Padres Minor League Report: Storm Win Big With Several Standout Performances

Padres affiliates went 3–2 on Thursday. Lake Elsinore’s offense exploded for 14 runs with big nights from Cobb Hightower and Kavares Tears. Fort Wayne beat Lansing 6–3 behind Isaiah Lowe and Brendan Durfee’s first homer. San Antonio lost a doubleheader in Corpus Christi, failing short in the resumed July 3rd game before being shut out 7–0 in the nightcap. El Paso won 10-6.

Chihuahuas Capitalize Late to Pull Away in Albuquerque
Box Score

The El Paso Chihuahuas broke open a tight game with a five-run eighth inning and went on to defeat Albuquerque 10–6 on Friday night at Isotopes Park.

Brandon Lockridge fueled the offense from the leadoff spot, finishing 3-for-5 with a triple, a walk, and three runs scored. Forrest Wall also collected three hits and reached base four times, including a key single in the eighth and his 15th stolen base. Mike Brosseau added two RBI, and every El Paso starter reached base at least once.

The Chihuahuas scratched out early runs behind RBI from Luis Campusano, Brosseau, and Clay Dungan, leading 5–3 entering the eighth. They blew it open with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, a walk, a groundout, and Nate Mondou’s two-run single.

Logan Gillaspie worked four scoreless innings to open, while Manuel Castro earned the win in relief. Bradgley Rodriguez and Alek Jacob each pitched an inning to hold the lead. Ron Marinaccio allowed three runs in the eighth but recovered to close the ninth.

El Paso improved to 45–40 with the win and delivered 12 hits as a team.

Sanabria’s Blast Not Enough as Missions Drop Game 1
Box Score

Romeo Sanabria’s three-run homer gave the Missions a late lead, but Corpus Christi rallied in the ninth to edge San Antonio 5–4 in the opener of Friday’s doubleheader at Whataburger Field. This was a continuation of the July 3rd game that was suspended.

Trailing 3–1 in the bottom of the seventh, Sanabria launched a two-out, three-run shot to left, scoring Wyatt Hoffman and Nerwilian Cedeño to briefly put the Missions ahead. It was Sanabria’s seventh homer of the year and highlighted a 2-for-4 performance with three RBI.

Missions Offense Vanishes in Shutout Loss
Box Score

The San Antonio Missions managed just two hits and grounded into three double plays in a 7–0 shutout loss to the Hooks Friday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Whataburger Field.

Enmanuel Pinales kept things close through four innings but unraveled in the fifth. He allowed six earned runs across 4 2/3 innings, including a two-run homer to Zach Cole and a three-run shot from Pascanel Ferreras that broke the game open. Kevin Kopps followed and allowed another run after a throwing error on a failed pickoff.

The Missions went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Valenzuela and Albert Fabian provided the team’s only hits, with Fabian collecting a ground-rule double in the fifth. Ripken Reyes walked twice, but San Antonio couldn’t generate any momentum against Hooks pitching.

The Hooks racked up 14 hits, capitalizing on two Missions errors and four walks. San Antonio fell to 43–36 with the loss.

TinCaps Outslug Lugnuts Behind Durfee
Box Score

Brendan Durfee homered and Isaiah Lowe delivered 6 1/3 innings as the Fort Wayne TinCaps earned a 6–3 win over the Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday night at Jackson Field. The win moved the TinCaps to 40–38 on the season.

Durfee led the charge at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, walk, and two RBI. Ryan Jackson chipped in with an RBI single, while Rosman Verdugo had three hits.

Lowe (3–7) earned the win despite allowing eight hits, holding Lansing to three runs while striking out four. Ruben Galindo and Garrett Hawkins combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, with Hawkins recording his fifth save.

Lansing matched Fort Wayne in offensive chances but stranded nine. Despite two hits from Jared Dickey—including a double—Lansing couldn’t string enough together to threaten late. Echavarria (2–5) took the loss after surrendering four runs in five innings.

Storm Erupt for 14 Runs to Rout 66ers in San Bernardino
Box Score

The Lake Elsinore Storm exploded for 14 runs on 14 hits to thump Inland Empire 14–6 Thursday night at San Manuel Stadium. Eight of nine starters had at least one hit as the Storm surged ahead with a six-run sixth and piled on from there.

Carlos Rodriguez was the catalyst, going 2-for-3 with a triple, three walks, three runs scored, and an RBI. Kavares Tears drove in three with a double, triple, and two walks, while Cobb Hightower added two hits, two walks, three runs scored, and a stolen base.

Zach Evans chipped in two hits and drove in a pair, and Victor Figueroa had two hits and three RBIs. Lake Elsinore went 9-for-25 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base.

Starter Maikel Miralles exited after allowing three runs in 2 2/3 innings. Johan Moreno earned the win with 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs, and Tanner Smith closed it out.

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!