C.J. Abrams ran wild in his five-hit night for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 13, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
Key Statistics: CF Esteury Ruiz 3-4, BB, HBP, SB(3); SS C.J. Abrams 5-6, HR(5), 3 RBI; LF Matthew Batten 2-3, 2B, 2 BB; RF Taylor Kohlwey 3-5, 2 RBI ; 3B C.J. Hinojosa 2-4, 3B, BB, 2 RBI; DH Robinson Canó 1-5, RBI; LHP Aaron Leasher (W, 2-3) 5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR; LHP Jose Castillo 1 IP, H, K
Esteury Ruiz has significantly improved his defense in 2022. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: El Paso collected 18 hits, just three for extra bases, to roll to its fourth straight win and eighth in the last eleven games. With a win on their SpongeBob SquarePants theme night, they’ve won four consecutive series victories. … C.J. Abrams came to the plate in the eighth with a chance for a rare six-hit game, but ground out and settled for a 5-for-6 line that included his fifth homer in 121 Triple-A plate appearances. He has been heating up in June with a slash line of .333/.371/.455. … The bad news for Esteury Ruiz was getting caught stealing for the first time in Triple-A. The good news? He was on base five times, had three hits, and stole his third base in five games with the Chihuahuas. … Matthew Batten appeared in left field Saturday, continuing to show his defensive versatility while playing his sixth different defensive position of the season. Wherever he has played, he’s continued to hit and get on base, which he did four times tonight. On the year, he is hitting .305/.411/.535 and hasn’t missed a beat since coming back from the COVID list. … Robinson Canó went 1-for-5 in his first non-rehab minor league game since 2005.
Roster Transactions: With the COVID-19 outbreak on the big club, LHP Ray Kerr and RHP Reiss Knehr, were recalled by the Padres. Brent Rooker also joined the club for Saturday as the 27th player.
Missions 6, Corpus Christi Hooks 5
Connor Hollis has had a big year for the Missions. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Key Statistics: 3B Connor Hollis 3-5; 2B Kelvin Alcaron 2-5, RBI; LF Tirso Ornelas 2-5, 2 RBI; C Juan Zabala 2-3, BB; RHP Henry Henry (W, 1-0) 1.2 IP, 1 BB, 1 K; RHP Dinelson Lamet 1 IP, K; RHP Michel Baez 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 K
Prospect Watch: The Missions got three runs in the first and two in the second and were able to hold on for their third win in five games since Ruiz was promoted, Adrian Morejon‘s rehab stint ended, and a COVID outbreak ravaged the clubhouse. Despite all that, the “Misfits,” as their manager Phillip Wellman refers to the team, are still sitting atop the Texas League South with a 29-25 record. … One of the big reasons for the team’s success has been the play of the third baseman of Connor Hollis, 27, who the organization picked up when the Tampa Bay Rays released him at the end of Spring Training. On the year, he is hitting .330/.451/.467, good for sixth in the league in batting average and fifth in on-base percentage. … Dinelson Lamet had his second straight scoreless outing, breezing through one inning on just nine pitches, seven for strikes. Since returning to Double-A, Lamet has struck out nine in seven innings and allowed just one walk, but he’s given up 10 hits on the way to a 3.86 ERA. … Michel Baez remains another strong bullpen option for the major league club. He earned his first save with two strong innings Saturday. In seven games with the Missions, he has a 3.72 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 9.2 innings against three walks and six hits. … Tirso Ornelas was reinstated from the COVID list before the game and had two hits in his return to the lineup. He had hit in six straight before going down for eight days.
Lake County Captains 4, TinCaps 0
Key Statistics: 1B Lucas Dunn 1-2, BB, HBP; 3B Kelvin Melean 1-3, BB; LHP Noel Vela 5.2 IP ,4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, HR
Noel Vela had nine strikeouts. (Photo: Jeff Nycz).
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps had the bad luck to run Doug Nikhazy, a second-round draft pick from Ole Miss last year, who looked much better than his prospect ranking with the Guardians as he struck out 10 Fort Wayne batters against a single walk in 6.2 shutout innings. … Lucas Dunn was the highlight of the TinCaps’ offense, reaching base three times as he broke a five-game hitless streak. … Noel Vela continues to strike out batters at an impressive pace, with 62 strikeouts in 44.1 innings, but the walks (28) and the inability to get deep into games because of the number of pitches he throws are still something that needs to be improved. Of his 11 starts, he’s only gone six innings once.
Roster Transactions: Robert Hassell III was cleared to come off of the COVID-19 list and should be in the lineup today.
Storm 7, San Jose Giants 6
Key Statistics: SS Max Ferguson 1-4, BB, SB (38); 2B Nerwilian Cedeno 2-4, RBI, BB; 1B Cole Cummings 2-2, RBI, 3 BB; 3B Kervin Pichardo 1-4, BB; RF Charlis Aquino 2-4, 2B, HR (1) RBI; RHP Victor Lizarraga 5 IP, 2 H, 4 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 4 K; RHP Keegan Collett (W, 4-0) 1 IP, H, BB, K
Prospect Watch: The Storm sent nearly everyone home from the Diamond happy as they rallied to put three runs on the board in the ninth inning as Kervin Pichardo had the game-winning bases-loaded single. Lake Elsinore will have a chance to win the series against the Giants on Sunday. … Max Ferguson now has 38 stolen bases in 41 attempts. … Cole Cummings, 23, who always seems to find a way to contribute, reached base five times with two hits and three walks. He now has a .408 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitter was an undrafted free agent out of the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2021; he also hit well in his 12-game cameo last year with a .349/.472/.651 line. … Victor Lizarraga continued to impress, allowing only two hits over five frames, though he needed 94 pitches to do it as he matched a season-high with four walks. At only 18, he has turned in a 3.71 ERA to lead Lake Elsinore starters.
ACL Padres 6, ACL Mariners 2 (F/7)
Victor Acosta in action with the ACL Padres. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Key Statistics: RF Joshua Mears 1-2, 2B, BB; LF James Wood 0-2, BB; 3B Jake Perez 2-3; SS Victor Acosta 2-3 HR (1), 2 RBI, SB (1); 2B Rosman Verdugo 2-3, 3B; LHP Javier Chacon (W, 1-0) 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 K; RHP Reiner Parra 1 IP, BB, 2 K
Prospect Watch: Victor Acosta, 18, broke his three-game hitless streak with a pair of hits, including his first stateside home run to go along with a stolen base. The switch-hitting Dominican is our top prospect in the desert and should be there for the majority of the season. .. The lineup included a trio of outfielders that should be back in their normal spots before long. James Wood was off to a hot start in the Cal League at .300/.462/.560 in 65 plate appearances before a wrist injury sidelined him in early May. He and fellow rehabber Michael Green should be back in Lake Elsinore once they get their legs under them. Joshua Mears was a feast-or-famine hitter for the TinCaps, but by the middle of May needed a mental reset as his batting average was down to .185. His timetable will be set as he works on refining an approach that can make his plus power work. .. Rosman Verdugo, 17, the latest in a line of Mexico City Diablos Rojos products in the Padres system, will also be someone to watch as part of the double-play tandem with Acosta. Although he can play shortstop, he will likely play on either side of Acosta most frequently through the summer.
