Albuquerque Isotopes 10, Chihuahuas 4
Key Statistics: 3B Matt Batten 2-5, 2B, RBI, R; C Brett Sullivan 2-4, RBI, BB; RF Luis Liberato 2-5, HR (8), RBI, R; CF Esteury Ruiz 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K, R; RHP Reiss Knehr (L, 3-4) 2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The Isotopes proved to be rude hosts, racing out to an eight run lead against El Paso starter Reiss Knehr and cruising to victory. Steady Matt Batten helped pace the Chihuahuas offensively with a multi-hit effort, including his tenth double of the season. The 26-year-old’s infield versatility could make him a candidate to fulfill a big league utility role. … Luis Liberato put El Paso on the scoreboard, taking a 2-0 pitch over the wall in right field in the fourth inning for a solo home run. The former Seattle Mariner farmhand hasn’t been able to replicate his Tacoma numbers, slashing .216/.300/.489 for the Chihuahuas this season. … Esteury Ruiz went hitless in his Triple-A debut, but collected a pair of walks and scored a run. The 23-year-old hit in the seven-hole after leading off most of the year for San Antonio. … Knehr started three days after he logged two relief innings in an all-staff game, but didn’t have it from the outset. He was ultimately chased before he could record an out in the third inning. All told, the former Fordham Ram was charged with seven earned runs, tying a season high. With a dominant big league rotation intact, the right-hander figures to play a much smaller role than a season ago.
Roster Moves: Esteury Ruiz earned his promotion to Triple-A and Taylor Kohlwey came off the COVID list. Jordan Brink, who left his last appearance with an injury to his side, hit the IL along with outfielder Shogo Akiyama.
Reggie Lawson turned in his strongest post-surgery outing yet Tuesday. (Photo: Rey Holguin).
Missions 5, Corpus Christi Hooks 1
Key Statistics: 3B Connor Hollis 2-3, 2 RBI, SB; DH Juan Zabala 2-4, SB; RHP Reggie Lawson (W, 1-4) 5 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K; RHP Michel Baez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K
Prospect Watch: A patchwork Missions roster rode a sterling effort by starting pitcher Reggie Lawson to snap the Hooks on the road. Following Ruiz’s promotion, Connor Hollis stepped into the leadoff role for the first time this season. The 27-year-old University of Houston product delivered in fine fashion, producing his second consecutive multi-hit game. Signed as a free agent on April 1st, Hollis has shined in San Antonio to the tune of a .321/.439/.470 slash line. … Organizational newcomer Juan Zabala, assigned to the Missions roster just prior to the game, boosted the offense with a pair of hits. The 22-year-old Colombian was acquired out of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization Saturday after spending time at three different minor league stops in 2021. … Lawson stifled the Hooks offense over five terrific frames. The Victorville native needed eighty pitches to cover his outing, with the lone blemish being a solo home run in the fourth inning. The victory was Lawson’s first since 2019 as he continues to work back from injury. … Michel Baez needed just 14 pitches to strike out the side in a perfect inning. The 26-year-old, freshly activated from the IL and optioned to San Antonio, could be a viable weapon in the big league bullpen in the near future.
Roster Moves: To field a roster a day after putting six players on the COVID list, the Missions received infielder Ripken Reyes and Zabala from Fort Wayne and Wilmert Paula from the ACL. They joined Rafael Fermin, Luis Madrazo, and Ike Freeman, who were announced Monday.
Angel Solarte did his best to fuel the offense Tuesday. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Lake County Captains 3, TinCaps 2 (F/10)
Key Statistics: DH Angel Solarte 2-4, RBI; RHP Brandon Komar 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K; RHP Edwuin Bencomo 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K; LHP Ramon Perez (L, 0-1) 1.2 IP, 1H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: Nine innings was not enough to declare a winner between the clubs, as they entered extra innings deadlocked in a scoreless tie. The Captains took advantage of two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch to score what would be the decisive runs. The loss dropped the TinCaps to 20-32 on the season. … The lack of offensive support spoiled a terrific outing from Brandon Komar, who twirled a five-inning gem. Komar, 23, has posted a 4.08 ERA working primarily out in a multi-inning relief role for the TinCaps this season. The effort narrowly surpassed his previous season high of 4 2/3 innings on May 6. … Ramon Perez sailed through the ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Cuban southpaw, he lost his command in the tenth and allowed three runs on a pair of walks, a single and two wild pitches. … With multiple players still on the COVID-IL, DH Angel Solarte, who laced a pair of singles and drove in a run, led the offense. The 21-year-old Venezuelan has not found the same success in his return to Fort Wayne after a brief stint in the Summit City to end 2021, posting just a .581 OPS in part-time duties.
San Jose Giants 7, Storm 0
Key Statistics: CF Justin Farmer 1-1, 2 BB, SB (16); RHP Wilton Castillo (L, 0-1) 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Prospect Watch: 2021 first-round pick Will Bednar held a listless Storm offense to just three hits as Lake Elsinore dropped their second game in a row. Justin Farmer was the lone standout, as the Floridian reached base safely three times and stole his 16th base of the season. The 23-year-old Farmer has shown a keen eye at the plate this year, drawing 40 walks, but has been undermined by a strikeout rate north of 35%.. … Wilton Castillo surrendered four earned runs across three-plus innings. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has shown strikeout potential, but has proven to be hittable, working to a 2.29 WHIP in two appearances with the Storm after similar troubles last season in the desert.
Joshua Mears blasted a home run on Tuesday for the ACL Padres. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
ACL Padres 6, ACL Royals 0 (F/7)
Key Statistics: 1B Josttin Diaz 2-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R; RF Joshua Mears 1-4, HR (1), RBI, R; RHP Jarlin Susana 3 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Manuel Castro (W, 1-0) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: There were storylines aplenty on a balmy 106 degree evening in the desert, as heralded right-hander Jarlin Susana made his stateside debut in a shutout victory for the Padres. The 6-foot-6, 230 pound 18-year-old allowed just two baserunners across three innings, notching a pair of strikeouts. … Rehabbing outfielder James Wood returned to action with an 0-for-3. Perhaps one of the biggest “helium” risers in minor league baseball, the 19-year-old is working back from a wrist injury that has sidelined him twice already this season. Given continued good health, he should rejoin the Lake Elsinore roster quickly. … Not to be outdone, Joshua Mears announced his own presence in the desert with a first inning home run against rehabbing lefty Eric Skoglund. Persistent contact issues plagued the 20-year-old, who has spent the last few weeks on the Development List, but he has the best raw power in the system. … 2018 international signee Josttin Diaz matched his 2021 total with a pair of extra base hits. Now 20, the switch-hitter slugged just .229 in his first two professional seasons. … In a game full of large humans, undersized righty Manuel Castro claimed victory with four shutout innings. Castro, from Sinaloa, Mexico, worked to a 1.04 ERA in the Dominican Summer League last year and is one of a handful of intriguing arms making stateside debuts this season.
