AAA: Round Rock 4, at Reno (ARI) 3
Round Rock: 11 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 20-9, 0.5 GB
SP Kyle Cody: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 62 P / 36 S, 5.85 ERA
RP John King: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 2.20 ERA
RP Grant Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.17 ERA
RP Jake Latz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 6.57 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 3-4, 2 2B, BB, .289/.410/.495
C Sam Huff: 2-5, HR (5), .277/.330/.482
Grant Anderson struck out the side on 12 pitches. Anderson has spent part of the season in AA, so I lack the amount of Statcast data available for others, but so far he’s getting an impressive percentage of both swinging and called strikes. He’s fanned 12 of 21 batters since returning to the Express. In 2022, like Chase Lee, his occasional meltdowns were exceptionally melty, and avoiding them will improve his chances at a look in Arlington. Anderson’s money pitch is a slider that has generated a miss on 48% of opposing swings.
AA: Frisco 6, at Midland (OAK) 11
Frisco: 13 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 12-12, 1 GB
SP Ryan Garcia: 0.2 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 33 P / 21 S, 6.75 ERA
RP Hever Bueno: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 5.06 ERA
DH Evan Carter: 3-3, BB, HBP, SB (4), .333/.495/.506
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-5, 2B, SB (14), .324/.373/.444
1B Dustin Harris: 2-3, 3B, 2 BB, 3 SB (10), .210/.381/.383
Evan Carter reached safely five times, a feat he’s already accomplished three times in 2023.
Dustin Harris has a heady .381 OBP, but the contact is lacking so far. Remember, Harris batted .327 two years ago, albeit at lower classifications. He’s actually hitting for a higher average than last year when he makes contact, but the difference is strikeouts. His rate has climbed to 31% vs. last year’s 19%. That’s an extra 13 strikeouts in 22 games compared to last year’s rate.
Hi-A: Hickory 5, Jersey Shore (PHI) 7 (11)
Hickory: 10 hits, 5 walks, 15 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 6 walks, 16 strikeouts
Record: 11-11, 5 GB
SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 69 P / 54 S, 2.70 ERA
RP Eudrys Manon: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 3.86 ERA
1B Josh Hatcher: 1-4, HR (4), BB, .316/.373/.526
DH Liam Hicks: 2-3, BB, .342/.479/.447
C Cody Freeman: 3-5, 2B, SB (1), .236/.295/.491
Mitch Bratt missed a season-high ten bats and has walked only three in 16.2 innings. For the season, Hickory is close to average with runners in scoring position (.261/.361/.376), but not lately. Knotted at five in the 8th, the Crawdads loaded the bases with none out but couldn’t score.
Lo-A: suspended
In the top of the 1st, second base became unsecured and couldn’t be repaired. I am not kidding. They’ll finish this one and add a seven-inning game tonight.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Winn
AA: Leiter
Hi-A: Rocker
Lo-A: TBD
Five Years Ago Yesterday
AJ Alexy carried a no-hitter into the 6th at low-A Hickory. This season, Alexy has fallen apart at AAA Charlotte, walking or hitting 40% of his opponents and losing his 40-man spot.