Brock Beauchamp

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. View full article

El Paso shortstop Mason McCoy belted a ninth-inning homer after Rodolfo Durán’s two-RBI night, sealing a 7-6 comeback. Double-A right-hander Jared Kollar fired 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and Romeo Sanabria added a homer and a sacrifice fly as San Antonio shut out Frisco. High-A Luis Gutierrez struck out seven over six while Ryan Jackson and Kasen Wells drove home four in Fort Wayne’s 5-2 victory. In Lake Elsinore, Kavares Tears' hits weren’t enough in an 8-6 loss. Padres Transactions San Diego Padres activated LHP Nestor Cortes from the 60-day injured list. San Diego Padres optioned RHP Randy Vásquez to El Paso Chihuahuas. McCoy’s Ninth-Inning Shot Caps Chihuahuas’ Comeback Box Score El Paso roared back from an early four-run hole and edged Round Rock, 7–6, when Mason McCoy lifted a ninth-inning homer to left-center. The shortstop finished 1-for-3, walked, stole his 13th base, and scored twice. The Chihuahuas jumped ahead in the first. Clay Dungan’s ground-rule double opened the game, and consecutive singles from Will Wagner and Yonathan Perlaza plated the night’s first run before a double play made it 2–0. The home side answered with three runs in the bottom half and added a three-run shot in the third to build a 6–2 cushion. Rodolfo Durán began the rally with a solo blast in the fourth, his sixth, and El Paso struck again in the sixth. Perlaza drew a walk, and Luis Campusano followed with his 16th homer, a two-run drive that narrowed the gap to one. McCoy walked, swiped second, and scored when Durán lined a tying single to center. After Michael King surrendered six runs in 3 1/3 innings, the bullpen took control. Jason Blanchard recorded the next five outs, and Kyle Hart worked three scoreless frames to pick up the win. Manuel Castro navigated a tense ninth, stranding the tying run at third for his first Triple-A save. Campusano’s two-run blast highlighted a 1-for-3, two-RBI effort. Durán went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Perlaza reached three times with a pair of hits and an RBI as the Chihuahuas made their eight knocks count. Sanabria Sparks, Kollar Deals as Missions Blank Frisco Box Score Jared Kollar delivered a great outing, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings while scattering five hits and striking out five as San Antonio rolled to a 4-0 shutout. The right-hander handed a two-run lead to the bullpen, and Austin Krob, Kevin Kopps, and Ethan Routzahn combined for 3 1/3 hitless frames to finish the five-hit masterpiece. The Missions manufactured the game’s first run in the second. Marcos Castañon opened the frame with a single, advanced on a walk and a wild pitch, then trotted home on another errant offering. One inning later, Romeo Sanabria added breathing room, launching his 10th homer of the season over the right-center fence with two outs. Castañon kept the pressure on, collecting his second single in the sixth and reaching base three times on the night. San Antonio padded its margin late: Francisco Acuna drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and scored when Moisés Gómez ripped a sharp grounder that skipped into left, and the ninth brought another rally capped by Sanabria’s sacrifice fly. Acuna finished 2-for-4 with a walk and a run, reaching base three times, while Gómez singled and walked. The Missions offense worked six walks, was hit twice, and left 10 runners aboard, but the pitching staff made the early support stand, recording 11 ground-ball outs. Big Second Inning, Gutierrez’s Six Strong Frames Lift TinCaps Box Score Fort Wayne erupted for five runs in the second inning and never looked back, riding Luis Gutierrez’s steady work to a 5–2 victory at Parkview Field on Saturday afternoon. Kasen Wells triggered the decisive rally by drawing a walk, swiping second, and later lining a two-run single to right. Moments earlier, Kai Roberts coaxed a bases-loaded walk to force in the game’s first run, and Ryan Jackson capped the inning with a two-run liner to center. Jackson finished 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Wells went 1-for-3, walked once, scored, and stole his first High-A bag. Roberts reached twice on walks, scored, and drove in his 13th run of the year. Victor Duarte added a single, stole his second base, and crossed the plate during the outburst, and Zach Evans contributed a hit, was hit by a pitch, and scored. Given the early cushion, Gutierrez carved through the Loons over six innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out seven for his second win. The left-hander also erased a runner with a pickoff at first. Fernando Sanchez bridged the seventh and eighth with two scoreless frames, and Misael Tamarez punched out two in the ninth for his first save. Storm’s four-run sixth washed away by late trouble Box Score Lake Elsinore pieced together a spirited comeback but couldn’t hold it, falling 8-6 at The Diamond on Saturday. Right-hander Abraham Parra gave the Storm a chance, limiting Inland Empire to four runs on eight hits over five and two-thirds innings while striking out three and walking one. The offense cracked the scoreboard in the fourth when Alex McCoy lifted a sacrifice fly that chased home Kerrington Cross. Two innings later, the bats came alive. Kavares Tears opened the sixth with a sharp single, and Cross worked a walk before a wild pitch pushed both runners into scoring position. Kale Fountain punched a run-scoring single to right, and two passed balls plated Cross and Fountain to knot the game at 4-4. After Colton Vincent’s single reloaded the bases, Dylan Grego forced in the go-ahead run with a free pass, capping a four-run frame that put the Storm in front 5-4. Inland Empire answered in the eighth, loading the bases and seizing the lead on a bases-clearing single against Kleiber Olmedo. Undeterred, McCoy ripped a triple into the right-field corner in the home half and trotted home on B.Y. Choi’s line-drive single, trimming the deficit to two. Tears singled again in the ninth, but the rally stalled. Cross reached safely twice and swiped his first California League bag, while Tears finished 2-for-5 and scored once. Fountain, Choi, and Grego each drove in a run, and the Storm bullpen of Olmedo (1 2/3 innings) and Igor Gil (1 1/3) combined for three strikeouts, but the late surge by the visitors proved decisive. View full article

