Chihuahuas 5, Albuquerque Isotopes 2
Key Statistics: C Brett Sullivan, 1-for-4, R, 2B; 3B Eguy Rosario, 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B, BB, RBI, SB (1); RF-CF Oscar Mercado, 1-for-3, R, HR (5), 2 RBI; LHP Ryan Carpenter (W, 2-2) 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 4 K; LHP Tom Cosgrove, IP, H, BB; RHP Matt Festa (S, 1) IP, 2 H, 2 K
Oscar Mercado brings plenty of big league experience to the Chihuahuas. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas rode an excellent start from veteran Ryan Carpenter to victory at home against the Isotopes. … Carpenter, 33, pitched a season-high 6.2 innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) with a walk and four strikeouts. The veteran struggled in April, allowing 23 earned runs in 20.1 innings. In 11.2 innings in May, he’s lowered his ERA to 3.09. … Third baseman Eguy Rosario socked a pair of doubles and drew a walk and added his first stolen base since being demoted to Triple-A last week. The 24-year-old has a .921 OPS in 16 plate appearances. One note to watch is how he fairs against righties. During his time in San Diego this year, Rosario feasted on lefties but was just 2-for-14 against same-handed pitching. So far with El Paso, Rosario is 2-for-2 against southpaws but just 3-for-14 against righties. … Oscar Mercado connected on his fifth homer of the season – a two-run shot in the second inning. The homer traveled a whopping 435 feet, leaving the bat at 107 mph. The veteran has struggled quite a bit this year after posting an OPS north of 1.000 this spring for the Padres. The former Cardinal and Guardian has punched out in 21% of his plate appearances this season, in line with what he produced last season with El Paso. He’s hitting just .205 on balls in play; last season with El Paso that mark was .372.
Frisco RoughRiders 4, Missions 1
Key Statistics: RF Cole Cummings, 1-for-4; 1B Robbie Tenerowicz, 1-for-4, 2B; LHP Robby Snelling (L, 1-2) 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn, 2 IP, 3 H, R
Robby Snelling pitched well in the loss. (Photo: Ray Holguin)
Prospect Watch: The Missions struggled offensively, managing just three hits in a loss to Frisco. … Organizational newcomer Robbie Tenerowicz doubled in four trips to the plate; it was the only extra-base hit for San Antonio. The 29-year-old was signed this week to add a veteran bat to a Missions lineup that lost Jakob Marsee and Nathan Martorella. Tenerowicz has seen time in the Rays, Reds, and Mariners organizations before signing with San Diego. In 134 games last season between Double-A and Triple-A, he clubbed a career-high 19 homers. … Lefty Robby Snelling turned in a quality start, working a season-high six innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits, walking a pair while notching two strikeouts. Snelling threw 79 pitches – 49 for strikes. He had six outs come via the grounder. The solid but unspectacular outing dropped his ERA to a solid 3.86. Snelling has had some issues with free passes this year but he’s reduced his walk rate in his second go-around in the Texas League. Last season, Snelling averaged 5.2 walks per nine innings; this season it’s down to 4.5. However, he walked just slightly over two batters per nine innings during his time with Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne. The southpaw has looked sharper over his last two starts, so that is certainly encouraging. … Ethan Routzahn took over for Snelling and pitched the final two innings. He allowed an unearned run on three hits. He didn’t walk a batter nor tally a strikeout. The 26-year-old veteran doesn’t possess elite stuff but he’s a valuable innings-eater for a staff that features four of the Padres’ top 20 prospects. In nine outings for the Missions, he’s thrown 15.2 innings, pitching to a 4.09 ERA in the process.
TinCaps 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 1
Key Statistics: SS Nik McClaughry, 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; RF Tyler Robertson, 2-for-4, R, 2B, SB (7); LF Colton Vincent, 3-for-3, R, RBI; RHP Henry Baez, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R (1 ER), BB, 8 K; RHP Francis Pena (W, 3-0) 2.1 IP, 3 K; LHP Mitch Miller (S, 1) IP, BB, K
Francis Pena to the win on Friday. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps got a go-ahead single from Colton Vincent in the ninth inning to beat the Whitecaps on the road. … Vincent’s ninth-inning single capped off a career-best day at the plate as the 24-year-old out of Florida State had three singles in his first start as a TinCap. He opened the year in Lake Elsinore as a backup, then was sent back to the ACL briefly before moving up to Fort Wayne to provide some much-needed depth. Vincent has only played in six games this year, but he does have multi-hit efforts in three of them. … Righty Henry Baez pitched well but did not factor in the decision. West Michigan scored single runs in the first and second innings, then Baez locked in and shut them until the sixth. He allowed three runs on seven hits, although just one run was earned. He walked one and struck out eight. His eight strikeouts tied a season-high. Through six starts, Baez has pitched to a 4.22 ERA. … Righty Francis Pena took over for Baez and was perfect through 2.1 innings. He notched three strikeouts, earning his third win in the process. The 23-year-old has thrived with Fort Wayne as a multi-inning reliever. He’s pitched at least two innings in six consecutive outings. In 14.2 innings, Pena has a 0.61 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .160 against him.
Inland Empire 66ers 8, Storm 7
Key Statistics: 1B Romeo Sanabria, 2-for-4, R, HR (4), 2 RBI, BB; CF Nick Vogt, 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B; SS Wyatt Hoffman, 2-for-4, 2 RBI; RHP Eric Yost, 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; RHP Johan Moreno (L, 1-1) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: David Jay had on-site coverage of the Storm’s loss to Inland Empire. Read his recap here.
ACL Rangers 7, ACL Padres 1
Key Statistics: SS B.Y. Choi, 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI; 1B Addison Kopack, 1-for-2, BB, 2B; RHP Ian Koenig, IP, BB; LHP Adler Cecil (L, 0-1) IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB; RHP Langston Burkett, 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
B.Y. Choi already cuts an imposing figure in the batter’s box. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: The ACL Padres fell behind early and lost to the ACL Rangers in Surprise. … Shortstop B.Y. Choi connected on his first professional homer in the first inning. The 6-foot-3 shortstop was born in South Korea and attended the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. The Padres drafted Choi in the 20th round. The 22-year-old has been one of the most productive players for the ACL squad in the early part of the season. In six games, he’s hit .353/.500/.647. … Righty Ian Koenig pitched a scoreless inning as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old signed with the Padres as an undrafted free agent back in 2022. He appeared in six games last season for the Storm before going down with a UCL injury. … LHP Adler Cecil took over for Koenig, and struggled in his inning of work. Cecil allowed a pair of hits and walked three batters. The 19-year-old from Temecula has had a pair of one-inning stints as he begins his professional career.
