AAA: Round Rock 7, @ Oklahoma City (LAD) 2
Round Rock: 10 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 16-19, 53-56 overall
SP Chase Anderson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 34 P / 20 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Walker Pennington: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, .262/.442/.437
1B Blaine Crim: 3-4, HR (10), .272/.377/.420
On June 26, Blaine Crim was hitting .204/.312/.348. While by no means was he having a good season, it seemed depressed by a strong element of bad luck. His statcast data was fairly respectable. Since then: .430/.523/.589 with more walks (22) than strikeouts (17) and probably with a strong element of (deserved) good luck.
Like last year, Justin Foscue has more walks (35) and strikeouts (23) for his entire season, albeit one shortened by injury.
AA: Frisco 5, @ Midland (OAK) 8
Frisco: 12 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 21-15, 65-40 overall
SP Mitch Bratt: 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 7 SO, 84 P / 60 S, 3.27 ERA
LF Alejandro Osuna: 2-5, 2B, .295/.389/.518
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, 2B, .277/.338/.467
C Cooper Johnson: 2-4, 2 2B, .232/.342/.463
In his second AA start, Mitch Bratt faced a career-high 29 batters. He didn’t suffer his third and fourth times through the order, surrendering two hits to 11 batters, but the early going was rougher.
Hickory and Down East were rained out.
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Righty Mike Matuella was on enough of an upswing that I broached at least the idea of a 40 spot. I don’t remember that positive feeling, to be honest, but the 2015 third-rounder was enjoying his best run since switching to relief over a year before. Unfortunately, lesser results returned to close out the regular season. I didn’t write him up in my November 40-man preview, and he wasn’t added by the Rangers. Matuella would miss 2020, of course. When I saw him in April 2021, his velocity was well below the previous level, and he was released without receiving an assignment. Matuella’s final professional appearance in an official game would be only 30 days from “five years ago yesterday,” a dandy 2.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in Down East’s 5-4 postseason win over Fayetteville.