Luis Campusano set the tone with four times on base, and Nate Mondou’s three-run blast sealed Triple-A El Paso’s 5-2 win; at Double-A, Marcos Castañon hammered two homers and Eric Yost fired 6 1⁄3 sparkling innings for San Antonio. High-A Fort Wayne fell, yet Zach Evans drove in all three runs. Single-A Lake Elsinore rallied late behind Kerrington Cross’ three hits, Alex McCoy’s two-run shot, and Yoiber Ocopio’s double before bowing 14-7 on Saturday night there. Padres Transactions No Roster Moves Mondou’s three-run homer powers Chihuahuas past Express Box Score Luis Campusano jump-started the El Paso offense in the opening frame, ripping a two-run double to left that staked the Chihuahuas to an early lead. The designated hitter doubled again in the seventh, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks and scoring once to reach base four times. After Cory Abbott steadied Round Rock, El Paso broke through again in the fifth. Yonathan Perlaza beat out a force play, Campusano coaxed his second free pass, and Nate Mondou launched a three-run shot to right, his second of the year, giving the Chihuahuas the cushion they needed. Perlaza scored twice, while Mason McCoy and Ripken Reyes each contributed doubles; Reyes also walked to reach safely twice. Left-hander Miguel Cienfuegos set the tone with three scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out three. Omar Cruz surrendered two runs over 2 ⅔ frames but earned the victory, with Raul Brito recording the final out of the sixth. Alek Jacob fanned three across two shutout innings, and Sean Reynolds finished the game for his second save. Perlaza preserved the advantage with his arm as well, throwing out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double in the fourth. The Chihuahuas’ staff combined for 11 strikeouts and allowed only two walks, securing a 5–2 win at Dell Diamond. Castañon’s two blasts, Yost’s six 1/3 strong frames lift Missions Box Score Marcos Castañon supplied all the thunder San Antonio needed, homering twice and driving in four as the Missions topped Frisco 4-2 at Riders Field. The designated hitter broke a scoreless tie in the fourth, rifling a solo shot to left. Two innings later, a wild pitch pushed two runners into scoring position, and Castañon punished another pitch for a three-run blast that created a four-run cushion. Right-hander Eric Yost protected that lead in his Double-A debut. The 22-year-old scattered two hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking two to earn the win. Ryan Och escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by rolling a 4-6-3 double play, and Garrett Hawkins fanned three over the final two frames for his first save. Wyatt Hoffman doubled and singled, while Romeo Sanabria and Francisco Acuna each singled and scored ahead of Castañon’s second homer. The Missions’ defense contributed as well; left fielder Albert Fabian cut down a runner trying to take third on a fifth-inning double, and the Vilar-Acuna-Sanabria combination turned the twin killing that ended the RoughRiders’ biggest threat. Hawkins worked a scoreless ninth, striking out three, to lock up the 4-2 victory. Evans drives in three as TinCaps are blown out Box Score Fort Wayne’s lineup had to chase from behind all night, but second baseman Zach Evans kept the bats engaged with a pair of timely swings that produced all three TinCaps runs. After the visitors jumped ahead early, the TinCaps answered in the fourth. Ryan Jackson bounced a single through the right side, and Braedon Karpathios followed with his second hit of the evening. Evans then shot a pitch into center, plating both runners and trimming the deficit to 4-2. Karpathios finished 3-for-4, while Jackson scored once. Fort Wayne threatened again in the seventh when Karpathios sent a sharp grounder to short, but he was doubled off second to end the inning. The offense finally broke through in the ninth. With two aboard, Evans lined a base hit back up the middle to bring Rosman Verdugo home for his third RBI of the game. On the mound, right-hander Will Varmette struck out five over 3 2/3 innings. Alex Makarewich followed with a scoreless eighth, working around a walk and adding a strikeout. Christian Ruebeck closed the night by fanning one in the ninth and inducing a game-ending double play started by shortstop Jordan Thompson. Despite the 18-3 final, Fort Wayne’s offense collected six hits, drew a walk, and stole a base courtesy of Lamar King Jr. Storm’s late flurry highlights Cross’s three-hit night Box Score Lake Elsinore clawed back with a five-run burst in the eighth and ninth innings, but the game was already out of reach as they fell to a 14-7 defeat Saturday at The Diamond. Kerrington Cross got the Storm started in the third, lining a two-out single to center that brought home Yoiber Ocopio for the club’s first run. One frame later, Alex McCoy demolished a pitch to right-center for his third homer, trimming the gap to 8-2. McCoy finished 2-for-3, walked twice, and scored twice. The bats kept grinding. In the eighth, Ocopio laced his first Cal League double, driving in Kale Fountain and McCoy. Lake Elsinore loaded the bases again in the ninth when pinch-hitter Colton Vincent and Cross singled. Kavares Tears followed with his 18th double to plate Vincent, Fountain lofted a sacrifice fly, and Yendry Rojas capped the rally with an RBI single. Cross paced the lineup at 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Tears went 2-for-5 and Ocopio delivered a 2-for-5, two-RBI effort. On the mound, right-hander Bryan Balzer was tagged for four runs over two innings and took the loss. Kannon Kemp and Yovannki Pascual bore the brunt of Inland Empire’s big middle frames. Still, Jordan Valenzuela and Xavier Ruiz combined for 2 2/3 hitless innings to steady things, and Adam Conrad closed with two scoreless frames. View full article

Clay Dungan’s three hits and Tim Locastro’s three-run triple powered El Paso’s five-run sixth in a 9-3 win. Francisco Acuna coaxed a bases-loaded walk, but San Antonio mustered five hits and lost 3-1. Rosman Verdugo and Jackson sparked Fort Wayne’s run-scoring sixth, yet the TinCaps fell 9-2. Cardell Thibodeaux singled home Wilson in the fifth and walked off Inland Empire in the ninth, sealing Lake Elsinore’s 3-2 comeback behind relief from Johan Moreno and Igor Gil. Dungan, Locastro Fuel Five-Run Sixth as Chihuahuas Roll Box Score Clay Dungan set the tone right away, lining a first-inning double and crossing on Luis Campusano’s groundout before Nate Mondou’s two-out single made it 2-0. After three unearned runs in the fifth put El Paso behind, the offense erupted in the sixth. Mason McCoy opened the frame with a double and scored on Ripken Reyes’ sacrifice, Dungan punched a run-scoring single, Tim Locastro ripped a three-run triple to right, and Campusano capped the rally with another RBI knock, vaulting the Chihuahuas to a 7-3 cushion. Dungan reached four times, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Locastro added his fourth triple, two RBI, two runs, and his 20th stolen base. Campusano went 2-for-5 and drove in two, and McCoy and Mondou each supplied two hits; Rodolfo Durán added a pair of singles as El Paso piled up 14 knocks. Left-hander Jackson Wolf worked 4 ⅔ innings, scattering seven hits and allowing three unearned runs. Manuel Castro entered with two aboard in the fifth and slammed the door on his way to 1 ⅓ scoreless frames, earning the victory. Bryan Hoeing contributed two scoreless innings, and Sean Reynolds struck out two in a tidy ninth. Behind them, Mondou and Dungan turned a pair of double plays that helped the bullpen keep Round Rock quiet the rest of the night as El Paso closed out a 9-3 win. Acuna’s bases-loaded walk sparks early lead, but Missions edged 3-1 Box Score San Antonio jumped on the board in the third when Francisco Acuna coaxed a two-out, bases-loaded walk, forcing home Anthony Vilar for a 1-0 advantage. The inning began with back-to-back singles from Vilar and Jacob Campbell, and Kai Murphy’s second hit of the night packed the sacks before Acuna delivered the RBI free pass. The Missions’ five-hit attack was paced by Murphy, who finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, and Albert Fabian, who singled and drew two walks to reach base three times. Vilar added a single and scored the club’s lone run, while Campbell chipped in a knock of his own. Despite putting the tying run aboard in both the sixth and eighth innings, San Antonio went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six overall. Starter Jagger Haynes opened with two scoreless frames, limiting the damage to a lone single while issuing three walks. J.B. Wendelken followed, allowing one run across 2 2/3 innings and striking out three. Holding a 1-1 tie in the sixth, José Geraldo (2-2) surrendered two runs over 1 1/3 innings, the latter scoring on a wild pitch that put the Missions behind for good. Austin Krob and Ethan Routzahn each contributed a scoreless inning to keep the deficit at two, but San Antonio went down in order in the ninth to close out the contest. Verdugo sparks sixth-inning rally, but TinCaps come up short Box Score Fort Wayne trailed from the opening frame and fell 9–2 on Friday night. The only TinCaps runs came in the sixth while down four, shortstop Ryan Jackson drew a walk and center fielder Kai Roberts followed with another, setting the table for Rosman Verdugo. The second baseman lined a single to left that plated Jackson for Fort Wayne’s first run. After Braedon Karpathios worked a free pass, Kaden Hollow coaxed a bases-loaded walk to force home Roberts and trim the deficit to two. Jackson finished 2-for-4 with a walk, reaching base three times, and boosted his average to .265. Verdugo turned in a 2-for-4 night with his 38th RBI, while Hollow added a single and his eighth run driven in. Catcher Brendan Durfee collected two of the club’s 10 hits, and Victor Duarte doubled in the seventh. Right-hander Isaiah Lowe (3-9) worked five innings, allowing four earned runs. Nick Wissman struck out two in the sixth, and Luis Germán fanned two more over 1 2⁄3 late innings to keep the margin from growing. Fort Wayne turned several early opportunities into traffic; singles from Jackson in the first and Barnett and Durfee in the third, but double-play grounders muted those rallies. The sixth-inning scoring provided the TinCaps’ highlight, yet the visitors’ five-run seventh ultimately put the game out of reach. Thibodeaux’s Walk-Off Single Lifts Storm to 3-2 Victory Box Score Lake Elsinore trailed by two runs before grinding out a late comeback, setting up a big moment for Cardell Thibodeaux in the ninth. The center fielder rose to the challenge, lining a bases-loaded single to right that sent B.Y. Choi home and set off the celebration. Thibodeaux finished 2-for-5 and drove in two Storm runs. His first RBI came in the fifth, when he bounced a single through the right side to score Ryan Wilson and cut the deficit to 2-1. Wilson reached twice on walks and recorded an outfield assist earlier in the night. The tying run arrived in the eighth. Kerrington Cross drew a walk, advanced on two wild pitches, and scored when an infield miscue allowed him to sprint home. Cross reached base twice, while Carlos Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, and Kavares Tears added a double and a single. Right-hander Maikel Miralles kept the Storm within striking distance, working 4 2/3 innings and striking out three while allowing two runs. Winyer Chourio and Johan Moreno combined for 3 1/3 scoreless frames, with Moreno fanning four over two innings. Igor Gil took over in the ninth, striking out two and earning the win after Thibodeaux’s heroics. Lake Elsinore’s bullpen retired 10 of the final 12 batters it faced, giving the offense time to capitalize on four Inland Empire errors and deliver the walk-off finish. Padres Transactions San Diego Padres activated 1B Ryan O’Hearn. San Diego Padres activated RHP Mason Miller. San Diego Padres designated CF Tyler Wade for assignment. San Diego Padres activated C Freddy Fermin. San Diego Padres activated LHP JP Sears. San Diego Padres activated RF Ramón Laureano. San Diego Padres optioned RHP Ron Marinaccio to El Paso Chihuahuas. View full article

