Chihuahuas 8, Tacoma Rainiers 4
Omar Cruz has put himself on the map again in 2024. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Key Stats: CF Brandon Lockridge 3-for-5, SB (11); SS Matthew Batten 2-for-4, HR (6), BB; DH Brett Sullivan 2-for-5, 2B; RF Eguy Rosario 1-for-4, HR (19); LF Cal Mitchell 2-for-4, HR (15); LHP Omar Cruz 2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; RHP Nabil Crismatt 2 IP, 1 H, 4 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn 2.2 IP, H, K; LHP Jayvien Sandridge 1.1 IP, H, K, 2 BB; LHP Austin Davis IP, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas fell behind early before pounding out seven runs over their final four trips to the plate to claim their fifth win in the series. … El Paso collected three homers in the game, including a two-run shot from Eguy Rosario to cap the scoring. The longest-tenured player in the organization had slumped through the first half of August, struggling for the first time this year, but his OPS is back over .900. He appeared in right field for the third time in the series and has now made nine starts there since rejoining El Paso in early July. … Brandon Lockridge, added to the 40-player roster on Saturday night in time in time to be a post-season bench option, celebrated with three hits and his eleventh stolen base since coming over from the Yankees at the trade deadline. The right-handed speedster now owns a .394 on-base percentage and has successfully converted 68 of 77 stolen base attempts across 157 career Triple-A games. By being on the 40-player roster before September 1, he is eligible to be included on the playoff roster if the Padres want another late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-running option. … Omar Cruz made his fourth straight abbreviated appearance for El Paso, allowing four runs over two innings of work. The lefty got seven whiffs on 16 swings at his nasty changeup, but Tacoma hitters got to his fastball. He is on track to reach 100 innings of work for the first time in his career. … Four El Paso relievers combined to shut out the Rainiers over the final seven innings of the game, allowing just three hits and striking out eight.
Midland RockHounds 4 Missions 1
Ryan Bergert has had more success in the second half. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Key Stats: LF Cole Cummings 1-for-3, BB; 1B Romeo Sanabria 1-for-4; Marcos Castañon 1-for-4, 2B; RHP Ryan Bergert 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 K, BB; RHP Bradgley Rodriguez 0.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K, BB
Prospect Watch: The Missions had only one hit through the first six innings and never mounted a serious challenge as they dropped the series. … After going hitless in two straight games for the first time in Double-A, Romeo Sanabria had a single in four trips to the plate and is now hitting .338 with a stellar 17.2% walk rate since joining the Missions. The big first baseman was the lone hitter in San Antonio’s lineup with an OPS above .670. … Ryan Bergert turned in only his third quality start of the year, allowing three runs in the second inning before settling in and facing just one batter over the minimum through the next four frames. Since getting underway again in mid-July, the 24-year-old righty has posted a 3.44 ERA with 37 strikeouts against 12 walks in 36.2 innings. That’s shaved better than a full run off his ERA for the year. … Bradgley Rodriguez was charged with a run while only recording two outs in the ninth. The 20-year-old reliever, who hadn’t pitched domestically before this year, did get both the outs via strikeout but gave up a pair of hits and a walk before giving way at 27 pitches for the night. Rodriguez has allowed four runs in 9.2 innings since his second promotion of the year. He was spared further damage when Ryan Och set down the only batter he faced to strand two runners. … Former Padres prospects Junior Perez, Euribiel Angeles, and Jeisson Rosario combined to go 3-for-32 in the series.
TinCaps 8, Lansing Lugnuts 4
Nerwilian Cedeño has done most of his damage from the right side. (Photo: Fort Wayne TinCaps)
Key Stats: 2B Nerwilian Cedeño 2-for-5, 3B, SB (9); LF Jacob Campbell 2-for-4, BB; CF Kai Murphy 1-for-4, 3B, BB; RHP Tyler Morgan 3 IP, H, K; RHP Will Geerdes (W, 3-4) IP; RHP Will Varmette IP, 1 R (0 ER), 3 K, 2 BB, HBP
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps offense scored in each of the final four innings while five pitchers combined to surrender just one earned run in a bullpen game to claim a series win in Michigan. Nerwilian Cedeño had a triple and single as he extended his hitting streak to eight games. The 22-year-old switch-hitter has managed to stay healthy all year for the first time in his career but has struggled mightily at the plate with a .205/.299/.331 line. He’s had an especially rough time from the left side, posting just a .539 OPS. … University of Illinois product Jacob Campbell had a pair of hits and was one of three TinCaps hitters with two RBIs. The 2022 undrafted free agent signee was a solid contributor for Lake Elsinore this year but has had a slow start in 10 games of intermittent play since his promotion to the Midwest League. … Tyler Morgan took his fifth turn as an opener for the TinCaps this year and delivered three innings of one-hit ball. The 2023 14th-rounder has eaten 70.1 innings in 35 appearances, holding Midwest League batters to a .238 average. … Will Geerdes picked up the victory with a nine-pitch perfect inning just as the offense began to wake up. The University of Virginia grad has struck out 18 against six walks in his last 16 innings of work.
Storm 10, Modesto Nuts 5
Key Stats: DH Jack Costello 1-for-4, HR (6), BB; 1B Lamar King Jr. 2-for-5; RF Sean Barnett 2-for-5; LF Braedon Karpathios 1-for-3, 2B, BB, HBP; SS Brandon Butterworth 2-for-4, 2B, 2 SB (8); 2B Chase Valentine 3-for-3, BB; RHP Johan Moreno 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 3 BB; RHP Zac Addkison 1.1 IP, 2 K, BB
Prospect Watch: Every hitter in the Storm lineup had at least one hit as they closed out their final regular-season homestand with another series victory. The club has averaged better than six and a half runs a game and posted a .809 OPS over the last month. The Padres selected Jack Costello as a $10,000, 23-year-old, 10th-round sign, but the University of San Diego alum has been an offensive force in his professional debut. Costello connected on a two-strike homer in the first inning to get things started for the Storm offense. It was his sixth round-tripper in 102 plate appearances, pushing his slugging percentage to .580. Impressively, the corner player has only struck out six times while generating that much power. … Brandon Butterworth had a double and swiped two more bases while making the start at shortstop. The North Carolina State product has committed only one error in 101 total chances up the middle. … Chase Valentine had his second straight three-hit game. The utility infielder has hit in seven consecutive games, adding nearly 50 points to his OPS in the process. Both Sean Barnett and Lamar King Jr. had a pair of hits. We’ll have interviews with both of them on the site this week.
