Huff's Double Lifts Round Rock To Extra-Innings Victory

The Texas Rangers' catching prospect is having one of the most productive months in the organization's season.

All five Texas Rangers affiliates continued their week-long series on Friday, with High Class-A Hickory getting back on the field after a Thursday rainout.

The Crawdads were at Rome. Meanwhile, Triple-A Round Rock beat Reno, Double-A Frisco lost to San Antonio, Class-A Down East beat Salem and the ACL Rangers beat the ACL Dodgers out in Arizona.

Here is how each affiliate did on Friday.

Texas Rangers Minor League Update

Here is an update on each Texas Rangers minor league affiliate for the games of Friday, July 21.

Triple-A Round Rock

Round Rock (13-6, 57-36, 1st, +1.0 GB) beat Reno 4-3, as C Sam Huff’s (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) RBI double in the 11th inning lifted the Express to their 9th victory in the last 11 G. Huff is now 20-for-53 (.377) in July and ranks among PCL leaders for the month with 6 2B (T2nd), 5 HR (T2nd), and 18 RBI (1st). 1B Blaine Crim (2-for-4, RBI) also finished with a multi-hit effort and is 11-for-24 (.458) in his last 7 games. RHP Daniel Robert (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 1 BB) hurled a trio of scoreless innings, his longest outing since Aug. 30, 2019 as a member of Hickory. In extra innings, RHP Edwar Colina (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 2 SO) retired all 6 BF to earn his 2nd win of the season. 

Double-A Frisco

Frisco (9-10, 40-47, 4th, 4.0 GB) lost to San Antonio, 7-2, as it dropped its 4th game of the last 6. 1B Josh Hatcher (1-for-4, HR, RBI) belted a 420-foot home run in the 2nd frame to tie the game at one. Since his promotion to Double-A on 6/20, Hatcher has hits in 14 of 17 games while driving in a team-high 16 runs this month. LF Aaron Zavala (1-for-3, 2 BB) and 2B Jax Biggers (1-for-2, 2 BB) both reached base 3 times with two walks and a hit apiece. CF Evan Carter (0-for-3, 2 BB) drew 2 walks. Over 4.0 innings of work, RHP Nick Krauth (L, 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R-ER, 3 BB) allowed 6 runs to shoulder the loss. LHP Antoine Kelly (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER) threw a scoreless 9th frame and hasn’t allowed a run across his last 12 app.: 12.1 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 16 SO. 

High Class-A Hickory

Hickory (15-5, 42-39, 1st, +4.0 GA) lost to Rome, 5-3. 3B Keyber Rodriguez’s (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) 3-R homer accounted for all the Crawdads offense. 2B Frainyer Chavez (0-for-1, BB, R) and CF Angel Aponte (1-for-3, R) walked and singled respectively to set the table for Rodriguez’ 4th home run of the season. RHP Jose Corniell (L, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) allowed a pair of runs in the 5th inning. LF Geisel Cepeda (1-for-1, 2 BB) reached base in all 3 PA. The scheduled doubleheader saw the second game postponed due to rain in the area, forcing a twin bill on Saturday. 

Class-A Down East

Down East (11-11, 48-35, 2nd, 2.0 GB) defeated Salem, 7-4. The Red Sox struck for 3 runs off RHP Joseph Montalvo (4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R-ER, 7 SO) who still managed to punch out 7 batters. 3B Gleider Figuereo (2-for-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI) launched a 2-run homer followed by an RBI triple from RF JoJo Blackmon (1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI) to level the game at 3. The Woodies rallied for a trio of runs across the final two innings with RBI knocks from LF Zion Bannister (1-for-5, 2B, RBI) and 2B Danyer Mesa (1-for-3, RBI) to give Down East a 3-run advantage. RHP Wyatt Sparks (W, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) improved to 4-0 with a trio of relief innings. 

ACL Rangers

The ACL Rangers (14-18, 5th, 7.0 GB) defeated the ACL Dodgers, 10-8, as 2B Echedry Vargas (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI), SS Chandler Pollard (2-for-4, BB, 2 RBI), and 1B Marcos Torres (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) combined to drive in 7 of the Rangers' runs. DH Sebastain Walcott (1-for-4, BB) is in the midst of a 15-G hit streak, including 7 multi-hit efforts over that span. The 17-year-old is 27-for-71 (.380) with 12 XBH and 14 RBI through 17 games this season. 3B Estaban Mejia (3-for-5, 2B) added a trio of hits. RHP Zak Kent (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 2 SO) made his 2nd scoreless rehab app, and has thrown 4.0 shutout innings across those outings.

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