Las Vegas Aviators 3, Chihuahuas 1
Key Statistics: 1B Graham Pauley, 1-for-4, R, 2B; CF Óscar Mercado, 2-for-3, BB, RBI; DH Bryce Johnson, 1-for-4, 2 SB (13, 14); RHP Gabe Mosser (L, 2-3) 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K; RHP Kevin Kopps, 2.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, K
Gabe Mosser has emerged as a stalwart of the Chihuahuas rotation. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: After winning a series last week in Round Rock, El Paso returned home and managed just four hits in a loss to Las Vegas. … Óscar Mercado had a pair of hits and drove in the only run for the Chihuahuas Tuesday night. The multi-hit effort extended his hitting streak to six games. After a slow start, the former big leaguer has played well over the last few weeks. During his current hitting streak, Mercado is 9-for-23 with three doubles and a homer. … Gabe Mosser pitched well enough to win on most nights, but El Paso’s lack of offensive production saddled him with his third loss. Mosser worked a season-high 6.1 innings and gave up two earned runs while scattering seven hits. He walked one and struck out six. It was the first time Mosser completed more than six innings since July 10, 2021, when he pitched seven strong innings for the TinCaps. Mosser, 27, has been solid over the last month or so for the Chihuahuas in his first foray into Triple-A baseball. If you remove his nightmare first outing (when he allowed seven earned runs in a third of an inning), Mosser has a 4.84 ERA over his last 35.1 innings. … Kevin Kopps took over for Mosser and allowed five baserunners in 2.2 innings but gave up just one run. Kopps walked two and struck out one. The outing lowered Kopps’ ERA to 4.13 which is more than respectable for the PCL. However, Kopps continues to struggle with free passes. Coming into Tuesday’s outing, the 27-year-old righty has walked 16% of the batters he has faced, the 12th-highest total in the PCL (minimum 20 innings), while striking out only 15%.
Roster Moves: The Padres organization sent lefty Miguel Cienfuegos to El Paso, marking an incredible ascent for the former indy ball pitcher. The 27-year-old doesn’t miss a lot of bats but he’s been able to frequently work deep into games. Cienfuegos, who signed his first contract in affiliated ball before last season, has a 3.91 ERA in 46 innings for the TinCaps this year.
The organization has reportedly traded Chihuahuas reliever Nick Hernandez to the Houston Astros, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Hernandez is from the Houston area and was originally drafted by the Astros in 2016. The veteran reliever appeared in a pair of games for the Padres last year. This year, he was throwing the ball well for the Chihuahuas, pitching to a 1.90 ERA in 17 games. The Padres will be receiving cash considerations in the deal.
Midland RockHounds 9, Missions 6
Key Statistics: 3B Marcos Castañon, 2-for-5, R, HR (3), RBI; SS Ray-Patrick Didder, 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, RBI SB (9); 2B Ripken Reyes, 3-for-5, R, 2B, RBI; RHP Carter Loewen, 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K; RHP Yovanny Cruz (L, 1-2) 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K
Marcos Castañon had two hits for the Missions. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Prospect Watch: On a 101-degree evening, the Missions’ bats heated up but the pitching staff struggled and San Antonio lost on the road in Midland. … Marcos Castañon singled and connected on his third homer of the season. It was the Rialto native’s first homer since May 17. The 25-year-old spent some time on the injured list after being hit in the face with a pitch. When healthy, he is arguably the Missions’ best power threat. Tuesday’s performance improved his slash-line to .234/.314/.358. … Ripken Reyes doubled and singled twice – his first three-hit game of 2024. The 27-year-old has struggled this year after posting a solid wRC+ of 118 last year for the Missions. Reyes came into Tuesday’s game hitting just .233 on balls in play, roughly 70 points lower than last year. Despite the struggles at the plate, Reyes is a tough at-bat who has struck out in just over 14% of his plate appearances. … The Missions used a bullpen game on Tuesday and Carter Loewen was up for the task of his first start as a professional. Loewen pitched two innings and allowed just one hit. He walked one and struck out three. The former undrafted free agent out of Hawaii has performed capably this season out of the San Antonio bullpen. In 18.1 innings, Loewen has a 2.45 ERA with 25 strikeoutss.
Roster Moves: Before the game, the Missions activated infielder Connor Hollis from the injured list, giving the club a full 28-man roster. The former Texas League batting champion should help a club that ranks dead-last in the Texas League in OPS. In addition, the Padres signed outfielder L.J. Jones to a contract. He was the Cardinals’ fifth-round pick in 2020. Joining the organization is a homecoming of sorts; the 24-year-old hails from Chula Vista and attended Eastlake High School. Jones was assigned to the Arizona Complex League club to get up to speed but seems like a safe bet to be added to the Missions’ roster once he’s ready. He played in 73 games for Springfield in the Texas League last year, hitting .223/.277/.359. St. Louis released him in the spring.
