Some sad news to report: Ted Nichols-Payne, engineer of Rangers’ radio broadcasts for most of the past three decades, died prior to Sunday’s game at the age of 56. Those who knew him well have offered their condolences and tributes.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 2, Albuquerque (COL) 10
Round Rock: 6 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 45-39, 4 GB
SP Cole Winn: 1.2 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 8 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 60 P / 31 S, 5.93 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 5.79 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.49 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.05 ERA
SS Ryan Dorow: 3-4, .228/.319/.332
A low point for Cole Winn. Conditions were dire (106 and dead still down in the bowl), and the defense and arguably the scorekeeper didn’t offer enough support, but ultimately the pitches weren’t made.
Winn struck out his first batter on a 3-2 change but walked the next three. A lined single plated two, but Winn avoided further damage with a fly out and called strike three on another full-count change.
In the 2nd, SS Ryan Dorow slipped fielding a deep grounder and threw slightly late to first (fairly ruled a hit in my opinion). Then a bloop single and a double steal. Then, 3B Ezequiel Duran charged but couldn’t handle a hopper (which I so strongly assumed was an error I didn’t notice the hit ruling until today). At this point, Winn had thrown 43 pitches, 21 for strikes, to record three outs. Winn immediately reversed course with two outs on two pitches, but a five-pitch walk, grounded single after five fouls, and a no-doubt homer concluded his outing well before sunset.
As to how to fix this… I’m just a guy with a media pass and a keyboard.
Winn’s walk rate through his last 12 starts is an alarming 17%, but he still isn’t being hit that hard: .251 with a .391 slugging percentage. His opposing OPS+ is just 95.
The quintet of Daniel Robert, Nick Snyder, Josh Sborz, Jonathan Hernandez, and AJ Alexy combined for six scoreless innings with five runners and nine strikeouts. The slowest fastball from these five: 94.8 MPH.
Sam Huff was listed in yesterday’s lineup but replaced by Jack Kruger at game-time.
AA: Frisco 0, at San Antonio (SDG) 10
Frisco: 3 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 7-5, 3 GB, 43-38 overall
SP Jack Leiter: 1.1 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 7 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 53 P / 30 S, 6.30 ERA
RP Triston Polley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.93 ERA
I had enough advance notice of Jack Leiter’s return to watch in person, but my Sunday was busy, and the heat had half-melted my brain, so I took the shorter trip Round Rock instead. I haven’t reviewed any of his outing on MiLB.tv. For now, I assume the box score accurately describes the situation.
Leiter was 15 days between appearances. He’d ordinarily be on course to pitch at home against Midland this coming weekend, but he’s on the roster for the Futures Game to be played this Saturday.
High-A: Hickory 4, at Bowling Green (TAM) 11
Hickory: 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 6-9, 5 GB, 44-37 overall
SP Mason Englert: 2.2 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 62 P / 40 S, 4.70 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 2-3, BB, .262/.364/.433
1B Cristian Inoa: 1-4, HR (5), BB, .285/.348/.430
Hickory no-hit Bowling Green on Saturday but lost the other five games by a combined score of 31-10. Homers have become an issue for Mason Englert. He’s surrendered at least one in his last six starts and nine total, part of his opponents’ lofty .591 slugging percentage. Englert does throw a higher percentage of strikes than the average pitcher. This isn’t uncommon at the lower levels: plenty of strikes and strikeouts, few walks, but ample and heavy contact.
Low-A: Down East 2, at Fayetteville (HOU) 0
Down East: 5 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 8-6, 4.5 GB, 41-39 overall
SP Winston Santos: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 84 P / 51 S, 3.78 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
The Woodies haven’t allowed five or more runs in consecutive games since May 31-June 1. They’ve allowed 3.3 per game in that span, dealt five shutouts, and are 19-14.
A 1st-inning single and 6th-inning sac fly by Alejandro Osuna scored the runs. CF Marcus Smith (0-2, BB) stole his 33rd base.
Today’s Starters
AAA: off
AA: off
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: off
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Catcher and part-time third baseman Brett Nicholas represented Round Rock in the PCL All-Star Game. Cole Ragans fanned nine in six innings at Spokane.