Chihuahuas 5,Tacoma Rainiers 3
Key Statistics:RHP Carl Edwards Jr. 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K; RHP Kevin Kopps (W, 1-3), 1 IP, 2 K; DH Elias Díaz 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI; 1B Tirso Ornelas 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Elias Díaz has his eyes set on a quick return to the majors. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch:El Paso continued to work back from a 3-15 stretch with their third straight win over Tacoma. They got things started with five mostly strong innings from Carl Edwards Jr., who struck out seven batters while walking four. The 32-year-old righty is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA for the Chihuahuas in the midst of his second tour of duty in the Padres organization after a brief run in 2019. It was his second game back in El Paso after getting outrighted from the big league roster. … It took until late August, but Kevin Kopps has his first win of the season after throwing a scoreless inning and striking out a pair of batters. The 27-year-old Kopps has made a pair of scoreless outings since coming off a month-long stint on the IL. He had posted an 8.10 ERA in five appearances in July before he was shut down. … It might be fair to say that Elias Díaz is back in game condition after the catcher hit a 432 foot home run to drive in three. He had the game’s two hardest-hit balls, both over 104 mph off the bat. The 33-year-old backstop is presumably in El Paso for a tuneup before joining the Padres perhaps as early as roster expansion on Sunday. … Tirso Ornelas is a pretty big fella to put in the leadoff spot, but the Tijuana native came through with a an RBI double and scored a run as well. Ornelas’ bat has made him another candidate to don the brown and gold in 2024, as his average is now .310 and he’s posted an .896 OPS in 407 at-bats this year. He started his second consecutive game at first base. He’s handled all of his chances there in 51 innings.
Midland RockHounds 6,Missions 5
Robbie Tenrowicz has picked up where he left off after a brief IL stint. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Key Statistics:RHP Sam Whiting 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, HBP; Carter Loewen 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K; LHP Daniel Camarena (H, 1), 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), K; RHP David Morgan 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, K, BB; 1B Robbie Tenerowicz 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; 2B Connor Hollis, 1-for-4, 2B, R
Prospect Watch:Midland got the jump on San Antonio with a pair of runs in the first inning, but the home team remained in the game thanks to Carter Loewen, who stranded three runners in the first frame before throwing two additional scoreless innings, striking out five. The 25-year-old’s ERA has ballooned to 5.05 ERA on the year because of a few ugly outings, but he has struck out 60 batters in 46.1 innings of work. … Daniel Camarena picked up his first hold in a Missions uniform this season with two innings of work in which the veteran lefty allowed only an unearned run. The Cathedral Catholic alum has pitched at five levels of the Padres system this year, a true contributor to the organization in what has been a trying season overall for the lefty. … Most of the Missions’ offense came off the bat ofRobbie Tenerowicz, who hit a homer and a double and drove in a trio of runs. The veteran infielder is batting .241 with 12 home runs in the 2024 season. … Connor Hollis hit a double, the other extra-base hit the Missions had tonight. The 29-year-old has improved from a .568 OPS in the first half of the season to a .631 mark in the second half.
Lansing Lugnuts 6,TinCaps 2
Jagger Haynes is at the end of a strong campaign. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Key Statistics:LHP Jagger Haynes (L, 2-6), 5.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K; RHP Dwayne Matos 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB; 3B Rosman Verdugo 2-for-4, 2B; 1B Devin Ortiz 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
Prospect Watch: Jagger Haynesset down the first 10 batters of the game and went into the sixth having allowed just two hits and a walk while throwing 62 pitches. The lefty struck out two of the first three batters in the frame, but then the wheels came off as he allowed a single, hit a batter, and gave up three doubles to surrender five runs without getting out of the inning. Haynes, who threw only 25.1 innings last year as he dealt with blister and shoulder issues, has now tossed 107 frames with a 4.37 ERA, and 110 strikeouts in a season that has had many positive takeaways. … Dwayne Matos threw one and a third scoreless frames in relief of Haynes. The 23-year-old righty had an unsightly 6.09 ERA with solid peripherals in Lake Elsinore through the first two months of the season. While his ERA has dropped to 4.78 for the TinCaps, he has just 12 strikeouts against 14 walks in 26.1 Midwest League innings. … Rosman Verdugowent 2-for-4, including his sixth double since being promoted to Fort Wayne. The 19-year-old Ensenada native has now hit in five of six games as he looks to rebound from a slow start in High-A after posting a .770 OPS in Lake Elsinore for most of the year. … Devin Ortiz also went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in a run. The 25-year-old infielder is batting .229 with a .633 OPS in 375 at-bats in his second full season since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Modesto Nuts 6,Storm 4
Key Statistics:LHP Maikel Miralles 5 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K; LHP Braian Salazar 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K; RHP Miguel Valdez 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K; 1B Jack Costello 1-for-3, 3B, RBI; CF Kai Roberts 1-for-3, R, 2 BB
Prospect Watch:Modesto got the better of Lake Elsinore in the later innings to snap the Storm’s five game winning streak, but Maikel Miralles gave the home team every chance to win. The 19-year-old delivered five scoreless innings including five strikeouts and now has a 4.20 ERA in 49.1 innings in his first season stateside, split between Lake Elsinore and the Arizona Complex League. … The bright spot out of the bullpen was Miguel Valdez, who threw a scoreless inning and struck out a batter. The 21-year-old owns a 5.53 ERA but has struck out 39 batters in 40.2 innings this season. He signed out of the Dominican Republic last spring and came over to Peoria for the first time this spring. … Jack Costellocontinues to hit with authority as the former USD Torero slugged a triple. The 23-year-old went straight to Lake Elsinore after being selected in the 10th round of this year’s draft and is batting .313 with a .979 OPS and five home runs in 88 at-bats. … Another 2024 draftee that’s causing a stir in Lake Elsinore isKai Roberts, who went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks. The Utah product is batting .333 with an .883 OPS in 75 at-bats in his professional debut.
