2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #8

Dallas opened the series strong with a 6–3 win, powered by a sharp outing from Emerson Hancock and early offense, including a solo homer from Brooks Lee. The Cougars broke the game open in the fifth inning and held off a late push from Alamo to extend their winning streak.

The Defenders responded in Game 2 with a gritty 7–4 victory in 11 innings. After Dallas rallied to tie the game behind key hits from Lee and Nick Kurtz, Alamo delivered in extras. Jake Cronenworth’s sacrifice fly and Rafael Devers’ two-run double sealed the win in the 11th.

Alamo carried that momentum into Game 3, taking a 10–4 decision behind a powerful offensive performance. Taylor Ward led the charge with five RBIs, including a three-run homer early and a two-run double during a decisive sixth inning. Ezequiel Tovar also added a two-run shot as the Defenders racked up 15 hits.

Facing a 2–1 series deficit, Dallas answered in Game 4 with a 10–4 win of their own. Jonah Heim’s early two-run homer set the tone, while Kurtz and Kyle Manzardo helped the Cougars regain the lead after falling behind midgame. A four-run eighth inning, highlighted by home runs from Ramon Laureano and Kurtz, put the game out of reach and evened the series.

The decisive Game 5 belonged entirely to Dallas. The Cougars exploded for seven runs in the second inning, taking advantage of five walks and capping the rally with a three-run homer from Victor Caratini. That early surge carried them to an 8–2 victory, as the bullpen held Alamo in check after an early injury to starter Patrick Corbin.

Across the series, both teams showed offensive firepower, but Dallas proved more consistent in key moments—particularly in Games 4 and 5. Contributions from Caratini, Kurtz, and Lee paced the Cougars, while Ward and Devers stood out for Alamo.

With the series win, Dallas improved to 25–21, while Alamo dropped to 18–28 after a hard-fought set that featured momentum swings, extra innings drama, and several standout performances.

SNAPPERS 4 / 9 / 1
COMETS 8 / 11 / 0
WP – Horton (2-1)
LP – Pallante (1-5)

SNAPPERS 3 / 6 / 0
COMETS 2 / 8 / 1
WP – Ohl (1-4)
LP – Rogers (2-2)
S – Festa (1)

SNAPPERS 9 / 13 / 2
COMETS 1 / 9 / 2
WP – Alexander (1-3)
LP – Soriano (1-6)

SNAPPERS 1 / 6 / 1
COMETS 2 / 5 / 0
WP – Dominguez (3-4)
LP – Milner (2-2)

SNAPPERS 3 / 10 / 1
COMETS 2 / 6 / 0
WP – Lazar (1-0)
LP – Halvorsen (0-1)
S – Festa (2)

SNAPPERS 13 / 12 / 2
COMETS 5 / 13 / 2
WP – Pallante (2-5)
LP – Horton (2-2)

TIJUANA – In a classic pitcher’s duel, the Bottle Rockets edged the Skyliners 1-0 behind a masterful bullpen performance. Tijuana starter Eury Perez tossed six shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight. The game’s only run came in the bottom of the sixth when Corbin Carroll’s RBI single scored Ke’Bryan Hayes, who had reached on an error. Justin Lawrence earned his sixth save by working a scoreless ninth, stranding the tying run at second base. Cincinnati’s Nathan Eovaldi was brilliant in defeat, fanning 10 over seven innings while allowing only one unearned run.

TIJUANA – Austin Wells delivered the biggest blow of the night, a three-run homer in the third inning, as Tijuana held off a late Cincinnati rally to win 7-6. The Skyliners jumped ahead early on Noelvi Marte’s two-run shot, but the Bottle Rockets answered with five runs in the middle innings. Otto Lopez pulled Cincinnati within one with a two-run homer in the seventh, but Tijuana’s bullpen held on. Jake Latz earned his fourth win, and Caleb Thielbar picked up his fourth save despite allowing a run in the ninth.