There are so many things to talk about after the trade deadline, but we're going to stick purely to the game action in this piece. Kale Fountain swiped two bags and scored twice to pace Lake Elsinore’s win, while Luis Campusano plated two runs for El Paso. Miguel Mendez delivered six dominant innings for Fort Wayne, fanning seven and allowing no earned runs. Despite a lopsided loss, Marcos Castañon doubled and scored twice for San Antonio. Rosman Verdugo reached base three times for the TinCaps, and Vicarte Domingo recorded a two-inning save for the Storm. Benjamin cruises, Campusano sparks offense, but Chihuahuas stumble late Box Score Wes Benjamin kept El Paso in command for seven innings, limiting the damage to one run on four hits while striking out six. The left-hander walked two and exited with a 2-1 lead after the offense scored two in the fifth. That inning began with Rodolfo Durán’s single, followed by Forrest Wall being hit by a pitch. With two outs, Luis Campusano lined a single through the middle, driving in both runners. Nate Mondou then recorded his third hit of the night, an RBI single to right, pushing his season total to 47 RBI. Yonathan Perlaza provided late insurance in the ninth, lacing a run-scoring single to left that brought home Wall for a 2-0 lead. The advantage slipped away in the bottom half of the eighth. Harold Chirino entered and yielded five runs on four hits and a walk, taking the loss and a blown save after recording just two outs. Jason Blanchard allowed an inherited runner to score before escaping the frame, and El Paso never recovered. Wall reached base three times—one hit and two hit-by-pitches—and scored twice. Durán collected two singles and also crossed the plate twice, while Mason McCoy added a pair of hits. The Chihuahuas finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position but did flash the leather, turning a McCoy-to-Clay Dungan-to-Mondou double play and catching a baserunner stealing. Castañon’s extra-base pop, bullpen rebound in Missions’ 12-3 loss Box Score San Antonio took a seven-run punch in the second inning at Riders Field, yet several Missions found ways to stand out. Marcos Castañon opened the fifth with his 21st double of the season, moved to third on a walk to Kai Murphy, and crossed the plate when Wyatt Hoffman grounded into a run-scoring double play. Castañon later drew a walk in the seventh and scored again on Devin Ortiz’s force-play RBI, giving the infielder two runs, a double, and a free pass on the night. Albert Fabian supplied the other run, racing home after Hoffman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Francisco Acuna lined his 13th double, Anthony Vilar collected two singles, and Murphy reached twice with a single and a walk, matching Castañon for the club lead in times on base. Victor Lizarraga (2-8) was tagged for 10 runs over two innings. Stephen Jones surrendered two more in the third, but the bullpen stoped the bleeding after that. Kevin Kopps worked two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, Andrew Moore followed with 1 2/3 shutout frames and four punchouts, and Ryan Och closed the night by retiring all four batters he faced across 1 1/3 innings. The Missions finished with six hits and three walks but went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding six. Mendez dazzles over six, Verdugo reaches three times as TinCaps edged late Box Score Miguel Mendez continued his dominant High-A season, scattering two hits across six innings and striking out seven, yet Fort Wayne fell 2-0 at Parkview Field. The right-hander (7-3, 1.32 ERA) did not allow an earned run; the visitors scratched across an unearned tally in the second when a passed ball and subsequent wild pitch opened the scoring. Rosman Verdugo set the tone at the plate, reaching base three times. The second baseman singled in the third, drew a two-out walk in the first, and was plunked during an eighth-inning rally that ultimately fizzled. Jack Costello provided the TinCaps’ only other knock, a seventh-inning single that moved him into scoring position before a groundout ended the threat. Despite drawing four walks and absorbing two hit-by-pitches, Fort Wayne finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. After Mendez exited, Fernando Sanchez handled the seventh and eighth. The righty worked 2 innings but surrendered an insurance run on two late hits. Ruben Galindo fired a perfect ninth to keep the deficit at two. Defensively, catcher Oswaldo Linares erased a pair of attempted basestealers and teamed with Ryan Jackson and Jack Costello on a third-inning caught stealing that helped Mendez work around traffic. Jackson also reached base twice, drawing a walk and wearing a pitch, while Kai Roberts coaxed a free pass of his own. The TinCaps will look to spark the offense tomorrow, but Thursday night belonged to their pitching staff, which allowed just four hits in the setback. Fountain’s speed and bullpen lock down lift Storm to 3-1 victory Box Score Kale Fountain set the tone on the bases, and a trio of Lake Elsinore arms made the lead stand as the Storm edged past Inland Empire, 3-1, Thursday night at The Diamond. Fountain coaxed a walk to open the second, swiped second, and scored when Alex McCoy drilled a ground-ball single through the right side. The designated hitter was back at it in the seventh, drawing another free pass, stealing his second bag of the night, and sprinting home on B.Y. Choi’s line single to center that put the Storm in front for good. Lake Elsinore added insurance in the eighth when Kasen Wells walked, stole his 28th base, took third on a balk, and dashed home on a wild pitch. Fountain reached three times, scored twice, and now owns six steals, while Choi, McCoy, and Zach Evans each chipped in a hit. Evans also walked and swiped his 14th bag, and McCoy nabbed his fifth. Right-hander Braian Salazar scattered three hits over 3 1/3 innings, his lone run coming on a wild pitch in the second. Bernard Jose (2-2) followed with 3 2/3 dominant, hitless frames, punching out five to earn the win. Vicarte Domingo needed just 18 pitches to handle the final two innings, collecting his fourth save. The defense helped early, with Yendry Rojas, Chase Valentine, and Choi turning a 4-6-3 double play to erase a first-inning threat and keep the Storm rolling toward the finish line. Padres Transactions Padres designated LF Trenton Brooks for assignment. LHP JP Sears roster status changed by Padres. LHP Nestor Cortes roster status changed by Padres. Padres designated C Martín Maldonado for assignment. 