Stephen Kolek is working through his deep arsenal for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 7, Sacramento River Cats 5
Key Stats: RHP Stephen Kolek 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 K; RHP Francis Peña IP, H, R, BB, K; LF Bryce Johnson 1-for-3, RS, RBI, BB; 3B Mike Brosseau 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB; DH Tim Locastro 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB (1)
Prospect Watch: The El Paso roster has seen plenty of turnover as the MLB club has had to turn to Triple-A multiple times to bolster the roster. After Luis Campusano, the only position player on the 40-man roster still with the Chihuahuas, was pulled from the starting lineup shortly before game time, his replacement Tim Locastro became the hero El Paso didn’t know it needed. Locastro, playing in just his third game of the year, hit a two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning to break a 5-5 tie and give El Paso the win. It was the 32-year-old outfielder’s his first home run since last May 9. Locastro was hitting .333/.449/.479 for El Paso last year before a torn shoulder labrum ended his year. Had his rehab not lasted until well after spring training, he might have been in line for a shot at center field when the Padres’ parade of injuries began. … El Paso was only in position for Locastro’s heroics because Mike Brosseau hit a game-tying 3-run home run. It was the first home run of the season for the 31-year-old. Brosseau spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues with Tampa Bay before signing a minor league contract with the Padres. While Brosseau primarily plays third, he has seen numerous games at second and first, as well as a few at both shortstop and left field. … With Kyle Hart pitching for San Diego, Stephen Kolek, toed the rubber for El Paso. The 28-year-old went five innings, allowing two earned runs in a strong bounce-back outing. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. He topped out at 96 mph and generated 11 whiffs in the start, most of which came on his fastball (33% whiff rate). Kolek has yo-yoed between allowing two earned runs or less in three outings, and a pair of clunkers in which he’s allowed six and seven runs. … Francis Peña delivered the fastest pitch of the day, hitting 99 mph with his sinker, while his cutter – which continues to morph into more of a traditional slider – generated a 50% whiff rate. The 24-year-old did allow an unearned run thanks to his own throwing error.
Amarillo Sod Poodles 4, Missions 2
Key Stats: RHP Henry Baez 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K; SS Francisco Acuña 2-for-5, HR (3), RBI; LF Moises Gomez 1-for-3, 3B, BB; RF Kai Murphy 2-for-4, RBI
Henry Baez is getting back into form for the Missions.(Photo: Ray Holguin)
Prospect Watch: Henry Baez made his fourth start for San Antonio and, for the fourth straight outing, the righty allowed two earned runs. This time out, the number six prospect in the Padres system struck out a season-high seven batters over 4.2 innings. Baez, 22, is sporting a 4.60 ERA, but sports a strong 19:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 15.2 innings. He’s working to build back up after illness cost him several weeks in spring training. … Offensively, 25-year-old Francisco Acuña provided the lone spark with his third home run of the season. The long-time Pirates farmhand is hitting .258/.292/.435 in his ninth season of pro ball. He’s only topped three round-trippers in one season. … Kai Murphy collected the club’s only other multi-hit game. The former Sun Devil broke an 0-for-13 streak with his RBI single in the fifth inning. The 24-year-old is hitting .250/.348/.318 in 14 games. … Ethan Salas missed his fifth straight game dealing with back tightness. He hasn’t hit the IL, but the Padres sent Jack Mathey out to join San Antonio and added him to the development list there. The 21-year-old catcher was signed as a UDFA last year and has yet to make a minor league appearance. … Bradgley Rodriguez left Tuesday’s game after his roughest performance as a professional, when his back tightened up on him. He was to be evaluated further Wednesday.
Lansing Lugnuts 8, TinCaps 3
Key Stats: SS Leo De Vries 1-for-4, 3B, R; 1B Jack Costello, 1-for-4, 2B; 3B Rosman Verdugo 1-for-3, BB; RHP Clark Candiotti 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Garrett Hawkins 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB; LHP Harry Gustin 4.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 K
Prospect Watch After putting up a week’s worth of production Wednesday, Leo De Vries collected a triple for the second consecutive night in his encore performance. He scored, but that would be the only time De Vries reached base in the game. The superstar teenager is hitting .291/.344/.618 through his first 61 plate appearances of the year. De Vries did commit his third error of the season, but it did not lead to any runs. … TinCaps starter Clark Candiotti did not make it out of the first inning. He landed only 17 of his 34 pitches to 7 batters for strikes before giving way. The 24-year-old righty has struck out 12, but issued seven walks in 7.1 innings. … Lefty Harry Gustin saved the bullpen with 4.1 innings of one-run ball. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. After walking nine batters over his first 5.1 innings, the 2023 18th-rounder out of the University of Hawaii has not issued a free pass over 7.2 innings in his last two appearances. He needed just 61 pitches – 43 for strikes.
Visalia Rawhide 9, Storm 6
Key Statistics: CF Kasen Wells 3-for-5, RS, 2B; DH Kavares Tears 1-for-5, RS; C Lamar King Jr 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B; 1B Kaden Hollow 1-for-3, 2 BB; RHP Maikel Miralles 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 8 K; RHP Adam Conrad 3 IP, 2 BB, 5 K; LHP Bodi Rascon 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB
Kasen Wells provides a spark at the top of the Storm lineup. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Prospect Watch: Despite going 1-for-15 with runners and leaving 11 on base, the Storm held a 6-3 lead going into the ninth before the Rawhide scored six times against three relievers to take the win. … Maikel Miralles set a new career high with eight strikeouts over four innings. Possibly an even better sign, after walking 10 batters in 8.2 innings over his first four games, he only walked one over four innings. The 20-year-old is looking to replicate a stretch during last year’s end-of-season call-up to Lake Elsinore when he allowed one run over 15 innings before being walloped in his last start. … Lamar King Jr. continues to be an offensive weapon for the Storm. King had a pair of hits including a double to reach base safely multiple times for the eighth time this season. He’s hitting .288/.356/.462 while starting seven of the Storm’s 17 games behind the dish. … Kasen Wells had his first career three-hit game and now has eight hits over his last five games. The 21-year-old, drafted in the 18th round, leads the club with 13 stolen bases in 16 games and is hitting .258/.387/.387 on the season.
