Reno Aces 7, Chihuahuas 6
Key Statistics: CF Jose Azocar 4-5, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI; 2B; Eguy Rosario 2-4, 2B, RBI; SS C.J. Hinojosa 2-4; RF Luis Liberato 2-4, HR (13) 2 RBI; DH Wil Myers 1-5; RHP Matt Waldron 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 3 K ,HR; RHP Reiss Knehr 2 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 2 K; LHP Jose Castillo (L, 3-1) (BS,1) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, BB, HR
It’s been a very good July for Eguy. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas took a lead into the bottom of the ninth. Jose Castillo, after getting the first out, walked the next batter before giving up a monster walk-off home run to Aces’ outfielder Stone Garrett; who now leads the Pacific Coast League with 24 home runs. After dominating in his first 23 appearances for El Paso, the 6-foot-6 lefty has run into a bit of a tough stretch, giving up four earned runs in his last two appearances. … Jose Azocar, who got off to an 0-13 start after being sent to Triple-A, broke out with a 4-5 night. He didn’t homer in 49 games for the Chihuahuas last year. … With a pair of hits, Eguy Rosario moved his slash line in July to .403/.481/.726 coming off of June, when he hit .288/.368/.625. In 43 games in June and July, Rosario has 31 extra-base hits. … Wil Myers went 1-for-5 with a chasing strikeout out of the DH slot in his second game with El Paso.
Missions 7, Corpus Christi Hooks 4
Key Statistics: SS Connor Hollis 2-4, 2B, BB, SB (18); CF Thomas Milone 2-4, 2B, BB, SB (11); 2B Domingo Lebya 0-2, 2 BB; DH Webster Rivas 3-4; RF Wyatt Ulrich 1-3, BB; C Chandler Seagle 1-4, HR (3), RBI; LHP Ben Krauth 4.0 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 5 K; RHP Henry Henry (W, 2-0) 1.0 IP, 2 R, 5 BB, 2 K; LHP Fred Schilchtholz 1.1 IP, 2 H, R 3 K; RHP Angel Felip (S, 11) 1.0 IP, 2 H, K
Ben and Mark had an obligatory chicken-fried steak before heading out to The Wolff to provide coverage of the Missions’ victory.
TinCaps 7, Dayton Dragons 3
Key Statistics: 3B Lucas Dunn 1-3 HR (4), 2 RBI; LF Corey Rosier 2-4, 2 SB (29); C Anthony Vilar 1-2, 2 BB; CF Robert Hassell III 1-3, RRI, BB; RHP Ryan Bergert (W, 2-6) 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K, HR; RHP Edwuin Bencomo 1.2 IP, H, R, K, HR; RHP Seth Mayberry 2.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 3K
Corey Rosier continues to get on base for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps got the lead early on Lucas Dunn’s blast to the opposite field and didn’t look back on the road in Dayton. They will play the rubber match of the three-game series Sunday. … Corey Rosier, 22, continued his torrid July with two more hits and a pair of stolen bases. He now has a .300/.419/.460 slash line for the month with five stolen bases in as many attempts, and has walked (11) more than he has struck out (9). He pushed his season total to 29 stolen bags, which is fourth in the Midwest, and he ranks eighth with a .376 on-base percentage. … Ryan Bergert picked up his second consecutive victory, pitching into the sixth inning again. The hard-throwing righty matched his season high with seven strikeouts while allowing just one walk. … Seth Mayberry, 22, threw his second straight two-inning appearance and now has 50 strikeouts against 18 walks and a 3.91 ERA on the season. He gave up 13 earned runs in 15 innings in April/May but has allowed only two in 15 innings since June 1.
Carlos Luis has emerged as a prospect this season. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Inland Empire 66ers 13, Storm 10
Key Statistics: CF James Wood 2-4, HR(8), RBI, BB; 2B Nerwilian Cedeno 1-4, BB; 1B Carlos Luis 3-3, 2 RBI, BB; DH Juan Zabala 1-3, 2 BB; RF Albert Fabian 2-5, 3 RBI; SS Charlis Aquino 1-5 HR (2) 2 RBI; RHP Duncan Snider 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 7 K; LHP Alexuan Vega (L, 1-1) 0.0 IP 4 H, 5 R, BB
Prospect Watch: The Storm were up 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth on the road in Inland Empire before the bullpen fell apart, particularly lefty Alexuan Vega who had a nightmare pitching line in the Storm’s loss. Lake Elsinore will try to avoid the sweep today. James Wood cracked his eighth home run, a blast deep over the right-center field wall. Five of his homers have come against the 66ers. The left-handed hitting 19-year-old has been limited to 43 games by an early-season wrist injury, but has produced a stellar line of .327/.449/.571 with 15 doubles, and a triple in 207 plate appearances. He also has 14 steals in 17 attempts. and, most impressively, has drawn 34 walks against 36 strikeouts. It’s very difficult to keep the hype train in the station for a 6-foot-7 centerfielder from Rockville, Maryland, who is making it hard to believe he wasn’t taken until the second round in last year’s draft. … One of the more improved prospects in the system is another left-handed hitter, Carlos Luis. After a 3-for-3 night with a walk and sacrifice fly, he leads the Storm in hits with 86 and 20 doubles for a line of .306/.382/.438. … Duncan Snider, 24, has been a nice free agent signing out of the affiliate leagues. The 6-foot-7 right-hander was with the Lake Country DockHounds in the American Association with a 5.82 ERA in 38.2 innings but also had 52 strikeouts against only 16 walks. So far, he has a 1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings with the Storm.
ACL Padres 14, ACL Mariners 4
Key Statistics: SS Jackson Merrill 2-3, RBI; LF Ruben Salinas 3-5, RBI; CF Edwin Rojas 1-2; 2B Victor Acosta 2-3, 2 RBI; SS Rosman Verdugo 1-3, 2B, RBI; C Carlos Rodriguez 3-5, 2 2B, 5 RBI; DH-LF Juan Murillo 2-5, 2B, RBI; 1B-3B Josstin Diaz 2-5, 3B, RBI; RHP Levi Thomas 3.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez (W, 1-1) 2.1 IP, H, 3 K
Jackson Merrill is looking to leave the ACL. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: Despite being a relatively balmy 97 degrees at game time, Jackson Merrill, 19, again demonstrated that he wants to put his wrist and hamstring issues in the rear view mirror of a vehicle heading back to Lake Elsinore. Last year’s first-round pick has rapped out 10 hits in six games in the desert, five of them for extra bases. The minute he has a clean bill of health, he will be back in the California League. … Carlos Rodriguez posted a big game with a pair of doubles and five RBI. In our preseason preview, we noted the switch-hitting Venezuelan had the most upside of the four catchers on the roster, but so far, he has only had limited opportunities with less than 30 plate appearances. .. Levi Thomas, 24, a fourth-round pick in 2020, threw three innings in his second rehab appearance in the ACL. In 31.1 innings with the Storm this season, the former Troy University star has a 4.60 ERA with 40 strikeouts against 21 walks.