1B Ryan O'Hearn roster status changed by Padres. C Freddy Fermin roster status changed by Padres. Athletics traded RHP Mason Miller and LHP JP Sears to Padres for RHP Henry Baez, RHP Eduarniel Núñez, SS Leo De Vries and RHP Braden Nett. RHP Mason Miller roster status changed by Padres. RF Ramón Laureano roster status changed by Padres. Milwaukee Brewers traded LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana and cash to Padres for LF Brandon Lockridge. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Kansas City Royals traded C Freddy Fermin to Padres for RHP Ryan Bergert and RHP Stephen Kolek. Athletics traded RHP Mason Miller and LHP JP Sears to Padres for RHP Henry Baez, RHP Eduarniel Núñez, SS Leo De Vries and RHP Braden Nett. Padres optioned 3B Will Wagner to El Paso Chihuahuas. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Toronto Blue Jays traded 3B Will Wagner to Padres for C Brandon Valenzuela. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Milwaukee Brewers traded LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana and cash to Padres for LF Brandon Lockridge. View full article

The Padres continue to churn transactions, acquiring Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers. Going to the Brewers is Padres prospect Brandon Lockridge, per Jon Heyman. The move comes with Cortes rehabbing from a flexor strain that led the Brewers to transfer him to the 60-day injured list on April 6. Cortes, 30, has appeared in just two major league games this season, pitching only eight innings before going down with injury. The limited work produced a 9.00 ERA, 11.84 FIP, and –0.2 WPA. San Diego’s evaluation centers on Cortes' larger body of work. In 2024 with the Yankees, the southpaw logged 174 1⁄3 innings across 31 games, posting a 3.77 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 22.8 percent strikeout rate, and 5.5 percent walk rate. That campaign followed an All-Star showing in 2022, when Cortes delivered 158 1⁄3 innings of 2.44 ERA ball with a 3.12 FIP and 26.5 percent strikeout rate. His career encompasses 576 innings with a 4.21 FIP and 24.6 percent strikeout clip. Cortes joins a Padres rotation that already includes Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King. The club has used 11 different starters this year while navigating arm injuries and workload limits. Cortes is on track for a mid-August return; his rehab assignment is expected to begin once he completes the throwing progression set by San Diego’s medical staff. The Padres will be responsible for the remainder of his $7.6 million salary. Once activated, Cortes will give manager Mike Shildt a left-handed option in the rotation. The Padres, who entered deadline day ranked ninth in the National League with a 4.06 rotation ERA, gain another starter for the final two months and a potential postseason run. Leaving the Padres is center fielder Brandon Lockridge, 28, who has divided 2025 between Triple-A El Paso and San Diego. In 79 Triple-A at-bats, he owns a .291/.408/.468 slash, seven steals in seven tries, and an .876 OPS, figures backed by a .284 wOBA and 84 wRC+. Over 88 plate appearances with the Padres, he is hitting .216/.258/.261, has swiped eight bases, and carries a .234 wOBA with 49 wRC+. FanGraphs logs 28 starts in left, 13 in center, and three in right, underscoring his defensive range. Lockridge joined San Diego in a July 2024 trade that sent right-hander Drew Thorpe to New York, boosting depth View full article

San Diego fortified its infield depth by acquiring 26-year-old left-handed bat Will Wagner from Toronto for 24-year-old switch-hitting catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Wagner spent most of 2025 shuttling between Buffalo and the big-league club. In 18 International League games, he produced a .268/.342/.451 slash, good for a .792 OPS across 79 plate appearances. That accounts for a .322 wOBA and 106 wRC+, suggesting league-average production with above-average on-base skills. With the Blue Jays, Wagner appeared in 40 major-league games, posting a .237/.336/.298 line over 132 trips to the plate. He has logged time at second, third, and first this season, giving the Padres a versatile left-side option who pairs double-digit walk rates with modest power. Valenzuela heads to Toronto after spending the year as San Antonio’s primary catcher. Through 81 Texas League games, the Sonora native owns a .232/.313/.390 line in 352 plate appearances, including 14 doubles and 11 homers. His walk rate sits just over 10 percent, and he has handled southpaws appropriately while maintaining steady switch-hit splits. Valenzuela’s defensive résumé features regular work behind the plate and occasional first-base starts; he has allowed five steals against two caught-stealing this season, numbers primarily in line with his prior career rates. View full rumor

Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote today (in the wake of the blockbuster Mason Miller trade) that the Padres plan to keep Robert Suarez at the trade deadline. Internal discussions currently favor holding the right-hander, even as president of baseball operations AJ Preller continues fielding calls on other roster pieces. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale likewise notes that there are “no current plans” to trade Suarez, though conversations could persist up to the deadline. Suarez is earning $10 million this season and holds player options valued at $8 million apiece for 2026 and 2027. If he remains healthy in 2025, it is likely Suarez declines the option and becomes a free agent after the season. On the field, Suarez has converted 30 of 33 save chances while working 44 2⁄3 innings across 47 appearances. His 26.6 percent strikeout rate and 6.9 percent walk rate closely track his 2024 marks, and a 2.34 FIP (per MLB.com’s All-Star announcement) sits more than a full run below his 3.43 ERA, indicating run prevention largely supported by underlying indicators. Excluding the addition of Miller, the Padres’ choice to retain Suarez would keep a bullpen trio of Suarez, Miller, and setup man Jason Adam intact for the stretch run while deferring any decision on the closer’s future until he decides on his option after the season. View full rumor

Designated hitter Rodolfo Durán’s eighth-inning homer and go-ahead tenth-inning double lifted Triple-A El Paso past Round Rock. At Double-A, Devin Ortiz capped a three-hit night with an eighth-inning two-run double as San Antonio defeated Frisco. Brandon Butterworth collected three hits, finishing Fort Wayne’s 10-inning comeback with a walk-off single. Lake Elsinore’s Kasen Wells homered and doubled, driving in three, yet the Storm dropped an extra-inning heart-breaker. Relievers Alek Jacob, Tyson Neighbors, and Garrett Hawkins secured victories for their clubs. Padres Transactions San Diego Padres optioned RHP Stephen Kolek to El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres recalled RHP Ryan Bergert from El Paso Chihuahuas. Durán Delivers in 10th as Chihuahuas Outlast Express Box Score El Paso erased an early three-run hole, then leaned on Rodolfo Durán for the decisive blows in an 8–6, 10-inning victory at Dell Diamond. After walking in the third and homering in the eighth to knot the game, the designated hitter opened extras by ripping an RBI double, giving him a 3-for-5 night with three runs, two RBI, a double, and his fifth homer. Durán’s eighth-inning blast capped a comeback that began with a four-run third. Singles from Durán, Brandon Lockridge, and Tim Locastro loaded the bases, Yonathan Perlaza plated the first run with a single, and Luis Campusano forced in another with a walk. Nate Mondou and Mason McCoy followed with consecutive RBI knocks, pushing El Paso in front. Locastro reached four times on four walks and swiped his 19th base, while Lockridge reached three times and stole his seventh. The bullpen preserved the win. After Logan Gillaspie covered five innings, Alek Jacob struck out four over 1 2/3 hitless frames and earned the decision. Miguel Cienfuegos allowed the inherited runner to score in the 10th but closed the door for his first Triple-A save. Campusano’s grounder in the 10th was thrown away, allowing two insurance runs to score. El Paso finished 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position yet drew nine walks and stole three bags. Ortiz’s late double powers Missions to 7–4 road win Box Score San Antonio jumped in front immediately when Moisés Gómez launched a two-run homer to left in the first inning, and the Missions never trailed. Albert Fabian added a sacrifice fly in the second, giving Enmanuel Pinales breathing room. The right-hander used it well, working six innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out three to earn his sixth victory of the year. He was backed by an infield that turned a third-inning double play started by Devin Ortiz and later wiped out a leadoff walk with another twin killing. After Frisco tied the game in the fifth, Brandon Valenzuela stole second and scored on Marcos Castañon’s two-out single in the sixth to push San Antonio back in front. The Missions loaded the bases in the seventh, and Valenzuela’s walk forced home Ripken Reyes for a 5–3 cushion. Ortiz delivered the knockout blow in the eighth. With two aboard, the third baseman ripped a line drive into the left-field corner for his 11th double, plating pinch-runner Wyatt Hoffman and Reyes. Ortiz finished 3-for-5 and swiped third after the double. Reyes was on base three times and scored twice, while Castañon chipped in a pair of hits. Jake Higginbotham fanned four in 1 2/3 innings of relief, and Tyson Neighbors recorded the final four outs for his first save. Butterworth’s Walk-Off Single Completes TinCaps’ Three-Run Comeback Box Score Fort Wayne trailed 3–0 in the seventh before rallying for a 4–3, 10-inning win at Parkview Field. Braedon Karpathios opened the seventh with a walk, and Rosman Verdugo singled. After Kaden Hollow’s sacrifice, Oswaldo Linares hammered a two-run double, trimming the deficit to one. An inning later, Brandon Butterworth led off with a single and Ryan Jackson walked; Verdugo knotted the game with a run-scoring single. The tie held until the 10th, when automatic runner Leo De Vries began on second. Butterworth, already with two hits, lined a single to left as De Vries dashed home with the decisive run. The center fielder finished 3-for-5, reached base three times, and collected his 46th RBI. Garrett Hawkins (8-1) secured the victory with two scoreless innings, striking out two. Clark Candiotti, the opener, also worked two scoreless frames, Sam Whiting surrendered one run in 3 ⅓ due to five walks, and Misael Tamarez added 1 1/3 shutout innings. Verdugo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Linares’ double pushed his RBI total to 15, and De Vries scored once, as the TinCaps celebrated the comeback. Wells’ late blast not enough as Storm edged in extras Box Score Lake Elsinore spent much of Wednesday night battling uphill, only to see its tenth-inning comeback fall a run short. After the visitors opened the scoring with a first-inning tally, starter Kash Mayfield steadied the game by scattering five hits and one run while striking out five over four innings. The Storm drew level in the fifth. Carlos Rodriguez ripped a leadoff double into the right-field corner, moved up on a grounder, and raced home when Kasen Wells dunked a single into center. Two frames later, pinch-hitter Victor Figueroa sneaked a base hit through the left side, and Wells’ sharp opposite-field double chased him home to make it 2–2. Adam Conrad kept the game even through the eighth, rolling a sixth-inning double play and adding two scoreless frames. Lake Elsinore put runners aboard in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not push across the go-ahead run. The 66ers plated three in the top of the tenth, two of them unearned, handing Tanner Smith a tough-luck loss. The Storm were undeterred. With one out in the bottom half, Ryan Wilson dropped the free runner at third with a grounder, and Wells followed by launching a towering two-run homer to left, his second long ball of the year. Cobb Hightower then reached on an infield single, but a strikeout and flyout ended the rally. Wells finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double, walk, three RBI, and his 27th stolen base, reaching safely three times. Lamar King Jr. added two hits. View full article

