Round Rock Express 4, Chihuahuas 3
Key Statistics: LF Forrest Wall 1-for-4, HR (4), R, RBI; DH Luis Campusano 1-for-4, R; C Cody Roberts 1-for-2, BB, RBI; RHP Matt Waldron (L, 6-3) 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), BB, 5 K; LHP Omar Cruz IP, 2 K, BB; RHP Bryan Hoeing IP, H, K
Matt Waldron didn’t go to his knuckleball as often Tuesday as he has in many games. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Express scored three runs in the first inning and held on to defeat the Chihuahuas at Dell Diamond. … Left fielder Forrest Wall connected on his fourth homer of the season in the loss. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a productive month of July, hitting .346/.369/.513, with six doubles, a triple, and a homer. He’s also swiped seven bases on eight attempts. Overall, the former big leaguer has been a roughly league-average bat for the Chihuahuas after signing a minor league deal with the Padres in the offseason. … After allowing three runs in the first inning, Matt Waldron settled in and pitched six innings, taking the loss in the process. The knuckleballing veteran allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits. He walked one and struck out five as he used the knuckler just 45% of the time in the Austin exurbs. Waldron has done an admirable job of commanding the zone and has kept the ball in the yard. He has a walk rate of just 8.4%, and he’s allowed slightly less than one homer per nine innings – by far the best results he’s posted in his multiple stints in the PCL. As a result, he has a solid 3.88 in nine starts for the Chihuahuas. … Bryan Hoeing pitched a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit while striking out a batter. The 28-year-old has pitched three scoreless innings since being demoted to El Paso after appearing for the Padres in a game on July 20. Hoeing is a valuable reliever capable of managing multiple innings. He will be eligible to be recalled to the big league club next Friday.
Frisco RoughRiders 4, Missions 2
Key Statistics: 3B Devin Ortiz 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (5), RBI; 1B Romeo Sanabria 1-for-4; DH Addison Kopack 1-for-3, 2B; RHP Braden Nett 3 IP, 4 K; RHP Jared Kollar (L, 0-5) 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K
Braden Nett was dominant in his return to action. (Photo: Connor Lacefield)
Prospect Watch: The Missions jumped out early on a leadoff homer, but the RoughRiders scored two runs in the fourth to pull ahead for good. … For the first time in two weeks, Braden Nett started for the Missions and looked as dominant as ever. The hard-throwing righty completed three perfect innings, striking out four batters. His stuff looked crisp and he touched 98 mph with his fastball. He left a start two weeks ago with back spasms, but was able to work through his progressions quickly to get back in action. He needed just 35 pitches to retire the RoughRiders in order. Nett has a 3.39 ERA for the Missions this season. Tuesday was just his second outing of the year without issuing a walk. … Righty Jared Kollar took over for Nett and allowed three runs in four innings to fall to 0-5. The 27-year-old was a revelation for the Missions last year, pitching to a 3.04 ERA in 83 innings. This season, the former Rutgers righty struggled mightily after opening the year in El Paso. Since being jettisoned to San Antonio, things have not been much better for Kollar. In 11 outings (four starts), Kollar has a 6.61 ERA in 31.1 innings. Hard contact has been an issue this year – after allowing just six homers with the Missions last year, he’s already allowed four. … Devin Ortiz led off the game for the Missions with his fifth homer of the year in the loss. He also chipped in a single and scored both the club’s runs. The 26-year-old won Texas League Player of the Week back in April. After cooling off in May and June, Ortiz has homered three times in July. The University of Virginia product has a .671 OPS for the Missions in 2025.
Great Lakes Loons 6, TinCaps 0
Key Statistics: LF Ryan Jackson 1-for-4, RF Braedon Karpathios 2-for-2, 2 BB; 3B Rosman Verdugo 1-for-3, BB; RHP Ian Koenig (L, 4-5) 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; RHP Josh Mallitz 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Braedon Karpathios has made plenty of loud contact this year. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps certainly had plenty of traffic on the basepaths, but they could not push across a run and lost at home to the Loons in front of a crowd of over 6,500. … Braedon Karpathios had a perfect night at the plate with two singles and a pair of walks. The former undrafted free agent has been a consistent and steady performer for the TinCaps this season. He’s second on the team behind Brandon Butterworth with a .775 OPS, and his wRC+ of 120 is the best on the squad. He’s striking out in 28% of his plate appearances, but he continues to post excellent exit velocities when he makes contact. … On most nights, Ian Koenig’s effort might have been good enough to win; unfortunately, Tuesday was not one of those nights. Koenig earned the quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out three. Koenig’s start wraps up a very solid month for the Camarillo, California native. In four July starts, the 24-year-old delivered a 1.93 ERA. He pitched at least five innings in all four outings, including three in which he completed six innings. Koenig only punched out 11 batters in 23.1 innings, but Midwest League batters hit just .213 against him this month. … Righty Josh Mallitz completed two innings, allowing a pair of hits while punching out two Loons. The 23-year-old spent seven weeks on the injured list, but has made two scoreless appearances since returning from his rehab assignment. The undrafted free agent out of Mississippi has a solid 27% K rate for the TinCaps. Since a nightmare stretch of three outings in April when he gave up 15 earned runs in 5.1 innings, he’s been a very reliable reliever.
Inland Empire 66ers 6, Storm 5
Key Statistics: SS Cobb Hightower 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, SB (7); C Lamar King Jr. 1-for-3, 2 SB (17, 18), BB, 2 RBI; LF Alex McCoy 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI; RHP Humberto Cruz 5 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K; LHP Igor Gil 2 IP, 3 K
Cobb Hightower gets to the ball quickly with a short stroke. (Photo: Artur Ivanov)
Prospect Watch: The 66ers scored four in the sixth inning and one more in the seventh to defeat the Storm and take over first place in the Cal League South division. … Cobb Hightower extended his hitting streak to four games with yet another three-hit night. The 20-year-old shortstop doubled, singled twice, and added a stolen base. Hightower is 11-for-20 during his hitting streak, raising his batting average from .194 to .240. … Humberto Cruz tossed a career-high five strong innings on Tuesday, but he did not factor in the decision. He allowed a run on three hits, walking two, and striking out four. The 18-year-old was crisp and efficient, needing just 59 pitches to complete five innings. He threw 39 of the 59 pitches for strikes. Since joining the Storm, Cruz has pitched to a 4.79 ERA. … Lefty Igor Gil tossed a pair of perfect innings, striking out three 66ers. The Storm bullpen has struggled at times, but Gil has been their most consistent reliever all season. He has had a sub-4.00 ERA in every month this season. He has recorded three saves in July, striking out 14 batters in 11.2 innings. The 24-year-old, who signed his first professional contract in late 2023, has fought his command at times in his first season of full-season ball, but his breaking ball is one of the most effective on the roster.
