Friday nights are better with Padres minor league baseball. Like a freestyle soda machine, there is something for everyone down on the farm.

Padres minor league affiliates went 2-1 in regular season action. 

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 9-8 vs Sacramento) (12-13 on the season)

Tim Locastro – 2-for-4, Grand Slam

Yonathan Perlaza – 4-for-5, Three Doubles, Four RBI

Austin Krob – 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 2 K (80 pitches – 43 strikes)

El Paso took a 7-0 lead into the fourth, only to have to claw back twice to take the lead, ultimately prevailing by a final score of 9-8. El Paso’s offense was led by right fielder Yonathan Perlaza, who had a four-hit day with three doubles, including the game-winning run in the seventh inning. Tim Locastro had his biggest hit of the season with a towering grand slam to left field against River Cats starter Carson Whisenhunt. The Giants’ top prospect was shelled by the Chihuahuas, allowing seven runs in three innings. Eguy Rosario had a pair of hits to drive in a run, and both Nate Mondou and Bryce Johnson had two hits. 2019 30th-rounder Ripken Reyes made his Triple-A debut for the Chihuahuas, drawing a walk and scoring a run. 

Tim Locastro. Certified Slugger https://t.co/2oIhby6iHK

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) April 26, 2025

Austin Krob made his fifth start of the season on the mound, tossing 3.2 innings. While Krob has continued to limit base hits in his last few outings, he has struggled with generating whiffs, leading to an uptick in his walks. Krob has not shown a third pitch that he can use to hold lineups at bay, and while his sinker/slider combination has been effective to an extent, the lack of depth to his repertoire continued to give him a high-floor projection at the MLB level. Relievers Raul Brito and Jason Blanchard each allowed two earned runs while recording two outs apiece, with Blanchard allowing a game-tying grand slam to Hunter Bishop on a slider up and in, knotting the game at seven. 

ARE YOU SERIOUSSSSSSSSSSS

HUNTER BISHOP GRAND SLAM

KITTIES SCORE SEVEN UNANSWERED pic.twitter.com/XZ4Jmwvrp7

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) April 26, 2025

Sean Reynolds made his second rehab appearance of the season, tossing a scoreless sixth inning. Ron Marinaccio tossed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing another game-tying base hit in the seventh inning, which drew the game even at eight runs apiece. The New Jersey native would earn the win, as he was on the mound in the seventh inning. Marinaccio got two outs in the eighth before Chihuahuas manager Pete Zamora called to the bullpen for right-hander Reiss Knehr for a four-out save. Entering with runners on the corners and two outs, Knehr got Bishop to ground out to end the eighth, then tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. 

El Paso returns to play Saturday at home, with left-hander Omar Cruz making his first start of the season. Cruz takes over Ryan Bergert’s spot in the rotation after Bergert was recalled to the Major League roster. 

San Antonio Missions – Postponed due to weather

The Missions’ regularly scheduled game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles was postponed due to weather, as a severe thunderstorm warning hit the area late on Friday. 

Tonight’s Missions game in Amarillo has been postponed. A doubleheader will begin tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. https://t.co/GXvHbbRrPG

— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) April 25, 2025

Should the teams play on Saturday, Victor Lizarraga is scheduled to start one of the two games. 

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 3-1 vs Lansing) (9-10 on the season)

Sean Barnett – 0-for-2, Sac Fly

Nerwilian Cedeno – 1-for-4, Double, Run Scored

Enmanuel Pinales – 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K (83 pitches – 51 strikes)

Right-hander Enmanuel Pinales’ breakout season continues, as the right-hander struck out four batters in five scoreless innings pitched. Pinales has performed like an ace this season, with a 1.45 ERA and 2.72 FIP on the season after his start against Lansing. Pinales allowed one run in the first inning, but settled in from there, retiring nine of the last eleven batters he faced in order, allowing a single extra-base hit on the night. 

Sean Barnett made his High-A debut after a torrid start with Single-A Lake Elsinore, and he immediately contributed, providing a sacrifice fly to cash in a double from Nerwilian Cedeno. Leo De Vries had another base hit in the game, reaching base on a single off starter Corey Avant. Brendan Durfee had a single of his own while playing his first game of the season at first base, and both Jack Cotello and Braedon Karpathios had hits of their own. 

Tyler Morgan has been hot or cold out of the TinCaps bullpen, but the dominant version of Morgan appeared in the game, tossing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Reliever Elker Huizi was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and a pair of wild pitches in the eighth inning.

The formula x 2: Rodney Green Jr. reached, stole a bag, Tommy White brought him in.

(Plus a little insurance from Cole Conn.) pic.twitter.com/V14btlORTQ

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) April 26, 2025

The TinCaps return to action for their usual Saturday matinee. A starter has not yet been announced. Isaiah Lowe would be in line to start, but after allowing eight runs in 1.1 innings over his last two starts, it is not yet known whether he will make the start. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 7-2 vs Visalia) (6-13 on the season)

Ryan Wilson – 2-for-4, Double, Triple, Two RBI

Alex McCoy – 2-for-4, Home Run, Two RBI

Miguel Mendez – 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K (64 pitches – 39 strikes)

Bienvenido de nuevo a El Diamante, Miguel Mendez! Lake Elsinore’s starting pitcher made his first start back in front of the Storm crowd on Friday, and he was completely in cruise control. Mendez allowed two runs in four innings of work, striking out five batters. In just his second start of the season, the Dominican right-hander had his best outing of the season, and one of the better outings from a Storm starter this season. 2023 Padres seventh-round pick Tucker Musgrove made his professional debut in the game, tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Musgrove, who is listed as a two-way player, will likely see game action on the mound and in the outfield, having hit .397 in his final collegiate season at the University of Mobile while also tossing 18 innings of 3.00 ERA baseball. Bernard Jose tossed a scoreless 1.2 innings of relief, and Kleiber Olmedo threw two scoreless to close out the win. 

Welcome back to The Diamond, Miguel Mendez ?

4 IP
2 ER
5 SO pic.twitter.com/VVhpGVSDe2

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 26, 2025

Ryan Wilson had two run-scoring extra-base hits, with a double and triple in the ballgame. Wilson is off to a strong start to the season, hitting .286 with an .821 OPS. Kaden Hollow hit a home run in the game, his first with Lake Elsinore, and Alex McCoy continues to demonstrate impressive power at the dish, hitting his second home run of the season to deep left field. While Lamar King Jr did not have a hit in the game, his defense behind the plate was on full display, as the Storm’s catcher threw out speedster Juan Corniel on an impressive throw to second base. Kavares Tears finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk and two singles, raising his average in the early going to .303.

Don’t run on The King#EmbraceTheStorm?️ pic.twitter.com/XjGVQk86yt

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 26, 2025

ALEX MCCOY SWINGS A BIG BAT!! pic.twitter.com/vgKKdQRH7x

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 26, 2025

The Storm return to play Saturday night, with Bryan Balzer likely to start.

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.