Chihuahuas 5, Round Rock Express 3
Key Statistics: LF Pablo Reyes 2-for-5, R; CF Carlos Rodriguez 3-for-5; RF Nick Schnell 2-for-5, HR (11); SS Mason McCoy 2-for-5, R, RBI, SB (14); LHP Marco Gonzales (W, 2-4) 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Evan Fitterer 3.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 2 K; LHP Kyle Hart (S, 1) 0.2 IP
Nick Schnell hit three home runs in five games this week for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: El Paso rode solid pitching in a series-opening win at Round Rock. … Pablo Reyes stayed hot with another multi-hit effort. The 32-year-old had a pair of singles and scored a run in the victory. Reyes has hit safely in five of six starts this month after hitting .365 in May. The versatile veteran doesn’t possess much power, but he’s hitting .335 and leads the PCL with a .440 on-base percentage. Reyes, who started this one in left, also has the ability to play all over the infield. … Outfielder Carlos Rodriguez had three singles in five at-bats to lift his average to .293, but a complete lack of power has limited his output in the hitter-friendly PCL. The 25-year-old’s .372 slugging percentage is significantly below average, leading to offensive production 40 points below the league average. … Nick Schnell had a single and connected on his 11th homer in the victory. The former Rays prospect now ranks eighth in the league and is two behind Jase Bowen, who received his first opportunity at the blg league level last week. At this point, Schnell is strictly a platoon bat – he has a 1.001 OPS against right-handed pitching, but lefties have limited him to a .628 OPS. … Marco Gonzales turned in a solid start, earning his second win of the year. Gonzales pitched five innings for the first time in nine outings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked a pair and struck out one. The veteran big leaguer has had a miserable time pitching in the PCL. Even with Tuesday’s solid outing, he has a 2.12 WHIP and an ERA of 8.52.
Frisco RoughRiders 10, Missions 4
Key Statistics: LF Albert Fabian, 1-for-3, BB; RF Kai Murphy, 2-for-4, R, SB (6); DH Tirso Ornelas, 1-for-4, 2B; RHP Victor Lizarraga (L, 2-6) 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, BB, 3 K; LHP Harry Gustin, 1.2 IP, H, 3 K
Prospect Watch: John Conniff is in San Antonio this week. He has the game story from a Missions loss to Frisco.
Dayton Dragons 12, TinCaps 2
Key Statistics: RF Jake Cunningham, 1-for-2, 2 BB; 3B Zach Evans, 2-for-4, R, 2 2B; CF Kasen Wells, 1-for-4; RHP Matthew Watson (L, 0-4) 3 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, BB, 4 K; LHP Ryan Och, 2 IP, 2 K
Zach Evans carried most of the offense for Fort Wayne Tuesday. (Photo: Ryan Cox)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps allowed five homers to the Dragons and lost their series-opener in Dayton. … Zach Evans was the only TinCap to have a multi-hit game with a pair of doubles in four plate appearances. The 23-year-old has mostly struggled offensively in his first taste of High-A after producing solid results in his pro debut last season in Lake Elsinore. Overall, Evans has a .626 OPS for Fort Wayne this season. … Matthew Watson started for Fort Wayne and was unceremoniously pummeled by the Dragons. The right-hander lasted just three innings and allowed nine runs on nine hits before departing. He walked one and struck out four. Watson had a 3.06 ERA in four May starts, but he’s allowed 13 runs in eight innings so far in June, causing his ERA to swell to 6.40. … Lefty Ryan Och tossed a pair of scoreless innings as he continues his rehab assignment. The 26-year-old did not allow a baserunner, striking out a pair. In 4.1 innings across three outings with the TinCaps, Och has a 2.08 ERA.
Ontario Tower Buzzers 5, Storm 4
Key Statistics: 1B Luke Cantwell 3-for-4, R, 3B; RF Kerrington Cross 1-for-5, RBI; SS Jorge Quintana 1-for-3, R, BB; 2B Jose Verdugo 1-for-5; RHP Winyer Chourio 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 9 K; LHP Joseph Herrera (L, 2-4) IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 9 K
Winyer Chourio made his first start of the season. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Prospect Watch: The Storm allowed three runs in the eighth to fall to Ontario at home. … First baseman Luke Cantwell had three hits, including a triple. The former Pitt Panther has gone 5-for-9 since returning from the injured list last weekend. The first baseman has been very productive for the Storm, posting an overall slash-line of .348/.491/.494. … Jose Verdugo had a single to stretch his hitting streak to 16 games. The 18-year-old second baseman is hitting .344/.382/.500 in June. … Righty Winyer Chourio turned in arguably his best start of the season, but did not factor in the decision. He completed six innings for the first time this year, allowing just two runs on four hits. He walkedone and struck out nine, just one off his season-high. The righty also dialed his fastball up to 98 mph as he continues to display high-octane stuff. Through 11 appearances (10 starts), Chourio leads the Cal League with 69 strikeouts, and opposing hitters are batting just .205 against him.
ACL Padres 3, ACL Diamondbacks 1 (7 innings)
Key Statistics: LF Cardell Thibodeaux, 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SB (2); SS Jhoan De La Cruz, 2-for-3, R; RHP Luis Maracara, 3 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 4 K; RHP Daison Acosta, IP, H, 2 K; RHP Dariel Polanco (W, 2-0) 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K; RHP Yoesmerli Beltre (S, 1) IP, BB, 3 K
Cardell Thibodeaux (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: The ACL Padres had only three hits but pushed across three runs to defeat the Diamondbacks and improve their record to 14-13. … Cardell Thibodeaux reached base twice with a double and a walk. He also drove in a pair of runs and added his second stolen base of the season. The Louisiana native struggled badly out of the gate with the Storm last season after the drafted him out of Southern University, hitting just .108 in 21 games. This season, he was held back in the desert and has appeared in eight games. He has a .740 OPS out of the game. … Rehabbing right-hander Daison Acosta continued his rehab assignment with a scoreless inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two batters. The 27-year-old has pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the desert as he continues to ramp up. He should get a few more outings before heading up to the upper minors. … Righty Luis Maracara got the start and pitched three solid innings. He allowed a run on three hits, walking one and striking out four. In five appearances, The 18-year-old has struck out 18 batters in 10.2 innings while pitching to a 4.22 ERA in his second pass at the ACL.