Chiefs Pound TinCaps 13-2

FORT WAYNE — On an overcast night, top Padres prospect Dylan Lesko struggled, giving up seven earned runs as the TinCaps fell 13-2 to the Peoria Chiefs before a packed crowd at Parkview Field.

The outing continued a rough season for the club’s top pitching prospect coming into the season.

Dylan Lesko struggled again on Saturday. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)

The 20-year-old Georgian started the game on fire, striking out the side and flashing a mid-90s fastball and devastating changeup, both for chase strikes and in the zone.

In the second inning, he walked the first two batters he faced — a problem he’s faced all year. He’s now issued 34 free passes in 38 innings. After a sacrifice moved the runners over, Lesko got his fourth strikeout of the night and seemed to be on his way to getting out of the inning.

Dylan Lesko opened the game by striking out the side. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)

Then the Chiefs strung together a two-run single, a home run, and three more singles before Lesko finally got the tenth batter of the inning to pop out to end the batter.

Lesko gave up two more runs in the third, including another home run – but came out and pitched a clean fourth inning to end his evening. He threw 82 pitches and 51 for strikes, but very few breaking balls as hitters sat on a relatively straight four-seam fastball.

His ERA ballooned up to 7.34 through his first ten starts. The Padres’ first-round selection in 2022 was considered the best prep pick in the draft and is struggling for the first time at a sport he’s dominated since Little League.

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Outside of the two walks to open the second inning, walks were not the major problem for Lesko tonight; not an effective breaking pitch and hard-hit balls were his issues. The rest of the TinCaps staff did fight their command, giving up seven walks. Lefty reliever Mitch Miller hit the first batter he faced, then walked three after recording just one strikeout. He was replaced by Ryan Och, who also walked the first batter he faced. The duo allowed Peoria to score three runs without notching a hit.

Bradgley Rodriguez also struggled with his control with a wild pitch, a pair of walks, and a fielding error as he allowed two runs in a brutal night for TinCaps pitching.

Offensively, Fort Wayne didn’t record an extra-base hit on the evening. Still, Homer Bush Jr. and Tyler Robertson both had two hits, and Anthony Vilar was not only the offensive star with three hits but, again, the only pitcher to record a clean inning in his third pitching performance of the season.

Vilar got the first two outs of the ninth inning by throwing eephus pitches that were clocked in the low 30s. As with all position players who throw mop-up innings, his biggest concern was not walking anyone and saving whatever bullpen arms he could for tomorrow. … Right-hander Braden Nett will get the start for the Sunday finale.