TIJUANA – Junior Caminero launched two home runs, including a two-run blast in the eighth, to power the Bottle Rockets past Cincinnati 5-3. Trea Turner opened the scoring with a leadoff homer in the first, and Isaac Paredes added a solo shot in the sixth. The Skyliners’ Cal Raleigh went deep in the first, and a late rally in the ninth fell short when the tying run was left at the plate. Framber Valdez earned his second win, while Cincinnati’s Zack Littell took the loss despite striking out five.

TIJUANA – Cristopher Sanchez made history, tossing his first no-hitter in a dominant 4-0 victory over Cincinnati. Sanchez walked just one batter and struck out several en route to his sixth win without a loss. Ke’Bryan Hayes provided all the offense he would need with a first-inning three-run homer. The Skyliners never threatened, managing only two errors on the basepaths. The no-hitter was the highlight of the series and the first of Sanchez’s career.

TIJUANA – The Bottle Rockets exploded for 11 runs on 13 hits, burying Cincinnati early in an 11-5 laugher. Pete Crow-Armstrong broke a 21-game homer drought with a second-inning grand slam? (Correction: He hit a 3-run homer in the 3rd) — actually, Crow-Armstrong’s three-run blast in the third broke the game open, and Ian Happ added a two-run homer in the fifth. Heriberto Hernandez homered for the Skyliners, but Tijuana’s offense was relentless. Spencer Strider earned his second win, while Bailey Falter was tagged for five runs in four innings.

TIJUANA – Cincinnati finally solved the Bottle Rockets, avoiding a series sweep with a 4-1 victory in the finale. Yusei Kikuchi pitched six and two-thirds innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits while striking out four. Cal Raleigh’s solo homer in the eighth and an RBI double from Vinnie Pasquantino in the fourth keyed the offense. Tijuana committed four costly errors, including two that led to unearned runs. Dennis Santana earned his ninth save. Eury Perez took his first loss of the season.

The series was defined by brilliant starting pitching, highlighted by Cristopher Sanchez’s no-hitter in Game 4. Eury Perez and Framber Valdez also picked up wins, while the bullpen, led by Justin Lawrence and Caleb Thielbar, shut the door in close contests.

Offensively, Junior Caminero homered twice in Game 3 and drove in runs throughout the series. Ian Happ, Austin Wells, and Ke’Bryan Hayes each delivered multi-RBI performances, and Corbin Carroll extended his on-base streak to 22 games.

Cincinnati’s only win came in Game 6, snapping a six-game losing streak. Yusei Kikuchi earned his second victory, but the Skyliners’ offense struggled for much of the series, managing just three runs in the first four games combined.

With the series win, Tijuana improved to 31–14, solidifying their hold on first place. Cincinnati fell to 20–27, mired in last place and searching for answers.

Fremont threatens in the second after a leadoff walk by Elly de la Cruz and wild pitch to move him to second. After a strikeout and groundout, a walk and HBP loads the bases. Unfortunately, that puts Austin Hedges at the plate and he strikes out. Luis Urias is lost for 10 days with his second injury of the season.

Cantillo follows suit in loading the bases in the third with 2 two-out walks, and a wild pitch gives Tempe the first run of the game. J.T. Realmuto strikes out to keep it from becoming a big inning.

Fremont ties it up in the sixth after an EDLC double gets him on and a grounder moves him to 3rd. Mike Yastrzemski singles him in to make it 1-1.

The big inning comes in the eighth. A George Springer walk and a Jose Ramirez excuse-me double puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Garrett Whitlock is able to get the first needed strikeout, but Ryan Mountcastle brings in two, and Ozzie Albies brings him home for the 4-1 lead and eventual final score. Tempe takes game 4-1.

