Jagger Haynes found a rhythm for the first time since joining El Pas. (Photo: Deanna Almaguer
Chihuahuas 5, Salt Lake Bees 2
Key Stats: C Ethan Salas 1-for-3, R, BB, SB (15); LHP Jagger Haynes 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, WP, Balk; SS Mason McCoy 2-for-3, HR (9), RBI, 2 SB (27); DH Rodolfo Durán 1-for-3, 2B, R, RBI; CF Carlos Rodriguez 1-for-4, R, RBI
Prospect Watch: Top prospect Ethan Salas continues to have no issues handling Triple-A pitching. At the plate, Salas walked, collected a 102-mph single, scored a run, and stole his first base in Triple-A and 15th overall. Behind the plate, Salas went 1-for-1 on ABS challenges and threw out one of three baserunners. The two stolen bases came on a double steal on which Salas threw the ball away, allowing a run to score. Still, the 20-year-old is now hitting .326 with a 1.009 OPS and has drawn as many walks (seven) as strikeouts in 11 games. … After opening his Triple-A career giving up 14 earned runs with nine walks in nine innings over three ugly starts, Jagger Haynes returned to form. The lefty did not allow an earned run over five innings, giving up two unearned runs while walking two and striking out five. Both his four-seamer and sinker sat 92-93 mph, while he was able to get a 47% whiff rate with his slider. While only 43% of his pitches were in the zone, Salt Lake batters chased a third of the time. Haynes is trying to regain the form he showed earlier in the year, when he recorded seven quality starts over a 10-start stretch. After not making his professional debut until three years after he was drafted, Haynes has now thrown more than 100 innings in three consecutive seasons. … Shortstop Mason McCoy, whose calling-card has always been his glove, provided the offensive spark in leading the Chihuahuas to victory. McCoy hit his first home run since July 2 and ninth of the season. He also stole two bases, giving him a new career high of 27. The 31-year-old has been caught just four times and owns a .747 OPS this season.
Transactions: Prior to the game, David Morgan, was activated from the Padres IL and optioned to El Paso.
Tucker Musgrove. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Frisco RoughRiders 7, Missions 3
Key Stats: LHP Fernando Sanchez 5 IP, H, 4 K; RHP Tucker Musgrove 0.1 IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Garrett Hawkins IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB; RHP José Leclerc 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB; SS Carson Tucker 1-for-4, 3B, RBI; 1B Romeo Sanabria 1-for-4, R; 2B Ryan Jackson 1-for-3, R, SB (11); DH Albert Fabian 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Fernando Sanchez’s back on the mound after a two month absence. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Prospect Watch: Going into the eighth inning, the Missions held a 3-1 lead. Garrett Hawkins gave up two in the eighth to surrender the lead before José Leclerc had a meltdown, giving up a walk-off grand slam. Making his first start of more than two innings since going on the IL in May, Fernando Sanchez was unhittable. The lefty faced just one batter over the minimum in his five innings. Given his abbreviated first start last week, he was likely on a pitch count, but needed only 52 pitches – 41 strikes – to get through five innings. Sanchez is trying to make the most of what has been a lost season. In 10 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, Sanchez has a 5.61 ERA this year after posting a 2.80 ERA last season. The 25-year-old, who will reach minor league free agency this winter, should have a few more starts before the season ends to build on this successful outing. … Flamethrowing Tucker Musgrove, entered the game averaging two strikeouts per inning, stayed on target when he came in, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then allowed a double and a walk before being removed from the game. Musgrove was charged with a run after the next pitcher immediately allowed an RBI single. The run raised his ERA to 3.48 for the season, but he has now struck out 68 batters in 33.2 innings. … The offense continued to falter. Albert Fabian collected the lone hit with runners in scoring position and earlier drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. After two games in this series, Fabian is 5-for-7 with a double, walk, and three RBIs. Fabian has finally pushed his OPS over .700 for the first time since early April.
TinCaps postponed
Severe thunderstorms Wednesday morning led to a widespread power outage in the Quad Cities, postponing the game at Modern Woodman Park. It will be made up in a doubleheader on the Saturday.
Inland Empire 66ers 3, Storm 1
Key Stats: RHP Cameron Nohos 5.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 9 K; 3B Nu’u Contrades 1-for-4; 1B Chris McHugh 2-for-4, 2B; CF Dawson Willis 1-for-3, R, BB, SB (17); RF Jesmaylin Arias 2-for-4, SB (9)
Cameron Nohos generates big velocity from his XL frame. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: After a rocky first start with Lake Elsinore, Cameron Nohos has settled in and emerged as one of the better strikeout pitchers in the system. Over his last three starts, Nohos has allowed four earned runs over 15.2 innings (1.72 ERA) while striking out 22 (12.64 K/9). An undrafted free agent last year, Nohos has at times run his fastball up to the upper-90s, but sat 91-92 in the first inning. He was able to add to that later in Wednesday’s offering, hitting 95 multiple times into the sixth inning. The Indiana native got plenty of swing-and-miss with his mid-80s slider, but at times it got a bit loopy. He carried a shutout into the sixth before issuing a full-count walk with two outs, and gave way at 95 pitches. The runner immediately came around to score on a homer. His nine strikeouts tied a career high. … Chris McHugh, the Padres’ 11th-round draft pick, has looked strong in his first two professional games. After coming within a triple of a cycle in his debut, the right-handed hitting first baseman followed it up with another multi-hit game, including his second double in as many games. The 21-year-old hit .320/.409/.525 in 56 games for North Carolina State this past season. … Teenager Jesmaylin Arias had another multi-hit game for the Storm. Arias now has six hits in his first six games for the Storm, with as many walks (three) as strikeouts. He posted a .373 OBP and a 16.8% strikeout rate in his second pass at the Arizona Complex League to earn the late-season opportunity with the Storm. … Lanky infielder Dawson Willis, who played exclusively shortstop and third base through his collegiate career, made his first professional start in center field. The 22-year-old, who is 6-foot-4 and only about 180 pounds, has shown an intriguing combination of power and speed in his first season in the organization.
