Padres Down on the Farm: April 22 (Chihuahuas, Storm rally for walk-off wins)

Padres minor league affiliates went 3-2 on Wednesday. 

Here is our daily recap of games played. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 13-11 in 10 innings) (10-13 on the season)

Nick Schnell – 3-for-6, Two Home Runs, Three RBI

Clay Dungan – 4-for-5, Home Run, Two Runs Scored

Griffin Canning – 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 K (45 pitches – 24 strikes)

El Paso cranked out 20 hits en route to a tenth-inning walk-off win. Nick Schnell hit two of the Chihuahuas’ five home runs on the afternoon, with the second being a game-winning homer in the bottom of the tenth. Clay Dungan had four hits, scoring two runs and hitting a home run of his own. Seven Chihuahuas starters finished with multi-hit efforts, including Sung-Mun Song. Samad Taylor and Nate Mondou each hit home runs in the win, and Anthony Vilar drew three walks in the game, scoring two runs. 

Schnell launches a 410-ft homer, his third of the season, and first at home, as the Chihuahuas take a 5-4 lead in the 5th! pic.twitter.com/sjZ9h7a0xr

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 22, 2026

Nate Mondou goes yard over the 322 gate for his 2nd of the season! Chihuahuas lead Reno, 10-4! pic.twitter.com/MOBwfc7gsy

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 22, 2026

The pitching staff had itself a day, as Griffin Canning’s rehab start did not go as planned. Canning pitched into just the second inning, allowing two runs on three hits. After a brief first inning, Canning threw 31 pitches in the second inning. The right-hander has now pitched to a 5.40 ERA while on his rehab stint, but with the performance (or lack thereof) of some Padres starters, Canning has a chance to make at least a few starts in the Majors. Misael Tamarez threw 2.1 innings of one-run baseball in relief, and he struck out three batters. While Tamarez is not the sort of arm who counts as rotation depth, his newly revamped arsenal will allow him to serve as an effective long reliever, especially if he can keep touching 96-98 mph. Yuki Matsui appeared yet again, allowing a home run in 0.2 innings, but for a silver lining, his velocity was close to his 2025 averages.

Logan Gillaspie struck out four batters in 2.1 innings of one-run baseball, pulling long relief to aid a beleaguered Chihuahuas bullpen. Justin Yeager’s recent struggles continued, as the right-hander allowed five runs in 0.2 innings of relief. Yeager has allowed two or more runs in four of his last five appearances. El Paso turned to Alek Jacob in the eighth inning, and while he allowed a game-tying home run to Ivan Melendez, he would allow no further scoring in the ninth. Jacob went back out for the tenth inning, holding the Aces scoreless to set up Nick Schnell’s heroics. 

El Paso’s own Ivan Melendez hits a home run for Reno to tie the ballgame, 11-11, heading into the bottom of the 8th. pic.twitter.com/WF9bqh5SCt

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 22, 2026

GOING! GOING! GONE! Two-run walk-off home run by Nick Schnell! Chihuahuas win 13-11! We’re back home tomorrow night! First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. pic.twitter.com/wZcChGYkf4

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 22, 2026

San Antonio Missions – Split Doubleheader vs Amarillo

Missions won 3-2 in Game 1

Ethan Salas – 1-for-3, RBI Double

Tirso Ornelas – 1-for-3, Two-Run Home Run

Victor Lizarraga – 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K (75 pitches – 46 strikes)

The Missions won the opening game of their doubleheader on Wednesday by a 3-2 final score. Victor Lizarraga took the ball, pitching four innings of one-run baseball. It was easily the right-hander’s best or second-best outing of the season (his Opening Day outing could be in the running as well). The San Diego native pitched four innings, striking out a season-high six batters. Lizarraga was effectively wild, walking four in the process, but was able to work around base traffic thanks to his batterymate, Ethan Salas. The Sod Poodles went 0-for-3 on stolen bases, with Salas gunning down two runners at second base. 