1. The Dylan Cease pivot — from ace to trade chip Mid-week, it was revealed that San Diego is “open” to moving rental ace Dylan Cease even as the club positions itself as a buyer. His 30.0 K% and 21.6 K-BB% still scream frontline talent, yet a 4.64 ERA (vs. 3.53 FIP) hints at positive regression another contender might pay for before he reaches free agency this winter. If Cease departs, Preller already has replacement concepts in motion: Sandy Alcantara: Dennis Lin says the Padres have explored a buy-low on the 2022 Cy winner, who’s battling post-TJ rust (6.66 ERA, 16.7 K%) but carries only one guaranteed season of salary. Charlie Morton: Talks with Baltimore center on the 40-year-old right-hander (5.58 ERA, 22.5 K%), whose 4.58 FIP and short-term cost make him a cheaper stop-gap. Preller’s willingness to shop Cease while lining up replacements underscores how fluid the final hours could be. 2. Arms other clubs want from San Diego Ken Rosenthal reports that rival scouts are circling several controllable Padres pitchers: Stephen Kolek (4.28 ERA, 9.9 K-BB%), Ryan Bergert (2.84 ERA, 23.1 K%), plus Double-A duo Henry Baez and Braden Nett. San Diego could flip one for MLB help while preserving depth. 3. The outfield search after Boston shut the door Sean McAdam says Boston rejected a blockbuster offer of Cease, prospect Ethan Salas, and another piece for Jarren Duran, making a swap “unlikely” this summer. Preller quickly pivoted: Luis Robert Jr.: The power-speed star (26 SB, .636 OPS) is controllable through 2027 but pricey due to injury history and upside. Ramon Laureano: Also covered in the same report, Laureano’s .861 OPS and +3 DRS make him a lower-cost rental fit. Steven Kwan: Cleveland’s Gold Glove leadoff man (.741 OPS, 13 DRS) brings elite bat-to-ball skill and team control through 2027, but the Guardians are asking for a haul. 4. A new name for the DH spot Dominican insider Héctor Gómez reports that talks with Atlanta over Marcell Ozuna have “intensified.” The rumored package sends prospects Francis Peña and Bergert east for a rental bat slashing .235/.361/.390 with 13 HR, far from his 39-homer peak in 2024, and would thin San Diego’s pitching depth. 5. What it all means In seven frenetic days, the Padres have been linked to four starters, four outfielders, one DH, and one catcher while dangling Cease and multiple upper-level arms: If Cease is dealt, replacement pitchers (Alcántara, Morton) and in-house reinforcements (Michael King’s pending return) soften the blow. If the rotation stays intact, those pitching prospects become trade chips for bats like Robert, Kwan, Laureano, or Ozuna. If prices soar, as they have with high-end relievers, Preller can stand pat. The goal remains one “impact bat” with years of control and an innings-eater to slot behind Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, without surrendering the top of the farm, particularly top prospect Leo De Vries. Whether the result is a headline splash or a mosaic of marginal gains will be decided in the waning hours, but one thing is clear: no Padre, not even Dylan Cease, is untouchable, View full article

Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic have reported that the Padres are kicking the tires on Athletics' closer Mason Miller. They're also still pursuing Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but we've covered that elsewhere. The 26-year-old right-handed Miller owns the game’s top average four-seam velocity at 101.2 mph and has converted 20 saves in 38 outings. Through July 30, he has worked 38 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, a 2.86 FIP, and a 39.1 percent strikeout rate, while holding opponents to a .246 batting average on balls in play. Miller still earns the league minimum $765,000 and is under club control through 2029, an attractive fit for a Padres payroll that has little wiggle room. Oakland’s price is correspondingly high. Sources say the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, is willing to discuss either of his premier prospects—shortstop Leo De Vries or catcher Ethan Salas—to obtain Miller or controllable outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan. De Vries, 19, is thriving at High-A and is the Padres' top prospect, while Salas remains sidelined by a lower-back stress reaction but is still a teenager. Despite having one of the better bullpens in baseball, San Diego is weighing changes. Closer Robert Suarez carries a 3.50 ERA and a 3.28 FIP over 43 2/3 innings, but he can opt out of the two years and $20 million left on his deal after the season, making him a potential trade chip. Miller started six games as a rookie in 2023; the Padres have recently transitioned former relievers Michael King, Seth Lugo, and Stephen Kolek into starting roles, so that background could add further appeal if a deal is reached. View full rumor

