Down on the Farm: August 29 (Colin Rea in El Paso/Pedro Avila K’s 11)

The San Diego Padres’ affiliates were 3-2 on Wednesday.

Here is your recap of the day’s action:

El Paso Chihuahuas  (80-54)   Won 6-3 

El Paso continued its winning ways as it bested its soon-to-be playoff opponent, the Fresno Grizzlies, 6-3. Colin Rea went five innings, only allowing three hits, walking three, and whiffing three.  Carlos Asuaje had two hits and Shane Peterson had two hits, including a home run in the 6th, his eleventh blast of 2018.  Rowan Wick came on in the ninth to close the door and collect his ninth save. Wick has been outstanding in August, sporting an ERA of 0.87 with seven saves.

Forrestt Allday– (2-5) 1 R, 2B

Carlos Asuaje– (2-3) Run, BB

Francisco Mejia– (1-5) 2B, Run, 3 K

Shane Peterson– (2-4) 1 HR, 3 RBI

Colin Rea– 5 IP , 1 H , 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (67 pitches- 36 strikes)

San Antonio Missions (70-63) Lost 5-4

The Missions lost a one-run lead in extra frames, as the Rockhounds walked it off with two in the home half of the 10th inning, off reliever Eric Yardley.  Nick Van Gansen hit a blast, his fourth of the season, and Kyle Overstreet followed suit in the sixth inning with a two-run home run, his ninth of the year.  Travis Radke continued his run of excellent pitching, giving up only one run in five frames, striking out four.  In his last ten appearances, Radke is sporting a 1.86 ERA over 19 innings with only three walks and 15 strikeouts. Josh Naylor’s bat (0-for-5 today) has cooled considerably in August (.250/.310/.350/.360), but considering his overall body of work in 2018, this may simply be a case of a return to the mean.

Ruddy Giron–  (2-3)

Taylor Kohlwey-  (2-4) Run

Kyle Overstreet- (1-4) HR, RBI, Run, K

Nick Van Gansen- ( 1-2) BB, 3 RBI, HR, Run

Travis Radke: 5 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K  (64 pitches -44 walks)  No Decision

Lake Elsinore Storm  (64-71)  Lost 8-3

Pedro Avila had a great start in which he struck out 11 66ers in his first five innings pitched. The problem was it took him a total of 100 pitches to get through the first five. He was removed from the contest down 3-1, but the appearance from Avila was very promising. Ben Sheckler relieved Avila and gave up three earned runs in two innings pitched. Offensively, the Storm only managed five hits on the night and three walks. Nobody was on base and the team could get nothing going with the bats. Lake Elsinore has one more game on the road before a four-game homestand this weekend with the Lancaster JetHawks. That will be the last four games in the 2018 season.

Edward Olivares– (1-4) Run, K

Eguy Rosario– (1-3) RBI

Luis Torrens– (1-3) RBI, Run, BB

Brad Zunica– (1-3) RBI, BB

Pedro Avila- 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 K (100 pitches- 62 strikes)

Fort Wayne TinCaps  (63-70)  Won  3-1

The TinCaps got a well pitched game by lefty Tom Cosgrove, who went six innings and allowed seven hits, but allowed only one run.  Cosgrove did not allow a walk tonight – this sort of strike throwing performance is developing into a nice trend by Padres hurlers throughout the system.  Owen Miller continued his torrid pace, going 2-for-3 with a RBI.  Miller is slashing .384/.407/.581/.988 since the all-star break. Catcher Michael Cantu went two for three, including a his third home run in the second inning. Esteury Ruiz stole two more bases and now has 45 on the season.

Esteury Ruiz- (1-4) K, 2 SB

Aldemar Burgos– (2-2) Run, BB, 2B

Owen Miller– (2-3) 1 R, 1 RBI

Michael Cantu–  (2-3) 1 HR, solo shot

Tom Cosgrove– 6 IP, 7 H, O BB, 4 K   (84 pitches-59 walks)

Tri-City Dust Devils (34-36) Won 5-3

Michael Curry hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning as the Dust Devils won 5-3.  Nick Gatewood continued the torrid pace he was on for the AZL Padres, as he knocked a key double in the seventh in his first game for his new squad. Also impressive was Efrain Contreras, as he closed the contest out with three scoreless frames and four strikeouts. Like Gatewood, Contreras was making his first appearance for the Dust Devils after starting for the DSL Padres before moving to the AZL Padres 1 squad and now onto the Dust Devils.

Blake Hunt- (2-3)  HR, 2B, 2 Runs, RBI, BB, K

Nick Gatewood– (1-3) 1 BB

Michael Curry– (2-3) 1 HR, 4 RBI

Sam Keating– 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K (77 pitches- 48 strikes)

Efrain Contreras–  3 IP, 1 BB, 4 K (39 pitches- 27 strikes)

Jeffrey Pilch

Jeffrey grew up in Carlsbad and has been a Padres fan since the late 70’s. He is currently a Social Studies teacher at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas.