Albuquerque Isotopes 14, Chihuahuas 8
Key Statistics: CF Dustin Harris 4-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR (3), 2 RBI; 1B Nick Solak 3-for-4, 2 R, HR (13), 2 RBI; 2B Will Wagner 1-for-3, R, BB; RHP Evan Fitterer (L, 3-5) 0.1 IP, H, 2 ER, BB; RHP Logan Gillaspie 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, K
Nick Solak has continued to produce since returning to El Paso. (Photo: Deanna Almaguer)
Prospect Watch: The Isotopes scored four runs in the first inning and cruised to a win against the Chihuahuas in El Paso. … Righty Evan Fitterer made the start and threw just 11 pitches before departing. He recorded an out, allowed a hit, and walked a batter. Fitterer left the start with the athletic trainer, but it was unclear what kind of injury he suffered. We will provide additional information when it is available. … Logan Gillaspie took over for Fitterer and completed 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He did not allow a walk, and he struck out one. The 29-year-old has been a solid depth guy the past few years in the system, and he has 40 big league appearances to his credit as well. Per usual, Gillaspie has a high ERA – his 6.75 mark this season is just below the 7.08 result he posted in El Paso last year. Despite the rough numbers, he’s capable of throwing multiple innings and can start if need be. He’s fared better at home (4.91 ERA) than on the road (8.78 ERA). … Dustin Harris had four hits Friday, finishing a triple short of a cycle. Harris sent a fastball 430 feet for a homer, with an exit velocity of 102.8. The outfielder is 9-for-20 with three homers during this week’s six-game series with Albuquerque. He has a .967 OPS in 13 games since the White Sox organization released him and he signed with the Padres. … Veteran Nick Solak had three hits, including his 13th homer of the season. He added a pair of RBIs as well. The 31-year-old will finish July with an excellent .333/.363/.609 slash-line. … Ethan Salas slid back into the DH role a night after making his first PCL start behind the plate and settled for two walks in five trips to the plate. He also struck out twice. While he didn’t swing and miss at a pitch all night, he took seven called strikes and swung at just 36% of the pitches he saw in the zone.
Amarillo Sod Poodles 8, Missions 5
Key Statistics: 1B Albert Fabian 2-for-4, R; RF Jake Cunningham 1-for-3; 2B Wyatt Hoffman 1-for-3, 2 R; RHP Andrew Thurman (L, 2-6) 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; RHP Garrett Hawkins 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB
System veteran Albert Fabian has heated up a bit in July. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Prospect Watch: The Missions fell behind 5-0, rallied for four runs in the seventh, but came up short as the Soddies handed them their fourth straight loss in Hodgetown. … Albert Fabian had a pair of singles and scored a run. He was the only Missions hitter to record a multi-hit effort. The first baseman/outfielder had a solid July, hitting .275/.312/.449 with two homers and 11 RBI. Overall, the 24-year-old has a .702 OPS this season. … Wyatt Hoffman had a single and scored a pair of runs in the loss. The 27-year-old ended July on a bit of a sour note, striking out nine times in his final ten plate appearances of the month. In a small sample, the Cathedral Catholic product is hitting .256/.327/.395 for the Missions this season. … 34-year-old Andrew Thurman made the start and pitched well in a very hitter-friendly environment. The righty faced just one batter over the minimum through the first five innings, striking out three while issuing a walk and a single. Having gone six innings for the first time in his last outing, Thurman came back out for the sixth again, but got only one more out as he allowed a leadoff walk and a pair of hits. He was ultimately charged with all three runs. Thurman is in the midst of his first season in affiliated baseball in nine years. In 25 games (six starts) for the Missions, the 2013 second-rounder has a 5.71 ERA.
