Credit: EVT Sports (Farm Report)
Padres affiliates went 3-4 on Friday.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the games played.
Roster Roundup
As the second half begins, the Padres organization is making moves within.
San Antonio (Double-A) has reportedly placed catcher Ethan Salas on the injured list with a minor oblique injury. The news has not yet been confirmed by the Missions.
Lake Elsinore (Single-A) has transferred right-hander Ethan Long to the full-season injured list. Long, 25, was making a transition to relief pitching this season, but had to be pulled from his rehab assignment after just one-third of an inning back on May 15.
The ACL Padres are set to receive reinforcements. Reportedly, pitchers Miguel Alvarez and Marco Eluscat are coming to the ACL. On the position player side, Abraham Bastidas and Eddson Martinez are also reportedly coming along.
In a move that was previously not reported, infielder Deivid Coronil was placed on the 60-day injured list in the Arizona Complex League.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 14-1 vs Reno) (34-39 on the season)
Carlos Rodriguez – 3-for-4, Home Run, Four RBI
Mason McCoy – 4-for-4, Four Singles, Two RBI
Matt Waldron – 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K (44 pitches – 28 strikes)
Matt Waldron made his second rehab start, pitching three innings of one-run baseball. Waldron struck out two batters, throwing his knuckleball 29.5% of the time. The right-hander’s knuckleball was effective, but outside of it and the four-seamer, Waldron struggled to locate his tertiary offerings. Sean Boyle earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Boyle’s secondaries picked up 100% of his swings and misses, and he only gave up one barrel on seven balls in play. Miguel Cienfuegos threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout. Michael Flynn and Ethan Routzahn each threw a scoreless frame as well, both retiring three of four batters faced.
Carlos Rodriguez had three hits, including a home run in the win. Rodriguez’s two-run home run put the Chihuahuas ahead 2-1, chasing Reno starter Bryce Jarvis. Rodriguez has not taken the loss of his hit streak standing down, as he picked up six total bases in the game. Nick Pratto hit a ground-ball double to score a run, and Clay Dungan drove in two runs with a two-run single on a bloop to left field. Bryce Johnson drew two walks, including a bases-loaded walk to score a run. Nick Schnell drove in two runs with a double, and Mason McCoy finished a perfect 4-for-4 with four singles and two RBI.
San Antonio Missions (Won 8-6 vs Corpus Christi) (30-37 on the season)
Luis Verdugo – 2-for-3, Two Home Runs, Three RBI
Ryan Jackson – 2-for-5, Two Singles, Two RBI
Ian Koenig – 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K (83 pitches – 57 strikes)
Right-hander Ian Koenig twirled a quality start in what became a late-inning slugfest. Koenig struck out seven batters in six innings plus two batters, which tied his season-high. Two of his three games with seven strikeouts this season have been against the Hooks, and he has a 4.02 ERA against Corpus Christi this season. Koenig is making a name for himself in his first season at Double-A, and his strides made since his first full season in 2024 are substantial. Andrew Moore struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning, again blowing high-90s fastballs past opponents. Sadrac Franco had command but struggled to control the baseball in his lone inning. The Hooks struck for a walk and four straight singles against Franco to open the inning, tying the game.
San Antonio needed a hero on Friday night, and his name was Luis Verdugo. The Missions’ third baseman homered twice in the contest. Verdugo’s first home run opened the scoring in the fourth inning, putting San Antonio up 1-0. Brendan Durfee then cleared the wall with his second homer of the season in the fifth. Romeo Sanabria tacked on one more run in the frame on an RBI single, scoring Francisco Acuna. San Antonio loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, and Ryan Jackson cashed in, driving in two batters with a single to shallow left. Jackson is hitting .271 in his last 15 games, making more contact at the expense of walks drawn. Albert Fabian hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh, making the score 6-2 at the time. After the Hooks tied the game, Luis Verdugo had the final word. After a Braedon Karpathios single, Verdugo launched a towering drive beyond the berm in left field, giving the Missions an 8-6 lead. The lead was held by Francis Pena, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 7-6 in 11 innings vs South Bend) (27-40 on the season)
Kasen Wells – 2-for-5, Inside-the-Park Home Run
Kavares Tears – 1-for-4, Two-RBI Double
Kash Mayfield – 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (30 pitches – 19 strikes)
Left-hander Kash Mayfield made his regular start on Friday, but pitched just two innings. Mayfield entered the game two-thirds of the way to his career-high in innings (60.2 IP), so the TinCaps only had their ace pitch two innings for what appears to be workload management. Mayfield was still effective in his brief outing, striking out four. Isaiah Lowe allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings, as three walks were the culprit for the runs against him. Jeferson Villabona allowed two runs in one-third of an inning, with two of his runners scoring against Braian Salazar. Salazar threw 2.2 innings of relief, not allowing a run of his own. Salazar’s outing was the best from a TinCaps reliever in the game. Igor Gil allowed two runs in the eighth, but also pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the game tied. CJ Widger took the loss, allowing the automatic runner to score in the eleventh inning. The former Rangers draftee has posted a 7.36 ERA and WHIP north of 2.00 in 18.1 innings this season.