W: Kenley Jansen (2-1)
L: Will Vest (1-2)
S: Andres Munoz (15)

HR: none

Both pitchers show up strong on the scoreboard early, as it is scoreless after 4. Fremont hopes that Alcantara can get through the fifth for a grade bump, but he loads the bases with one out, with the help of two walk. A Justin Crawford single brings in one and leaves the bases loaded. George Spring takes the third walk of the inning, to make it 2-0 Tempe. Jose Ramirez singles in one more to make it 3-0. A Freddie Freeman sac fly makes it 4-0. With runners at 2nd and 3rd now, Alcantara gets Wilyer Abreu to strike out to end the inning, but the damage has been done.

Alcantara is shaky again in the sixth, as an Adam Frazier double is followed by a JT. Realmuto single. Mike Yastrzemski comes up big, throwing out Frazier at home. Two walks again put the pressure on Alcantara with the bases loaded. A foul-out from George Springer ends the inning to keep it at 4-0.

Meanwhile, deGrom is not struggling. In fact, he hasn’t allowed a hit through the first five innings. A walk gets a Fremont runner on in the sixth but the Cannons are shutdown without a hit in that inning either. The Cannons go 1-2-3 in the seventh to keep the no-hitter going.

Mike Yastrzemski leads off the eighth with a walk. With Jacob Stallings in as a replacement catcher, Fremont calls the hit-and-run and Teoscar Hernandez is able to execute and breaks up the no-hitter, to a chorus of boos from the visiting fans. DeGrom’s day is done after that, and a double-play on the following at bat is still enough to give Fremont their first run and make it a 4-1 game.

The score stays the same heading to the bottom of the ninth. Two walks from Andres Munoz brings Elly de la Cruz to the plate as the tying run with two outs. A groundout to first ends Fremont’s hopes and the game, as Tempe wins another 4-1 contest.

Jacob deGrom came up short of the no-hitter, going seven innings allowing one hit and one run. Alcantara was lucky to only give up 4 runs with a 7 hit, 7 walk performance. Still no HR in the series.

W: Jacob deGrom (9-1)
L: Sandy Alcantara (1-2)
S: Andres Munoz (16)

HR: none

Fremont manages to strike early in this one. A leadoff single from Shohei Ohtani, a walk, and a HBP loads the bases in the first, then an Elly de la Cruz sac fly brings in a run. That’s followed by a double play, so the Cannons only score one. Tempe answers back in the fourth with a three-run HR from Ryan Mountcastle, the first home run in the series, to give the Tempers the 3-1 lead.

A two-out walk and stolen base from Jose Ramirez sets up JT Realmuto’s run-scoring single in the sixth, with Realmuto advancing to second on the throw. Mountcastle picks up another RBI after singling in Realmuto to make it 5-1 Tempers. In the seventh, Mike Yastrzemski collides with the wall while making a catch, and is out for 4 days. A solo HR from Freddie Freeman in the eighth would end the scoring for Tempe.

Meanwhile, Fremont never threatens to score again, as the leadoff single from Ohtani in the first would be the only hit the Cannons collect in the game. That’s right, it’s two consecutive one-hitters from the Tempers against the Cannons. Tempe wins it 5-1.

Mountcastle had a nice day, going 2-4 with a HR and 4 RBI. After 3 games, the Cannons have 5 hits (only one extra-base hit), no homers, and 3 runs scored.

W: Stephen Kolek (2-1)
L: Carlos Rodon (5-3)

HR: TEM- Freddie Freeman (9), Ryan Mountcastle (3)

After a dismal offensive performance to start the series, Fremont hopes the off-day will be a reset. But early on, it’s more of the Tempe attack. Right away, Dylan Beavers leads off the game with a walk and Justin Crawford doubles. A broken-bat single from George Springer brings in a run. Jose Ramirez sac flies in another. Springer tries to take second on the throw home, and is wiped out by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tempe leaves the top of the first with a 2-0 lead.

