AAA: Round Rock 6, El Paso (SDP) 3
Round Rock: 13 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 40-29, eliminated
SP Glenn Otto: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 44 P / 30 S, 3.00 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 3.22 ERA
RP Jake Latz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 7.30 ERA
CF JP Martinez: 2-4, BB, .328/.460/.496
3B Davis Wendzel: 3-4, 2 2B, HBP, .258/.379/.550
1B Brad Crim: 1-3, 2 BB, .267/.381/.433
RF Sandro Fabian: 2-4, HR (6), .258/.309/.453
Glenn Otto breezed through three innings. I don’t know if he fits into Texas’s immediate plans, but he looks as ready as ever. His impending return doesn’t cause much logistical trouble. He has ample time remaining on his rehab assignment, he can be optioned, and at present the Rangers have an open spot on the 40 to accommodate him.
Spencer Howard (2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) was better than his line, if not outright good. He missed the same five bats as Otto in a similar number of pitches, and only one ball was hard-hit, but his control wavered.
AA: Frisco 5, at NW Arkansas (KAN) 4
Frisco: 9 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 28-34, eliminated
SP Owen White: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 3 SO, 61 P / 40 S, 3.51 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.72 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, 2B, HR (3), .212/.360/.333
SS Chris Seise: 2-4, SB (8), .204/.286/.312
Returning to AA after his MLB debut, Owen White was comfortable if slightly erratic (two hit batters, wild pitch) in an abbreviated start.
Send Alex Speas to AAA, Texas. He and I deserve it. Speas has an opposing line of .129/.236/.194 in May and June with a 13% BB/HBP rate and 43% SO rate. 13% isn’t good but within striking range of league-average nowadays, and it’s outstanding relative to his past performance.
Aaron Zavala broke a four-game hitless streak alleviated by five walks.
Hi-A: Hickory 5, Bowling Green (TAM) 4
Hickory: 7 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Record: 25-34, e G up
SP Mitch Bratt: 5.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 78 P / 53 S, 3.09 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 5.04 ERA
SS Max Acosta: 1-3, 2B, BB, .283/.336/.385
C Tucker Mitchell: 1-3, HR (1), BB, .259/.414/.370
For the ninth time in 11 starts, Mitch Bratt issued fewer than two walks. Commendable any time, extraordinary under present conditions. Robby Ahlstrom unexpectedly moved into a primarily late/high-leverage role in early May, and after a first-appearance wipeout, he’s been solid: 1.17 ERA, .143/.232/.204 opposing line and 16 strikeouts in 15.1 innings. Ahlstrom was part of the Jose Trevino trade. He turns 24 today.
Lo-A: Down East 3, Kannapolis (CHW) 7
Down East: 4 hits, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 9 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 36-24, division champion
SP Dylan MacLean: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 48 P / 28 S, 3.41 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.90 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.93 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2.95 ERA
RF Tommy Specht: 1-3, BB, SB (2), .292/.400/.361
The day after clinching the division title, Down East’s offense slumbered until the 8th. Both Dylan MacLean and DJ McCarty (3 IP ,6 H, 5 R, 4 BB 2 SO) were walk-prone.
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Yerry Rodriguez struck out his first six opponents and allowed a run in 5.1 innings with the rookies.