Rylan Renteria/ EVT Sports
Padres minor league affiliates went 3-3 on a full slate on Thursday.
Here is our daily recap of games played.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 11-5 vs Oklahoma City) (61-49 on the season)
Rodolfo Duran – 2-for-5, Grand Slam, Solo Home Run
Luis Campusano – 2-for-4, Two-Run Home Run
Wes Benjamin – 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 5 K (93 pitches – 53 strikes)
El Paso’s offense came to life early, taking a bite out of the Comets’ pitching staff. Luis Campusano started the scoring with a two-run homer off Zach Penrod, his team-leading 17th of the year. After OKC counterpunched with four runs of their own, El Paso rode a seven-run third to a commanding lead. Facing OKC’s Nick Nastrini, the Chihuahuas drew three straight one-out walks. Mason McCoy scored on one of two wild pitches in the inning, and after a fourth consecutive walk, Nastrini was pulled in favor of Ryan Sublette. On Sublette’s second pitch of the night, Rodolfo Duran launched a grand slam to right-center, his eighth home run of the season. Tim Locastro singled after the homer, and Mike Brosseau doubled to score him. Brosseau would score on a single from Mason McCoy, who reached base twice in the inning. El Paso would tack on two more against Nick Frasso, with Yonathan Perlaza doubling to score Clay Dungan. Duran would homer again in the seventh to score the final run of the game for El Paso.
We just witnessed a 452 foot GRAND SLAM for Rodolfo Durán.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! pic.twitter.com/7EFN57kPhD
— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) August 8, 2025
Two homers. One night. One catcher, and his name is Rodolfo Durán!! pic.twitter.com/ciLWQtRyu5
— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) August 8, 2025
Starter Wes Benjamin, coming off PCL Pitcher of the Week honors, had a bumpier start than his last. Benjamin allowed five runs in 4.1 innings of work, striking out five batters. The southpaw was one of three Chihuahuas left-handers to throw in the game. Omar Cruz entered in the fifth and fired off 2.2 scoreless innings, getting whiffs on 35% of swings against him. He did not allow a hit on the heater either. Kyle Hart pitched the final two innings, striking out one to close out the win.
San Antonio Missions (Lost 6-2 vs Springfield) (55-50 on the season)
Marcos Castanon – 1-for-2, RBI Single, Two Walks
Anthony Vilar – 2-for-4, Double
Miguel Mendez – 6 IP, 1 H, 2 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 11 K (88 pitches – 53 strikes)
Miguel Mendez was the story of the game for the Missions, as the right-hander made his Missions debut in stellar fashion. Mendez threw six innings of two-run baseball, although neither run was earned. He walked four batters, but also struck out a career-high 11 on just 88 pitches. Mendez cruised through the first five innings, striking out the side twice. Such a dominant outing is what Mendez has set as the bar, simply dominating between two levels this season. Austin Krob allowed three runs in 1.2 innings of relief, and Ethan Routzahn allowed a homer in 1.1 innings.
That is some Double-A debut for Miguel Mendez!
The @Padres‘ No. 4 prospect racks up a career-high 11 punchouts over 6 strong innings in his first start for @MissionsMiLB: pic.twitter.com/e4qhN8Cnpl
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 8, 2025
The Missions offense appears to be in an identity crisis. Over the last 30 days, they are tied for sixth in the Texas League in homers… with twelve. The lineup stranded six baserunners over the first six innings, not making a true scoring threat until the eighth inning. Devin Ortiz was plunked to open the frame and Moises Gomez singled to put two runners on. A one-out passed ball moved the runners to second and third, and Romeo Sanabria hit a sacrifice fly to score one. Marcos Castanon singled to score Gomez for the second run of the inning, but Albert Fabian flew out to left field to end the frame. Anthony Vilar had two base hits in the game, including a double. Francisco Acuna also had a double, but has struggled since being moved to the third spot in the lineup, hitting just .130 in seven games at the three spot.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 8-3 vs South Bend) (50-54 on the season)
Braedon Karpathios – 3-for-3, Two Doubles, Three RBI
Jack Costello – 1-for-4, Three-Run Home Run
Sam Whiting – 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K (74 pitches – 46 strikes)
Fort Wayne’s lineup came to play, notching eight hits, walks, and runs in an 8-3 win. The top of the lineup was particularly productive, as Ryan Jackson had two hits and scored two runs to set the table. Braedon Karpathios had three hits and two walks in the game; two of his hits were doubles and saw Karpathios drive in three runs. Karpathios, who came in at No. 28 on the EVT Padres top 30 prospects entering the season, has been on fire in August, slashing .455/.520/.682 and not sacrificing power for reaching base. Jack Costello launched a three-run home run in the third inning, his sixth of the season. It was Costello’s first home run since June 10, ending a near two-month drought for the former USD Torero. Kai Roberts drew two walks and hit his third homer of the season, scoring two runs in the game.
