Salt Lake Bees 7, Chihuahuas 1
Key Statistics: 1B Tirso Ornelas 2-for-4; RF Cal Mitchell 1-for-3, HR (16); SS Clay Dungan 1-for-3, 2B; RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (L, 1-3) 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K; RHP Francis Pena IP, 4 H, 2 ER; RHP Kevin Kopps IP, H, K
Cal Mitchell has been a solid all-around contributor in his first year with the Padres organization. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas opened their final home series of the year with a loss against the Bees. … Tirso Ornelas had a multi-hit effort with a pair of singles in four plate appearances. Both of the knocks came off the bat at better than 105 mph. The 24-year-old has had a terrific season, earning a 40-man roster spot. However, he’s struggled down the stretch. In August, Ornelas hit .250/.342/.410 and in six games in September, he’s hitting just .192/.192/.308 this month, although he is carrying a four-game hitting streak. Ornelas’ multi-hit effort was his first since August 28. … Right fielder Calvin Mitchell connected on a homer – his only hit of the evening. It was Mitchell’s 16th homer of the season, surpassing his previous career-high from 2019 while he was playing in the Florida State League. After playing six seasons in the Pirates’ organization, the 25-year-old has a solid first season in the Padres’ organization. The Rancho Bernardo High alumnus has a wRC+ of 103 for the Chihuahuas this season. Unless he is added to the 40-man roster, he is headed toward minor league free agency again this season. … RHP Carl Edwards Jr. turned in a solid start but took his third loss of the season. The big league veteran pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out one batter. The 33-year-old has transitioned into a starting pitcher in the Padres’ organization after spending the better part of a decade as a reliever in the minors and in the big leagues. The results have been encouraging; in eight starts for the Chihuahuas, Edwards has a 4.62 ERA while averaging more than a strikeout per inning.
Springfield Cardinals 7, Missions 3
Key Statistics: LF Cole Cummings 1-for-3, BB; C Anthony Vilar 2-for-4, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI; DH Romeo Sanabria 1-for-4; RHP Sam Whiting (L, 0-3) 3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB; LHP Daniel Camarena IP, H, K
Cole Cummings. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Prospect Watch: The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, cruising to a win against the Missions. Former Missions’ hurler Brandon Komar earned the win for Springfield. … Anthony Vilar had his best game at the Double-A level, delivering a double and his first Texas League homer. The 25-year-old did a solid job offensively for the TinCaps this season, delivering a .768 OPS in 74 games. However, in 21 games since being promoted to San Antonio, the former University of Miami infielder has struggled mightily, posting a meager .515 OPS. However, Vilar has multi-hit efforts in two of his last four games after failing to notch a multi-hit effort in his first 17 games at the level. … Cole Cummings reached base twice with a single and a walk. He also added a pair of outfield assists to the ledger as well. The 26-year-old has played in a career-high 119 games for the Missions this year, delivering a .654 OPS that is below the league average. Cummings has reached double-digits in homers for the second consecutive season but he came into Tuesday’s game with a 32.7% K-rate which is the fourth-highest mark in the Texas League. … Righty Sam Whiting made the start, struggled early, and took the loss. Cummings’ former UC Santa Barbara teammate tossed three innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He walked two and failed to strike out a batter. The 23-year-old threw the ball well during his stops in Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne but he’s yet to conquer the Double-A level. In six starts for the Missions, Whiting has a 6.48 ERA while allowing a staggering 36 baserunners in 16.2 innings.
Storm 13, Visalia Rawhide 7 (Storm lead best-of-three series, 1-0)
Key Statistics: CF Kai Roberts 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B, HBP; C Brendan Durfee 2-for-7, RBI; LF Braedon Karpathios, 2-for-5, 2 R, BB, RBI; 3B Ryan Jackson 2-for-4, 3 R, BB, RBI, HBP; RF Sean Barnett 2-for-4, R, 2B, BB, HBP, 2 RBI; SS Brandon Butterworth 1-for-3, 2 R, HR (1), 3 BB, 3 RBI; LHP Luis Gutierrez (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K, 2 WP; RHP Tyson Neighbors IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP
Brandon Durfee has added pop to the Lake Elsinore lineup. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Prospect Watch: The Storm scored four runs in the first inning and cruised to a win against the Rawhide in Visalia. Lake Elsinore will attempt to win the series at home Thursday night. … Shortstop Brandon Butterworth drew three walks and connected on a two-run homer in the third inning. The NC State product struggled at the plate down the stretch, hitting just .219 in 24 games. Butterworth did not homer in the regular season, so his first professional homer came in a crucial playoff game. … Center fielder Kai Roberts picked up where he left off in the regular season, connecting on a single, a double, and drawing two walks. Over the last 30 days of the regular season, the 23-year-old ranked eighth in the Cal League with an .874 OPS while going 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts. … Catcher Brendan Durfee singled twice in seven plate appearances. Much like Roberts, the 23-year-old backstop was one of the best hitters in the Cal League down the stretch. His .908 OPS over the last 30 days ranked sixth in the Cal League. In 20 games with the Storm, Durfee delivered a terrific wRC+ of 140. … Lefty Luis Gutierrez wasn’t especially sharped but earned the win and gave is club five innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out four as he labored through 88 pitches. The 20-year-old put together a solid campaign for the Storm, pitching to a 4.62 ERA in 62.1 innings.
