Chihuahuas did not play
Triple-A is the only level staying on their typical schedule this week. El Paso will host Albuquerque for a series starting Tuesday night.
Missions 5, Corpus Christi 1
Omar Cruz has settled into his bulk inning role well. (Photo: Ray Holguin)
Key Stats: C Brandon Valenzuela 2-for-4, BB; 3B Jarryd Dale 1-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI; CF Robert Perez Jr. 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB (10); RHP Raul Brito 2 IP, H, 3 K; LHP Omar Cruz 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn IP, 2 H, K, BB
Prospect Watch: In a showdown between the Texas League’s two least productive offenses, San Antonio used a four-run second inning to claim the victory. Jarryd Dale came through with the key hit, a three-run blast for his second homer in as many days. The 23-year-old utility man from Australia has had a rough go of his first exposure to Double-A, hitting just .139/.182/.278 in 79 trips to the plate. … Brandon Valenzuela had two more hits and drew a walk to extend his on-base streak to 23 games. The switch-hitting catcher’s .751 OPS is good for 10% above league average production. … Without a day off at the start of the week, the Missions went with a bullpen game. Raul Brito tossed two scoreless frames to open the game, striking out three. The 27-year-old righty owns a 2.71 ERA since signing as a minor league free agent before the 2023 season. … Lefty Omar Cruz again worked as the bulk guy, throwing four innings of one-run ball to pick up the victory. The Hermosillo, Mexico, native has enjoyed that role, allowing five earned runs over 16.2 innings with 26 strikeouts against just one walk in four straight turns as the first out of the pen. Opponents are hitting just .205 against him on the year. … Ethan Routzahn had to work around a pair of singles and a walk, but closed out the victory with a scoreless inning of work. The 2021 undrafted free agent has allowed only one earned run over his last 23 innings. While he’s only struck out 16 in that span, his low delivery slot induces a ground ball rate well north of 50%.
Lansing Lugnuts 7, TinCaps 1
Key Stats: CF Homer Bush Jr. 2-for-5, 2B, OF Assist; 1B Griffin Doersching 2-for-2, 2B, HR (9), BB, HBP; LHP Fernando Sanchez 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 5 K; RHP Will Geerdes 2 IP, H, ER, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base as they managed to outhit Lansing 9-8 while getting outscored badly. … Griffin Doersching did most of the damage for Fort Wayne, collecting a double and his ninth homer of the year while reaching base four times on the day. The hulking first baseman is slugging .617 over his last 17 games, but he’s struck out at nearly a 40% clip over that stretch. … Lefty Fernando Sanchez worked three strong innings to open the game, striking out five while giving up just one unearned run. The 23-year-old opened the year in Lake Elsinore as he continued to work back from 2022 Tommy John surgery. He got hit hard in his first two appearances after getting promoted to Fort Wayne in May, but has allowed only three earned runs in 13 innings with a healthy 15:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio across his last three appearances.
Storm 10, Inland Empire 66ers 3
Rosman Verdugo generates solid batspeed from a compact swing. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Key Stats: 3B Rosman Verdugo 5-for-5 2 2B, HR; RF Ryan Wilson 1-for-3, 2 BB; CF Braedon Karpathios 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB; DH Luis Campusano 0-for-4; RHP Johan Moreno 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K; RHP Yerry Landinez 2 IP, H, ER, 4 K, 2 BB; RHP Thomas Balboni Jr. IP, H, 3 K
Prospect Watch: Rosman Verdugo had a monster night, going 5-for-5 with two doubles and his seventh homer of the year to lead the Storm offense. The 19-year-old infielder, who has been to the plate 266 times this year, managed to add 36 points to his slugging percentage with the performance. After collecting just three homers last year, the Baja California native has added more strength this year, but has also been striking out at nearly a 30% clip all season. He’s done enough damage on contact that he is providing slightly above league-average production, but will look to smooth out the swing-and-miss issues over the second half. … Braedon Karpathios reached base three times and scored three runs. The 21-year-old outfielder, who has hit in every spot in the lineup for Lake Elsinore at least once this year, leads the league with both 99 strikeouts and 55 walks in 307 plate appearances. Not surprisingly he’s also seen more pitches than any hitter on the circuit. … Luis Campusano went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in his first rehab appearance with the Storm after a thumb injury sent him to the IL. … Righty Johan Moreno made his first start of the year and stretched out to a season-high four innings as the Storm went with a bullpen game. The 21-year-old signed his first professional contract last January and eventually came stateside at the end of the ACL season. In his first taste of full-season ball, the Venezuela native has struggled mightily with control, walking 22 in 25.1 innings. … Righty Thomas Balboni Jr. struck out the side to close out the win. The Northeastern University product has racked up 52 strikeouts in 29.1 innings since dropping down to a low three-quarters release this year. He’s still struggled with command at times, but has shown a mix of stuff and deception that will give him a chance to develop as he moves up the system.
