Rangers Minor League Report: Jake Thompson aces Pan Am start with 10 Ks

Double A Frisco right-hander Jake Thompson dazzled for the U.S. men’s team Wednesday, striking out 10 in seven innings against Nicaragua in the Pan American Games in Toronto.

Thompson, the top pitching prospect in the Texas Rangers’ organization, allowed only one base runner on a fourth-inning single. His 10 strikeouts tied the USA Baseball Pan Am record set in 1991.

The U.S. team plays for the gold medal at 6:05 p.m. Sunday in Toronto.

“I was just trying to throw strikes and ended up getting a lot of strikeouts,” Thompson said. “I was able to throw everything for strikes. My slider and curveball were both really effective today.”

Thompson threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 22 batters he faced and walked none. The one hit allowed tied a USA Baseball record. He tied Jared Weaver as the only other Pan Am pitcher to work six or more innings with only one hit surrendered. Weaver did it against the Dominican Republic in 2003.

“The plan that we had to go up against Nicaragua’s hitters, not only did Thompson follow it to a ‘T’ but he did nothing but execute one pitch after another,” Team USA manager Jim Tracy said. “Whether he was setting a pitch up for the next pitch or executing the one he was throwing, he was just terrific. His first-pitch strike efficiency was off the charts.”

Thompson, who grew up in Rockwall, is enjoying his first visit to Toronto. He’ll return to Frisco’s roster this week.

“Toronto is really nice. I’ve had a chance to see downtown a little bit and it is actually a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be,” he said. “The Pan Am Games have been unbelievable and unlike anything I have ever experienced before.”

Klein sharp

Triple A Round Rock right-hander Phil Klein made his fourth start this season Friday, and it was a dandy. He threw five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and walking none.

The five innings is the most Klein has thrown in the minors. Until this season he had made only two starts in his career. Friday’s start was the sixth of his career.

Klein went 5 1/3 innings with the Rangers on May 20. His last appearance for the Rangers was May 25, in which he left after allowing six runs in two innings. He didn’t pitch again until June 29, for Round Rock, because of an injury. He’s lowered his ERA with Round Rock to 0.91.

Alberto’s streak

Round Rock infielder Hanser Alberto has a 10-game hitting streak through Friday night. He is 15 for 35 with six doubles, one triple, a home run and 10 runs scored in the stretch. He’s only struck out three times in the span. He had a 16-game hit streak in early May.

Frisco’s big crowds

Frisco is drawing big crowds and not just because of some of the organization’s top prospects (Nick Williams, Nomar Mazara, Jake Thompson and previously Joey Gallo) are playing for the RoughRiders.

The Dr Pepper Ballpark crew does a great job of keeping fans entertained, and it’s showing in the attendance. Friday’s game drew 11,612, and six of the club’s eight largest crowds have come in 2015.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 8:06 PM with the headline "Rangers Minor League Report: Jake Thompson aces Pan Am start with 10 Ks."