Sacramento River Cats 5, Chihuahuas 4 (11 innings)
Key Statistics: C Luis Campusano 1-for-5, HR (23), RBI; RF Tirso Ornelas 1-for-3, HR (6), RBI; DH Yonathan Perlaza 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB; RHP Randy Vásquez 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K; LHP Omar Cruz 2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K; LHP Kyle Hart IP, H, BB; RHP Ron Marinaccio (BS, 4) IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K, HR; RHP Manuel Castro 1.2 IP, H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, K
Yonathan Perlaza hit his 40th double for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas led 3-1 before the River Cats led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run. The host River Cats rallied for a second run against Ron Marinaccio on a two-out, opposite field rule book double by Giants top prospect Bryce Elridge to send it to extra innings. Yonathan Perlaza drove a run to put El Paso back on top in the 11th, but Sacramento got two to walk off with the win. … Luis Campusano launched a 431-foot blast left-center for his sixth homer in nine games on the Chihuahuas’ current road trip. While he didn’t reach base again on the night, he still owns a .538 on-base percentage for the month … After struggling in his first outing following his demotion to Triple-A, Randy Vásquez scattered two hits across five shutout innings in an impressive outing. He used seven different offerings to get through 71 pitches, but landed just 31 of them in the zone. Sacramento only chased 20% of the time as they forced Vásquez to beat them in the zone. … In addition to the go-ahead single in extra innings, Perlaza drew a walk and hit his PCL-leading 40th double of the year. With four weeks left in the season, he already has set the El Paso franchise record. … El Paso has now lost four of five to Sacramento, but is still holding onto first place in the PCL East with a 30-19 second-half record.
Victor Lizarraga turned in a second straight dominant start. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Amarillo Sod Poodles 2, Missions 0
Key Statistics: CF Damon Dues 1-for-3, 2B; C Oswaldo Linares 1-for-2; RHP Victor Lizarraga 7 IP, 3 H, 9 K; LHP Ryan Och (L, 1-3) 1 IP, H, R, BB, K; RHP Garrett Hawkins 1 IP, 2 H, R, BB, K
Prospect Watch: Victor Lizarraga picked up where Friday night starter Enmanuel Pinales left off, turning in a stellar pitching performance. The 21-year-old scattered three singles over seven shutout innings, striking out nine strikeouts without a walk. After a brutal stretch where he gave up 19 earned runs over just 8.2 innings across three starts, Lizarraga has delivered a pair of shutouts in his last two starts for a scoreless streak of 13.2 innings. While he carried a no-hitter into the seventh in his last outing, Lizarraga was even more impressive in this one, getting 61 strikes in 83 total pitches and punching out more batters than he had in any game since last June. When we spoke with him last month, he discussed getting more separation between his curveball and sweeper as the key for him to turn around some bad outings. Despite the fantastic outing, Lizarraga didn’t pick up the win as the Missions were held to only three baserunners. Newly-signed Damon Dues doubled and a Oswaldo Linares led off the sixth with a single, but the offense managed nothing else on the day. … After being held scoreless for 18 straight innings, the Sod Poodles Sod Poodles led off the ninth with a walk against Ryan Och. Garrett Hawkins came on and allowed a single, walk and double to the first three batters he faced to allow the game’s only two runs. … The Missions have lost four out of five games to Amarillo in the series.
TinCaps 5, Lake County Captains 4
Key Statistics: 1B Lamar King Jr. 2-for-5, RBI; CF Kasen Wells 2-for-5, 2B, RBI; 3B Eguy Rosario 0-for-3, 2 BB; C Brendan Durfee 1-for-3, HR (5), RBI; LF Kai Roberts 1-for-4, RBI; SS Jonathan Vastine 2-for-4; DH Sean Barnett 1-for-2, HR (3), RBI, 2 BB; LHP Luis Gutierrez 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R (2 ER), BB, K; RHP Cole Paplham 1 IP, 2 H, K; RHP Nick Wissman (W, 1-1) 2 IP 2 H; RHP Josh Mallitz (S,1) 1 IP
Sean Barnett had a big night with the bat. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: Fort Wayne rallied from down 4-3 going to the ninth, putting the first two runners on before Lamar King Jr. lined the second pitch he saw into left field for a single to tie the game before Kasen Wells doubled in the go-ahead run. Josh Mallitz came in to get the final three batters in order for his first save of the season. … While King would probably have liked a little more power this season, he’s played more games this year than in his previous four years combined and is hitting .284/.364/.399 between Lake Elsinore and the TinCaps. He’s stayed healthy enough to be able to catch 56 games, staying in the lineup at first base and DH when he’s not behind the plate. … Sean Barnett, the organization’s lone two-way player, had a big night with the bat. The 22-year-old, who hasn’t pitched in a game in a month, drew a pair of walks and hit his first home run since July 22. Barnett had a .907 OPS in 11 games with the Storm to open the year and had a solid .777 OPS in High-A before he started working from the mound in early June, but as he struggled on the mound, his offense cratered as well. Barnett showed big velocity as a pitcher, but posted an unsightly 21.09 ERA across 14 games. He and the organization will have to evaluate whether he can continue to work on both sides of the game going forward. … Eguy Rosario got into his third game as he rehabs from a sports hernia with the TinCaps. He walked twice, but has yet to get a hit for Fort Wayne.
Stockton Ports 7, Storm 5
Key Statistics: CF Ryan Wideman 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI; C Carlos Rodriguez 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; 2B Justin DeCriscio 2-for-2, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 BB; RF Kavares Tears 1-for-3, BB; RHP Bryan Balzer (L, 1-6) 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K; RHP Clay Edmondson 1.2 IP, H, 3 K; LHP Braian Salazar 1 IP, BB, K; RHP Adam Conrad 1 IP, 2 BB, K
Prospect Watch: The Ports went up 4-0 early against Braian Balzer and then put three more on the board after the Storm cut the lead in half in the fifth to cruise to their fourth straight victory over the visitors. … Justin DeCriscio, 22, had a big day with a pair of hits, including his first professional home run. The Orange County native and spent his first three years at the University of San Diego before transferring for his senior year at North Carolina State, where he posted an .883 OPS for the Wolfpack. The Padres selected him in the tenth-round this year for a below-slot signing bonus. … Ryan Wideman, who San Diego drafted in the third round last month, tripled to plate the Storm’s first runs. It was his second extra-base hit in 15 games since joining the Storm. One of the more athletic players in the Padres’ draft class, the big question was whether he’d be able to make consistent contact. He has struck out 20 times in his first 63 plate appearances.
