Padres Minor League Report: Chihuahuas Win Big, Storm Stumble, Missions Falter

Lake Elsinore couldn’t capitalize on early chances in a 7–2 loss, while Fort Wayne surrendered a two-run ninth-inning rally to fall 3–2. San Antonio’s early lead vanished in a 6–2 defeat, and El Paso took a big early lead and walked to victory. Zach Evans, Marcos Castañon, and Kai Murphy had two hits apiece for their clubs.

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Chihuahuas Explode Early, Waldron Cruises in Blowout Win
Box Score

El Paso opened with a 5-run first inning and never looked back, routing Las Vegas 11–4 behind a dominant start from Matt Waldron and a patient offensive attack. The Chihuahuas loaded the bases with a double and two consecutive walks in the bottom of the first before Tim Locastro forced in a run with a third walk. Forrest Wall followed with a three-run double, and Mike Brosseau capped the inning with an RBI single.

Mason McCoy delivered the knockout blow in the second inning with a grand slam to straightaway center, giving El Paso a 9–0 lead. The Chihuahuas added a single run in the fifth, with Brandon Lockridge tripling and scoring on Clay Dungan’s second double of the night.

Waldron earned the win with 7 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out eight while issuing one walk. Locastro reached base four times on walks and scored twice. Wall had two doubles, while Brosseau contributed a pair of RBI singles.

The Chihuahuas drew 10 total walks and left 10 runners on base, scoring ten runs in the first two innings to build an insurmountable lead. Sean Reynolds allowed a four-run ninth, but the game was never in doubt.

Fabian Homers, but Missions Fall Late in Wichita
Box Score

The Missions jumped ahead early but couldn’t hold off Wichita’s late push, dropping a 6–2. Adrian Fabian opened the third inning with a solo shot to right, giving San Antonio a 2–1 lead after Marcos Castañon’s RBI double in the second.

Ripken Reyes recorded two hits, while Kai Murphy doubled and scored. San Antonio’s best scoring chance came in the third, when Murphy followed Reyes’ single with a double, but the rally sputtered when Reyes was cut down at home on a fielder’s choice. The Missions put runners on in all but one inning but couldn’t break through after the third.

Lizarraga tossed 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one run before handing off to the bullpen. Jared Kollar worked 3 ⅓ frames of one-run ball in relief before Stephen Jones entered with a tie game in the bottom of the seventh and took the loss, allowing a solo shot to Rubel Cespedes and a two-run blast to Kala’i Rosario.

San Antonio finished with eight hits, but left nine runners stranded and failed to score after the third inning.

Late Lead Slips Away as TinCaps Fall 3–2
Box Score

Fort Wayne held a one-run lead heading into the ninth, but two runs in the top half doomed the TinCaps in a 3–2 loss to Quad Cities on Tuesday night. Despite strong pitching and a clutch home run from Braedon Karpathios, the TinCaps dropped below .500 for the season.

The TinCaps struck first in the third, manufacturing a run on a single by Kai Roberts, a walk to Leo De Vries, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Brendan Durfee. Fort Wayne added another tally in the eighth when Karpathios connected on his 10th homer of the season to briefly reclaim the lead, 2–1.

Cole Paplham came on for the save in the ninth but surrendered a pair of runs after a walk, single, wild pitch, and a two-run single by Carter Frederick. Paplham took the loss, his second of the year.

Ian Koenig pitched six innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only five hits and no walks while striking out five. 

Fort Wayne finished with seven hits and drew five walks but left eight runners stranded. Roberts and Durfee each reached base twice, while De Vries walked and struck out once. Defensively, the TinCaps turned two double plays and played error-free ball, but couldn’t overcome the late breakdown on the mound.

Storm Let Early Lead Slip Away in 7–2 Loss to Rawhide
Box Score

Lake Elsinore jumped out to a quick lead Monday night, but a series of run-scoring innings by Visalia and missed opportunities at the plate sent the Storm to a 7–2 defeat at Valley Strong Ballpark.

After both teams were held scoreless in the first, the Storm broke through in the second. With two outs and runners on the corners, Chase Valentine and Ryan Wilson executed a double steal, with Wilson swiping home. Valentine later scored on Kaden Hollow’s RBI single to left, giving Lake Elsinore a 2–0 advantage. The inning ended with the two runners on, one of several squandered chances on the night.

Storm starter Humberto Cruz worked through traffic in the first three frames before running into trouble in the fourth. Visalia tagged him and reliever Kannon Kemp for three runs on four hits in the inning, including RBI singles by Jose Alpuria and Diosfran Cabeza to take a 3–2 lead.

Lake Elsinore’s offense never regained its early rhythm. Despite drawing seven walks and collecting seven hits, the Storm went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base. Zach Evans had a pair of hits and drew a walk.

Top Prospect Performances

1. Leo De Vries, SS: 0-for-3, BB, K
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: 3.1 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
6. Isaiah Lowe, RHP: Did Not Play
7. Cobb Hightower, SS: 0-for-4, BB, K
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: 1-for-4, BB, K
13. Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP: Did Not Play
14. Victor Lizarraga, RHP: 2.2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
15. Francis Pena, RHP: Did Not Play
16. Ryan Bergert, RHP: Did Not Play
17. Romeo Sanabria, 1B: 0-for-4
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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