Padres minor league affiliates had a busy weekend, going 1-4 in Saturday’s games and 2-2 on Sunday.

Here is a recap of the games’ events. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 4-2 in 10 innings vs Sacramento on Saturday) (12-14 on the season)

Yonathan Perlaza – 2-for-5, RBI Double

Tim Locastro – 2-for-2, Two Doubles

Omar Cruz – 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K (56 pitches – 36 strikes)

El Paso received a strong start from left-hander Omar Cruz. Making his first Triple-A start of the season, Cruz was efficient and effective, tossing four innings of one-run baseball on just 56 pitches. One of Cruz’s strengths has been landing all his pitches for strikes, and the Hermosillo native got whiffs on a staggering 42% of swings against. With Ryan Bergert up with the big league club, Cruz is in a strong position to showcase his ability to succeed as a starter. Francis Pena threw two innings in the game in relief, and after taking a few outings to ramp up, he is officially back, as they say. Pena’s fastball clocked in as high as 99.1 mph, the second-fastest pitch of the day in all of Triple-A baseball, allowing him to strike out four batters. Harold Chirino tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Ethan Routzahn was tagged with the loss, as he blew the save on a two-run single by Jake Lamb. Back out for the tenth inning, Routzahn allowed a go-ahead home run to catcher Brett Auherbach. El Paso was unable to rally against former Padre Joey Lucchesi, with Yonathan Perlaza striking out to end the game. 

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED BRETT BASEBALL BLASTS ONE DEAD CENTER TO GIVE US THE LEAD!! pic.twitter.com/bcvpMMO2ss

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) April 27, 2025

Offensively, Yonathan Perlaza and Tim Locastro each posted multi-hit games. Locastro had two doubles in the ballgame, while also walking twice, not recording an out in the game. Luis Campusano drove in the Chihuahuas’ first run of the game with a sacrifice fly off a hanging sweeper. Yonathan Perlaza lined an RBI single to left field to score the team’s second run of the ballgame, raising his season RBI total to 24 in 26 team games. Clay Dungan had one hit in three at-bats, and Trenton Brooks drew two walks and hit a single, raising his slash line on the season to .310/.423/.575 (.998 OPS). 

Chihuahuas Lost 7-2 on Sunday (12-15 on the season)

Trenton Brooks – 2-for-4, Two Doubles, RBI

Ripken Reyes – 3-for-4, RBI Single

Jared Kollar – 4 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K (74 pitches – 40 strikes)

Five days after shutting out the River Cats over five innings, Jared Koilar went cutter-heavy against them again, but the results were not as strong. Kollar allowed three runs on eight hits in four innings. Opposing batters put 18 balls in play against him, and 50% of those registered as hard-hit. This start was not quite a full 180 from his last start, but it was not the sort of outing one looks back on fondly, either. Despite that, he posted a 3.00 ERA against Sacramento this week. Jason Blanchard was knocked around for three runs in 0.2 innings of work, and Raul Brito allowed one run in an inning of work. Kevin Kopps tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, bringing his season ERA down to 2.30. Austin Davis and Andrew Bellati tossed a scoreless frame each, keeping the score where it was. 

pretty sure Luciano hit this ball to new mexico…tie game! ? pic.twitter.com/lg43eOsQQA

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) April 27, 2025

El Paso’s offense stalled out, with the team only scoring twice and stranding 11 runners on base. Ripken Reyes had his first multi-hit game with El Paso, recording his first three hits at the Triple-A level and scoring a run. Trenton Brooks hit two doubles of his own, driving in a run. Eguy Rosario finished 1-for-3 with a walk, seeing more time at shortstop with Mason McCoy on the big league bench, and Luis Campusano was 1-for-5 with an opposite-field single in the loss. 

San Antonio Missions – Finished 0-2 in Doubleheader on Saturday

Lost 6-4 in Game 1 (9-10 on the season)

Moises Gomez – 2-for-2, Two-Run Home Run

Devin Ortiz – 1-for-3, RBI Single

Jackson Wolf – 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K (77 pitches – 53 strikes)

In the first of two seven-inning games, Jackson Wolf tossed five innings and battled past early command struggles to keep his team in the game. The wiry left-hander struck out six in five innings, but allowed four runs early. An RBI single from LuJames Groover gave Amarillo a 1-0 lead, and a forceout off the bat of Christian Cerda extended the lead to 2-0. Kristian Robertson took Wolf deep in the second, extending the lead to 4-0. 

