Chihuahuas 3, Round Rock Express 2
Key Stats: RHP Reiss Knehr 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K; LHP Ryan Weathers IP, 3 H, ER; RHP Moises Lugo 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K; LHP Jose Castillo (S, 2), 0.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, K; LF Taylor Kohlwey 2-for-4, RS; RF Brandon Dixon 2-for-4, HR (8), 2 RBI
Reiss Knehr. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: Wednesday presented a massive opportunity for El Paso, Entering today, El Paso was a half-game up on the Dodgers with two weeks left. The Dodgers were swept in a doubleheader by last-place Albuquerque and a win would give El Paso a two-game lead in the standings. El Paso squandered opportunity after opportunity, going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Finally, in the fifth, Brandon Dixon connected on another home run to give El Paso a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was Dixon’s 8th home run in 16 Triple-A games. After missing most of the year with an injury, Dixon has 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 41 games between Double-A and Triple-A. The veteran has reached base multiple times in each of his last seven games. … El Paso got a great outing by Reiss Knehr who tossed four scoreless in his first outing since being knocked around by the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The outing lowered Knehr’s Triple-A ERA to 6.61. … Left-hander Ryan Weathers came on in relief and allowed a single, a home run, and another single. His saving grace was picking off the runner on first the pitch before allowing a home run. Weathers has struggled mightily this year, posting a 1.81 WHIP across 118 innings. In four relief outings this month, Weathers has allowed 14 baserunners (12 hits, two walks), resulting in a WHIP of nearly 3.00. … With the win, El Paso has a magic number of 12 with 13 games left to go.
Amarillo Sod Poodles 9, Missions 5
Key Stats: RHP Henry Henry 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K; SS Connor Hollis 2-for-5, HR (9), 2 RBI; LF Tirso Ornelas 2-for-5, HR (7), 3 RBI; 3B Juan Fernandez 2-for-4, CF Joshua Mears 0-for-4, 2 K
Tirso Ornelas has a shot at his best offensive season yet. (Photo: John Moore)
Prospect Watch: For the first time since the end of August, left fielder Tirso Ornelas had back-to-back multi-hit games. Ornelas connected on his seventh homer of the season Wednesday night, his first since August 19. With only a week left in the season, it will be fun to follow how close the 22-year-old can get to his career highs. He has already set career-highs with 125 hits and 62 runs, and matched his career high of seven stolen bases. He is only three doubles, one home run, and four RBI away from setting career highs across the board. … Speaking of career highs, 27-year-old Connor Hollis has had the finest season of his professional career. The former Rays prospect has been the most reliable player for the Missions across the entire season. He has career highs in runs (91), doubles (27), triples (four), home runs (nine), RBI (61), and stolen bases (20). Hollis is another one of those “lunch pail prospects” that is easy to root for. He has played five different positions, batted in six different spots in the lineup, and received a promotion to Triple-A, just to be sent back down three weeks later. The age takes away from his prospect status – he is four years older than Juan Soto after all – but similar to Brandon Dixon, Hollis is controlling everything he can as he works to create an opportunity.
Lake Elsinore Storm lead their best of three series 1-0.
They had the day off before playing a potentially clinching Game 2 Thursday in Lake Elsinore. If they win they advance to the Cal League Finals which begin Sunday.
Roster Move: As we reported yesterday, outfielder Samuel Zavala left Tuesday’s game with an injury. On Wednesday, he was placed on the seven-day injured list which will end his season. Outfielder Albert Fabian, who hit 12 homers with the Storm this season will head back to the Cal League from Fort Wayne.
