Down on the Farm: April 17 (France Homers Twice AGAIN, Gore Solid in LE)

San Diego Padres affiliates were 1-4 on Wednesday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (7-6) Won 11-10

A home run derby broke out at El Paso’s Southwest University Park on Wednesday afternoon with a total of eight home runs being hit between the two squads. The Chihuahuas were playing behind for most of the game until the bottom of the eighth inning when they exploded for four home runs. The Rainiers came right back in the top of the ninth to take the lead back, but ultimately, in this game of back and forth, El Paso’s Ty France ended it in walk-off fashion for the 11-10 win, his fourth home run in two games. Keep in mind, France is hitting to the tune of a .1199 OPS for the season and has been spending time at the keystone since Luis Urias was promoted to the show.

Dietrich Enns – 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, BB, 5 K

Ty France – (2-for-5) 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Jose Pirela – (2-for-4) HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Michael Gettys – (2-for-4)  HR, 2 R, RBI

Ty ‘Big Fly’ France flips the script and walks us off!

?️10
?️11
FINAL#FearTheEars@MiLB @Padres pic.twitter.com/r1L82Jgvo8

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 17, 2019

Amarillo Sod Poodles (5-9) Lost 4-1

Jesse Scholtens pitched a solid five innings, giving up only one earned run in what was a tightly contested battle. The Sod Poodles fought until their bullpen gave up three runs in the last two innings, allowing Midland to steal the victory. Amarillo could not drive in anyone on base when it mattered, with the only run being scored on a solo shot by shortstop Peter Van Gansen in the third. The Rockhounds scored four unanswered runs to take the win.

Jesse Scholtens – 5 IP, 5 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Owen Miller – (2-for-4)

Peter Van Gansen – (2-for-4) HR, R, RBI

Jorge Ona – (1-for-4)

Lake Elsinore Storm (8-6) Lost 4-2

In one of the most anticipated matchups of this early minor league season, Storm hurler MacKenzie Gore faced off against rehabbing Dodger vet Rich Hill. Gore worked around a second-inning solo home run to Carlos Rincon and scattered a total of three hits over six innings, needing only 75 pitches to reach that total. Unfortunately for the Storm, Rich Hill was dealing and allowed only two hits over four innings with eight strikeouts. The Quakes came back in the top of the ninth to score the go-ahead runs to defeat Lake Elsinore.

MacKenzie Gore – 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K’s

Robbie Podorsky – (2-for-4)

Esteury Ruiz – (1-for-4) R

Jack Suwinski –  (1-for-4) R, BB

Gore changeup (80 mph) on 3-2 count pic.twitter.com/4KUBsM3tQx

— Richard Dorsha (@outsidepaint) April 18, 2019

Fort Wayne TinCaps (8-6) Loss 4-3

19-year-old Efrain Contreras continues his productive introduction to the Midwest League with five solid innings, allowing one run with six strikeouts. He now has 18 K’s, a .226 average against, to go along with a 2.26 ERA over 14 solid innings. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t keep pace on the day, putting up only three runs and ultimately leaving nine runners stranded. Mexican native Agustin Ruiz continues his torrid start, reaching base four times in the game.

Efrain Contreras – 5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K’s

Agustin Ruiz – (2-for-3) 2 BB

Nick Gatewood – (1-for-3) 2 R, BB

Lee Solomon – (2-for-3) 2 RBI, BB

Juan Fernandez – (1-for-4) R, RBI

Thursday’s Probables

Fort Wayne – Joey Cantillo (0-0. 4.32 ERA) vs. Wilkel Hernandez (1-1. 2.00 ERA)

Lake Elsinore – Mason Thompson (0-1. 4.70 ERA) vs. Denny Brady (0-1. 4.76 ERA)

Amarillo – T.J. Weir (1-0. 1.80 ERA) vs. J.B. Bukauskas (0-2. 17.47 ERA)

El Paso –  Chris Rowley (0-0. 10.57 ERA) vs. Nabil Crismatt (0-1. 9.64 ERA)

Nick Recchia

I am a lifelong Padres Fanatic who loves to talk and debate any and all sports. But SD Padres and minor leagues hold a special place above all. A 33-year-old born and raised San Diegan who is a season ticket holder and puts his money where his mouth is.