Kristian Robinson launches his 5th Homer for his 2nd hit of the day

4-0 AMA pic.twitter.com/4KwGAGDQtv

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 26, 2025

The Misisons rallied in the ensuing innings, with Devin Ortiz putting the team on the beard with an RBI single. Moises Gomez brought the game within one on a towering drive down the left field line. The ball looked foul to some, fair to others, and ultimately, the umpiring crew deemed that the home run was a fair ball, bringing the score to 4-3. Joshua Mears continued to put good wood on the ball, tying the game at four with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. 

Gomez hits what looked like a foul ball but ruled a Homer to left.

4-3 SA @EVT_News @StatNerd_Base pic.twitter.com/137pnpVJ92

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 26, 2025

The momentum came to a screeching halt in the sixth, when Jose Espada came on for San Antonio. Espada allowed a single and walk to lead off the inning, and Sod Poodles shortstop Andy Weber singled to load the bases. While Espada got Drake Osborn on a strikeout, first baseman Jose Fernandez gave Amarillo the lead on a two-run single, ending Espada’s day. 

Jose Fernandez delivers a bases loaded Double to score 2!
Amarillo leads 6-4 and Espada will be done for the day after only getting 1 out.

Carter Loewen will relieve Espada

6-4 AMA
B6 pic.twitter.com/XMY3tk4cqD

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 26, 2025

While the Missions reached base twice in the seventh, it was not enough to come back, as the team fell 6-4 in game one of two. 

Missions Lost 5-3 in Game 2 (9-11 on the season)

Francisco Acuna – 2-for-3, Two-Run Home Run

Marcos Castanon – 2-for-4, Two Singles, Run Scored

Victor Lizarraga – 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K (71 pitches – 44 strikes)

Starter Victor Lizarraga allowed a career-high four home runs in five innings of work, striking out five batters. The right-hander matched his season-high in strikeouts, and while the walks weren’t many, his command wasn’t at his best. Lizarraga’s home runs allowed came on pitches in the upper half of the zone, and Sod Poodles batters took advantage. As Sod Poodles third baseman said postgame, “I saw him throw a heater first pitch, it was probably above the zone. I was trying to push him down. The report on this guy, his stuff plays best at the bottom of the zones, so if you’re going to err on a side, miss up. Then he left another breaking ball, that was probably a ball but I thought it was hittable at the top of the zone, and I like the ball at the top of the zone, so I thought I could get up there and play with him, and I took a good swing and was able to capitalize on it.” (Hat tip to The Prospect Times’ Austin Harsfield for the quote). 

Groover and Conticello go back to back on 2 straight pitches

2-0 AMA pic.twitter.com/edkNGDCGtF

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 27, 2025

The Missions’ offense was not in peak form without Ethan Salas, who was officially placed on the seven-day injured list on Saturday, April 26. Marcos Castanon had two base hits in the game, scoring a run. Wyatt Hoffman had a base hit and a run scored of his own, and Francisco Acuna kept slugging with a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his fifth of the season. Romeo Sanabria did not play in the game. Bradgley Rodriguez threw two scoreless innings of relief, with four strikeouts while also peaking his velocity at 99.3 mph. 

Bradgley Rodriguez K’s Melendez for K #3 @EVT_News @StatNerd_Base pic.twitter.com/ThMZx5sOdk

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 27, 2025

Missions Won 5-4 on Sunday (11-10 on the season)

Anthony Vilar – 1-for-4, Home Run

Wyatt Hoffman – 1-for-4, Two-RBI Single

Jagger Haynes – 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Before the ball game, right-hander David Morgan had his contract selected by San Diego. 

Jagger Haynes had a strong start against Amarillo, striking out five batters in five innings of work. Haynes had everything working against the Sod Poodles, posting one of his better starts of the season. Haynes seems to be turning a corner after his last start and is continuing to emerge as a prospect on the rise. Right-hander Spencer Jones had 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, and Ryan Och tossed 0.2 innings, allowing an unearned run. Jagger Haynes’ 5 Strikeouts vs AMA

The lineup did its part to lead to victory, as Wyatt Hoffman’s second-inning RBI single scored two runs and gave the Missions a 2-1 lead. On the next at-bat, Sod Poodles starter Dylan Rey balked to score the third run for San Antonio. Amarillo tied the game in the bottom of the second on an RBI double and a bases-loaded walk. Anthony Vilar made sure the Missions had a lead with a solo home run in the top of the third inning, and Brandon Valenzuela hit a solo home run of his own in the fourth, giving San Antonio a 5-3 lead. 

