AAA: Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City (LAD) 5
Round Rock: 5 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 71-58, 2 GB
SP Cole Winn: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 86 P / 55 S, 6.24 ERA
RP Kyle Cody: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.69 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.25 ERA
DH Josh Sale: 1-3, HR (10), .239/.354/.448
Relatively speaking, Cole Winn had a decent day. The overall strike rate was a robust 64%, suggesting good control marred by occasional lapses rather than a constant struggle for location. He didn’t issue a walk after the 3rd and issued five swinging strikes with the changeup. With three or four starts remaining (assuming he’s not shut down), Winn has a chance to repeat 2019 by concluding an ugly season on an upswing.
AA: Frisco 11, at Amarillo (ARI) 8
Frisco: 10 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 32-24, 2 G up, 68-57 overall
SP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 46 P / 22 S, 7.53 ERA
RP Justin Slaten: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 7.36 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.76 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 2 BB, HBP, .389/.522/.653
DH Justin Foscue: 2-4, 2B, BB, .288/.369/.489
1B Blaine Crim: 1-4, HR (22), BB, .291/.359/.492
LF Kellen Strahm: 1-3, 2 BB, .281/.392/.404
Entering yesterday’s 2nd inning, Antoine Kelly had walked or hit 20% of opposing hitters as a Ranger. He raised that rate to 26.5% with four walks and an HBP to begin (and, for him, conclude) that inning. Kelley has a bizarre .192/.400/.277 line in Frisco. Texas has reduced his pitch count by about one-third since the trade from Milwaukee.
Fortunately, Frisco’s offense was again up to the task, scoring seven in the 7th to erase a six-run deficit, then three more in the 8th. Blaine Crim homered six times in the series.
High-A: Hickory 2, at Aberdeen (BAL) 4
Hickory: 4 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 27-33, eliminated, 65-61 overall
SP Dane Acker: 3.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 67 P / 40 S, 10.45 ERA
2B Thomas Saggese: 2-3, 2B, BB, HBP, .309/.358/.485
Evan Carter (0-3) and Thomas Saggese were activated on Sunday, for which the reward was being hit by a pitch. OF Alejandro Osuna was IL’ed, so he could return no sooner than the season finale. He batted .302/.378/.427 with nine homers and 34 steals in 97 games between Down East and Hickory.
Hickory was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
Low-A: Down East 3, Fayetteville (HOU) 1
Down East: 3 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 31-29, eliminated, 64-62 overall
SP Aidan Curry: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 6 SO, 76 P / 38 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.40 ERA
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-1, 2B, 2 BB, .228/.315/.388
Aidan’s Curry’s full-season debut was effective if not uniformly attractive. Curry struck out six of 15 batters but also walked five and reached three-ball counts to three others. Listed at 6’6″ and 195 pounds, the 20-year-old signed as a free agent in 2020 out of the Bronx’s Fordham Preparatory School.
Down East was eliminated from the division race despite the win.
Today’s Starters
AAA: off
AA: off
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: off
Five Years Ago Yesterday
The regular season ended. All four full-season teams finished under .500 and with their worst records in at least eight years, often longer, and the overall record of 252-305 was the worst since 2006. The news wasn’t all bad. Despite a 62-77 overall record, high-A Down East stole the second-half division title with a 10-3 win over Buies Creek, making up a 7.5-game deficit in 15 days. As the second half transpired, prospect progression and additions had transformed the Wood Ducks into an adequate offensive club with outstanding pitching, especially in relief.