Padres Minor League Report: Affiliates Show Firepower, Play To Tight Finishes

Padres minor-league affiliates combined for 22 runs on Sunday, highlighted by Fort Wayne’s explosive six-run fifth and El Paso’s nine-run outburst. With strong starts from Luis Gutierrez and Braden Nett, the affiliates played several close games, underscoring a day where offensive production met missed chances across the system.

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Dungan, Campusano Power Chihuahuas Past Space Cowboys
Box Score

Clay Dungan’s three-run home run in the sixth capped a potent offensive display as the El Paso Chihuahuas rolled past Sugar Land, 9–3, Sunday at Southwest University Park. The win featured contributions throughout the order, as the Chihuahuas combined for nine hits and nine walks.

Dungan drove in three and finished 1-for-5, while Luis Campusano reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a double, three walks, and two runs. Nate Mondou drove in three and Yonathan Perlaza collected one RBI, with Perlaza tripling once and walking twice. Rodolfo Durán added a triple and scored twice.

Omar Cruz earned the win, working five innings while allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Francis Peña, Alek Jacob, Jose Espada, and Eduarniel Núñez each tossed scoreless frames in relief, with Jacob striking out two in the seventh.

El Paso broke the game open with a three-run sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh on Locastro’s RBI triple, ultimately outpacing Sugar Land in every facet.

Acuna’s Solo Shot Not Enough in Tight Missions Loss
Box Score

Francisco Acuna’s solo home run in the first inning accounted for the Missions’ only run Sunday, as San Antonio fell 2–1 to Midland in a tightly contested game at Momentum Bank Ballpark.

Acuna connected for his seventh long ball of the season before leaving the game with a back injury in the bottom of the first. Ripken Reyes replaced him and later contributed a single in the eighth, but San Antonio was limited to just five hits overall.

Braden Nett delivered a solid start, striking out four across 5 1/3 innings while allowing just one run on five hits, though he struggled with command, issuing four walks. José Geraldo took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead RBI double in the seventh. Ethan Routzahn worked a scoreless eighth.

The Missions had chances to break through, particularly in the fifth when they got two runners on with one out but failed to convert. They also ran into trouble on the basepaths, with Nerwilian Cedeño thrown out at the plate in the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice.

San Antonio went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and grounded into one double play, including one that ended a threat in the eighth.

Five-Run Fifth Carries TinCaps in Wild 8–7 Victory
Box Score

The Fort Wayne TinCaps broke out for five runs in the fifth inning and held on late to edge Great Lakes, 8–7, on Sunday afternoon at Parkview Field.

Trailing 1–0 in the fourth, Brandon Butterworth tied the game with an RBI single. An inning later, the TinCaps loaded the bases with three walks before Jacob Campbell’s bloop single plated two. Leo De Vries drew a walk to force in another run, Butterworth added a sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch brought home Ryan Jackson to make it 6–1.

Luis Gutierrez earned his first win of the season, tossing 5 innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and three walks. After a shaky eighth inning that saw Great Lakes score four against Sean Barnett, Cole Paplham and Ruben Galindo closed the door, with Galindo earning the save.

Butterworth and Campbell each drove in two runs for the TinCaps, who finished with only three hits but took advantage of 10 walks and two wild pitches. De Vries walked twice and drove in a run. Fort Wayne’s offense stranded just three and cashed in 2-of-9 chances with runners in scoring position.

Despite a late grand slam from the Loons’ Frank Rodriguez, the TinCaps’ early burst proved decisive.

Storm’s Late Rally Falls Just Short in One-Run Loss
Box Score

The Lake Elsinore Storm staged a late push but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 5–4 to Modesto on Saturday afternoon at The Diamond.

Zach Evans gave Lake Elsinore a brief lead with a single in the fourth, eventually coming around on a sacrifice fly by Colton Vincent to give the Storm a 2–1 lead. But Modesto responded with four runs over the next three innings, capitalizing on timely singles, multiple walks, and a hit batter against relievers Will Varmette and Braian Salazar.

Trailing 5–2 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Storm made their move. Ryan Wilson and Chase Valentine were both hit by pitches with two outs, and Vincent followed with a two-run single through the left side of the infield. A fielding error allowed him to take third, but Kavares Tears struck out to end the threat.

Victor Figueroa singled with two outs in the ninth and was replaced by pinch-runner Yendry Rojas, but Zach Evans struck out to end the game.

Vincent finished 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Tears and Yimy Tovar each reached base twice, and Figueroa added an RBI sac fly. Varmette took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. The Storm went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

Top Prospect Performances

1. Leo De Vries, SS: 0-for-2, 2 2 BB, RBI
2. Ethan Salas, C: Did Not Play
3. Kash Mayfield, LHP: Did Not Play
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: Did Not Play
8. Braden Nett, RHP: 5.1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K, 4 BB
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: 2-for-5, R, 2 K
13. Bradgley Rodriguez, C: Did Not Play
14. Victor Lizarraga, RHP: Did Not Play
15. Francis Pena, RHP: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K
16. Ryan Bergert, RHP: Did Not Play
17. Romeo Sanabria, 1B: 0-for-4, 3 K
18. Omar Cruz, LHP: 5 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 K, 2 BB
19. Tyson Neighbors, RHP: Did Not Play
20. Jagger Haynes, LHP: Did Not Play

Interested in learning more about the San Diego Padres' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!