Speaking of Ethan Salas, the phenom was back at it again. Salas barreled up a Daniel Eagen fastball for an RBI double. Salas’ double had an exit velocity of 107 mph off the bat. While Salas’ swing tied the game, Tirso Ornelas gave the Missions a 3-1 lead with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. For Ornelas, it was his second home run of the season, and his first hit in a week. Braedon Karpathios drew two walks in the win; while the 22-year-old has yet to find his stroke at the dish this season, his plate discipline remains something for opponents to keep in mind. Kai Roberts doubled and scored a run on Salas’ double.

TIRSO! ?
Ornelas launches it to put two more runs on the board for the Missions in the 4th! pic.twitter.com/CgJrfGoKR7

— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) April 22, 2026

Harry Gustin allowed one run in the fifth inning, his lone frame of relief. Despite this, Gustin earned the win in the ballgame and is sitting at a 2.25 ERA and has struck out 10 of 33 batters faced while walking just three. Johan Moreno pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs. Moreno’s six-out save saw him allow no hits, with one strikeout. 

Missions Lost 2-1 in Game 2

Carson Tucker – 1-for-3, RBI Single

Braedon Karpathios – 2-for-3, Double, Run Scored

Eric Yost – 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K (75 pitches – 51 strikes)

San Antonio dropped the back half of the doubleheader in a close one-run finish. Starting pitcher Eric Yost, making his first start of the season, pitched as he did in his 2025 breakout first half. Yost fired off four innings of one-run baseball, striking out six batters. The right-hander picked up 11 whiffs, a season-high, and only had one truly laborious inning. Yost got some help from his defense, as a one-out double by Manuel Pena was erased at third base. Pena went for the triple, but Braedon Karpathios and Francisco Acuna pulled off a successful relay to cut down the runner at third base. Yost is now sitting at a 1.32 ERA this season in 16.2 innings, and so far has struck out 29.6% of opposing hitters. Right-hander Andrew Moore walked two and allowed a run in one inning of relief, striking out one. Andrew Dalquist pitched the final two innings, striking out two and walking just as many. 

The Missions’ offense was held scoreless by Amarillo starter Josh Grosz, making just his fourth start in the Diamondbacks organization. The Missions were held to three hits in four innings, striking out seven times. Ryan Jackson was the lone Missions hitter to get an extra-base hit against Amarillo’s starter, with his fourth-inning double setting up a solid yet fruitless rally. Leandro Cedeno hit two singles in the game, one of two Missions with multi-hit efforts. Braedon Karpathios had the other, as the Padres No. 10 prospect’s seventh-inning double set up another scoring opportunity. This one did not go by the wayside, as Carson Tucker singled to score Karpathios and bring the tying run to the plate. Ethan Salas was called on to pinch-hit as the tying run, but flew out to left field. Kai Murphy lined out to left field to end the game. 

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 9-3 in 8 innings vs Wisconsin) (6-11 on the season)

Carlos E. Rodriguez – 1-for-3, Home Run

Alex McCoy – 1-for-4, RBI Single

Isaiah Lowe – 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 3 K (69 pitches – 47 strikes)

Fort Wayne’s pitching staff had a tough day at the office facing a loaded Wisconsin Timber Rattlers team. Starter Isaiah Lowe was chased after three innings, allowing six runs on six hits. Wisconsin took advantage of three walks, two errors, and a wild pitch to push across six in the second and third innings combined. Lowe did rack up 11 swings and misses, a season-high. Clark Candiotti allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings of relief, striking out two. Clay Edmondson picked up six whiffs and three strikeouts in a scoreless sixth inning. Edmondson, the Padres’ 2025 14th-round pick, is off to a very strong start in 2026. Tucker Musgrove came on in relief, allowing one run in 0.2 innings of work. The right-hander struck out two, but also left the game with the bases loaded. Musgrove will likely remain in a relief role for the time being, as he got up to 30 pitches in this outing. Braian Salazar struck out two in 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. 