Power and speed headlined the Padres’ farm Tuesday, though all four clubs fell. Forrest Wall launched a shot and Luis Campusano doubled during El Paso’s late 4–3 push. Devin Ortiz opened San Antonio’s night with a leadoff homer, while Moisés Gómez’s RBI double kept the Missions close. Braedon Karpathios reached four times for Fort Wayne, and shortstop Cobb Hightower piled up three hits and a steal before Lake Elsinore’s rally stalled, 6–5. Catcher Lamar King Jr. swiped two bases. Padres Transactions Optioned RHP Stephen Kolek to El Paso Chihuahuas. Recalled RHP Ryan Bergert from El Paso Chihuahuas. Wall’s Solo Blast, Seventh-Inning Rally Can’t Lift El Paso Past Express Box Score A shaky first inning left El Paso chasing from the outset, and despite a spirited push in the seventh, the Chihuahuas fell 4-3 on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Forrest Wall jump-started the offense in the fourth, driving a pitch over the wall in left-center to trim the deficit to three. Three frames later, El Paso loaded the bases when Luis Campusano ripped a leadoff double, Clay Dungan and Tim Locastro followed with consecutive singles, and Mason McCoy added a sharp knock to left. Catcher Cody Roberts forced in a run with a four-pitch walk before an infield fly and fielder’s choice grounder halted the surge one run short. Earlier, defensive miscues compounded the damage of two first-inning walks, staking the home side to a three-run cushion. Right-hander Matt Waldron steadied the game, working six innings before turning it over to the bullpen. Omar Cruz and Bryan Hoeing combined for two scoreless frames to keep the deficit at a single run. Locastro reached twice, stole a base, and supplied an RBI, while Roberts logged a hit and walk from the nine-hole. Ortiz’s Leadoff Blast, Gómez’s Late Double Highlight Missions’ 4–2 Setback Box Score Devin Ortiz wasted no time jump-starting San Antonio, turning a pitch into a towering drive that cleared the left-field wall. Braden Nett protected the early lead, breezing through three scoreless frames while piling up four strikeouts. Momentum flipped in the fourth when a sacrifice fly and a flare to center gave the RoughRiders the lead. Jared Kollar held his own through the middle innings, and the offense threatened in the sixth as Wyatt Hoffman drew a walk and swiped second. That forced a pitching change, but a strikeout stranded two runners after a Francisco Acuna walk. Ortiz sparked another rally in the eighth, beating out an infield single. Moisés Gómez followed by rifling a line-drive double into the left-field corner, bringing Ortiz all the way around to trim the deficit to 3–2. Acuna worked his second free pass of the night to put the tying run in scoring position, yet a deep fly to left ended the surge. An insurance homer in the bottom half widened the gap, and a ninth-inning flyout, grounder, and strikeout closed out the contest. Addison Kopack’s third-inning double and Romeo Sanabria’s early single accounted for San Antonio’s other hits, while Marcos Castañon flashed leather and added a line-drive knock to right. Karpathios Stays Hot at the Plate, but TinCaps Slip 6–0 at Parkview Field Box Score Fort Wayne mustered plenty of traffic but never found the timely swing in a shutout loss Wednesday night. Right fielder Braedon Karpathios was one of few highlights with a single to right in the second and dropped another knock into left two frames later. He kept the pressure on by drawing walks in both the sixth and eighth, twice advancing into scoring position, but the rally spark never caught. Starter Ian Koenig scattered early contact, erasing a first-inning bunt with a quick strikeout and leaning on his defense for a crisp 5-4-3 double play that closed the second. The left-hander navigated four scoreless innings before the visitors broke through on a two-out liner to left in the fourth, then scratched out two more runs in the sixth to widen the gap. Luis Germán inherited the seventh and nearly escaped, yet an infield misplay allowed a run to cross ahead of a two-run homer that pushed the deficit to six. Josh Mallitz followed with a scoreless eighth, and Christian Ruebeck punched out two in a tidy ninth to finish the night on a high note. Leo De Vries coaxed a pair of walks and showcased his arm from shortstop on a twisting grounder deep in the hole. The TinCaps, however, stranded nine runners. Hightower’s Three-hit Night and Late Scramble Come Up One Run Shy for Storm Box Score Cobb Hightower set the tone with a leadoff double, and Lake Elsinore spent the rest of the evening trading blows before a bases-loaded chance in the ninth slipped away in a 6–5 loss at The Diamond. Hightower crossed on Lamar King Jr.’s line-drive single in the first, then Fountain’s heads-up baserunning manufactured the go-ahead tally in the fourth when he walked, stole second, and trotted home on Alex McCoy’s sacrifice fly. King Jr. struck again an inning later, lifting a fly to center that plated Hightower after the shortstop’s infield single and a walk pushed traffic into motion. A rocky top of the sixth flipped the scoreboard, but the Storm answered right back. Kavares Tears drew a free pass, and McCoy rifled a two-bagger to left that scored him. Moments later, Kasen Wells reached on a misplay at second to deliver McCoy and knot the game at five. Inland Empire eked out the decisive run with a two-out grounder back to the pitcher in the seventh. Lake Elsinore still had one last push: King Jr. walked and stole second with two outs in the ninth, Tears joined him on another pass, and McCoy’s sharp grounder was mishandled to load the bags. Pinch-hitter B.Y. Choi battled but went down swinging, leaving the potential winning run at second. King Jr. reached twice and swiped a pair, while Hightower added singles in the fifth and eighth and stole his seventh bag of the year. Top Prospect Performance Leo De Vries, SS: 0-for-2, 2 BB Kash Mayfield, LHP: Did Not Play Ethan Salas, C: Did Not Play Boston Bateman, LHP: Did Not Play Humberto Cruz, RHP: Did Not Play Kruz Schoolcraft: Not Yet Assigned Isaiah Lowe, RHP: Did Not Play Henry Baez, RHP: Did Not Play Braden Nett, RHP: 3 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 K Cobb Hightower, SS: 3-for-5, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 SB Kale Fountain, 1B: 1-for-3, 2 BB Tirso Ornelas, OF: Did Not Play Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP: Did Not Play Ryan Wideman: Not Yet Assigned Kavares Tears, RF: 0-for-2, 3 BB Tyson Neighbors, RHP: Did Not Play Victor Lizárraga, RHP: Did Not Play Francis Peña, RHP: Did Not Play Romeo Sanabria, 1B: Did Not Play Ryan Bergert, RHP: N/A (Active MLB roster) View full article