AAA: Round Rock 7, El Paso (SDP) 4
Round Rock: 5 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 39-29,eliminated
SP Triston Polley: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 46 P / 27 S, 5.63 ERA
RP Marc Church: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.72 ERA
SS Davis Wendzel: 1-2, HR (15), 2 BB, .249/.371/.537
RF Elier Hernandez: 1-4, HR (11), .342/.415/.573
3B Yoshi Tsutsugo: 1-2, 2 BB, .247/.377/.435
Kyle Cody and Ryan Tepera provided scoreless innings, and Jonathan Hernandez was unscored upon if erratic in 1.1. Hernandez hasn’t allowed an extra-base hit in four outings but has walked six of 23 batters, and strikes are a 50-50 proposition. His return to Arlington will not be rapid, absent an injury or pressing need.
The usual suspects provided the offense. Elier Hernandez has a 21-game hit streak. Rehabbing Brad Miller was 1-for-4.
AA: Frisco 4, at NW Arkansas (KAN) 5
Frisco: 7 hits, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 27-34, eliminated more-or-less
SP Jack Leiter: 4.1 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 4 BB, 4 SO, 95 P / 57 S, 4.03 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.86 ERA
LF Dustin Harris: 2-3, 2 BB, .250/.381/.415
2B Thomas Saggese: 1-4, HR (9), HBP, .289/.348/.467
Jack Leiter had four swinging strikes in his first 16 pitches and none in the last 77. That made for some protracted plate appearances, and Leiter needed 22 pitches in the 5th against just three batters who combined for ten balls, 11 fouls, and one ball in play.
Frisco’s elimination number with first-place San Antonio is one, so technically the Riders could still surpass the Missions in the first half. However, Frisco is in last place, and with intradivision matchups of San Antonio-Midland and Amarillo-Corpus next week, Frisco can at best gain ground on only two of four rivals on any given day. The math doesn’t work.
Evan Carter homered, doubled, walked, and stole a base with the rookies last night. They’re off today, while Frisco has Monday off and hosts Springfield Tuesday.
Hi-A: Hickory 6, Bowling Green (TAM) 9
Hickory: 7 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 24-34, eliminated
SP Emiliano Teodo: 3 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 4 R, 4 BB, 1 SO, 61 P / 29 S, 3.95 ERA
RP Seth Clark: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.50 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 1-3, BB, HBP, .275/.392/.416
DH Geisel Cepeda: 1-3, BB, HBP, .283/.381/.322
2B Frainyer Chavez: 1-3, HR (1), .275/.376/.333
Emiliano Teodo has never had good control, but last year it was good enough for him to be competitive and often dominant. He’s still seeking that level in 2023.
Lo-A: Down East 16, Kannapolis (CHW) 6
Down East: 14 hits, 10 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 36-23, 4.5 G up, division champion
SP Leandro Lopez: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 72 P / 48 S, 3.71 ERA
RP Luis Ramirez: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 4.06 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, 2B, HR (7), 2 HBP, .223/.329/.374
2B Danyer Cueva: 2-5, BB, .264/.322/.409
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 BB, 3 SB (10), .229/.333/.492
SS Cam Cauley: 1-3, 3 BB, 2 SB (17), .249/.317/.416
DH Konner Piotto: 3-4, HR (1), SB (3), .375/.415/.521
1B Griffin Cheney: 2-4, HR (3), BB, .224/.321/.469
Down East has clinched the first-half North Division title and its fourth postseason appearance in six seasons as a Texas affiliate. The Woodies have the league’s best record and second best in all of high-A.
Down East has sported the league’s best offense this month despite the losses of Abi Ortiz and Tucker Mitchell. Danyer Cueva, long trying to settle in at the level, is hitting .317/.414/.567, while Yosy Galan has six homers and a .603 slugging percentage.
Luis Ramirez’s seven strikeouts are a personal best. Leandro Lopez was hittable but avoided a walk for the first time this season.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Otto
AA: White
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: MacLean
Five Years Ago Yesterday
After a, unusually strong April and decent May, 2015 second-round OF Eric Jenkins wasn’t hitting much in June and really never would again as a Ranger. He’s currently playing for indy Empire State alongside 24-year-old Amaury Telemaco (son of the former big-leaguer, I suppose) and Ryan (not “Ryne”) Sandberg.