Padres Minor League Report: Thibodeaux's Walk-Off Hit Sends Storm To Victory

[Brock Beauchamp]

Clay Dungan’s three hits and Tim Locastro’s three-run triple powered El Paso’s five-run sixth in a 9-3 win. Francisco Acuna coaxed a bases-loaded walk, but San Antonio mustered five hits and lost 3-1. Rosman Verdugo and Jackson sparked Fort Wayne’s run-scoring sixth, yet the TinCaps fell 9-2. Cardell Thibodeaux singled home Wilson in the fifth and walked off Inland Empire in the ninth, sealing Lake Elsinore’s 3-2 comeback behind relief from Johan Moreno and Igor Gil.

Dungan, Locastro Fuel Five-Run Sixth as Chihuahuas Roll
Box Score

Clay Dungan set the tone right away, lining a first-inning double and crossing on Luis Campusano’s groundout before Nate Mondou’s two-out single made it 2-0. After three unearned runs in the fifth put El Paso behind, the offense erupted in the sixth. Mason McCoy opened the frame with a double and scored on Ripken Reyes’ sacrifice, Dungan punched a run-scoring single, Tim Locastro ripped a three-run triple to right, and Campusano capped the rally with another RBI knock, vaulting the Chihuahuas to a 7-3 cushion.

Dungan reached four times, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Locastro added his fourth triple, two RBI, two runs, and his 20th stolen base. Campusano went 2-for-5 and drove in two, and McCoy and Mondou each supplied two hits; Rodolfo Durán added a pair of singles as El Paso piled up 14 knocks.

Left-hander Jackson Wolf worked 4 ⅔ innings, scattering seven hits and allowing three unearned runs. Manuel Castro entered with two aboard in the fifth and slammed the door on his way to 1 ⅓ scoreless frames, earning the victory. Bryan Hoeing contributed two scoreless innings, and Sean Reynolds struck out two in a tidy ninth. Behind them, Mondou and Dungan turned a pair of double plays that helped the bullpen keep Round Rock quiet the rest of the night as El Paso closed out a 9-3 win.

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Acuna’s bases-loaded walk sparks early lead, but Missions edged 3-1
Box Score

San Antonio jumped on the board in the third when Francisco Acuna coaxed a two-out, bases-loaded walk, forcing home Anthony Vilar for a 1-0 advantage. The inning began with back-to-back singles from Vilar and Jacob Campbell, and Kai Murphy’s second hit of the night packed the sacks before Acuna delivered the RBI free pass.

The Missions’ five-hit attack was paced by Murphy, who finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, and Albert Fabian, who singled and drew two walks to reach base three times. Vilar added a single and scored the club’s lone run, while Campbell chipped in a knock of his own. Despite putting the tying run aboard in both the sixth and eighth innings, San Antonio went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six overall.

Starter Jagger Haynes opened with two scoreless frames, limiting the damage to a lone single while issuing three walks. J.B. Wendelken followed, allowing one run across 2 2/3 innings and striking out three. Holding a 1-1 tie in the sixth, José Geraldo (2-2) surrendered two runs over 1 1/3 innings, the latter scoring on a wild pitch that put the Missions behind for good. Austin Krob and Ethan Routzahn each contributed a scoreless inning to keep the deficit at two, but San Antonio went down in order in the ninth to close out the contest.

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Verdugo sparks sixth-inning rally, but TinCaps come up short
Box Score

Fort Wayne trailed from the opening frame and fell 9–2 on Friday night.

The only TinCaps runs came in the sixth while down four, shortstop Ryan Jackson drew a walk and center fielder Kai Roberts followed with another, setting the table for Rosman Verdugo. The second baseman lined a single to left that plated Jackson for Fort Wayne’s first run. After Braedon Karpathios worked a free pass, Kaden Hollow coaxed a bases-loaded walk to force home Roberts and trim the deficit to two.

Jackson finished 2-for-4 with a walk, reaching base three times, and boosted his average to .265. Verdugo turned in a 2-for-4 night with his 38th RBI, while Hollow added a single and his eighth run driven in. Catcher Brendan Durfee collected two of the club’s 10 hits, and Victor Duarte doubled in the seventh.

Right-hander Isaiah Lowe (3-9) worked five innings, allowing four earned runs. Nick Wissman struck out two in the sixth, and Luis Germán fanned two more over 1 2⁄3 late innings to keep the margin from growing.

Fort Wayne turned several early opportunities into traffic; singles from Jackson in the first and Barnett and Durfee in the third, but double-play grounders muted those rallies. The sixth-inning scoring provided the TinCaps’ highlight, yet the visitors’ five-run seventh ultimately put the game out of reach.

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Thibodeaux’s Walk-Off Single Lifts Storm to 3-2 Victory
Box Score

Lake Elsinore trailed by two runs before grinding out a late comeback, setting up a big moment for Cardell Thibodeaux in the ninth. The center fielder rose to the challenge, lining a bases-loaded single to right that sent B.Y. Choi home and set off the celebration.

Thibodeaux finished 2-for-5 and drove in two Storm runs. His first RBI came in the fifth, when he bounced a single through the right side to score Ryan Wilson and cut the deficit to 2-1. Wilson reached twice on walks and recorded an outfield assist earlier in the night.

The tying run arrived in the eighth. Kerrington Cross drew a walk, advanced on two wild pitches, and scored when an infield miscue allowed him to sprint home. Cross reached base twice, while Carlos Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, and Kavares Tears added a double and a single.

Right-hander Maikel Miralles kept the Storm within striking distance, working 4 2/3 innings and striking out three while allowing two runs. Winyer Chourio and Johan Moreno combined for 3 1/3 scoreless frames, with Moreno fanning four over two innings. Igor Gil took over in the ninth, striking out two and earning the win after Thibodeaux’s heroics.

Lake Elsinore’s bullpen retired 10 of the final 12 batters it faced, giving the offense time to capitalize on four Inland Empire errors and deliver the walk-off finish.

Padres Transactions

• San Diego Padres activated 1B Ryan O’Hearn.
• San Diego Padres activated RHP Mason Miller.
• San Diego Padres designated CF Tyler Wade for assignment.
• San Diego Padres activated C Freddy Fermin.
• San Diego Padres activated LHP JP Sears.
• San Diego Padres activated RF Ramón Laureano.
• San Diego Padres optioned RHP Ron Marinaccio to El Paso Chihuahuas.

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