Lake Bachar is putting away PCL hitters. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Tacoma Rainiers 9, Chihuahuas 2
Key Stats: C Brett Sullivan 1-for-3, 2B; CF Bryce Johnson 1-for-3, 2B, BB; LHP Daniel Camarena 3 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, K, 3 BB; LHP Paul Fry 2 IP, 2 H, K; RHP Lake Bachar IP, H, 3 K; LHP Nick Hernandez IP, 3 K
Prospect Watch: Tacoma jumped Daniel Camarena for eight runs over the first three innings, turning this one into a laugher early. The 31-year-old lefty, who graduated from San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School, sports a 10.13 ERA through 16 innings in six games on the year. He’s walked 14 against only 12 strikeouts. … The Chihuahuas bullpen allowed just one earned run over five innings. Lake Bachar and Nick Martinez combined to record the final six outs via strikeout. Bachar, 28, continues to dominate in the PCL, striking out 17 while only allowing one earned run over 13.2 innings, though he’s had some good batted ball luck, working around 17 baserunners. … Mariners starter Bryan Woo stifled El Paso batters for 3.1 innings in his second rehab outing, striking out six. Brett Sullivan and Bryce Johnson each collected a double against Woo, but that was all the Chihuahuas managed against him. Things didn’t get much better for the visitors after Woo left as El Paso managed just five more singles across the last 5 2/3 innings.
Wichita Wind Surge 5, Missions 3
Key Stats: RF Cole Cummings 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 SB (3), OF Assist; 2B Michael De La Cruz 2-for-4, SB (2); 1B Nathan Martorella 1-for-3, BB; RHP Ryan Bergert 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K; LHP Omar Cruz 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 BB; RHP Woo-Suk Go 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB; RHP Jason Blanchard IP, H
Prospect Watch: John Conniff continues to bring you on-site coverage from the Alamo City through the weekend.
Great Lakes Loons 14, TinCaps 3
Key Stats: C Ethan Salas 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (3); CF Homer Bush Jr. 1-for-4; LF Tyler Robertson 0-for-1, 2 BB, Sac, SB (3); RHP Dylan Lesko 2.2 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 6 K, 6 BB, WP, HBP; RHP Ruben Galindo 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 1 BB
Dylan Lesko hasn’t found his footing yet in Fort Wayne. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The Dodgers’ affiliate dropped the host TinCaps for the fifth straight game and have now outscored them 40-9 in the series. Starter Dylan Lesko continued to struggle with both control and command, walking six and hitting a batter in just 2.2 innings. Just 32 of his 70 pitches landed for strikes. While he’s been nearly unhittable when he’s in the zone, holding opponents to a .130 average, he simply hasn’t been in the zone very much. Through four outings, the Padres’ top pick in the 2022 draft and the organization’s consensus top pitching prospect entering the year, has walked 16 while only making it through 14.2 innings. Three of the six hits he’s surrendered on the year, including one Saturday, have been homers when he’s left balls in the middle of the plate. The 20-year-old from Georgia will look to find a consistent release point to smooth things out before his next outing. … Dodgers 2021 first-rounder Maddux Bruns also fared poorly, giving the TinCaps their three runs in the second inning with only one hit. Bruns walked three, committed an error on a Tyler Robertson sacrifice bunt, and uncorked a wild pitch with Ethan Salas on third. The TinCaps chased Bruns after just 1.2 innings, but then managed just two more hits over 7.1 scoreless frames against the bullpen. … Salas, Robertson and Devin Ortiz each drew a pair of walks in the game, but the team went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and couldn’t come up with an extra-base hit in the game.
Rancho Cucamonga 7, Storm 4
Isaiah Lowe is getting ramped up for Lake Elsinore. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Key Stats: LF Ryan Wilson 1-for-5, 2B, 3 K; 1B Romeo Sanabria 1-for-1, 3 BB; RHP Miguel Mendez 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, K; RHP Isaiah Lowe 3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; RHP Kobe Robinson 2 IP, 4 K, BB
Prospect Watch: Elsinore hitters struck out 17 times on their way to a fourth loss in five games against their chief division rivals. Only Romeo Sanabria, who singled and drew three walks, reached base multiple times in the game. The big first baseman from Miami is off to a strong start to the year, hitting .313/.452/.463 with as many walks as strikeouts through his first 84 plate appearances. A 19th-round pick out of junior college in 2022, the lefthanded slugger is tied with Dillon Head for the team lead in total bases. … After missing his last turn through the rotation, righty Miguel Mendez was held to 30 pitches through two innings. The wiry-thin 21-year-old, who regularly works in the mid-90s, allowed one run on three hits, but avoided issuing any walks. He had put seven men on base through six innings in his first two starts of the year. … Isaiah Lowe, who has been getting stretched out slowly this spring, was charged with three earned runs over three innings as he fought his control. The hard-throwing righty walked two and hit a pair of batters as well. He’s held opponents to an impressive .188 average through nine innings in four appearances, but eight free passes have ballooned his WHIP to 1.56. After he got up to 65 pitches in this outing, watch for him to carry a full workload in his start in San Jose next week, his last outing before he’ll turn 21.