TinCaps 5, Great Lakes Loons 2
Key Statistics: RF Alex McCoy 3-for-4, R, 2B, BB, RBI, 2 SB (19); C Carlos Rodriguez 2-for-5, R; LF Kasen Wells 2-for-4, RBI; 3B Kerrington Cross 1-for-4, BB; RHP Maikel Miralles 5 IP, 0 H, 2 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 3 K; RHP Nick Falter (W, 2-2) 2 IP, H, 3 K; RHP Will Varmette (S, 3) 2 IP, H
Alex McCoy has found his way to second base often as the Midwest League doubles leader. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps offense pounded out 12 hits and pushed across three runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Loons. … Alex McCoy reached base four times with three hits, including his league-leading 26th double. He also drew a walk. On the basepaths, McCoy swiped a pair of bags, giving him 19 for the season. The 24-year-old has been a bit streaky this season, and July was no exception. McCoy finished July hitting .268/.355/.366. The big outfielder struck out in 32% of his plate appearances in July – his highest K-rate in any month this season. … Kasen Wells had a pair of singles and an RBI in the win. The speedy outfielder struggled in July, hitting just .254/.299/.286. When Wells is at his best, he gives the TinCaps consistent contact at the bottom of the order. He has a .374 on-base percentage for Fort Wayne this year. … Lefty Kash Mayfield was a bit of a national headline earlier today when he was scratched from his start. Initially, the online world speculated that he may be on the move in a trade, but that was not the case. The 21-year-old was scratched due to a hamstring issue. As we reported earlier on X, Mayfield should make his next start. … In his place, Maikel Miralles turned in a solid outing, despite some command issues. The righty tossed five hitless innings. He cruised through the first four, working around a two-out walk in each of the first two frames. He went to the sixth with three strikeouts and having set down 10 in a row, and thrown only 57 pitches, but he hit an absolute wall and walked the first three batters of the inning on 14 total pitches. He gave way to to Nick Falter, who did his part to keep runs off the board. Unfortunately for him, a passed ball and a short fly ball to right that went for a sacrifice fly ultimately allowed two runs – one earned – to cross and get added to Miralles’s line. Miralles has shown flashes, especially last year while with Lake Elsinore. However, this season has been a struggle, mainly due to free passes. The 21-year-old issued 17 walks in 14.1 innings in July, which resulted in a 7.53 ERA.
Storm 15, Stockton Ports 5
Key Statistics: CF Conner Westenburg 2-for-5, R, RBI, SB (42); C Ty Harvey 2-for-6, 3 RBI; 1B Yimy Tovar 4-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR (2), 4 RBI, BB; 2B Jose Verdugo 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB (28); RF George Bilecki 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B. BB, 3 RBI, SB (14); LHP Kruz Schoolcraft 4 IP, 4 H, ER, 6 BB, 4 K; RHP Jeferson Villabona (W, 2-0) 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Yimy Tovar turns the corner to head to second base. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: The Storm offense was clicking on Friday, as they pounded out 15 hits and stole five bases in the victory. … Yimy Tovar had a career-best night for the Storm in the win, connecting on his first two home runs above the complex league and reaching base in all five plate appearances. The 20-year-old generally plays up the middle, but he’s been forced into duty at first base, and he’s making the most of his playing time. His perfect night on Friday gave him a .293/.366/.463 slash-line for July. He also drew 10 walks while striking out just 14 times in 93 plate appearances. … George Bilecki clubbed a pair of doubles as part of a three-hit night. The left-handed hitter out of Division II Lewis University has found his footing over the last two months. Since June, Bilecki has a .766 OPS, roughly league average, with five homers, after slugging just .286 through May. The Illinois native was the Padres’ 12th-rounder last year. He signed for $150,000. … Kruz Schoolcraft made the start on Friday, and while the run prevention was encouraging, he once again struggled with command. The 19-year-old lefty completed five innings, allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked a season-high six. Schoolcraft has shown dominant stuff in pockets, especially in the last month. However, the inconsistent command has been a concern. Despite the walks, Schoolcraft had the best month of his professional career, pitching to a 3.47 ERA in five July starts. …
