Storm and Missions Shine, While TinCaps and Chihuahuas Falter in Rough Night for Padres Affiliates

[Brock Beauchamp]

San Antonio erupted for 11 runs behind Ripken Reyes and Brandon Valenzuela, while Lake Elsinore got 12 hits in a 5–2 win. Fort Wayne fell 10–1 as South Bend broke it open late. El Paso allowed 12 runs, including a grand slam, despite a three-RBI night from Clay Dungan.

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Dungan’s Big Double Not Enough in El Paso’s 12–3 Loss
Despite Clay Dungan’s bases-clearing double in the fifth, El Paso fell 12–3 to Round Rock in a game that unraveled late. The Chihuahuas managed just six hits and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine.

Dungan finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and raised his OPS to .749. Tim Locastro doubled and stole his 11th base, while Yonathan Perlaza added his seventh steal of the year. Forrest Wall and Nate Mondou also chipped in with hits, but the offense couldn’t keep pace.

Starter Omar Cruz gave up four earned runs over 5.0 innings, allowing three hits and two home runs. He walked two and struck out two, falling to 0–3 with a 3.82 ERA. The bullpen faltered: Miguel Cienfuegos surrendered three runs in the sixth, and Raul Brito allowed five in the eighth, capped by a grand slam from Cody Freeman.

Eduarniel Núñez offered a silver lining with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two and keeping his ERA at 0.00.

El Paso’s pitching staff combined to give up 12 runs on 10 hits, four walks, and three homers in the loss. They’ll look to bounce back tomorrow with the series continuing at Dell Diamond.

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Early Barrage Fuels Missions’ 11–3 Win in Amarillo
The San Antonio Missions exploded for six runs in the second inning and never looked back, defeating Amarillo 11–3 behind a 14-hit offensive attack. Ripken Reyes tripled twice and drove in three, while Brandon Valenzuela added his eighth home run of the season and finished with three RBIs.

Nerwilian Cedeño, Romeo Sanabria, and Francisco Acuna each collected two hits, with Cedeño and Sanabria combining for three extra-base knocks. Acuna walked twice and stole his 12th base, while Valenzuela pushed his OPS to .803 with a 2-for-5 effort. Devin Ortiz added three hits, including an RBI single.

Right-hander Braden Nett (4–3) earned the win, striking out eight over 6.0 innings while allowing three earned runs. Nett held Amarillo to six hits and walked just one. The bullpen trio of José Geraldo, Andrew Moore, and Sam Whiting closed out the final three innings without allowing another run, combining for four strikeouts and no walks.

The Missions went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stole three bases. Defensively, the infield turned a key double play, and despite two errors by Devin Ortiz, the team held steady.

San Antonio improves to 29–34 and continues its road series Thursday at Hodgetown.

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TinCaps Overpowered in 10–1 Loss at Home
Fort Wayne managed just one run on four hits as they fell 10–1 to South Bend at Parkview Field. Starter Miguel Mendez (2–2) gave up just one earned run over 4.0 innings but was tagged with the loss due to a costly fifth inning by the bullpen.

South Bend broke the game open in the fifth with four runs on five baserunners, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Drew Bowser. Carter Trice homered in the ninth—his eighth of the season—and finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a double, lifting his OPS to .899. Miguel Pabon added a three-run homer in the eighth and collected three hits and three RBIs, raising his total to 24 on the year.

For the TinCaps, catcher Oswaldo Linares went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored the lone run on a single from Jake Snider in the eighth. The TinCaps’ offense went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.

On the mound, relievers Bodi Rascon, Luis Germán, and Jose Sanabria combined to allow nine earned runs over 5.0 innings. The loss drops Mendez’s ERA to 2.42.

Fort Wayne will look to rebound in game two of the series Thursday night.

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Valentine, King Jr. Help Storm Down Visalia 5–2
Chase Valentine delivered his first home run of the season and Lamar King Jr. collected three hits as Lake Elsinore defeated Visalia 5–2 at The Diamond. The Storm totaled 12 hits and stole their eighth consecutive win behind timely hitting and solid pitching.

Valentine finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the sixth and raised his OPS to .498. King Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base, boosting his season OPS to .779. Zach Evans added a two-run double, his 15th of the year, and Ryan Jackson went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Right-hander Boston Bateman (5–3) earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to 3.72. Braian Salazar and Bernard Jose combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close it out, with Jose earning his fourth save.

Lake Elsinore went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position but capitalized on two extra-base hits and clean defense, turning a double play and committing no errors.

With the win, the Storm improve to 27–33 on the season and continue their home series Thursday.