Las Vegas Aviators 11, Chihuahua 7
Key Statistics: 2B Tyler Wade, 2-for-3, R, BB; C Luis Campusano, 2-for-3, BB; DH Brett Sullivan, 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI; LHP Austin Krob, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 2 K; RHP Kevin Kopps, 3 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Ron Marinaccio, IP, H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Harold Chirino (L, 0-1) 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, K
Luis Campusano continues to hit in El Paso.(Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: Much like the Padres, El Paso jumped out to a lead in the first inning, scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame. However, the Aviators scored the final eight runs to defeat the Chihuahuas in El Paso. … Tyler Wade did a nice job out of the leadoff spot, reaching base three times. The former big leaguer had a pair of singles, drew a walk, and scored a run. Wade, 30, has hit safely in four of the five games he has played after being designated for assignment just before opening day. The fleet-footed utility man is hitting .304 in five games but has yet to notch an extra-base hit since joining the Chihuahuas roster. … Catcher Luis Campusano had his second consecutive multi-hit game in the losing effort. The Georgia native had a pair of singles and drew a walk in four plate appearances. As is typical with Campusano, he is punishing PCL pitching; his two singles registered at 107 mph and 111 mph, respectively. The 26-year-old is off to a .321/.441/.500 this season. … Austin Krob made his second Triple-A start and lasted just two innings as he builds up for a long season. Krob allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings. He walked three and struck out two. The former TCU star was inefficient, as just 29 of his 57 pitches found the strike zone. In two outings with El Paso, Krob is sporting a 1.93 ERA, albeit with dangerous underlying numbers. In 4.2 innings, Krob has walked six batters and has a WHIP over 2.00. It’s a small sample size, but the lefty must consistently find the plate to succeed. … Kevin Kopps took over after Krob left and pitched three strong innings, allowing a run on two hits. He walked one and struck out three. While one has to play the proverbial small sample size card with Kopps, he’s looked noticeably sharper in 2025. Through 8.1 innings spanning five games, the former Golden Spikes Award winner has a 1.08 ERA. He has walked four and struck out nine hitters this season while holding opponents to a .148 average. In addition, Kopps’ WHIP is under one; last season, it was 1.86. One noticeable difference this season is that Kopps has seemingly shelved his low-90s sinker and has exclusively thrown his mid-80s cutter and a curveball. Thus far, the results have been mighty encouraging.
Roster Moves: After battling an illness at the end of spring training, righty Francis Pena was activated by the Chihuahuas. Lefty Jake Higginbotham will move to San Antonio as the corresponding move.
Missions 4, Corpus Christi Hooks 3
Key Statistics: 1B Romeo Sanabria, 3-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI; RF Joshua Mears, 1-for-2, 2 BB; 3B Devin Ortiz, 2-for-4, RBI; LHP Jackson Wolf, 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K; LHP Jake Higginbotham (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 5 K; RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (S, 2) 2 IP, H, 3 K
Romeo Sanabria connected on his first homer Tuesday (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Prospect Watch: The Missions rallied late, scoring the winning run in the eighth to defeat the Hooks on the road. … The winning hit came off the bat of Romeo Sanabria, who connected on a solo homer to give the Missions the lead and, ultimately, the win. The solo blast capped off a three-hit night for the big first baseman. In four games this season, Sanabria is 8-for-17 with a double, a homer, and a pair of RBI. … Earlier on Tuesday, Devin Ortiz was named the Texas Player of the Week for his efforts in the season-opening series. He celebrated that achievement with another pair of singles and and RBI Tuesday night. The former University of Virginia star is 7-for-13 in his first four games of the season and is currently sporting a 1.340 OPS. … After Jackson Wolf tossed the first three innings and Jose Espada pitched the next two, 29-year-old Jake Higginbotham made his Missions debut and pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five of the six batters he faced. The 29-year-old signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason after spending last year in Double-A Erie with the Tigers’ organization. Higginbotham started the year with the Chihuahuas but allowed eight earned runs in 2.1 innings – good for a 30.86 ERA. The good news is that his Double-A ERA is a sparkling 0.00. … The Missions kicked it old school down the stretch, as hard-throwing righty Bradgley Rodriguez pitched the final two innings to earn the six-out save. Rodriguez allowed just one hit and struck out three. The 21-year-old has notched four strikeouts this season over three scoreless innings.
TinCaps 8, Dayton Dragons 4
Key Statistics: Leo De Vries, 1-for-4, R, BB; C Brendan Durfee, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; RF Braedon Karpathios, 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, 2B, 3B, RBI ; RHP Ian Koenig, 4 IP, 2 H, R (0 ER), 4 BB, 2 K; RHP Garrett Hawkins, IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Eiker Huizi (W, 1-0) IP, BB, K; RHP Tyson Neighbors, IP, H, BB, 2 K
Braedon Karpathios. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps trailed 4-1 going into the seventh, but scored a run in the seventh and then exploded for six in the eighth to defeat Dayton on the road. The temperature at first pitch was a balmy 41 degrees. … Catcher Brendan Durfee continued his hot start with a pair of hits, including a double. He also drove in a pair of runs in the Fort Wayne win. The draftee out of UC Santa Barbara impressed at the plate with the Storm last season and has swung the bat well with the ‘Caps to start 2025. Through four games this season, Durfee has a .923 OPS. … Braedon Karpathios had a double and triple and scored a pair of runs. The 21-year-old out of Harford Community College in Pennsylvania was one of the best hitters in the Cal League in the final two months of the season, and thus far, he’s hit well with the TinCaps. Karpathios’ big night at the plate raised his OPS to .930. … Righty Ian Koenig battled with his command on Tuesday night but kept the Dragons’ offense mostly at bay. The California native allowed just one unearned run on two hits over four innings even though he walked four and struck out two. Koenig came back from Tommy John surgery last season and pitched well down the stretch, allowing just three earned runs over his final 14.1 innings. … Righty Eiker Huizi pitched a scoreless inning to earn his first win as a member of the Padres’ organization. The 24-year-old was poached from the Tigers organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He spent most of last year pitching for Single-A Lakeland, where he had a 2.36 ERA in 36 games.
Modesto Nuts 8, Storm 4
Key Statistics: CF Kasen Wells, 1-for-4, R, RBI, SB (3); C Lamar King Jr., 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI; DH Sean Barnett, 2-for-4, R, HR (1), 2 RBI; LHP Kash Mayfield, 3 IP, BB, 6 K; RHP Johan Moreno, 2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: After a miserable weekend in Rancho Cucamonga, the Storm returned home for Kash Mayfield‘s professional debut. We had live coverage as he shined, but the club continued to struggle.
