Thomas Milone reached base five times Sunday. (Photo: Andy Nietupski / TTL Sports Media; T: @TTLSports; IG: @TTLSportsMedia)
Albuquerque Isotopes 7, Chihuahuas 6 (F/10)
Key Stats: RF Taylor Kohlwey 3-for-6, 2B; SS C.J. Hinojosa 1-for-5, HR (15); CF Thomas Milone 3-for-3, 2BB, 3B, SB (4); LHP Jay Groome 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB;
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas pulled ahead in both the ninth and tenth innings, but could hold on either time and dropped the series finale to snap an eight-game winning streak. With the loss, they fell back into a tie atop the division with Oklahoma City, a game ahead of Round Rock. The Chihuahuas will end their season hosting each of those two clubs in the coming two weeks. … Starter Jay Groome got off to a rough start, allowing four runs on seven hits over the first three innings, but settled in and allowed just one more single over his final two frames. The 24-year-old lefty sports a 4.08 ERA in seven starts since joining the Padres organization at the deadline, though his underlying numbers – 30 strikeouts and 18 walks in 35.1 innings and a .297 opponents’ average – haven’t been as solid. … Thomas Milone reached base in all five trips to the plate with three hits and a pair of walks. The 27-year-old outfielder has a .772 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A in his first season in the Padres organization. … Taylor Kohlwey had three hits after coming into the game with a .229 average for the month. After a stellar first half, the 28-year-old has struggled to an OPS just over .700 since the start of July.
Brandon Komar struck out a career-high eight batters Sunday. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Missions 4, Springfield Cardinals 1
Key Stats: SS Connor Hollis 1-for-3, 2 BB; LF Jorge Oña 1-for-2, 2 BB; 1B Yorman Rodriguez 1-for-4, HR (15); C Tyler Malone 2-for-4, RBI; RHP Brandon Komar 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 3 BB; RHP Jordan Guerrero 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 1 BB; RHP Lake Bachar (S, 5) 1 IP, 2 K, 1 BB
Prospect Watch: The Missions won to salvage a split in Springfield and head home for the final series of the year against Amarillo. Brandon Komar struck out a career-high eight batters as he allowed just four singles over 5.2 innings of work. The 23-year-old has started all but his first two appearance with the Missions after working primarily out of the bullpen in Fort Wayne earlier in the year. The righty has given up 86 hits in 68.1 innings overall for San Antonio, but is heading into the homestretch on a bit of a roll. He’s allowed just seven hits against 13 strikeouts in his last two appearances. … Jordan Guerrero struck out the side in an inning of relief work. The big righty has made two appearances for the Missions as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. The only player still active in the Padres’ system from their 2015 draft class, the Florida native didn’t spend completely escape short-season ball until 2019, when he dominated in High-A. He spent last year in El Paso until his elbow injury in August. He will likely be in the mix for a 40-player roster spot this winter. … Yorman Rodriguez homered in his second straight game and has reached base in 21 of his last 23 contests. The former minor league Rule 5 pick has a career-high 15 home runs after never reaching double-digits previously. … Jorge Oña had a hit and two walks as he tries to finish strong in an otherwise lost season. The 25-year-old outfielder, who made his big league debut just over two years ago, was hitting just .218 before missing almost all of August. Since returning, he’s 8-for-30 in nine games with .500 slugging percentage.
Storm 5, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
Key Stats: 2B Nerwilian Cedeño 1-for-3, BB; RF Kai Murphy 3-for-3, BB, 2 SB (3); LF Tyler Robertson 1-for-4, HR (1), 4 RBI; RHP Jared Kollar 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB; RHP Justin Lopez 1 IP; RHP Matt Boswell 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm head into the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak thanks to an improbable ninth inning rally. With two outs and a runner on first, Kai Murphy skied a pop up that dropped just beyond the mound with multiple Quakes defenders right there. Marcos Castañon then came on to pinch-hit and drew a walk to load the bases for 14th-rounder Tyler Robertson, who was assigned to the Storm on Saturday. The 22-year-old outfielder turned around an 0-2 fastball for a grand slam, his first Cal League hit in seven trips to the plate. Robertson, who had five homers in 210 at-bats for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette this spring, finishes his first professional campaign with two in 31 at-bats. … Righty Jared Kollar worked four innings to open the game, allowing just one run. The undrafted free agent out of Rutgers hadn’t made it through three frames in his first seven outings, but cruised through 63 pitches Sunday. He got hit hard in one appearance, but finishes the year giving up just two earned runs on six hits over his final 9.1 innings of work. … Samuel Zavala drew a walk to reach base in each of the six games in the series. The youngest position player to appear in full-season ball this year, Zavala finishes with an .863 OPS in 33 Cal League games. … The Storm open a three-game division series against Inland Empire on Tuesday. They’ll play host Thursday and, if necessary, Friday. The league championship series would begin next Sunday.
TinCaps rained out
A day after their 3-2 loss helped Lake County clinch the second half playoff spot, the TinCaps’ season finale east of Cleveland was rained out. Fort Wayne finishes the year with a franchise-worst 50-80 record, three games behind Quad Cities for last place.