Kasen Wells did the unexpected, opening the game with a home run. However, Wells’ homer was of the inside-the-park variety. The TinCaps’ center fielder went 2-for-5 with his home run, a single, and two runs scored. Carlos E. Rodriguez had a triple as part of a two-hit game, driving in one run for Fort Wayne. Kavares Tears’ hot June continued, as the TinCaps’ DH hit a two-run double in the first. Zach Evans hit an RBI single to score Tears, and a Jack Costello double scored Evans. Outside of the first inning, the TinCaps did not find much success offensively. While they had opportunities outside of the first inning, Fort Wayne went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position after the first inning.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 6-5 vs San Jose) (39-28 on the season)
Dawson Willis – 2-for-4, Home Run, Two RBI
Kerrington Cross – 2-for-5, Double, RBI
Kruz Schoolcraft – 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 4 K (74 pitches – 45 strikes)
The Storm’s lineup tallied five runs, but it was not enough to extend their five-game winning streak. Left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft pitched five innings, and there were promising elements to his start. Schoolcraft struck out four batters, walking three. The left-hander saw 20% of his strikes coming from swings and misses (9/45). Even so, Schoolcraft’s first career outing in San Jose was not as strong in the run prevention department. San Jose got to the southpaw for six runs (five earned) on six hits and a pair of wild pitches. Daison Acosta threw 1.2 innings in relief, allowing no runs. Carson Swilling threw 1.1 innings, striking out two batters in scoreless relief.
Dawson Willis’ first week in Storm colors continues to show signs of potential. The Storm’s third baseman hit his first home run since joining the Storm, a two-run blast in the fifth. Willis just missed his first a couple of nights ago, but he left no doubt this time. Ryan Wideman reached base twice in the game, stealing his 43rd base of the season. Qrey Lott hit two singles, scoring a run in the loss. Kerrington Cross had two base hits, both of which involved run-scoring plays. Cross drove in Wideman with an RBI single in the third, and his fifth-inning double (aided by a fielding error) scored Wideman as well. Luke Cantwell went 1-for-4 with a single as the DH in the loss.
ACL Padres (Lost 7-1 vs ACL Reds) (19-16 on the season)
Jesmaylin Arias – 1-for-3, Home Run, RBI
Jhoan De La Cruz – 1-for-3, Triple
Lan-Hong Su – 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K (57 pitches – 33 strikes)
Lan-Hong Su was knocked around by the ACL Reds, who tagged him for five runs in 2.2 innings. Su struck out three batters, maxing out his fastball at 95.1 innings. Despite this, the right-hander allowed three extra-base hits, including a two-run home run. Dariel Polanco allowed two runs on six hits in 1.2 innings, striking out three. Dalvi Nunez allowed no runs in 1.2 innings, striking out one. Jesmaylin Arias drove in the lone Padres run with a solo home run coming off the bat at 105.2 mph. Jhoan De La Cruz matched that exit velocity on a triple of his own, his lone hit of the game. Jack Mathey hit a ground-rule double at 98.3 mph, and Fabian Alcantara hit a single in three at-bats.
DSL Padres Gold (Won 14-2 vs DSL CLE Mendoza) (12-2 on the season)
Dayquer Alfonzo – 4-for-5, Home Run, Five RBI
Joniel Hernandez – 2-for-6, Home Run, Three Runs Scored
Josias Figuereo – 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Josias Figuereo struck out two batters in five innings, earning the win for the Padres Gold. Figuereo lowered his season ERA to 6.00 after a rough start on June 12. Outside of that start, Figuereo has allowed four runs in 9.1 innings. Jose Blanco threw a scoreless three innings, striking out one batter. Ariel Dilone threw a scoreless ninth, closing out the win. Dayquer Alfonzo had four hits, including a home run, driving in five runs. Darian Castillo scored three runs, reaching base four times. Joniel Hernandez launched his first career homer in the win, going 2-for-6 in the win. Every Padres Gold starter reached base at least once in the win.
DSL Padres Brown (Lost 1-0 vs DSL Royals Ventura) (4-10 on the season)
Dawry Guerrero – 1-for-2, Single, Walk
Jeanfranco Fernandez – 1-for-3, Single
Yojansy Perez – 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Yojansy Perez’s five scoreless innings were unable to lift the Padres Brown to a win, as the team failed to score a run. Perez struck out two in his start, picking up eight groundouts. Kelvin Marte took the loss, allowing a run on three walks and a base hit in one inning of work. Ronnier Heras had the team’s lone stolen base of the game, walking and stealing second. Dowry Guerrero reached base twice, with a single and a walk. Jeanfranco Fernandez and Yonaiker Hernandez each hit a single in three at-bats. The Padres Brown left five runners on base in the loss.
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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