The TinCaps offense had six hits and three walks, but made 13 of their 22 outs on the ground. Alex McCoy got the team on the board in the first inning with an RBI single to score Zach Evans. McCoy has now reached base in 13 consecutive games. Carlos E. Rodriguez added a run in the second inning with his first home run of the season. It was Rodriguez’s seventh career home run in a US-based affiliate, and just the switch-hitter’s fifth in a full-season affiliate. Kavares Tears and Rosman Verdugo reached base in the seventh via the walk, and Tears scored on Dylan Grego’s RBI single. Kasen Wells had a single in four at-bats, and Lamar King Jr reached base twice in the loss. 

Alex McCoy extends his hit streak to 13 games and gets us on the board first tonight! pic.twitter.com/8K7l0xgyWR

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 22, 2026

First long ball of the season for Carlos Rodriguez? pic.twitter.com/PGaXZILLG3

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 22, 2026

The game was called in the eighth inning due to a medical emergency on the Wisconsin roster. Wisconsin shortstop Luis Pena, who had been pulled from the game, collapsed in the dugout and had to be taken out of the stadium in an ambulance. Though the teams have not made any announcement regarding Pena’s condition or confirmed that he was the player in question, attendees at the game have consistently shared that Pena was the player involved. Prayers and well wishes go out to Pena and the Timber Rattlers in this difficult and unprecedented situation. 

Final: Wisconsin 9 | Fort Wayne 3

Due to a medical emergency, tonight’s game has been called in the 8th inning.

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 23, 2026

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 8-7 vs Visalia) (8-9 on the season)

Jose Verdugo – 2-for-5, Walk-off Two-RBI Single

Truitt Madonna – 3-for-5, Two Doubles, RBI

Jesus A. Castro – 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K (73 pitches – 46 strikes)

Lake Elsinore is now in second place in the California League South thanks to a dramatic come-from-behind win over Visalia. The Storm’s lineup continued to hit, as four players finished with multi-hit performances. Ryan Wideman went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI out of the leadoff spot, raising his OPS to .939. Wideman has been as advertised coming out of the draft, and if he keeps hitting like this, he may earn himself a midseason promotion. Justin DeCriscio finished with two hits, including his second home run of the season in the first inning. Truitt Madonna’s bat continued to unleash the beast within, as the Seattle native finished with three hits. Madonna once again had multiple extra-base hits, as he hit two doubles as part of a 3-for-5 game. Conner Westenburg went 1-for-4 with a single and two runs scored, also stealing his 10th base of the season. Westenburg currently leads the California League in stolen bases while hitting .367 with a .916 OPS in 15 games. 

Justin DeCriscio goes long!!!#EmbraceTheStorm?️ x @AlturaCU pic.twitter.com/BVv1QMxSBW

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 23, 2026

Jesus A. Castro pitched four innings, allowing three runs (two earned). The right-hander struck out two and walked two, picking up seven of 12 outs via the ground ball. Castro and the Storm rotation have performed exceptionally well so far this season, even with the growing pains of professional baseball. Right-hander Rordy Mejia allowed four runs in one inning of relief, striking out one. The first five batters Mejia faced all reached base with four singles and a hit-by-pitch. If the pitching staff were to have an MVP in the game, it’d be right-hander Nick Falter, who threw three scoreless innings. Falter struck out four, scattering two hits and picking up six swings and misses. The former undrafted free agent out of Denison University has a 2.31 ERA in his first six outings (12.1 innings), with a 29.2% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate. Will Koger threw a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win.  

Trailing 7-5 in the ninth, Ryan Wideman walked before back-to-back singles by Justin DeCriscio and Truitt Madonna allowed Wideman to score. Now at 7-6, Bradley Frye pinch-hit for Victor Duarte and reached on a perfect bunt to the 5.5 hole. With the bases loaded, Jose Verdugo singled on a line drive to center field, scoring DeCriscio and Madonna to send the Storm home winners.

OUR FIRST WALK-OFF WIN OF THE SEASON COMES AFTER TRAILING BY TWO RUNS IN THE 9TH INNING!!

Season of Firsts Presented by Big 5 Sporting Goods pic.twitter.com/7BqV8vQ7Yx

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 23, 2026

Diego Garcia

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.