Mendez sharp in early Round Rock going

This season, Yohander Mendez has experienced two promotions and three league debuts, and he's impressed at each stage along the way.

According to Triple-A Round Rock's pitching coach Greg Hibbard, Texas' No. 2 prospect could soon be looking at a third promotion and a fourth debut.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we bring him up and give him a touch feel up there [with the Rangers]," Hibbard said. "You want to be around that atmosphere, and this kid's definitely part of our future. He does a lot of good things [that you might see] from a 25-year-old and he's only 21.

"I know he's a young kid, but because he carries himself in such an older manner as far as his daily routine, the way he goes about his business and his mound presence in game. He does things with a little more confidence from pitch to pitch than you may see from guys who have [played a couple years] at Triple-A. It's impressive the way he carries himself from outing to outing."

Mendez impressed yet again Thursday night, giving up three hits over five scoreless innings in his second Triple-A start en route to Round Rock's 10-7 win over host Oklahoma City at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. He has yet to allow a run in the Pacific Coast League.

"I felt like he had a really good warmup before the game and had his location, hitting his spots with his fastball," Hibbard said. "He trusted his breaking ball early in counts, and he's got a plus changeup and that tends to help him."

In the first inning, Mendez (2-0) walked Drew Maggi with one out and the third baseman advanced into second after top Rangers prospect Joey Gallo was tagged with an interference error on a pickoff attempt at first. Mendez fanned the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Jack Murphy singled off the Venezuelan native to lead off the third inning, and Mendez also gave up a single to Rob Segedin in the fourth.

With two outs in the fifth, Murphy collected another single and Brandon Hicks walked, but the southpaw fanned No. 11 Dodgers prospect Austin Barnes to finish the frame.

"There in the fifth inning, I felt like he kind of got away from [his game plan] a little bit," Hibbard said. "He saw the end of the tunnel there. He knew he was only going five innings, and he let the game speed up on him a little bit. But I felt his delivery was solid. His composure on the mound was good too. He doesn't get intimidated. He trusts his stuff."

The 21-year-old has been successful at all three levels he pitched at this season. He posted a 4-1 record and a 2.45 ERA in seven starts for Class A Advanced High Desert, and then another 4-1 mark with a 3.09 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Frisco.

The youngest member of the Express made his Round Rock debut in a spot start on July 5, giving up three hits and striking out seven over five scoreless frames.

"I felt like he was better in this outing than he was in that spot start," Hibbard said. "Tonight he trusted his fastball to both sides of the plate. The last outing, I felt like he came up here and tried to trick them with his secondary pitches."

Express reliever Shawn Tolleson gave up six runs on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning in the ninth. Carlos Fisher recorded the last out to seal the win.

Jared Hoying blasted a two-out grand slam in Round Rock's eight-run fifth inning.

Oklahoma City starter Trevor Oaks (3-1) gave up 10 runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and two walks while fanning six over five innings. Dodgers' No. 20 prospect Jacob Rhame tossed a pair of scoreless frames in relief.

Murphy went 3-for-3 and scored twice for the RedHawks.