Padres Minor League Report: Chihuahuas And Missions Rally Late

In Triple-A El Paso, Mason McCoy’s pressured bunt and Cody Roberts’ sacrifice fly completed El Paso’s 8-7 walk-off after Will Wagner’s three-hit night sparked the comeback. At San Antonio, Anthony Vilar’s two-run double and Albert Fabian’s eighth-inning RBI capped a rally from four runs down. High-A Fort Wayne fell 6-5 despite Rosman Verdugo’s perfect 3-for-3 night and Braedon Karpathios’ blast, while Kale Fountain’s pair of singles highlighted Lake Elsinore’s 6-1 defeat. Garrett Hawkins closed it out.

Padres Transactions

• Signed free agent LHP C.J. Widger to a minor league contract. 
• Recalled RHP Sean Reynolds from El Paso Chihuahuas. 
• Optioned LHP JP Sears to El Paso Chihuahuas. 

McCoy and Roberts Seal Chihuahuas’ Walk-Off Comeback
Box Score

El Paso clawed back from a 6-2 deficit after two innings, then surged in the ninth to stun the visitors, 8-7, at Southwest University Park.

Nate Mondou sparked the final rally by plugging a leadoff double to right, and pinch-runner Tim Locastro raced home when Mason McCoy’s sacrifice bunt drew a throwing error, tying the contest. After an intentional walk to Ripken Reyes loaded the bases, Cody Roberts lifted a sacrifice fly to left that brought Trenton Brooks across with the winning run.

Will Wagner ignited the comeback earlier, tripling home two in the fourth as part of a three-hit, two-RBI night. Brooks trimmed the gap in the fifth with his first Triple-A triple, finishing 1-for-2 with three walks, two runs, and an RBI. Mondou went 2-for-3, walked twice, and scored, while Yonathan Perlaza and Luis Campusano each collected two hits.

After starter Matt Waldron was touched for six runs in 1 2/3 innings, Jake Higginbotham limited further damage over 2 2/3 frames, and Harold Chirino added 1 2/3 scoreless. Raul Brito navigated two clean innings, and Alek Jacob (3-0) earned the win with a shutout ninth.

Vilar’s Two-Run Double Sparks Missions’ Comeback Victory
Box Score

The Missions erased a four-run deficit in dramatic fashion Tuesday at Nelson Wolff Stadium, storming back to edge their visitors 5-4.

Trailing 4-0 in the seventh, Marcos Castañon singled and advanced to third on two wild pitches. After Albert Fabian worked a walk, Anthony Vilar lined a two-run double to the left-field corner. Hit-by-pitches to Oswaldo Linares and Jacob Campbell kept the inning alive, and Wyatt Hoffman’s grounder brought in Vilar and Linares to pull San Antonio even.

An inning later, Castañon coaxed a two-out walk, and Fabian ripped his fifth double of the season into center, plating the third baseman for the go-ahead run.

Vilar finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Fabian went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk, while Castañon scored twice on a 1-for-3 night. Campbell added a single and was plunked once.

Enmanuel Pinales kept the Missions within striking distance despite surrendering four earned runs over five innings. Right-hander Stephen Jones followed with two scoreless frames, Andrew Moore tossed a scoreless eighth to collect the win, and Garrett Hawkins secured his second save by allowing just one hit in the ninth.

San Antonio’s bullpen combined for four shutout innings, issuing one walk and striking out three to lock down the comeback victory.

Verdugo stays perfect, Karpathios goes deep as TinCaps come up a run short
Box Score

Fort Wayne jumped in front immediately at Four Winds Field. Kasen Wells worked a first-inning walk, moved up on a single from Rosman Verdugo, and scored when Lamar King Jr. dropped a run-scoring single into center.

Verdugo and Braedon Karpathios put an exclamation point on the quick start two frames later, launching back-to-back homers to left that stretched the advantage to 3–0. Verdugo finished a perfect 3-for-3, adding a hit-by-pitch, two runs scored, and his 12th long ball, while Karpathios went 2-for-4 with his 12th blast and drove in two.

Right-hander Ian Koenig carried that three-run cushion through three scoreless innings, but a string of base hits in the fourth and a two-run shot in the sixth flipped the scoreboard. Koenig worked seven innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts, and took the loss.

The TinCaps refused to fold. Verdugo singled to begin the eighth, Karpathios followed with a liner to left that rolled under a glove, and King Jr.’s grounder pulled Fort Wayne within one. Sean Barnett’s infield single kept the inning alive, but Karpathios was cut down at the plate to end the threat.

Brendan Durfee opened the ninth with a line-drive single and gave way to pinch-runner Kai Roberts, who immediately swiped second for his 21st steal. Closer Luis Rujano, however, retired the next three batters, leaving Roberts in scoring position and sealing a 6–5 setback despite the TinCaps’ 10-hit night and late push.

Fountain’s two hits most of Storm offense in 6–1 defeat
Box Score

Lake Elsinore’s only run came in the second inning, when catcher Carlos Rodriguez and center fielder Alex McCoy opened the frame with consecutive singles. Designated hitter Yoiber Ocopio coaxed a walk to load the bases, and shortstop Dylan Grego followed with another free pass, forcing Rodriguez home.

First baseman Kale Fountain supplied much of the offense, finishing 2-for-4 and accounting for half of the Storm’s four hits. McCoy and Rodriguez each went 1-for-4; Rodriguez reached safely twice, but was charged with two passed balls. Grego’s second-inning walk produced his second RBI of the year.

Right-hander Humberto Cruz struck out four across 2 2/3 innings but absorbed the loss after allowing five early runs, including a pair of homers. Left-hander Braian Salazar steadied the game with 1 1/3 scoreless frames, and fellow southpaw Bernard Jose surrendered an unearned run in the fifth. Vicarte Domingo fanned three over two shutout innings, and Jordan Valenzuela worked a scoreless eighth.

Lake Elsinore finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men on base.

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