Reno Aces 11, Chihuahuas 10 (10 innings)
Aaron Northcraft gave the Chihuahuas a chance to win with two scoreless innings of relief. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Key Stats: CF Jose Azocar 2-for-4, 2 BB, CS (1); 1B Wil Myers 2-for-5, 2B; LF Taylor Kohlwey 3-for-4; DH Brent Rooker 1-for-5, HR (19), 2K; 3B Kervin Pichardo 2-for-2, BB; RHP Alek Jacob 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, K, BB; RHP Michel Baez 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, K; LHP Tom Cosgrove 1 IP, 2 K; RHP Aaron Northcraft 2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas rallied with runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth to send this one to extra innings, but lost on a walk-off walk in the 10th to get swept in the three-game series. Ten pitchers appeared in the contest for El Paso as the staff got through only three scoreless innings. Aaron Northcraft tossed a pair of them, allowing just one runner to reach on a walk. The 32-year-old righty, who returned to the organization as a sidearmer before the 2021 campaign, has held opponents to a .174 average on the year, but has issued 18 walks in 25.2 innings of work. … Wil Myers had two hits in his third game in the Triple-A phase of his rehab assignment while playing first base for the second time. He struck out in five of his 14 plate appearances in Reno. … Jose Azocar reached base four times for the second consecutive night. The outfielder, who spent the first three months of the season in the big leagues, has made five appearances since his demotion, hitting .273 so far. … Taylor Kohlwey collected three more hits and a walk of his own, pushing his on-base percentage to .434, the best it’s been all year. The corner outfielder and first baseman is now leading the PCL in on-base percentage and with a .338 batting average.
Missions 8, Corpus Christi Hooks 2
Key Stats: SS Connor Hollis 2-for-3, 2B, BB, HBP; 3B Juan Fernandez 2-for-4, 2B; 1B Webster Rivas 1-for-3, 2B, BB; RHP Brandon Komar 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, K, 2 BB; RHP Moises Lugo 3.1 IP, 7 K, 1 BB
Prospect Watch: Ben has the last day of coverage from San Antonio as the Missions win again.
TinCaps 8, Dayton Dragons 0
Lucas Dunn is finding his footing in High-A. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Key Stats: SS Max Ferguson 1-for-6, 2B, E (3); 3B Lucas Dunn 3-for-4, 3 2B, BB; LF Corey Rosier 1-for-4, HR (6), HBP; LHP Noel Vela 7 IP, 3 H, 10 K, 1 BB, WP
Prospect Watch: Noel Vela turned in one of the system’s best starts of the year and Lucas Dunn powered the TinCaps offense as Fort Wayne won their short road series to open the second half. Vela, 23, pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing just three hits while matching his best count of the year with 10 strikeouts. After back-to-back rough outings in late June and early July, the lefty has given up only three earned runs on 12 hits over 18 innings in his last three outings. Vela, who retired the first eight batters he faced Sunday, also finished by striking out the final four batters he saw. His curve was especially effective throughout the outing, getting plenty of bad swings and misses and tumbling into the zone for called strikes when he needed it. … As Vela mowed down the Dragons, his offense put together six extra-base hits to cruise to the victory. Dunn, who had only one extra-base hit in 15 games heading into the break, pounded the ball in Dayton. The three doubles Sunday came a day after a homer, jumping his High-A slugging percentage almost 40 points. … Corey Rosier capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the ninth, jumping a two-strike breaking ball for a towering show over the right-center wall. The 22-year-old outfielder continues to see better results each month of the season. Thanks to his latest four game hitting streak, he sports a .315/.424/.463 line this month.
Inland Empire 66ers 3, Storm 1
Key Stats: 2B/1B Nerwilian Cedeño 2-for-4, 2B; 3B Marcos Castañon 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB; LHP Bodi Rascon 6 IP, 3 H, 6 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm offense had plenty of opportunities, but went just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and dropped the rubber match of the series in San Bernardino. The quiet night for the bats squandered a stellar outing by lefty Bodi Rascon, who allowed just three hits while working a career-high six innings of scoreless ball. An overslot day three pick out of high school in 2019, Rason had been help back by injuries and inconsistent command in his first two seasons in the system, but he’s been on fire over the last month. In four starts, the Texas native has allowed just one earned run in 21 innings while posting a strong 21:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … Marcos Castañon reached base three more times and scored the Storm’s lone run. Playing in his hometown, the 23-year-old infielder raised his line for a strong month to .328/.458/.701.
