Padres Down on the Farm: July 1 (Espinoza ejected, Sabrowski dominant in relief/Campusano 3 hits/Missions split DH)
Credit: MiLB TV
San Diego Padres affiliates were 1-4 on Thursday.
San Antonio enjoyed a doubleheader at home to make up for a rainout earlier in the week.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 6-3 to Alburquerque) (22-26 on the season)
Jerry Keel– 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K (107 pitches- 68 strikes)
Luis Campusano– (3-for-3) 2B, 2 Runs, BB
Brian O’Grady– (1-for-4) HR, RBI, Run, K
Ivan Castillo– (1-for-3) BB, K
Left-hander Jerry Keel allowed three earned runs in five innings for El Paso tonight. Normally, that is a decent start in the PCL, but Keel failed to get much run support as the Chihuahuas lost 6-3 on the road. The bullpen pitched well in relief as Daniel Camarena, Jordan Guerrero, and Kyle McGrath two runs in three innings of work. This unit has been victimized because the major league team needed so much assistance early this year.
Offensively, Luis Campusano went 3-for-3, including a double. Brian O’Grady slugged his eighth homer of the year in the loss. Tucupita Marcano went 0-for-5 out of the leadoff spot for the Chihuahuas.
San Antonio Missions
GAME 1 (Lost 5-2 to Corpus Christie) (23-26 on the season)
Jordan Humphreys– 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K (46 pitches- 29 strikes)
Eguy Rosario– (1-for-3) BB, SB, 2 K
Allen Cordoba– (1-for-3) BB, Run, 2 K
Juan Fernandez– (1-for-3) BB
The San Antonio Mission lost their 9th straight game on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader. Brandon Komar made a crucial error on a comebacker that could have gotten the right-hander out of the sixth inning easier. Instead, Corpus Christie scored four runs on four straight hits to take a 4-1 lead before he was removed from the game with one out in the sixth inning. The Hooks would take a 5-1 lead as San Antonio hit it in the bottom of the sixth. That was essentially the game as the Hooks rallied in the one inning.
Jose Azocar broke an 0-for-16 slump with a single in the sixth inning. Eguy Rosario stole a base and went 1-for-3 in the game. Allen Cordoba and Juan Fernandez both earned a single in three trips, and Michael Curry went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in the loss. The Missions struck out a total of 11 times and were 0-for-10, with runners in scoring position. Not exactly a recipe for success for San Antonio.
GAME 2 (Won 3-0 over Corpus Christie) (24-27 on the season)
Reiss Knehr– 5 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K (86 pitches- 53 strikes)
Olivier Basabe– (2-for-3) Run, RBI
Nick Kuzia– 1 IP, H, 2 K, Save (18 pitches- 13 strikes)
Jose Azocar- (1-for-3) 2 RBI, SB, K
San Antonio was able to end a nine-game losing streak by shutting out the Hooks in the second game of the night. Reiss Knehr pitched well in the final game of a doubleheader in San Antonio as the team played much more calmly than the first game of the day. Reiss contained the Hooks offense on the night and allowed San Antonio to get back into the win column. Nick Kuzia got the final three out of the game to earn his first save of the year.
The offense came from Olivier Basabe, who went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Jose Azocar drove in a pair of runs in the seven-inning game. The speedy center fielder stole his eighth bag of the season in the win.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 6-3 to Great Lakes) (23-27 on the season)
Anderson Espinoza– 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K (39 pitches- 23 strikes)
Eric Sabrowski- 4 IP, 1 H, 9 K (57 pitches- 42 strikes)
Kelvin Melean– (2-for-5) CS
Justin Lopez– (1-for-4) HR, Run, 2 RBIs, 3 K
The TinCaps’ pitching staff recorded a season-high 19 strikeouts on Thursday but could not secure a win. Anderson Espinoza started the game and went one inning, allowing one earned run on three walks. He was ejected after the inning as the umpiring crew found some substance in the pitcher’s glove. Espinoza struck out the side featuring a fastball in the mid-’90s.
With a sharp curveball and a fastball in the 91-92 mph range, Eric Sabrowski had a great night on the mound for Fort Wayne, going four innings and striking out nine batters. He owns a 0.90 ERA so far this season. The Canadian left-hander drafted in the 14th round in 2018 battled through Tommy John surgery, and looks very viable right now. The 23-year-0ld has good size and excellent composure on the mound. For the better part of three years, Sabrowski has not been able to pitch. It is awesome to see him reach his expectations since he was selected out of Junior College in Kansas.
Ethan Skender made a highlight play catch in the game, diving for a ball down the left-field line. 22-year-old Jose Geraldo looked good sporting a 94-95 mph fastball. The right-hander also showed a decent slider. Geraldo gave up two runs on the night but was assisted by a diving catch from Tirso Ornelas on a windy night in Fort Wayne. Kelvin Melean recorded two hits in the loss, and Justin Lopez slugged his fifth homer of the year.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 4-3 to Inland Empire) (24-27 on the season)
Nick Thwaits– 4 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K (73 pitches- 51 strikes)
Euribiel Angeles– (1-for-4) HR, Run, 2 RBI, K
Gilberto Vizcarra– (3-for-4) 2B, Run
Robert Hassell III- (1-for-4)
The Storm lost a close one by the score of 4-3 on Thursday. All the scoring came in the first four innings of the game as both team’s relief core was solid. Nick Thwaits started the game and allowed four earned runs in four innings of work. The right-handed pitcher struck out four on the night. Miguel Rondon, Jose Garcia, and Keegan Collett were perfect for the Storm out of the pen.
Angel Solarte delivers the catch of the year to steal a potential 2-run home run!!!
/ Before The Show, This is Where They Go / pic.twitter.com/okJlnpr40G
— Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball (@Storm_Baseball) July 2, 2021
Euribiel Angeles homered in the game, but the young infielder also bunted with two strikes on him in the eighth inning. The growing pains are evident with this 19-year-old prospect. He does have a .808 OPS so far this season in the Cal League, and there is much to be excited about. Lake Elsinore was 0-for-5 in the game with runners in scoring position. Robert Hassell III was 1-for-4 in the game. Joshua Mears did not hit but appeared in the game as a pinch-runner late. Jordy Barley stole two more bases in the game and has 29 on the season for Lake Elsinore. Angel Solarte made a nice grab in left, stealing a potential homer.
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Friday’s probable pitchers
El Paso- TBD
San Antonio- Reggie Lawson (0-2 9.45 ERA)
Fort Wayne- Ethan Elliott (2-1 2.27 ERA)
Lake Elsinore- TBD
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.