Round Rock Express 11, Chihuahuas 10
Key Statistics: LHP Adrian Morejon 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB; RHP Sean Reynolds 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; RHP Moises Lugo, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K; RHP Jake Sanchez (H, 3), 1 IP, 2 BB; RHP Kevin Kopps (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, HBP; RF Tirso Ornelas, 3-for-5, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI; C Chandler Seagle, 1-for-5, HR (2), R, 2 RBI; 2B Tim Lopes, 3-for-5, 2B, 2 SB (40, 41); LF Taylor Kohlwey, 2-for-5, R, HR (11), 3 RBI; RHP Kevin Kopps (L, 0-1), IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB
Tirso Ornelas continues to hit. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: In a PCL slugfest, the Chihuahuas got some good relief in the late innings before an unfortunate ninth inning ended in a rally falling just short. Adrian Morejon and Sean Reynolds, two of the three 40-player roster pitchers on the El Paso roster, both struggled again as the Chihuahuas dug a hole early. Morejon walked the first two batters of the game before giving up a 425 foot homer. He worked around two more singles to get out of the inning, but now has a 7.41 ERA in 13 outings for El Paso. … Reynolds’ nightmare run since the Padres acquired him continued as Round Rock jumped him for a pair of doubles and a homer in his first inning of work. A tiny silver lining for the big righthander came as he worked a 1-2-3- second frame, notching a strikeout and two grounders. PCL hitters own a .412 average against him in 11 outings. … Moises Lugo stabilized things with a pair of scoreless innings to get things back on track, striking out three batters while only allowing a hit. The 24-year-old righty has allowed one run in three innings in September as he looks to improve from a 6.17 ERA in 11.2 innings in August. … Handed a one-run lead, Kevin Kopps – who had given up only two runs in his first nine Triple-A innings – was unable to hold on. The 25-year-old righty surrendered four runs on as many hits and a pair of walks as he blew his first save opportunity in two months. … Tirso Ornelas enjoyed an excellent night at the plate, going 3-for-5 and legging out his first triple as a member of the Chihuahuas. After an August in which the outfielder posted a 1.267 OPS, he has kicked off September with a .810 mark. … Chandler Seagle had nine extra-base hits and one home run in 187 plate appearances in San Antonio this season. Since being promoted to El Paso, the catcher has had three extra-base hits and two home runs in 31 plate appearances, including tonight’s two-run homer. The defensive stalwart owns a .633 OPS in his first Triple-A stint.
Efrain Contreras threw two scoreless innings in Midland. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Midland RockHounds 9, Missions 8
Key Statistics: RHP Adam Mazur (L, 1-3), 4.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K; RHP Efrain Contreras, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K; 1B Nathan Martorella, 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI; RF Connor Hollis, 1-for-2, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI; CF Jakob Marsee, 1-for-4, R, HR (3), 2 RBI
Connor Hollis had three RBI on the night. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Prospect Watch: After two consecutive six-inning outings, which marked progress in his development at Double-A, Adam Mazur hit a bump in the road. The 22-year-old righty allowed nine hits and a walk in four-plus innings, though he was able to limit the damage to three earned runs while striking out three batters. The 2022 second-rounder is 1-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 33 innings since being promoted to San Antonio. … One bright spot on the pitching staff tonight was Efrain Contreras, who closed out the game with two no-hit innings, walking one and striking out one. The 23-year-old righty is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in 24 innings since moving to the bullpen in July after going 4-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 68.2 innings as a starter. … Nathan Martorella slugged a pair of doubles as part of a three-hit outing. The 22-year-old first baseman is slashing .273/.322/.455 in 59 plate appearances since being promoted to the Missions from Fort Wayne. … Connor Hollis got the start in right field and hit a two-run triple while also driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. The 2022 Texas League batting champion, Hollis, has posted a .630 OPS in 209 at-bats in an injury-marred 2023 season with the Missions. … Left fielder Graham Pauley fouled a ball off his right knee in the sixth inning. He stayed in to finish the at-bat and fielded his position in the bottom of the frame, but gave way when the Missions returned to the field in the seventh.
Dayton Dragons 4, TinCaps 3
Key Statistics: LHP Miguel Cienfuegos, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 2 K; DH Albert Fabian, 2-for-4, HR (3), R, RBI; SS Kervin Pichardo, 2-for-2, 2B, R; 2B Nerwilian Cedeño, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Kervin Pichardo was 2-for-2 on the night. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: After a dramatic win on Wednesday, the TinCaps lost to Dayton. Thanks to another loss by West Michigan, the TinCaps maintain a half-game lead on the Whitecaps, going into the final weekend of the 2023 regular season. … Miguel Cienfuegos mostly cruised through five innings despite four walks, but in the sixth inning, the lefty ran into trouble, with a pair of walks and a single loading the bases with one out. A sac fly tied the game after he exited, charging him with a third-earned run. The 26-year-old southpaw is 3-7 with a 4.04 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched in his first professional campaign. … Albert Fabian went 2-for-4 and opened the scoring for the TinCaps with a home run. The 21-year-old has posted a .904 OPS in 14 at-bats to open September after a tough August that included a .380 mark. … Kervin Pichardo went 2-for-2 with a double, raising his average as a TinCap to .251 for the season. The 21-year-old infielder has seen time with Fort Wayne and San Antonio in the 2023 season, rejoining the TinCaps on July 14. … Nerwilian Cedeño continued a hot start to September with a double. The 21-year-old infielder is slashing .280/.308/.720 in 25 at-bats to begin the month as he bounces back from a .248/.356/.496 line in 101 at-bats in August.
Inland Empire 66ers 4, Storm 2
Homer Bush continues to impress. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Key Statistics: RHP Breck Eichelberger, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K; RHP Francis Peña, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; CF Dillon Head, 1-for-5, 3B; DH Homer Bush Jr., 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, SB;
Prospect Watch: After surging to get to come into their showdown series only one game back, Lake Elsinore has dropped the first three contests and have been eliminated from a playoff spot. Breck Eichelberger posted his third consecutive scoreless outing as he got the start on the mound. The 23-year-old Utah native is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in 8.2 innings in his first professional season. … Francis Peña added five outs of scoreless baseball of his own, striking out two and allowing two hits. The 22-year-old Dominican righty has been sublime since joining the Storm, posting a 0.51 ERA in 17.2 innings of work, striking out 17 batters while walking two. … Dillon Head hit his third triple of the season and second since being promoted to Lake Elsinore. The 2023 first-round pick has posted a .564 OPS in 45 at-bats for the Storm, but two of his nine hits have been triples. … Homer Bush, Jr. got it done on the basepaths, logging a hit, scoring a run and stealing a base while also working a pair of walks. The 21-year-old Grand Canyon University alum owns a .369 OBP since joining the Storm.
