Padres Down on the Farm: September 1(Hassell homers 3 times, Valenzuela 3 hits for FW/Missions sweep doubleheader)
Credit: TinCaps
On a not so busy day down on the farm of the San Diego Padres, one of their stars shined bright.
The El Paso Chihuahuas and the Dominican Summer League and Arizona Complex League Padres were off on Wednesday and will return Thursday. Minor league affiliates went 3-1 on Wednesday, with the San Antonio Missions sweeping their doubleheader and the Fort Wayne TinCaps winning a wild one in extras thanks to Robert Hassell III hitting three home runs.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Off) (41-60 on the season)
After a travel day on Wednesday, the El Paso Chihuahuas will host a series with the Round Rock Express starting Thursday. Reiss Knehr is the scheduled starter for the Chihuahuas on Thursday.
San Antonio Missions (50-54 on the season)
(Game 1) (Won 2-0 F/7)
Eguy Rosario– 1-for-2, 1 RBI
Juan Fernandez– 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI
Brandon Komar– 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Tom Cosgrove– 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
In game one of the doubleheader, the San Antonio Missions shutout the Amarillo Sod Poodles 2-0. Brandon Komar started the game with five innings of work, then Tom Cosgrove and Jose Quezada closed the door. The Mission got their lone runs on a Juan Fernandez solo home run and an Eguy Rosario sacrifice fly.
(Game 2) (Won 5-4 F/7)
Ethan Skender– 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Allen Córdoba- 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sam McWilliams– 3 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Henry Henry– 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
In game two of the doubleheader, the San Antonio Missions trailed three times, but prevailed to defeat the Amarillo Sod Poodles 5-4. Losing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Allen Córdoba drove in two runs on a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, Córdoba stole second base, but scored on throwing errors by Amarillo’s catcher and center fielder to tie the game at four. Then, Ethan Skender singled to win on a walk-off.
Pretty crazy day here at the Missions (we had a grass fire behind the stadium 😳) ! Loved the walk off from @emskender ! pic.twitter.com/7n0Jyp8NJE
— Chris (@TheRealFostter) September 2, 2021
The Mission will play just one game Thursday, and do not have a scheduled starter.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 12-11 F/11) (50-54)
Robert Hassell III- 3-for-6, 5 RBI, 3 R, 3 K
Brandon Valenzuela– 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 K
Connor Lehmann– 4 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 4 K, 1 BB
Kevin Kopps– 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K, 1 BB
The Fort Wayne TinCaps defeated the Great Lakes Loons in extra innings, 12-11, but top-prospect Robert Hassell III stole the show with three home runs, including the game winner in the eleventh inning. Fort Wayne got out to a 3-0 lead in the second, but that lead vanished when Connor Lehmann allowed a two-run home run in the third inning. Justin Lopez immediately grabbed the lead back for the TinCaps with a two-run home run of his own. In the fifth inning, Hassell III hit his first home run of the game to break the tie at five, and then hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Felix Minjarez allowed a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that tied the game at eight, which is also the score that remained until the 11th inning. Fort Wayne scored in extras on a wild pitch, a Reinaldo Ilarraza single, and then Hassell’s third home run. Great Lakes scored three runs in the bottom of the eleventh, but Austin Smith retired the final batter with the bases loaded.
III-HOMER GAME for @robert_hassell3!
The @Padres prospect drills his first three jacks for the @TinCaps in a bunch. pic.twitter.com/nU71zC82Bp
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 2, 2021
Gabe Mosser will start for Fort Wayne on Thursday.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 8-1) (46-57)
Joshua Mears– 0-for-5, 3 K
Lucas Dunn– 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K
Bodi Rascon– 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 0 BB
Luarbert Arias– 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
The Lake Elsinore Storm fell behind early and were never able to get anything going in their 8-1 loss. Starting pitcher Bodi Rascon allowed five runs, although only four were earned after an error by Rascon, in the third inning. This was all the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes needed. The Storm were able to score in the eighth inning on a Tyler Malone double.
There is no scheduled starter for the Storm on Thursday against Rancho Cucamonga.
Arizona Complex League Padres (Off) (20-24)
There were no Arizona Complex League games scheduled on Wednesday. The ACL Padres will resume action Thursday night against the ACL Royals. There are no scheduled pitchers for that contest yet.
Dominican Summer League Padres (Off) (26-8)
There are no Dominican Summer League games scheduled for Wednesday. The DSL Padres will resume action Thursday morning against the DSL Blue Jays. There are no scheduled pitchers for that contest yet.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”