Rangers Prospect Ornelas Keeps His Streak Alive at Round Rock

One of the Texas Rangers' top infielders is having a great month for the Round Rock Express.

All five Texas Rangers affiliates are in action this week.

Triple-A Round Rock hosts Reno. Double-A Frisco hosts San Antonio. High Class-A Hickory is at Rome. Class-A Down East hosts Salem. The ACL Rangers continue action in Arizona.

Here is how each affiliate did in Tuesday's openers.

Texas Rangers Minor League Update

Here is an update on each Texas Rangers minor league affiliate for the games of Tuesday, July 18.

Triple- A Round Rock

Round Rock (11-5, 55-35, T2nd, 1.0 GB) lost, 6-3, to Reno. A 5-run opening frame was too much to overcome for Round Rock. SS Jonathan Ornelas (2-for-3) extended his hit streak to 12 games with a pair of knocks: 18-for-45 (.400), 1 HR, 7 RBI (3rd longest active in PCL). After RHP Robert Dugger (L, 4 H, 5 R-ER) surrendered a 5-spot in the 1st frame, RHP Fernery Ozuna (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R-ER) and LHP Jake Latz (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R-ER) combined to toss 5.2 innings in relief. C Sam Huff (1-for-4) singled in the 6th inning and is now 17-for-44 (.386) in July and ranks among PCL leaders for the month with 5 2B (T3rd), 4 HR (T3rd), and 16 RBI (T1st). CF Bubba Thompson (1-for-4, 2B) had the Express’ lone XBH of the contest. 

Double-A Frisco

Frisco (8-8, 39-45, 3rd, 3.0 GB) beat San Antonio, 6-2, behind RHP Dane Acker (W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R-ER, 4 BB, 2 SO), who picked up his first career Double-A win. Across 9 games/starts with Hickory (A+) and Frisco, Acker is 1-0 with a 2.43 ERA (9 ER/33.1 IP) and 35 strikeouts. CF Evan Carter (2-for-3, 2 BB, 3B, HR, 2 RBI) reached in 4 of 5 PA, while adding an RBI triple and a solo blast. 3B Chris Seise (3-for-4, 2B) and LF Aaron Zavala (3-for-5, RBI) combined for 6 of the ‘Riders 10 hits, the first time both have achieved a 3+-hit game this season. RHP Matt Bush (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R-ER, 2 SO) made his 2nd app. with Frisco and has yet to allow a run. 

High Class-A Hickory

Hickory (14-4, 41-38, 1st, +2.5 GA) fell, 8-6, to Rome. The Crawdads offense tallied 14 hits, but left 8 on base and went just 5-for-19 with RISP. 3B Keyber Rodriguez (3-for-4), DH Max Acosta (3-for-5, 2B, RBI), and SS Cam Cauley (3-for-4) each recorded a trio of knocks for the ‘Dads. RF Abimelec Ortiz (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) returned to the lineup and launched his Texas farmhand-leading 20th home run of the season. This season Ortiz has slashed .328/.397/.661/1.065 (78-238), ranking among all affiliated minor league batters (min. 200 PA) in both slugging pct. (2nd) and OPS (3rd). LHP Seth Clark (L, 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R-ER) shouldered the loss after allowing the go-ahead double in the 8th inning. 

Class-A Down East

Down East (10-9, 47-33, 2nd, 0.5 GB) beat Salem, 4-2. 2B Andres Mesa (1-for-4, HR, RBI) belted a go-ahead home run in the 7th inning to fuel the Woodies' victory. RHP Leandro Lopez (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R-ER, 6 SO) tied a season-high with 5.0 innings and punched out 6 batters. RHP Wyatt Sparks (W, 2.0 IP, H, 1 R-ER, 3 SO) earned the win to improve to 3-0 this season, while RHP Jackson Leath (S, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R-ER, 1 SO) retired the final 6 batters to earn the multi-inning save. LF Zion Bannister (0-for-2, BB, RBI) drove in a run and walked, and is now 10-for-35 (.286) with 4 RBI through 11 G in July. CF Anthony Gutierrez (2- for-4) added a multi-hit effort while SS Danyer Cueva (1-for-4, RBI) doubled for the Woodies' other XBH. 

ACL Rangers

The ACL Rangers (13-17, 5th, 6.5 GB) lost, 3-1, to the ACL Royals. SS Sebastain Walcott (3-for-4, 2B) is in the midst of a 13-G hit streak, including 7 multi-hit efforts over that span. The 17-year-old is 25-for-63 (.397) with 11 XBH and 12 RBI through 15 games this season. RHP Ismael Agreda (L, 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) struck out 4 batters across a trio of innings, while RHP Ivan Oviedo (1.0 IP, 0 H, 3 SO) and RHP Nick Bautista (1.0 IP, 0 H, 3 SO) punched out the side in the 7th and 8th innings