Centeno Walks Off Travs In Game Two
Amarillo, Texas - The Sod Poodles evened their series against the Arkansas Travelers (Double-A, Seattle) on Wednesday night. Wearing their Pointy Boots de Amarillo jerseys, Amarillo clawed their way back from a 5-run deficit to take down the Travs in extra innings. Arkansas jumped out to a three-run lead with
Amarillo, Texas - The Sod Poodles evened their series against the Arkansas Travelers (Double-A, Seattle) on Wednesday night. Wearing their Pointy Boots de Amarillo jerseys, Amarillo clawed their way back from a 5-run deficit to take down the Travs in extra innings.
Arkansas jumped out to a three-run lead with the help of five hits in the first inning. A two-run home run capped the scoring for the Travs who have now scored eight runs in the first inning of the two games to start the series. Jake Scheiner collected his second two-run home run of the game when he homered again in the top of the third inning.
Blaze Alexander put Amarillo on the board and cut the deficit to three runs. After loading the bases with two outs, Alexander singled into right field, allowing Jorge Barrosa and Jordan Lawlar to cross the plate. Juan Centeno cut the Travs lead to just two runs with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
Centeno's home run marked the 13th of his season. The Sod Poodles continued to chip away with Alexander collecting his third RBI of the game with a leadoff home run of his own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tim Tawa put himself in scoring position as the potential tying run with a ground rules double over the short wall in right-center field. A groundout ended any hope of Amarillo at least tying the game in the inning.
Down by a run, left-hander Mack Lemieux took over on the mound. Lemieux was the third pitcher used by the Sod Poodles after Jamison Hill gave Amarillo 4.0 IP with five earned runs coming around after scattering seven hits. Fellow southpaw Kenny Hernandez struck out two over a pair of scoreless innings after surrendering three hits. Lemieux worked a clean top of the seventh, striking out two. The first two Sod Poodles of the inning were retired, sending Roby Enriquez to the plate.
Enriquez smashed a 2-2 pitch to the right-field berm and knotted the game at five a side. Lemieux returned to the mound for another scoreless inning in the eighth. He worked around a leadoff single with his third strikeout of the game.
Following a pair of outs, Tawa doubled again but was left stranded once again as the game would move to the ninth inning. The third straight left-handed relief pitcher came into the game for the Sod Poodles as Kyle Backhus took over pitching duties. He struck out one in a 1-2-3 top of the ninth. An Amarillo two-out single and stolen base was for naught as the hopes of ending the game in regulation came to an end with a strikeout.
Going to extra-innings, Backhus remained in the game on the bump. A quick flyout and popout were followed by a five-pitch walk to put two Travs aboard. The lefty responded by striking out Cade Marlowe to send the game to the bottom of the 10th.
Helped by having the runner start on second base, a passed ball allowed Deyvison De Los Santos to advance to third and just 90 ft away from home plate as the winning run. The second out of the inning came via a foul tip strikeout and sent the veteran, Juan Centeno to the plate.
In heroic fashion, Centeno drove in De Los Santos with a sharply hit line drive down the right field line on the second pitch of his at-bat. The walk-off win was the fifth walk-off victory of the year for Amarillo and the first since taking the opening game of last week's series against Frisco.
Jolting back from five runs down after the third inning. Amarillo evened the series with the Travelers at one game a piece. Game three is set for Thursday, September 8 with RHP Bryce Jarvis (3-5, 8.09 ERA) set to square off against RHP Stephen Kolek (5-13, 4.82 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 for the last Thirsty Thursday of the 2022 season at HODGETOWN.
Notes:
Blazing: INF Blaze Alexander continues to swing a hot bat after a 2-for-5 day with three RBI including a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Blaze is hitting .352 in his last 20 games and has 23 RBI with 13 extra-base hits. His multi-hit performance tonight marked his 24th of the season and his 12th multi-RBI game. His season average is up to .306 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI with 15 doubles and three triples.
Right Field Roby: Roby Enriquez' 7th inning solo shot to right field tied the game at 5-5 and was his 7th home run of the season with Amarillo. Six of his seven home runs have come right here at HODGETOWN. His only home run away from HODGETOWN was his first Double-A home run back on May 27 at Dickey Stephens Ballpark against these Arkansas Travelers. Five of his seven home runs have left the yard on the southpaw's pull-side going out to right field. He hit one straightaway center off the batter's eye and another out to left field for his only opposite-field home run in 2022 with Amarillo.
Cause The Law Said So: Jordan Lawlar is getting more and more comfortable in Double-A, collecting a pair of hits in a 2-for-5 day at the plate with a run scored. Wednesday marked his fourth Double-A multi-hit game in 12 games since joining the team on August 23. The Arizona Diamondbacks No. 3 rated prospect (13th overall in baseball) is hitting .312 in 92 games in his first full professional season across four minor league levels. He has 15 home runs, 17 doubles, seven triples, 56 RBI, and 51 walks in 359 at-bats after being selected 6th overall in the 2021 MLB draft.
Centy Doing Plenty: Juan Centeno filled the stat sheet on Wednesday night leading the Sod Poodles to a win. He started his night throwing out a pair of base stealers in the top of the first inning. They were his 22nd and 23rd caught stealing for Amarillo this season. He hit his 13th home run of the season in the 4th inning and sealed the win with his two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th. It was Ceteno's second walk-off-winner winner for Amarillo. He singled in the bottom of the 9th back on July 12 against San Antonio as the Sod Poodles won that game 6-5. His 2-for-5 night brings him to .310 in Double-A in 2022, good for the second-best AVG among all active Sod Poodles players.
Back On Track: LHP Kyle Backhus was dominant once again out of the Sod Poodles bullpen. He spun two hitless innings of work en route to collecting his first Double-A win. Tonight's performance came after a rough couple of outings for the Texas native. After not allowing a run in any of his first five Double-A appearances (7.0 IP), he had surrendered eight runs (7 earned) in his previous two outings (1.1 IP). He had walked five and hit three batters in those games but walked just one tonight and struck out two, including a strikeout to end the top of the 10th with two Travelers on base.
Winner, Winner, Walk Off Dinner: Wednesday was the 5th walk-off win for Amarillo this season as the team is now 5-6 in walk-off contests in 2022. Centeno is the first player with two walk-off winners for the Sod Poodles this season.
King of the Hill: RHP Jamison Hill tossed 4.0 IP and allowed five runs - all earned - on seven hits with two walks as Amarillo's starter Wednesday. Hill did not collect a strikeout for the first time this season in 25 games (23 starts) across three levels. For the season, Hill is 7-8 with a 4.83 ERA. His seven wins are T-4th in the Diamondbacks' minor leagues this year while his 120 strikeouts rank 6th most. His .234 BAA is second best among qualifying pitchers in the organization.
Tawa Seeing Double:Tim Tawa went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, his 6th and 7th doubles in Double-A.
Playoff Push: The Sod Poodles still sit 4.0 GB of Frisco in the second half of the Texas League South race. Frisco notched an 11-0 shutout win over Tulsa to keep their ground as Amarillo came back to win over Arkansas. Midland sits 1.0 GB behind Frisco after sweeping their Wednesday doubleheader over the Corpus Christi Hooks and is on a three-game win streak.
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects