Padres Minor League Report: Kash Mayfield Leads Group Effort In TinCaps' 11-Inning Shutout

The San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates won just once Saturday as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas fell to Sugar Land 8-3, the Double-A San Antonio Missions let one slip away against Corpus Christi 5-2, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps pulled out a 2-0 win in 11 innings over Lansing and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm were beaten by Ontario 9-4.

Padres Minor-League Transactions

• C Truitt Madonna assigned to ACL Padres from Lake Elsinore Storm.
• C Colton Vincent assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.

Chihuahuas Can't Hold Back Surge By Space Cowboys

All four pitchers gave up a pair of runs as the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas watched the Sugar Land Space Cowboys pull away for an 8-3 victory. El Paso has lost six straight for the first time since August 2024.

The Chihuahuas managed just five hits, although they did draw six walks. Dustin Harris, signed last week after being released by the Chicago White Sox, had his first hit in three games and walked twice out of the leadoff spot, scoring once. Nick Solak and Will Wagner each drove in a run.

Chihuahuas right-handed starter Evan Fitterer went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout. Right-hander Misael Tamarez gave up a pair of runs in 1⅔ innings on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts, while right-hander Andrew Moore also went 1⅔ with two runs (one earned) on no hits and three walks. Right-hander Justin Yeager went the final 1⅔, allowing two runs on a hit and a walk and three strikeouts.

The Chihuahuas got a run in the first on Mason McCoy's double, a fly ball and a wild pitch. The Space Cowboys tied it in the top of the third on a Cavan Biggio homer, with the Chihuahuas regaining the lead on an Anthony Vilar single, a Harris walk, an error and Wagner drawing a bases-loaded walk. Sugar Land tied it in the fifth and El Paso went back on top 3-2 on Solak's RBI groundout. But the Space Cowboys went up with two in the sixth and put it away with four in the eighth.

Ian Koenig's Start Goes For Naught As Missions Falter Late

A game that was scoreless through six innings turned into a spring to the finish, with the host Double-A San Antonio Missions not having the required kick to overtake the Corpus Christi Hooks, who won 5-2. The Hooks scored three runs in the top of the seventh and two in the eighth before the Missions got their runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Jake Cunningham was on base three times with a pair of singles and a walk, while driving in one and scoring another for the Missions. Albert Fabian walked and stole two bases. But the Missions had just six hits, while drawing six walks.

That also meant Missions starting pitching was pretty good. Indeed, right-hander Ian Koenig went six shutout innings, yielding three hits, while walking one and striking out five. The damage came against two of the top arms in the Missions' bullpen in right-handers Clay Edmondson, who gave up two runs in one-third of an inning, and Tucker Musgrove, Padres Mission's No. 12 prospect who surrendered a two-run homer in the eighth. Musgrove has allowed three homers in 20⅔ innings this year. Left-hander Harry Gustin gave up the other run in two-thirds of an inning after Edmondson in the seventh.

Trailing 5-0, Kai Roberts singled with one out, went to second on a groundout and easily scored on Cunningham's single to right-center. A Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect) single and Luis Verdugo walk loaded the bases, with a wild pitch bringing in Cunningham to make it 5-2. The Missions put up a mild rally in the bottom of the ninth as Francisco Acuna had a leadoff walk, went to second on a wild pitch and stole third with two outs, but was stranded there.

TinCaps Score Twice In 11th As 6 Pitchers Combine For Shutout

Ryan Wideman drove in the decisive run in the top of the 11th inning and six pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps outlasted the host Lancaster Lugnuts 2-0 despite having just three hits.

TinCaps pitching was excellent. Left-handed starter Kash Mayfield, Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect who was fresh off appearing in the Futures Game, pitched two hitless innings, walking one and striking out one. After a scoreless inning by right-hander Carson Montgomery, right-hander Bryan Balzer struck out three in three innings of one-hit ball, walking one. Left-hander Igor Gil went two hitless innings, walking one and striking out three, while right-hander Will Varmette tossed two innings, allowing a hit and a walk with a strikeout. Right-hander C.J. Candiotti pitched the 11th, allowing a hit for his second save in two weeks and third of his career.
In the top of the 11th, Kasen Wells hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in automatic runner Zach Evans being thrown out at third. Justin DeCriscio followed up with a double to left, moving Wells to third and extending his hitting streak to 10 games. With a drawn-in infielder, Wideman, Padres Mission's No. 4 prospect, hit a chopper to the shortstop who double-clutched on the throw and got Wideman at first as Wells scored. Alex McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 14 prospect, drew a full-count walk with ball four being a wild pitch, plating DeCriscio.

Storm Lose Early Lead, Fall To Tower Buzzers

A quick 2-0 lead disappeared fast as the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm dropped a 9-4 decision to the host Ontario Tower Buzzers.

Dylan Grego drove in a pair of runs and Yimy Tovar had two of the Storm's six hits.

Right-hander Lan-Hong Su started for the Storm and went just the first inning, retiring all three batters he faced. Left-hander Zack Qin gave up a run in his one inning before right-hander Tyler Schmitt went the next four, but was tagged for five runs on eight hits and no walks with four strikeouts.

Bradley Frye and Grego drove in runs in each of the first two innings before the Tower Buzzers got one in the bottom of the second and three in the third. They then tacked on two more in the sixth.

Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance

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