Fremont gets two on via the walk in the third, but Verlander is able to get Guerrero Jr. and Byron Buxton to keep the Cannons scoreless. The Cannons finally break through in the fourth. Yoan Moncada and Carlos Correa single and Bo Naylor doubles them home, tying it at 2-2. The Cannons lead is short-lived, as a George Springer single and steal sets up Freddie Freeman to pick up a RBI single to make It 3-2 Tempe.

The Cannons bounce right back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run HR from Shohei Ohtani, the first HR of the series for Fremont. Seeing how it’s done, Guerrero Jr. goes back-to-back with him to make it 5-3 Fremont. The Cannons homer again in the sixth, with Teoscar Hernandez increasing the lead to 6-3 and ending Verlander’s day. Fremont gets two more on base in the inning but gets no more runs.

The Tempers lead off the seventh with a walk and infield hit. Garrett Whitlock walks the bases loaded, then Jose Ramirez singles home two to cut the lead to 6-5. Whitlock is able to buckle down and get the next two outs. Tempe strikes right away in the eighth, with Adam Frazier leading off with a solo HR to tie the game 6-6 and send Whitlock to the showers.

Tempe gets Jose Ramirez on in the ninth via an error, then he steals second to put a man in scoring position with one out. The Tempers get a bit too aggressive, though, as Ramirez is thrown out trying to steal 3rd, and the Cannons escape with no damage. Ohtani leads off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, and a groundout moves him to 2nd. After an intentional walk to Buxton, an unintentional walk to Moncada loads the bases. Austin Hays sends one to the wall, and it is deep enough to score Ohtani on the sac fly to win it for Fremont 7-6. Ohtani got on base all five times in this one, going 2-2 with a HR and 3 walks.

W: Robert Suarez (2-0)
L: Andres Munoz (1-1)

HR: TEM- Adam Frazier (3); FRE- Shohei Ohtani (18), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (8), Teoscar Hernandez (6)

Peralta returns after a solid Game 1 start but no win, while Skubal takes the mound for Fremont. The Tempers are the first to threaten in the game with runners at the corners in the second but fail to score. Tempe gets two on again in the third but it remains scoreless. It’s the Cannons who get on the board first, as a Joey Bart single followed by a sacrifice gets him on 2nd on the bottom of the third. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singles him home for a 1-0 Fremont lead.

A Johnny DeLuca double is followed by a steal of 3rd, and George Springer singles him home to tie it 1-1 in the fifth. Teoscar Hernandez leads off the bottom of the inning with a double, advances to third, but is caught in a rundown on a grounder. Fremont gets nothing from the inning.

Steven Kwan leads off the seventh with a walk. Justin Crawford fails to bunt him over, but a two-strike infield single does even better. Especially when Marcell Ozuna sends it over the fence for a 3-run HR and a 4-1 Tempe lead. Fremont looks to rally back with tow on and no outs in the bottom of the inning, but a double play erases two. Nolan Gorman doubles in a runner from 3rd, but Joey Bart flies out and what could have been a big inning just cuts the Tempe lead to 4-2.

The Cannons get runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs in the eighth, but Stevn Kwan is able to catch up to Yoan Moncada’s shot to left center and the runners are stranded. Andres Munoz pitches in his fifth game of the series, setting down the Cannons 1-2-3 and securing the 4-2 Tempe win. Tempe racked up 5 stolen bases in this one.

W: Freddy Peralta (6-2)
L: Tarik Skubal (4-3)
S: Andres Munoz (17)

HR: TEM- Marcell Ozuna (6); FRE- none

Getting two one-hitters in a row certainly showed the quality of the Tempe pitching staff. Despite the low scores, no pitchers really racked up the strikeouts in this one, and there wasn’t much in the way of an offensive standout either. Tempe went 8-9 in steals, though it could be argued that their one caught stealing may have been more impactful than the bases they took.

Next week, the Tempers have an even bigger series at league-rivals Sacramento, while the Cannons hope to get back on track at Gainesville.