AAA: Round Rock 14, Reno (ARI) 0
Round Rock: 10 hits, 9 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts
Record: 23-18, 4 GB
SP Johnny Cueto: 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 63 P / 42 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.61 ERA
RF Sandro Fabian: 3-4, 3B, HR (3), BB, .326/.369/.514
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, HR (5), 2 BB, .264/.352/.421
CF Jose Barrero: 1-3, HR (2), BB, .196/.296/.413
In his AAA debut, Johnny Cueto relied mostly on an 89-92 fastball and mid-80s slider, plus a large handful of sinkers and changes. Keeping with his history, the fastball lacked “rise” but had exceptional horizontal break, while the slider was an unsweepy as you’ll find. He missed four bats. He and his teammates (including Reid Birlingmair and Jimmy Robbins) avoided any walks despite an ump with a tight if consistent zone (the automated zone is used only for challenges on weekends). Compensating for the lack of strikeouts, Cueto induced a good number of pops and grounders.
Sandro Fabian’s no-doubt grand slam highlighted an eight-run 6th. Dustin Harris’s hard liner looked like a double or tough-luck out at first but squeaked over the wall.
Sam Huff (0-3, 2 BB) is back after a minor injury swinging the bat. He caught last night. IF Matt Duffy is active but was replaced midway.
AA: Frisco 1, @ Amarillo (ARI) 9
Frisco: 9 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 23-13, 1.5 GB
SP Nick Krauth: 3.2 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 7 R, 6 BB, 3 SO, 91 P / 48 S, 7.50 ERA
RP Jacob Maton: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
LF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, .265/.386/.381
CF Daniel Mateo: 1-4, HR (1), .138/.242/.241
Jacob Maton had a fine AA debut. In nine Hickory appearances, he posted a 1.98 ERA with a incongruous line of .283/.328/.472. In his worst outing, he allowed six runs in an inning on a homer, double, three singles and a walk, but five were unearned. He signed as an undrafted free agent out of Coastal Carolina in 2022 and has shown much better control as a pro than in college. The scoreboard registered a 92-93 fastball and sliders in the 83-85 range.
Hi-A: wet
Two today.
Lo-A: Down East 5, Carolina (MIL) 4
Down East: 8 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 18-18, 5.5 GB
SP Jose Gonzalez: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 38 P / 28 S, 1.66 ERA
RP Case Matter: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1.64 ERA
RP Kyle Larsen: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 5.29 ERA
1B Arturo Disla: 3-4, 2 2B, .267/.389/.410
C Julian Brock: 2-4, 2 2B, .220/.275/.280
Jose Gonzalez didn’t walk anyone, but a balk and two wild pitches contributed to a messy four-run 3rd that ended his night early. He’s been of Down East’s more strikeout-intense pitchers despite just one last night. The Woodies held division-leading Carolina’s strong offense scoreless and nearly hitless the rest of the way.
I had promised more extra-base hits from Arturo Disla, and he’s boosted his slugging percentage from .337 to .410 in the span of two days with two doubles and a homer. Julian Brock also doubled twice, his first two-baggers since Opening Day. I’d expected Brock to hit well in low-A, and he’s received about a third of the DH slots so far in addition to catching every other game, but the results aren’t there yet. Long season, though.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Garabito / White
AA: Acker
Hi-A: Santos / TBA
Lo-A: TBA
Five Years Ago Yesterday
I weirdly remember this game. Houston-affiliated Round Rock threw “148 pitches in the first five innings, walked in three with the bases loaded, converted three consecutive 3rd-inning grounders to short into zero outs, let a gimme popup fall untouched 30 feet from home plate, and let an alert Jose Trevino steal third without a throw when 3B Taylor Jones aimlessly wandered toward the mound between pitches.” The Sounds won 9-3.