Tacoma Rainiers 12, Chihuahuas 5 (Final/6 innings)
Key Stats: 3B Clay Dungan 1-for-1, 3B, HBP; 2B Matthew Batten 0-for-1, BB, HBP; LHP Ryan Carpenter 3 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 1 BB; RHP Bobby Milacki 2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 K
Prospects Watch: In a game that was interrupted by rain in the fourth and called after six innings because of continuing wet conditions, the Rainiers pounded El Paso for 16 hits and 12 runs to claim the series victory. El Paso managed to plate five runs despite totaling only three hits. They used a hit batter, two walks, an infield single, a Clay Dungan triple, and a groundout to claim a lead in the second inning, but had only two more hitters reach base over the final four innings. The Chihuahuas are now seventh in runs scored in the 10-team PCL. … Sean Reynolds came on to open the fourth inning and got an easy groundout before issuing a walk as the rain began to come down heavily. The umpires pulled the players off the field immediately after he threw ball four, and he didn’t return after a rain delay that lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Missions 3, Wichita Wind Surge 1
Victor Lizarraga has been dominant early for San Antonio. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Key Stats: RHP Victor Lizarraga 4 IP, 1 H, 5 K, 1 BB; RHP Jared Kollar 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB; LHP Jayvien Sandridge 1 IP, 3 K, 1 BB; 1B Nathan Martorella 2-for-4, 2B, HR (2); SS Ray-Patrick Didder 2-for-3, 2B; C Brandon Valenzuela 2-for-4, CS; 2B/CF Ripken Reyes 1-for-3, BB, SB (5)
Prospects Watch: John Conniff wraps up his coverage from San Antonio with a report on the Missions win behind a strong start from Victor Lizarraga.
Great Lakes Loons 8, TinCaps 3
Key Stats: CF Homer Bush Jr. 1-for-3, BB, SB (10); 3B Devin Ortiz 2-for-5; LF Tyler Robertson 2-for-4, SB (4), CS (1); Nerwilian Cedeno 1-for-2, 3B, BB, HBP; SS Nik McClaughry 2-for-4, 2B; RHP Braden Nett 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; LHP Ryan Och 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB; RHP Bradgley Rodriguez 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB
Devin Ortiz continues to get results for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospects Watch: The Loons finished a sweep in Fort Wayne, a six-game stand in which they outplayed the TinCaps in every aspect. The Dodgers’ affiliate never trailed in the series. Braden Nett got the start for the TinCaps, but fell behind almost immediately. After shortstop Nik McClaughry committed a throwing error on the first play of the game, Nett grooved a fastball that Noah Miller – who entered with a .200 average – hammered for his first homer of the season. Nett then set down six consecutive Loons batters before running into trouble in the third inning. The 21-year-old righty loaded the bases on a single and two walks before getting a come-backer and a strikeout before he hit his pitch limit for the game. Reliever José Geraldo stranded the runners to keep Nett’s line for the game in check. While the Missouri native has struck out 8 in 5.2 innings across his three outings this year, he’s allowed 15 baserunners and a pair of homers. Originally an undrafted free agent in 2022, Nett will be given every opportunity to try to stick in a starting role. … Reliever Bradgley Rodriguez got hit hard in his second appearance since a quick promotion from Lake Elsinore. The hard-throwing reliever continues to hit triple digits with his fastball, but gave up four hits and a pair of walks in 1.2 innings. Of the 37 pitches he threw, 19 landed for strikes. … Third baseman Devin Ortiz continued his strong showing for the TinCaps as he collected a pair of hits and was one of two TinCaps who avoided striking out in the game. The 25-year-old New Jersey native is hitting .300/.417/.450 – leading the TinCaps in all three categories.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 7, Storm 4
Key Stats: 3B Jay Beshears 2-for-5; CF Dillon Head 1-for-5, 3B; 2B Rosman Verdugo 2-for-5, HR (2); RHP Sam Whiting IP, 1 H, 1 K; RHP Keegan Collett 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 3 BB; LHP Javier Chacon 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K
Prospects Watch: The Quakes finished off the series with their fifth victory, putting up six runs in the third inning and never looking back. Sam Whiting, who came down from Fort Wayne to join the Storm on Friday, made his first appearance in in 11 days, tossing one scoreless inning as the opener. The 23-year-old righty, who the Padres drafted out of UC Santa Barbara in the 16th round last year, will get an opportunity for work as a starter with several Lake Elsinore arms now on the IL. He had given up one run in 6.2 innings across three appearances for the TinCaps to open the year. … Keegan Collett, who had just joined the Storm on Saturday after an injury in the spring pushed back his season debut, followed Whiting and allowed a leadoff double in the second. He bounced back to retire the side in order from there, but things went off the tracks for the 25-year-old in the third inning. He gave up a triple, homer, and three walks before giving way, ultimately getting charged with five earned runs. While the Florida Atlantic product has electric stuff, he has struggled mightily with his command since the Padres selected him in the 35th round in 2019. Across 154 professional innings, he’s struck out 259 batters, but walked 129. … Dillon Head, batting in the third hole for the first time this year, tripled to deep center in the first inning and then scored to give Elsinore an all-too-rare lead in the series. The fleet-footed center fielder started the year slowly, but now has eight extra-base hits in 18 games in his first full season as a professional. … Rosman Verdugo launched a two-run homer as part of a two-hit game in his second appearance since returning from a short stint on the IL with a minor hamstring issue. The 19-year-old infielder, who remains among the youngest players in the Cal League despite repeating this year, owns a .758 OPS through his first 10 games of the season, more than 100 points better than last year despite striking out in 18 of his 47 plate appearances.