Peoria Chiefs 6, TinCaps 5
Key Statistics: CF Homer Bush Jr. 1-for-5, R, HR (1), RBI; DH Griffin Doersching, 1-for-3, R, HR (8), RBI, BB; 1B Lucas Dunn, 1-for-2, R, HR (3), BB, RBI; RHP Enmanuel Pinales, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Will Geerdes (L, 1-3) 2 IP, R, 2 K
Griffin Doersching rarely gets cheated on his swing. (Photo: Fort Wayne TinCaps)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps overcame a three-run deficit to force extra innings. However, they allowed the Manfred man to score and couldn’t rally, losing at home to Peoria. … Center fielder Homer Bush Jr. only had one hit but he made it count. Bush connected on a leadoff homer – his first of the season. The 22-year-old struggled in April but he’s swung the bat better since the start of May. Bush Jr. hit .318/.394/.375 in May. Over his last nine games, Bush also has three doubles. He had just two extra-base hits in his first 39 games. … First baseman Griffin Doersching walked and connected on his eighth homer of the year. It was the third consecutive game that the big first baseman has homered in. The hot stretch has pulled Doersching into the top six in the league in homers. Doersching, 25, has immense power but has been an extremely streaky hitter throughout his time in the Padres’ system. His recent hot streak improved his slash-line to .209/.287/.418. … Righty Enmanuel Pinales notched a quality start but did not factor in the decision. Pinales allowed three runs on three hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out three. It was the third time this season that he pitched at least six innings. In 44.2 innings for the TinCaps, Pinales has pitched to a 3.02 ERA. He has an outstanding 1.05 WHIP.
Roster Moves: The organization has promoted Fernando Sanchez from Lake Elsinore to Fort Wayne. The 23-year-old lefty has a 2.90 ERA in eight games (six starts) for the Storm this season.
Inland Empire 66ers 13, Storm 6
Key Statistics: SS Leodalis De Vries, 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB; 1B Romeo Sanabria, 1-for-2, 2 R, HR (7), 2 RBI, 3 BB; DH Alain Camou, 4-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI; LHP Luis Gutierrez (L, 0-1) 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; RHP Yerry Landinez, 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Alain Camou showed a compact, contact-oriented swing in the ACL. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: After sweeping the Quakes at home last week, the Storm hit the road and were blown out in their series opener in San Bernardino. … After a slow week (by his standards) last week, Romeo Sanabria had an excellent game on Tuesday. Sanabria drew three walks and connected on his seventh homer of the season. The power-hitting first baseman has been one of the best players in the Cal League this year, showing a good eye at the plate and the ability to make loud and consistent contact. After reaching base four times, Sanabria’s .432 on-base percentage ranks second in the circuit. … Alain Camou started at designated hitter and had the best game of his young career. Camou set a new career-high with four hits, including a triple. He also drove in a pair of runs. The 20-year-old was brought up in early May after playing in one game for the ACL club. Last year in the desert, he showed good bat-to-ball skills, but looked overmatched early with Elsinore. The four-hit effort raised his average to .200. … Shortstop Leo De Vries appears to be finding his way after a slow start. The prized 17-year-old doubled, drew a walk, and was hit by a pitch in five plate appearances. He also did not strike out. Over his last eight games, De Vries is hitting .310 with three doubles, six walks, and just four strikeouts. … Luis Gutierrez‘s second outing since stepping into the Storm rotation didn’t go well. In 3.1 innings, the 20-year-old lefty allowed six runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Gutierrez, who was getting more swings-and-misses than ever in the ACL before his promotion, has allowed eight earned runs over 7.2 innings for the Storm this season. … Yerry Landinez came off the Storm IL, but struggled after an extended rehab stint in the desert. The big righty, who converted to the mound in 2021, was tagged for four runs over 1.2 innings.
ACL Rockies 11, ACL Padres 1
Key Statistics: 1B Kaden Hollow, 2-for-5; SS B.Y. Choi, 2-for-4, RBI; 3B Yendry Rojas, 1-for-3, BB; RHP Glenn Otto (L, 0-1) 0.2 IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K; LHP Jackson Smeltz, IP, BB, K
B.Y. Choi has showed surprising agility at shortstop. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: It was a rough one in the desert as the ACL Padres were demolished by the Rockies on the road. … Shortstop B.Y. Choi had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in the only run of the game for the ACL Padres. The 22-year-old out of the New Mexico Military Institute has looked impressive this season, showing excellent power behind a 6-foot-3 frame. Choi has seven extra-base hits in 20 games. … Righty Glenn Otto made his first rehab start and ended up taking the loss. The former Rangers starter allowed three runs, walking two and allowing a hit. The 28-year-old was claimed off waivers last September. He’s missed all of 2024 thus far with a shoulder injury. If healthy, Otto could be an interesting depth piece. In 2022, he started 27 games for the Rangers and pitched to a respectable 4.64 ERA. … It’s taken two years but Jackson Smeltz finally made his professional debut, tossing a scoreless inning and notching a strikeout. The 25-year-old out of Lafayette, Indiana was the Padres’ 10th-rounder out of Purdue in 2022. He has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
