Las Vegas Aviators 3, Chihuahuas 2
Key Statistics: RF Tim Locastro, 1-for-3, R; 1B Matthew Batten, 2-for-5, 2B, SB (6); 3B Eguy Rosario, 2-for-4, R, HR (2), 2 RBI; SS Mason McCoy, 2-for-3, BB; RHP Adam Mazur, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; RHP Kevin Kopps, IP, H, BB; LHP Austin Davis (L, 1-3) 1.1 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 3 K
Eguy Rosario continues to do damage for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado).
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas headed to Sin City to open a series against the Aviators. El Paso led at two points, but Vegas won as the winning run came in from third on a weak high infield chopper in the bottom of the ninth. … Adam Mazur made his Chihuahuas debut and pitched well in an extremely hitter-friendly environment. Mazur almost completely shelved his curve and changeup and relied heavily on his fastball and slider to allow two runs on six hits over six innings. He walked a pair and struck out six as his fastball sat 94-96 and topped out at 98. Mazur has gone six innings in three consecutive starts and has allowed just two earned runs with 14 strikeouts and five walks in that span. In seven starts this season, he has a sparkling 2.11 ERA. … Eguy Rosario had a pair of hits, including his second homer since being sent down to El Paso. Naturally, Rosario hit the homer off of a left-handed pitcher. Rosario is 4-for-7 with two doubles and a homer against left-handers for El Paso, but has an .836 OPS against righties in 21 at-bats. Rosario has shown good power with the Padres this season but he will need to get back to the more balanced production he’s had in the past. … Matthew Batten doubled, singled, and stole his sixth base of the season in the loss. The 28-year-old suffered through a brutal April (.530 OPS), but has been much better while posting an .850 mark in May.
Roster Moves: In addition to adding Mazur from San Antonio, infielder Clay Dungan was activated from the seven-day injured list and sent to the Missions where he made his second professional appearance in center field. Dungan had a .893 OPS for the Chihuahuas this year.
Missions 6, Corpus Christi Hooks 2
Key Statistics: C Brandon Valenzuela, 1-for-3, BB; RF Robert Perez Jr., 1-for-3, 2B, BB, 3 RBI; 2B Ripken Reyes, 1-for-4, 3B, RBI; LHP Austin Krob (W, 1-1) 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K; LHP Jayvien Sandridge, IP, K
Robert Perez Jr. is heating up for the Missions. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Prospect Watch: The Missions scored three runs in the first inning to cruise to a win against Corpus Christi. The Missions only had four hits but they drew 11 walks. … Robert Perez Jr. had a two-run double in the first inning and also drew a walk. The 23-year-old got off to a slow start, but he’s looked much more comfortable at the plate in May. After producing a .596 OPS in April, the 23-year-old has improved to a .784 mark in May. He’s been extremely effective against left-handed pitching, hitting .346/.433/.385. Perez hit 16 homers last season for Arkansas but he’s connected on just one this season in 29 games. … Austin Krob, 24, earned his first win of the season, allowing just two runs on three hits across 5.2 innings. He struck out a pair and did not issue a walk. The outing lowered Krob’s ERA to 4.80 but he’s been a bit unlucky this season. His FIP coming into Tuesday’s start was 3.98. He recorded eight groundouts in the game, a specialty of his all year. Among pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings, Krob ranks second in the league with a 55.1% groundball percentage. The former TCU hurler has worked into the sixth inning in each of his last two starts. … Jayvien Sandridge pitched a scoreless inning, notching a strikeout. The left-hander had allowed runs in his previous two innings. Overall, the Maryland native has been an excellent pickup after the organization signed him as a minor league free agent this off-season. In 12.1 innings, Sandridge has racked up 21 strikeouts for the Missions.
Roster Moves: With Dungan’s arrival, infielder Chase Valentine was sent back to Lake Elsinore.
South Bend Cubs 8, TinCaps 5 (11 innings)
Key Statistics: CF Homer Bush Jr., 1-for-5, R, BB, SB (16); 3B Devin Ortiz, 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, RBI; 1B Griffin Doersching, 1-for-5, RBI; RHP Enmanuel Pinales, 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; RHP Francis Pena, 2.1 IP 2 K; RHP Manuel Castro (L, 1-1) 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 K
Francis Pena has been a key part of the TinCaps bullpen. (Photo: Fort Wayne TinCaps)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps overcame a four-run deficit in a rain-soaked affair to tie the game in the ninth but the Cubs added four runs in the 11th inning to win the series opener in the battle of the Indiana rivals. … Homer Bush Jr. singled and added his 16th stolen base of the year. In 43 May at-bats, the former Grand Canyon star is hitting .349/.417/.395 with six stolen bases in seven attempts. The major concern with Bush Jr. has been the lack of power. He has just two extra-base hits all season – both doubles. The 22-year-old plays an outstanding center field and makes frequent contact but will need to show more power to fulfill his potential. … Devin Ortiz singled and drew a pair of walks in the loss. The 25-year-old was Fort Wayne’s best hitter in April, hitting .302/.421/.444. However, he has struggled mightily in May. The former Virginia infielder is hitting just .150/.261/.300 in 40 at-bats this month. … Righty Enmanuel Pinales struggled, ending a stretch of excellent work. Pinales allowed four runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings, walking two and striking out six. The 23-year-old had not allowed a run in his previous two starts, spanning 11 innings. Overall, the Dominican Republic native has pitched to a 3.25 ERA this year. … Righty Francis Pena pitched 2.1 perfect innings, as his run of dominance continues. Pena struck out two batters, lowering his season ERA to 0.53. Over his last six outings, Pena has thrown 14.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits. Overall, Midwest League hitters are batting just .140 off of the 23-year-old.
Roster Moves: The TinCaps received infielder Jay Beshears from the Storm. He did not play in Tuesday’s loss. Beshears hit .320/.489/.454 for Lake Elsinore this season.
Visalia Rawhide 9, Storm 4
Key Statistics: DH Leodalis De Vries, 2-for-4, R; 3B Rosman Verdugo, 2-for-4, R, RBI; 1B Romeo Sanabria, 2-for-4, R, 2B, HR (5), 3 RBI; LHP Fernando Sanchez (L, 1-1) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; LHP Javier Chacon, 1.1 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, K
Leo De Vries is back in action for Lake Elsinore. (Photo: Gail Verderico/Insta @baseball_gail)
Prospect Watch: The Storm hit the road and lost their early-morning series opener in Visalia. … Leodalis De Vries returned to the lineup with a pair of hits. He started at designated hitter as the team eases him back in almost two weeks after he injured his left shoulder diving. The prized 17-year-old prospect will likely only hit from the left side for a while. … Romeo Sanabria had a big game, connecting on a pair of extra-base hits, including his fifth homer of the season. The left-handed hitting first baseman raised his OPS to .955. He has a five-game hitting streak, with multi-hit efforts in three of those games. … Rosman Verdugo had pair of singles and drove in a run. Verdugo started at third base after spending the last few weeks at short and second. With De Vries back in action and Beshears in Fort Wayne, Verdugo could be in line for more work at the hot corner. The two-hit effort raised the 18-year-old’s OPS to .727. … After the best start of his career last week, Fernando Sanchez struggled on Tuesday. The Mexican-born lefty pitched 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six. Despite the rough outing, Sanchez has a 3.06 ERA this year for the Storm.
The ACL Padres had the day off.
