Albuquerque Isotopes 7, Chihuahuas 3
Key Statistics: SS Matthew Batten 1-for-4, BB, 2 SB (26); RF Taylor Kohlwey 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB (10); 2B Tim Lopes 2-for-4; LHP Ryan Weathers (L, 0-2) 4.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, BB, 5 K; RHP Aaron Brooks 3.1 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, K
Matthew Batten is leading the PCL in runs scored. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Isotopes blew open a tie game open in the fifth, putting five runs on the board against Ryan Weathers. Coming off one of the best starts of his career, Weathers rolled through the first three innings in Albuquerque, dialing his fastball up to 98 and showing both the slider and changeup. The Isotopes got a run in the fourth with a two-out flare to center, but the lefty escaped further damage. In the fifth, however, Weathers lost a nine-pitch battle to open the inning, giving up a line drive single, then gave up four more singles and a walk that added up to five runs before he gave way with two outs. While none of the balls were hit hard, Albuquerque hitters were able to wait out the offspeed stuff and make enough contact on Weathers’ fastball, which was still sitting 96. … With two steals, Matthew Batten closed to within one of the career high of 27 he set in 2021. The 28-year-old infielder is leading the PCL with 26 in 28 attempts, and also paced the league with 63 runs scored. While he’s had just one hot month this year, over nearly 400 games with El Paso in his career, he has shown he can play all over the infield and provide a quality at-bat. … Taylor Kohlwey had two doubles as part of a three-hit game. After hitting just .222/.297/.321 in April, the corner bat picked it up in May with a 1.083 OPS in May and now has an .862 mark overall on the year. His .393 on-base percentage lands in the Top 20 of the league. … Eguy Rosario collected another double in four trips to the plate. Since getting back into action, he’s 6-for-22 in six games.
Missions 2, Frisco RoughRiders 1
Key Statistics: 1B Cole Cummings 2-for-3; SS Ray-Patrick Didder 1-for-3, HR (6), BB, RBI; LHP Jackson Wolf, (W, 7-7) 6.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K, HR; RHP Edwuin Bencomo 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K; RHP Kevin Kopps (S, 3) 1.0 IP, 2 K
Jackson Wolf went six innings on Saturday night. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Prospect Watch: The Missions got their third straight win as Jackson Wolf rebounded from a so-so performance last Sunday to turn in one of his signature performances this season. After giving up a homer to the second Frisco batter, Wolf yielded just two more singles over six innings. Wolf kept hitters off balance, striking out five against a pair of walks. The 24-year-old has gone six innings in five of his last seven starts, and has gotten through at least five in seven of his last eight. He’s been able to work deeper into games this year because his command has improved significantly. The lefty has shaved more than a walk per nine innings from his career average entering the year and is working more competitively in the zone. … Edwuin Bencomo and Kevin Kopps threw three innings of shutout relief, combining for five strikeouts. Bencomo, who opened the year with San Antonio, returned to the team before the game after spending six weeks in Fort Wayne. … Ray-Patrick Didder hit a solo opposite-field home run in the fourth to tie the game. A throwing error in the fifth was enough to bring home Kerwin Pichardo in what ended up being the winning run. … WIth a pair of hits, Cole Cummings continues to put up better offensive numbers in the Alamo City than he did in Fort Wayne to open the year. He’s put together a .742 OPS in 115 plate appearances after netting a .642 OPS with the TinCaps. He is continuing to rotate between first base, left field, and DH.
Ryan Bergert leads the TinCaps with 70 strikeouts in 56.2 innings. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Lake County Captains 5, TinCaps 3
Key Statistics: SS Jackson Merrill 2-for-4, 2B; DH Marcos Castañon 1-for-3, HR (10), BB, 3 RBI; 1B Nathan Martorella 1-for-3, BB; LF Albert Fabian 2-for-4; RHP Ryan Bergert 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 8 K; RHP Chris Lincoln (L, 2-2) 1.2 IP 2 H, 2 R, BB
Marcos Castanon is taking one of his big cuts. (Photo: Fort Wayne TinCaps)
Prospect Watch: Lake County broke an eighth inning tie with a pair of runs and evened the series at two wins apiece. The TinCaps got on the board in the first inning with Marcos Castañon‘s three-run home run, but the offense was held in check the rest of the night. … Castañon is now tied for fifth in the Midwest League with 45 RBI joined three other players who have 10 home runs, tied for seventh. … Jackson Merrill opened the game with a walk and had the TinCaps’ only multi-hit night. Despite missing 10 games early in two different bouts with the flu, his 69 hits in 63 games is good for sixth in the league. Merrill has pushed his batting average up to .266 for the season after a rough April. … Ryan Bergert pounded the zone against the Captains, making it through his first game without a walk this season. He entered the game with a 13% walk rate that was fourth-worst among Midwest League pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings and up almost 50 percent from last year. While his strikeout rate has stayed flat, he has improved his performance significantly by keeping the ball in the park. The Captains’ solo home run was only the third against him in 56.2 innings this season after giving up 18 in 103.1 frames last season. It’s resulted in an ERA that has fallen from 5.84 in 2022 to 2.70 in 2023. Tonight he threw 77 pitches in five innings, 52 for strikes.
Storm 8, Inland Empire 66ers 0
Key Statistics: LF Kai Murphy 3-for-5, 3B, RBI; C Oswaldo Linares 1-for-4, 2B; 3B Devin Ortiz 1-for-3, BB; 1B Victor Duarte 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI; 2B Rosman Verdugo 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, BB; RHP Henry Williams (W, 1-4), 6.0 IP, 2 H, 4 K; RHP Wilton Castillo 3.0 IP, H, BB, K
Kevin Charity was at the Diamond, and has the game story.
ACL Padres 9, ACL Dodgers 8 (F/9 innings)
Key Statistics: CF Tyler Robertson 2-for-4, 1B Jose Sanabria 2-for-4, 3 RBI, SB; LF Daniel Montesino 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; DH Korry Howell 0-for-3, 2 K; Nerwilian Cedeño 1-for-4, SB (2); RHP Robert Suarez 1 IP, H, 2 K; RHP Elvis Saba 2.0 IP, 2 H, R, BB, K; RHP Luis German 1 IP 3 BB, 3 K
After rehab, Korry Howell will try to get his season back on track with the Missions. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Prospect Watch: Four rehabbing Padres were on the field, but the one who will draw the most attention was Robert Suarez. The big league reliever, who hadn’t thrown a pitch in a game since March 12 in spring training, opened the game by allowing a single, followed by a hit batter. He then settled down with a fly-out, followed by a pair of strikeouts, and hopefully got inside from a lovely game-time 101-degree temperature at 11:00 am. … Tyler Robertson, 23, had a pair of hits as he prepared to rejoin the Storm, where he posted a .300/.414/.425 slash line in 90 plate appearances. The 6-foot-4, 200 pound outfielder from Louisiana-Lafayette also stole 12 bases in 13 attempts. … On the other side, Korry Howell came into the year as our #16 prospect, but was hitting just .182 when he went on the IL with a shoulder injury in late April. He made it back for six games until diving and re-injuring the joint. Still DH’ing in his third rehab start, he struck out twice Saturday.
