Chihuahuas 18, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 11
Key Stats: C Brett Sullivan 4-for-6, HR (6), 2B; DH Rangel Ravelo 4-for-6, HR (6), 2 2B; LF Ben Gamel 1-for-6, HR (5); LHP Jay Groome 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 6 BB; RHP Sean Reynolds 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 4 BB; RHP Nick Hernandez 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
Brett Sullivan is streaking for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: Seven different Chihuahuas reached base at least three times as a good old-fashioned PCL game broke out at Southwest University Park as the clubs combined for 29 runs on 30 hits – 17 for extra-bases – and 19 walks. Rangel Ravelo and Brett Sullivan led the attack for El Paso, each coming up a triple short of the cycle in four-hit games. Ravelo, 31, had a pair of doubles in addition to his sixth homer of the year as the right-handed first baseman pushed his OPS since returning from a six-week IL stint above 1.000. Sullivan extended his hitting streak to 14 games. The backstop has been even hotter than Ravelo, hitting .390/.446/.610 through his streak. … Ben Gamel connected on his fifth homer in 18 games since the Padres acquired him for cash considerations. The big league veteran nudged his OPS back up to 1.002. … Jay Groome had another rough night finding the zone, walking six batters and laboring through 101 pitches in just 3.2 innings of work. The big lefty appeared to have turned a corner on his nightmare season last month, but has given up 11 runs on 15 hits and 10 free passes in 7.2 innings over his last two outings. … Things have been even worse for Sean Reynolds, acquired along with Garrett Cooper at the deadline for bullpen depth. The hard-throwing righty has always struggled with command since converting to the mound in 2021, but after four more walks Saturday, he’s now given up 10 while making it through only 1.2 innings across four appearances in the organization.
Springfield Cardinals 5, Missions 4
Key Stats: 2B Marcos Castañon 2-for-4, 2B, HR (1); LF Tirso Ornelas 2-for-4; RHP Jairo Iriarte 2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; RHP Michel Baez 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 0 BB; RHP Raul Brito 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K
Jairo Iriarte has impressed in Double-A. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Prospect Watch: Jairo Iriarte cruised through his first two innings in his second start since moving back into the rotation, but walked the first two batters he faced in the third before giving way. The hard-throwing 21-year-old struck out four of the first seven batters he faced, but was still working on a limited pitch count after the organization had him work in the bullpen for a month to acclimate to one potential role for him going forward. Since his promotion to the Texas League, the Venezuela native has racked up 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings while holding opponents to a .209 average. … One-time big-leaguer Michel Baez followed Iriarte, but allowed a one-out triple to plate both inherited runners. The imposing 27-year-old, making his return after a stint on the IL, gave up two more hits before giving way in the fourth inning. Baez has made 20 appearances in the upper minors this year, amassing an 8.34 ERA with a 19:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22.1 innings. … Marcos Castañon connected on his first homer since joining the Missions as he continued a strong season. The 24-year-old infielder, who had 13 round-trippers in 77 games with Fort Wayne to open the year, still has a solid .455 slugging percentage at the higher level thanks to nine doubles, but hadn’t gotten one over the wall before Saturday. He has shaved his strikeout rate down below 20% in the Texas League.
Lansing Lugnuts 10 TinCaps 1
Key Stats: CF Jakob Marsee 2-for-4, E (8); 3B Graham Pauley 1-for-4, SB (6); LHP Miguel Cienfuegos 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
Jakob Marsee has taken his game to another level in August. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps managed just five singles, committed four errors, and gave up double-digit runs in a clunker off an outing. Jakob Marsee reached base two more times out of the leadoff spot and drove in the club’s only run. The 22-year-old has been a tremendous table-setter at the top of the lineup all year and continues to lead the Midwest League with a .409 on-base percentage. His production has taken another step forward this month as he’s collected four extra-base hits in 11 contests and drawn more than twice as many walks as strikeouts. … Lefty Miguel Cienfuegos took the loss despite another solid outing for the TinCaps. The 26-year-old, whose remarkable journey through semi-pro and unaffiliated leagues in four countries finally earned him a contract with the Padres last winter, has pitched to a 3.12 ERA across nine outings in the Midwest League sandwiched around a stint on the IL. The Quebec native is holding opponents to a .204 average.
Visalia Rawhide 10, Storm 7
Key Stats: CF Samuel Zavala, 3-for-3, 2 2B, HR (13); LF Homer Bush Jr., 2-for-5; SS Nik McClaughry, 2-for-3, 2B; RHP Wilton Castillo 0.2 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 HBP; LHP Javier Chacon 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB, 3 WP, HBP; RHP Ruben Galindo 2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Prospect Watch: John Conniff was on-hand for coverage as the Storm dug an 8-0 first inning hole before clawing back to make this one a game.
ACL Cubs 7, ACL Padres 4 (F/8)
Yendry Rojas squares one up for the ACL Padres. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Key Stats: SS Yendry Rojas 1-for-3, 3B; 1B Romeo Sanabria 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB (4); RHP Braden Nett 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 BB; RHP Jesus Lopez 0.1 IP 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB
Prospect Watch: Braden Nett turned in his second straight stellar outing, allowing just two hits over five innings. The 21-year-old, signed after last year’s draft out of community college, did walk three as his command remains the biggest concern. Over 26.1 innings since starting the year on the IL, the hard-throwing righthander has issued 22 free passes, but he’s holding opponents to just a .191 average. … Romeo Sanabria continues to dominate complex league pitching. The big first baseman had a single and walked twice to lift his on-base percentage to .460. His 1.109 OPS and .649 slugging percentage are both more than 50 points above the second-best marks on the circuit. … Yendry Rojas tripled for the club’s only extra-base hit. The 18-year-old shortstop continues to flash solid bat-to-ball skills, but will need to add strength to translate that into more consistent production as he advances through the system.
