Sacramento River Cats 14, Chihuahuas 6
Tirso Ornelas hit his 14th home run on Thursday. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Key Statistics: RHP Anderson Espinoza (L, 6-6), 4 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K; RHP Sean Reynolds, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; LF Tirso Ornelas, 2-for-5, HR (3), R, RBI; 3B Eguy Rosario, 2-for-5
Prospect Watch: It was a tough one on the mound for El Paso tonight, as they allowed 14 runs on 16 hits and walked six batters. … Anderson Espinoza got the start and, in a microcosm of his 2023, followed up a stellar start last week with one that leaves much to be desired, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. The 25-year-old righty has spent the whole season in El Paso in his return to the Padres organization, going 6-6 with a 6.07 ERA and striking out 97 in 105.1 innings pitched. … The struggles continued for Sean Reynolds as the 6-foot-8 righthander allowed a pair of runs and a pair of walks. Since arriving from Miami at the trade deadline, Reynolds has issued 14 walks in five innings in seven outings to produce a 19.80 ERA. … The Chihuahuas fared better at the plate, led by Tirso Ornelas, who went 2-for-5 and hit his third home run at the Triple-A level and 14th overall this season. The 23-year-old Ornelas is slashing .296/.374/.426 in 108 at-bats for the Chihuahuas in his final season before minor league free agency. … Fellow prospect Eguy Rosario logged a two-hit night, his first multi-hit outing since August 13. Rosario is slashing .244/,336/.374 in 123 at-bats for the Chihuahuas in a season that started with the infielder on the injured list.
Adam Mazur with the Flying Chanclas. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Amarillo Sod Poodles 4, Missions 2
Key Statistics: RHP Adam Mazur (L, 0-2), 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K; RHP Justin Lopez, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K; 3B Graham Pauley, 2-for-5, 2B, R; LF Cole Cummings, 2-for-3, RBI
Cole Cummings had a pair of hits on the night. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Prospect Watch: Adam Mazur took the tough-luck loss despite a quality start, tossing six innings of three-run ball and striking out six batters. For Mazur, the outing was a significant benchmark in his development as his previous longest appearance in San Antonio was 3.2 innings. In only his fourth start since his bullpen stint immediately after his arrival in Double-A, the 22-year-old righty threw 67 pitches and landed 55 of them for strikes as he cruised through six. … Justin Lopez tossed a scoreless inning and struck out a batter. The converted shortstop has struck out eight batters in 7.2 innings of work in August. … Graham Pauley hit his first double at the Double-A level as part of a two-hit night. The 22-year-old infielder began his season in Lake Elsinore and broke out in Fort Wayne, hitting 16 home runs in 170 at-bats for the TinCaps before being promoted to the Missions. … Cole Cummings smacked a pair of hits for the second consecutive night as the undrafted free agent continues to earn playing time despite a raft of top prospects making their way to the Mission City. Cummings is slashing .236/.319/.358 in 229 at-bats for San Antonio while playing first base and the outfield corners.
TinCaps rained out
Fort Wayne’s game at the Great Lakes Loons was postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of a double header on Saturday.
Storm 6, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3
Rosman Verdugo has more than held his own in the Cal League. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Key Statistics: RHP Breck Eichelberger, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K; RHP Francis Peña (H, 2) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K; 2B Rosman Verdugo, 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, R; C Oswaldo Linares, 1-for-4, HR , R, 3 RBI; LF Homer Bush, Jr. 0-for-4
Prospect Watch: The Storm won a bullpen game, with Breck Eichelberger starting the action with two innings of one-hit ball, striking out two. An undrafted free agent signed this summer, Eichelberger has allowed one run in 3.1 innings since being promoted to Lake Elsinore after beginning his professional career in the Arizona Complex League. … Righthander Francis Peña picked up his second hold of the season and first since being promoted to the Storm. The 22-year-old has shown some success in his first season stateside, combining for a 2.89 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched between the Arizona Complex League and Lake Elsinore. … Rosman Verdugo‘s three-hit outing had him a home run short of the cycle. After posting a .818 OPS in July, Verdugo has cooled off in August of his first full-season campaign with a .197/.286/.328 slash line in 61 at-bats for the month, making tonight’s outburst all the more encouraging. … Oswaldo Linares’ fourth home run of the season was a major boost in this game as the 20-year-old catcher seeks to show more consistent playing time can bolster his development. The Venezuela native is batting .241 with four home runs and a .784 OPS across two levels this season. Left fielder Homer Bush, Jr. went hitless and is now 4-for-26 with eight strikeouts over his last seven games.
