Rangers Farm System Recap: September 6th
It was a tough night for the Rangers' farm system as every affiliate lost.
It was a rough day for the Texas Rangers and their affiliates as all teams in the organization lost in their respective matchups.
While the losses sting, several individual performances provided a glimpse into the future.
Hickory's TWP Josh Owens made his second start of the season, and top pitching prospect Jose Corniell made his Triple-A debut with Round Rock.
Hickory Crawdads vs. Charleston RiverDogs (Rays)
Final: Crawdads 1, RiverDogs 2
This was a pitching duel from start to finish. The Crawdads' starter, Josh Owens, got off to a rocky start, issuing two straight walks, but he quickly found his groove, inducing a double play and a fly out to escape the jam. He carried that momentum into the second inning, where he struck out the side on 75% strikes.
Josh Owens' final line:
— 2 IP — 2 BB — 3 SO — 4 swing & misses — 34/19 strikes
Out of the bullpen, LHP Aidan Deakins was excellent, giving up just one run on two hits and a walk over five innings while striking out seven. He generated 14 swinging strikes and threw 43 strikes on 68 pitches.
The RiverDogs got on the board first when Connor Hujsak homered off Deakins in the fourth. Hickory answered in the sixth when Gavin Fien’s sacrifice fly scored Juan Sulbaran, who had doubled to open the frame.
The game remained tied at one until the ninth when Tom Poole hit a solo home run for Charleston to break the tie. Mason Nichols closed it out for the RiverDogs, handing Hickory reliever Frank Martinez (0-1) the loss.
The Crawdads dropped to 68-61 on the season, snapping a three-game winning streak.
Hub City Spartanburgers vs. Emperors
Final: Spartanburgers 0, Emperors 3
The Spartanburgers' offense was shut down, mustering just four hits in a 3-0 loss. Outfielder Antonis Macias provided most of the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double. Dylan Dreiling and Malcolm Moore each had a hit, but the team couldn't get a rally going.
RHP D.J. McCarty (2-6) took the loss, pitching four innings and allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out one. Hub City's record now stands at 64-66.
Frisco RoughRiders vs. Midland RockHounds
Final: RoughRiders 0, RockHounds 6
The Frisco RoughRiders were shut out, falling to the Midland RockHounds in a 6-0 contest. The game was a scoreless affair until the fifth inning when Midland’s Leo De Vries broke the tie with a solo homer off Frisco starter Josh Stephan (6-7). Stephan’s night ended after 6.1 innings, where he gave up two runs and struck out four, earning his sixth quality start of the season. In his last 10 games (eight starts), he holds a solid 3.29 ERA.
The RockHounds blew the game open in the seventh, scoring five runs. Bryan Magdaleno and Avery Weems came on in relief for Frisco, with Weems closing out the last 1.1 innings without allowing a run. With an Amarillo win, the RoughRiders' elimination number is now two with just seven games left in the second half. Their record is 67-62.
Round Rock Express vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies)
Final: Express 3, Isotopes 5 (6 innings)
In a rain-shortened game, the Round Rock Express came up short against the Albuquerque Isotopes. The big story was the Triple-A debut of RHP Jose Corniell (0-1), who took the loss after pitching three innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four. His first strikeout came against Blaine Crim in the first inning. He hit up to 97.3 on the radar.
The Isotopes took an early lead, scoring three runs in the second and another in the third. The Express clawed back in the sixth when Alan Trejo doubled to score Justin Foscue, and Richie Martin hit a bases-loaded single that, combined with a throwing error, scored two more runs to make it a one-run game.
However, a solo homer by Sterlin Thompson in the bottom of the sixth put the Isotopes up 5-3 just before the game was called due to rain.
Trejo continued his strong second half, finishing 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. This week, he has a hit in four of five games, and since the All-Star break, he is slashing .288/.357/.545/.902 with 16 doubles and 11 home runs.
What are your thoughts on Corniell’s Triple-A debut?
