Padres Down on the Farm: April 13 (Tatis, Chihuahuas put on a show/Merrill homers for FW)
El Paso Chihuahuas
The San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-1 on Thursday. The Storm game was postponed.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 19-6 to Albuquerque Isotopes) (5-7 on the season)
Jay Groome: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 5 K (79 pitches, 48 strikes)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (5-for-6), 3 R, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Tim Lopes: (2-for-4), 3 R, BB
Alfonso Rivas: (2-for-4), 3 R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Yorman Rodriguez: (3-for-4), 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB
Brett Sullivan: (1-for-5), 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB – (DEF: 1/1 CS)
Jantzen Witte: (2-for-5), R, 2 2B
Luis Liberato: (1-for-3), 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
The El Paso Chihuahas, or the “Margaritas,” debuted their new theme jerseys for the season Thursday night and put on quite a show. In front of 7,875 fans, the Margaritas scored a whopping 18 runs, including three 4+ run innings.
FERNANDO TATIS JR. WITH A THREE-HOMER NIGHT‼️
He is currently playing for Triple-A El Paso.
(via @MiLB)pic.twitter.com/SMAF0oIe6R
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 14, 2023
Yorman Rodriguez and Alfonso Rivas both had career days, but the star of the show was Fernando Tatis Jr., who is just a week away from his long-awaited return to Major League Baseball. The 24-year-old phenom tied team records in HRs (Luis Urias, 3) and RBIs (Austin Hedges, 8). Jay Groome made his third start of the season, picking up the win while going six strong innings.
San Antonio Missions (Lost 7-1 to Frisco) (2-4 on the season)
Jackson Wolf: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 K (52 pitches, 26 strikes)
Jose Espada: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (46 pitches, 30 strikes)
Tirso Ornelas: (1-for-2), HR, 2 BB
Michael De La Cruz: (2-for-4), 2B
For the first time in the 2023 season, the San Antonio Missions took the field as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio. After a dazzling start in his first outing, Jackson Wolf was rocked around in the very first inning. Wolf saw get Rough Riders come to the plate, allowing two walks and three hits, including a three-run triple to Thomas Saggese. After a four-run first, Wolf found himself in trouble again in the second, allowing a single and a walk ending his night. Henry Henry got the final out of the inning but gave up three runs himself the next inning. A two-run double from Evan Carter gave Frisco a 7-0 lead.
The “Flying Chanclas” got a boost from Jose Espada, who pitched four scoreless innings. After giving up a run in the top half of the ninth, San Antonio avoided the shutout with a solo shot from outfielder Tirso Ornelas.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 8-6 to Lake County) (1-5 on the season)
Jairo Iriarte: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K (58 pitches, 37 strikes)
Jackson Merrill: (3-for-4), 2 R, HR
Nathan Martorella: (1-for-2), R, 2B, 2 BB
Lucas Dunn: (1-for-4), R, RBI
Justin Farmer: (1-for-4), R, 2B, RBI
Joshua Mears: (2-for-3), RBI, 2 SB
Fort Wayne punches a ticket into the win column for the first time in 2023. Top prospect Jackson Merrill got three hits, including a first-inning home run, his first of the season. After falling behind early, the TinCaps added three more runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 6-4. In the seventh inning, the added on four more runs to finally retake the game.
Top prospect Jackson Merrill gets his first home run as a TinCap! pic.twitter.com/ZQ3OyThbzN
— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 13, 2023
Chris Lincoln came into the seventh and pitched one scoreless inning to pick up the win. Jason Blanchard threw two scoreless innings while striking out three to pick up the save.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Postponed due to rain)
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, April 13
Friday’s Probables
El Paso – TBD
San Antonio – Duncan Snider (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 K)
Fort Wayne – Victor Lizarraga (0-1, 16.88 ERA, 2 K)
Lake Elsinore – TBD
Al was born in Fresno, California with a passion for talking and writing about sports. The lifelong Padres fan is currently attending Fresno State as he pursues a degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to being a student, he does public address announcing at both the high school and collegiate levels.