Padres Minor League Report: Affiliates Walk Their Way To Losses

[Brock Beauchamp]

Across the four affiliates, Padres prospects showcased patience, but little else. In El Paso, Tim Locastro went 3-for-5 with a triple in an 18–5 loss. San Antonio struggled as Zach Cole blasted two homers for Corpus Christi. At High-A Fort Wayne, Braedon Karpathios reached base three times amidst a pitching collapse. Low-A’s Lake Elsinore succeeded with just four hits, drawing 12 walks and executing situational offense to win 3–2.

Padres Transactions

• San Diego Padres optioned RHP Matt Waldron to El Paso Chihuahuas.
• San Diego Padres recalled RHP Ron Marinaccio from El Paso Chihuahuas.
• San Diego Padres selected the contract of RHP Eduarniel Núñez from El Paso Chihuahuas.

El Paso Blasted Early in Lopsided Loss at Isotopes Park
Box Score

El Paso’s pitching unraveled early as the Chihuahuas fell 18–5 in a rough outing against Albuquerque. After taking a 2–0 lead in the top of the second thanks to RBI hits from Forrest Wall and Brandon Lockridge, the Chihuahuas surrendered four runs in the bottom half and never recovered.

Miguel Cienfuegos was charged with eight runs (six earned) in 3 innings, and the bullpen fared no better. Kevin Kopps retired only one batter while giving up five runs, and Jason Blanchard allowed six more over 2 2/3 innings. El Paso committed six errors, fueling a nine-run fourth inning by the Isotopes that included two RBI singles, a three-run homer, and multiple throwing miscues.

Despite the lopsided score, the Chihuahuas collected 17 hits. Tim Locastro led the way with a 3-for-5 day, including a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Yonathan Perlaza reached base three times and doubled, while Mike Brosseau chipped in with a multi-hit effort and an RBI single during a three-run seventh.

The defense’s struggles and ineffective relief pitching overshadowed the offensive output. El Paso left 12 runners on base and failed to keep pace after the second inning, absorbing one of their most lopsided losses of the year.

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Zach Cole’s Power Surge Sinks Missions
Box Score

The Missions couldn’t overcome two home runs from Zach Cole as they dropped a 9–3 contest to Corpus Christi. San Antonio’s bullpen faltered in relief of Victor Lizarraga, who was pulled after two scoreless innings and two walks. Left-hander Ryan Och took the loss, surrendering four runs in just 1 2/3 innings.

The Hooks broke through in the third with a three-run homer from Cole. He went deep again in the sixth, capping a six-RBI night that accounted for the majority of the scoring against Missions relievers. John Garcia and Luis Baez also contributed multi-hit games for Corpus Christi, and the Hooks scored all nine of their runs between the third and sixth innings.

San Antonio managed only five hits in the game, though Marcos Castañon provided a spark with a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI double in the eighth. Ripken Reyes was ejected in the fifth following a called third strike, and his replacement Wyatt Hoffman later walked and stole a base in the seventh.

Luis Angel Rodriguez earned the win for Corpus Christi, striking out five and allowing just one run over 5 1/3 innings. The Missions were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

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TinCaps Drop Sloppy Home Contest Despite Karpathios’ Three Walks
Box Score

Fort Wayne couldn’t overcome a five-run sixth inning from Lansing as the TinCaps fell 8–2 at Parkview Field. Starter Sam Whiting held the Lugnuts scoreless through two innings but ran into trouble in the third, allowing two runs before exiting with two outs in the frame.

Luis Germán pitched a scoreless 2 ⅔ innings in relief, but Sean Barnett allowed five earned runs across just two-thirds of an inning. Barnett struggled mightily, surrendering five hits, five runs, and a walk while striking out none. Lansing extended its lead to 7–1 in the sixth, including a two-run single by Tommy White and a daring steal of home by Jared Dickey.

Leo De Vries reached base three times, including a third-inning triple that set up Fort Wayne’s first run on Jack Costello’s RBI single. Jacob Campbell brought home the second run with a groundout in the eighth. Braedon Karpathios reached base three times on walks.

Fort Wayne matched Lansing with 11 left on base but went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The TinCaps also grounded into two double plays, and De Vries had a fielding error. Their pitching staff gave up 15 hits, and Lansing capitalized with five 2-out RBI to seal the outcome.

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Storm Capitalize on Walks, Hold Off Late Push in One-Run Victory
Box Score

Lake Elsinore pushed across runs in the fourth, sixth, and eighth innings without needing a barrage of hits to edge Inland Empire 3–2 on Tuesday night at The Diamond. The Storm drew 12 walks and executed just enough situational hitting to overcome a late solo homer.

Zach Evans doubled to lead off the fourth and came home on Chase Valentine’s RBI single. Cobb Hightower’s bases-loaded walk in the sixth plated Kaden Hollow to give Lake Elsinore a 2–1 edge. In the eighth, Yendry Rojas drove in Valentine with a sharp double to center for what proved to be the game-winning run.

Starter Kash Mayfield worked around three walks in two scoreless innings before giving way to Kleiber Olmedo, who tossed three innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts. Vicarte Domingo earned the win despite surrendering a solo home run in the sixth. Igor Gil closed it out with a three-inning save, stranding the tying run on third in the ninth.

The Storm managed just four hits but worked at-bats all night, drawing key walks from Hollow (3), Valentine (2), and Rojas (2). 

1. Leo De Vries, SS: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 3B
2. Ethan Salas, C: Did Not Play
3. Kash Mayfield, LHP: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
4. Boston Bateman, RHP: Did Not Play
5. Humberto Cruz, RHP: Did Not Play
6. Isaiah Lowe, RHP: Did Not Play
7. Cobb Hightower, SS: 0-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB
8. Braden Nett, RHP: Did Not Play
9. Henry Baez, RHP: Did Not Play
10. Kale Fountain, 1B: Did Not Play
11. Tirso Ornelas, OF: Did Not Play
12. Kavares Tears, OF: Did Not Play
13. Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP: Did Not Play
14. Victor Lizarraga, RHP: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB
15. Francis Peña, RHP: Did Not Play
16. Ryan Bergert, RHP: Did Not Play
17. Romeo Sanabria, 1B: 0-for-4, 3 K
18. Omar Cruz, LHP: Did Not Play
19. Tyson Neighbors, RHP: Did Not Play
20. Jagger Haynes, LHP: Did Not Play

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