over his last 10 games, Liberato has collected 10 extra-base hits and raised his slugging percentage 154 points. … With a depleted rotation, eight Chihuahuas hurlers worked Sunday, knowing that there’s a day off awaiting tomorrow. Only Kyle Tyler worked two full innings as he labored through 48 pitches and was charged with four earned runs on six hits. The 25-year-old righty has posted a 5.51 ERA through 16.1 innings in his first year with the Padres organization. … Jose Castillo turned in another scoreless frame, getting four whiffs on nine pitches. The lefty, who hasn’t allowed an earned run yet this year between Lake Elsinore and El Paso, continues to sit 93-95 with his fastball.
Missions game canceled
Following a COVID outbreak with the team, both of the scheduled weekend games against Tulsa were canceled. The club will hope to be ready to play Tuesday.
Great Lakes Loons 8, TinCaps 0 (F/5 innings)
Key Stats: DH Brandon Valenzuela 0-for-1, BB; RF Angel Solarte 0-for-1, BB; LHP Noel Vela 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), 3 K, 2 BB; RHP Sam Keating 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB; RHP Dwayne Matos 2 IP, 3 H, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps didn’t manage a hit before the skies opened up following the fifth inning and the club dropped the rain-shortened game at the Dow Diamond. The Loons hit Noel Vela hard five days after he limited them to one hit in five innings. The lefty surrendered four earned runs while recording just four outs and was spared further damage when Sam Keating stranded all three inherited runners. Vela, 23, has given up one run or fewer in seven of his 10 starts, but has been tagged for 13 earned runs over 7.1 frames in his three other outings. … Brandon Valenzuela and Angel Solarte each drew a walk and were the only two Fort Wayne batters to reach safely.
Justin Farmer connects on a homer off of Clayton Kershaw. (Photo: Dylan Otto)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6, Storm 2
Key Stats: 2B Nerwilian Cedeno 1-for-4, 2B, 2 SB (4); CF Justin Farmer 1-for-4, HR (7); LHP Jesus Gonzalez 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 4 BB
Prospect Watch: Jesus Gonzalez matched rehabbing future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw through the first four innings as each gave up one run, but the Quakes got to the lefty in the sixth and piled on against the bullpen to run away with the game. Gonzalez hadn’t gone deeper than five innings in any of his eight previous appearances. The 20-year-old worked around traffic several times, but was tagged for a pair of runs after opening the sixth with a walk and two singles. … Justin Farmer jumped Kershaw’s first pitch of the second inning for a homer to center. The 23-year-old outfielder, signed as an undrafted free agent last summer, hit in five of the six games in the series. In 46 games, he’s posted a strong 18% walk rate to fuel a .366 OBP, but is striking out at a 28.2% clip. … Nerwilian Cedeno collected a double for his first extra-base hit with the Storm and stole two more bases. After swiping just two in 18 games in the desert last summer, he already has four in six games since joining Lake Elsinore.
