Chihuahuas 13, Albuquerque Isotopes 8
Key Stats: 1B Tim Locastro 2-for-4, HR (9), HBP; CF Clay Dungan 2-for-5, 2 2B; DH Rodolfo Durán 2-for-5, HR (15), 2B; 3B Marcos Castañon 2-for-5, 2B; LF Trenton Brooks 2-for-3, 2 BB; LHP Jackson Wolf 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; LHP Omar Cruz 1.2 IP, H, K, BB
Omar Cruz continues to get batters out in the offense-friendly PCL. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas raced out to a seven-run lead in the first inning before the offense went quiet for the next six innings. But after Albuquerque climbed back into the game, the home club plated six more in the eighth to turn this one into a laugher. As he has been so often over the last two months, Rodolfo Durán was at the heart of the scoring, launching a 424-foot two-run homer in the first and then lacing an RBI double to help put the game away. The 27-year-old backstop has slugged .756 over his last 30 games, lifting his OPS on the year to a career-best .880. Originally signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Phillies in 2014, Durán has been in the upper minors since 2021. The Padres will need to decide whether his stellar campaign is compelling enough to try to keep him in the organization next year. … Marcos Castañon had two more hits, including his fourth double in 10 games since joining the Chihuahuas. He’s had five multi-hit games on his way to a .395/.496/.737 line in his introduction to the PCL. The 26-year-old infielder will hope that his improved performance in San Antonio this year and late-season splash will earn him a spot on the 40-player roster or consideration from other clubs in the Rule 5 draft this winter. … Trenton Brooks, who has struggled mightily since returning to El Paso in August, reached base four times on a pair of hits and two walks. The San Diego County native mashed his way to the big league roster, but then foundering to a .454 OPS in seven weeks with the Padres. After he was outrighted back to El Paso, he went just 7-for-66 over 19 games. He’s gotten untracked a bit in the last week, hitting in six straight games. … Lefty Omar Cruz picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless work. He came on with a pair of runners in scoring position after Jackson Wolf hit a wall in the fifth inning, but got a strikeout and fly ball to end the inning, then worked around a single and walk of his own in the sixth. Cruz didn’t have his usually stellar feel for his changeup, but used his two breaking balls effectively enough to keep Isotopes hitters off-balance.
Springfield Cardinals 7, Missions 0
Key Stats: CF Braedon Karpathios 1-for-4; LHP Jagger Haynes 4 IP, H, 3 K, 2 BB; RHP Cole Paplham 0.2 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, BB, 3 HBP; LHP Harry Gustin 1.1 IP, 2 H, BB
Jagger Haynes finished strong for the Missions. (Photo: Kirby Milam)
Prospect Watch: The Texas League’s least productive offense finished their season aptly, managing just two singles in a shutout loss. The Missions end the year last on the circuit in runs, homers, slugging and OPS and ninth in every other category. Jagger Haynes did his part to keep the club in the game, working four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. The lefty only allowed one runner through his first three innings of work, but walked the first two batters he saw when he went out to pitch the fourth inning for the first time since the end of July. He rebounded quickly and escaped without any damage. After experiencing a bit of arm soreness in his start August 1, the 22-year-old – working on a five-day pitching schedule for the first time this year – has worked just 15 innings across his final six appearances. While he’s continued to get solid results, he has walked 12 against just 11 strikeouts in that span. He’ll likely be added to the 40-player roster in the offseason. … Cole Paplham‘s nightmare season ended in brutal fashion as the right-hander gave up five earned runs while recording only two outs. He surrendered a pair of hits, a walk, and hit three batters as he had little feel for any of his offerings. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Paplham showed big velocity and a devastating slider early in his career, but injuries have derailed his progress. After getting hit in the face with a line drive in spring training this year, the 25-year-old didn’t get underway until late May. Across three levels, he pitched to a 7.40 ERA with 21 walks in 24.1 innings. … Braedon Karpathios had one of the club’s two hits and also threw out a runner at home from center. He finishes his year with a .249/.357/.413 line across two levels that translates to a strong 122 wRC+. He’ll get a chance to continue his work in the Arizona Fall League and is likely to get his first invitation to big league spring training next year.