Another pair of long balls tonight for the @TinCaps and a 3-for-3 night for Braedon Karpathios
Jack Costello & Kai Roberts to left field@AndyJachim, @TheWizKidSenior and I with you this weekend on @1380TheFan pic.twitter.com/hyYSCWdh2D
— Jaden Taylor (@JadenTaylor25) August 8, 2025
Sam Whiting threw four innings of two-run baseball in his start, striking out four batters. Whiting has seen success this season when he limits the walks, and that remained the case in this start. Ruben Galindo and his 96-97 mph fastball tossed two innings of relief, allowing one run. After a brief stint on the IL, Harry Gustin’s breakout campaign is back to its regularly scheduled programming, as the left-hander fanned three of six batters faced to earn the win. Luis German pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the win.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 3-2 vs Rancho Cucamonga) (48-57 on the season)
Alex McCoy – 3-for-4, Triple, Run Scored
Jorge Quintana – 1-for-4, RBI Double, Stolen Base
Kannon Kemp – 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K (72 pitches – 46 strikes)
Bienvenido a la Tormenta, Jorge Quintana! The newest Padre farmhand checked off several firsts in the Storm’s 3-2 loss to Rancho Cucamonga. Quintana had his first Single-A stolen base, extra-base hit, and run batted in, as in the fifth inning, he doubled to score Colton Vincent. Alex McCoy had himself a good day at the plate, finishing with three base hits. These hits included his second triple of the season, and while the former Hofstra outfielder has drawn attention due to his light-tower power, he’s got the athleticism to be a regular in the outfield. Dylan Grego hit a double for his second career hit in the game.
Back to a starting role, Kannon Kemp shined in familiar territory. Making his first start since June 24, Kemp tossed four innings of two-run baseball against the Quakes. Kemp struck out seven batters, setting a career-high in the process. The Quakes have struggled against Kemp this season, as in two outings, Kemp has pitched to a 2.00 ERA (2 ER in 9 innings), striking out 12 while walking only two. Right-hander Winyer Chourio made his second Storm appearance, tossing three scoreless innings and working around three walks. Yovannki Pascual continued the struggles from his previous outing, as he allowed one run on two walks and a base hit, only getting two outs. While Pascual’s strikeout potential is there, his command still has room to improve, especially with such electric stuff. Igor Gil ended the eighth with no further damage. Gil has not allowed an earned run in each of his last (now) four appearances.
DSL Padres Gold (Won 5-3 vs DSL Brewers Gold) (30-16 on the season)
Jhoan De La Cruz – 2-for-4, Home Run, RBI Single
Santiago Contreras – 1-for-3, Single, Run Scored
Jesus Castro – 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Right-hander Jesus Castro’s strong start paired perfectly with Jhoan De La Cruz’s first career homer, and as a duo led to a Padres Gold win. Starting with Castro, the Guasave, Sinaloa native struck out five batters in four innings of work, allowing only two runs. Castro has now thrown 38.2 pro innings, striking out 41 and posting a 0.91 WHIP; he has a 2.43 FIP that reinforces his good performance and 2.79 ERA. Johan Minaya earned the win in relief, tossing two shutout innings. Jeferson Villabona earned his seventh save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Jhoan De La Cruz had his first home run as a pro as part of a two-hit day. De La Cruz drove in two of the five runs for the Padres Gold, with an RBI single in the fourth putting the team on the board. Santiago Contreras hit a bunt single in the fifth, with the tying run scoring on a throwing error on the play. Contreras’ contributions also came in the field, as he cut down the tying run at third on an outfield assist from left field. Darian Castillo scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch, and Abraham Bastidas cashed in another run on a sac fly to score Contreras. De La Cruz homered in the sixth for an insurance run, checking off his first DSL homer.
DSL Padres Brown (Lost 5-0 vs DSL Astros Blue) (18-28 on the season)
Angel Mejia – 0-for-1, Walk
Wilfred Paca – 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 K
Albert Perez – 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
The DSL Padres Brown were involved in a combined no-hitter; they were no-hit. Angel Mejia drew the Padres Brown’s lone walk in the game, and was picked off. Kaden Hernandez reached base once on a fielding error, but after the second inning, the game was more or less decided. Wilfred Paca allowed a home run to the second batter of the game, giving the Houston affiliate a 1-0 lead. Paca walked four in three innings, but worked out of trouble after each walk. Albert Perez threw three scoreless innings as well, striking out four batters. Jeuris Guzman walked four while recording only one out, and all three runners he left on base came in to score against Gensy Aquino.
A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.
A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.
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