Padres Minor League Report: Ethan Salas Has First Two Hits Since Return

Thursday saw the San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates go 1-3 as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas fell to Sacramento 9-7, the Double-A San Antonio Missions beat Amarillo 7-3, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps lost to Great Lakes 6-2 and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm were beaten by Stock 8-4.

Padres Minor-League Transactions

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Chihuahuas Can't Overcome Early Deficit, Fall to River Cats

Left-handed starter Jackson Wolf gave up five runs in the first two innings and the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas couldn't fully catch up in losing to the Sacramento River Cats 9-7.

Nick Solak, Mason McCoy and Will Wagner homered for the Chihuahuas, with Solak and Nick Pratto each having two hits, while Solak and Wagner scored twice. This was Wagner's first game since being optioned back to the Chihuahuas.

Wolf recovered from the rough first two innings to finish a season-high six innings in which he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits with three walks and five punchouts. Right-hander Andrew Moore followed, but allowed his first run in 11 appearances (since May 22) in 1⅔ innings on three hits and two walks. Moore did not strike out a batter for the first time since his second game of the season (April 14). This was his third Triple-A appearance after being promoted last week.

Solak led off the bottom of the second with his 10th homer and first since returning to the Chihuahuas after being called up by the Padres and then designated for assignment to make it 5-1. McCoy belted his eight homer, a two-run shot, in the fourth to pull within 5-3. The River Cats scored once in the sixth and seventh to restore the four-run lead at 7-3, then Wagner drilled his fourth homer of the season in the eighth to make it 7-5. Again, the River Cats scored twice to go up 9-5, but the Chihuahuas clawed back on Pratto's RBI single and Luis Rengifo's run-scoring groundout, but that would be it.

Ethan Salas Back In Form, Kai Roberts Breaks Steals Mark

Ethan Salas had two hits and snapped a tie with a two-run single to highlight a five-run sixth inning, while Kai Roberts stole three bases to break the Texas League record with his 28th consecutive as the host Double-A San Antonio Missions notched a 7-3 victory over the Amarillo Sod Poodles. Right-handed starter Victor Lizarraga led a strong effort by the Missions' pitching staff.

Roberts, who had two hits, an RBI and scored twice, broke the record of 27 straight steals set by Jeff Cross of the Houston Buffaloes in 1942. He tied and broke the mark when he stole second and third in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch.

Ryan Jackson went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Jake Cunningham (double, RBI) and Luis Verdugo (run scored) each had two hits. Tirso Ornelas tripled and had two walks. It was the second game for Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, who just came off the seven-day injured list following a mild oblique injury. He went 0-for-3 in his first game, then sat out the game Wednesday, a typical day off when healthy for Salas.

Lizarraga went five innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Right-hander Sadrac Franco allowed a run in two innings, while right-handers Clark Candiotti and Johan Moreno each struck out three in their scoreless innings.

Wyatt Hoffman's fourth-inning sacrifice fly and Cunningham's RBI double in the fifth had the game tied 2-2. In the six, the Missions broke it open with five runs. An error, a single and a hit by pitch preceded Salas' two-run single. Following a pitching change, Kai Roberts drove in another, then a walk led to Cunningham's run-scoring grounder. Braedon Karpathios, Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect, singled home the final run of the inning for a 7-2 lead.

TinCaps Can't Get Going Until It Is Too Late Against Loons

Rosman Verdugo had a pair of doubles and an RBI and Alex McCoy had two hits, but the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps were blanked for the first eighth innings in a 6-2 setback against the Great Lakes Loons. For McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 14 prospect, it was his 20th multihit game of the year.

TinCaps right-handed starter Carson Montgomery gave up four runs on four hits, including a pair of homers, and three walks while striking out two. Left-hander Braian Salazar (three strikeouts) and right-hander Will Koger each gave up a run in two innings.

The Loons scored once in the second and third innings, then two more in the fifth and again in the seventh and eighth innings to build a 6-0 lead. In the ninth, the TinCaps mounted a rally. Carlos Rodriguez walked, Jack Costello singled him to third and Kasen Wells foiled the shutout with a single to center that sent Costello to third. After a pitching change and a flyout, Verdugo doubled home Costello. But the last two TinCaps struck out to end the game.

Storm Rallies, But Ports Pull Away Late

The host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm gave up two runs in the seventh and ninth innings as the Stockton Ports came away with an 8-4 victory.

Storm starter Lan-Hong Su, in his second Low-A start after being promoted, gave up a four-run second inning in his three frames. He allowed four hits, including a homer, and two walks while striking out four. Left-hander Zack Qin then tossed three scoreless innings, yielding three hits and three walks with one strikeout. Left-hander Cal Riehl and right-hander Daichi Moriki each allowed two runs over the final three innings.

Down 4-0, the Storm climbed back into the game in the middle innings. Jorge Quintana stole third and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, Bradley Frye had a sacrifice fly and Yimy Tovar swiped home as part of a double steal in the fifth and Alcides Hernandez grounded a single to center in the sixth to tie it 4-4. Hernandez was on base four times as he also drew three walks.

Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance

1. Ethan Salas: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
2. Kash Mayfield: DNP
3. Miguel Mendez: DNP
4. Ryan Wideman: DNP
5. Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP
6. Jorge Quintana: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
7. Ty Harvey: On injured list
8. Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season
9. Braedon Karpathios: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 K
10. Jagger Haynes: DNP
11. Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-4, 2 K
12. Tucker Musgrove: DNP
13. Truitt Madonna: DNP
14. Alex McCoy: 2-for-4, BB, K
15. Jesus Castro: DNP
16. Rosman Verdugo: 2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, K
17. Garrett Hawkins: DNP
18. Eric Yost: DNP
19. Michael Salina: DNP
20. Winyer Chourio: DNP

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!