Eduarniel Nunez loaded the bases in the eighth while recording one out, being relieved by Manuel Castro. The Guasave, Mexico native struck out Ivan Melendez and got a flyout to escape the bases-loaded jam, also recording three outs in the ninth for a five-out save. Castro has been one of the breakout arms of a Missions bullpen seemingly full of them, sporting a 0.84 ERA, 0.37 FIP, and 0.38 WHIP in 10.2 innings.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 9-7 vs Lansing on Saturday) (9-11 on the season)

Brandon Butterworth – 2-for-5, Two Singles, RBI

Ethan Long – 1-for-3, RBI Single, Two Runs Scored

Isaiah Lowe – 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K (73 pitches – 44 strikes)

After a disastrous pair of starts, Isaiah Lowe returned to the mound and brought forth a strong outing. Lowe bounced back from a 54.00 ERA in two starts to allow one run in 3.1 innings of work, striking out four batters. Lowe could have gone longer in the game had he not reached his pitch count so early, but his fastball was sitting 93-94 and touched 98 at one point. His sweeper reached up to 87 mph, with his changeup and cutter also seeing use in the game. While he did not see himself in line for the win, it was the perfect building block for the 21-year-old right-hander. Right-hander Josh Mallitz was tagged with the loss, allowing a grand slam in the fourth inning and four more runs in the fifth inning, all earned. All in all, Mallitz allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings. Tyson Neighbors worked a scoreless frame in the eighth inning, as did Xavier Ruiz in the ninth inning.

The TinCaps offense executed a game plan of “death by a thousand paper cuts,” with each of their ten base hits being singles. Six different batters had an RBI, and Ethan Long scored two runs. The team’s constant base traffic led to ample opportunities with runners in scoring position, further aided by fielding gaffes by Lansing’s infield. Brandon Butterworth and Brendan Durfee continue to show impressive offensive tools for later draftees, with each singling twice. Jacob Campbell, a former Cubs draftee, also singled twice in the game. Rosman Verdugo and Braedon Karpathios each singled and scored a run in the game as well. It was a full-blown team effort, but one that came up short. Leo De Vries did not play in the game. 

TinCaps won 5-4 on Sunday (10-11 on the season)

Braedon Karpathios – 1-for-4, Two-Run Home Run

Nerwilian Cedeno – 2-for-4, Go-Ahead Two-Run Home Run

Eric Yost – 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K (84 pitches – 56 strikes)

A back-and-forth game in Lansing finally went the TinCaps’ way, as the team won 5-4 thanks in part to a ninth-inning home run off the bat of Nerwilian Cedeno. The Venezuela native has been a part of the Padres organization since 2019 and looks to be en route to his best offensive campaign. Cedeno was 2-for-4 in the game, one of two batters with a multi-hit game. Brandon Butterworth continued to hit well out of the leadoff spot, leading off the game with a solo home run. The 2024 12th-round pick has reached base at an impressive .380 rate this season, serving as an effective table-setter for the big bats in the Fort Wayne lineup. Braedon Karpathios had a home run of his own, his third of the season. DH Sean Barnett had his first High-A hit, a ninth-inning single to set up the go-ahead home run. 

Cedeño Steals A Win ?@TinCaps center fielder Nerwilian Cedeño launched his first home run of the season Sunday

The go-ahead blast in the ninth secured a 5-4 ‘Caps win. Fort Wayne back at home on Tuesday on @1380TheFan pic.twitter.com/eWvXTXfbdV

— Jaden Taylor (@JadenTaylor25) April 27, 2025

Starting pitcher Eric Yost continues to get results sat the back-end of Fort Wayne’s rotation, going 4.1 innings and allowing one earned run. While Yost is not the sort of arm who racks up double-digit strikeouts, he continues to get soft contact thanks to a sinker-sweeper combo. This start was no exception, as Yost recorded six of 14 outs on the ground. Reliever Harry Gustin was charged with two earned runs in 2.2 innings of work, striking out two but allowing a go-ahead home run to Lansing’s Tommy White. Right-hander Garrett Hawkins won with two scoreless innings, striking out two batters. The Saskatoon native is returning from Tommy John surgery this season, and while his performances have been up-and-down in the early going, he looks to be turning a corner, as in his last four outings, he has allowed two runs in 7.2 innings, with seven strikeouts in that span. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 8-4 vs Visalia on Saturday) (7-13 on the season)

Alex McCoy – 2-for-4, RBI Double

Kasen Wells – 2-for-5, Two Singles, RBI, Stolen Base

Bryan Balzer – 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K (69 pitches – 43 strikes)

Lake Elsinore used a five-run eighth-inning surge to snatch an 8-4 win over Visalia on Saturday night. Alex McCoy and Kasen Wells had multi-hit efforts in the win, with Wells singling twice and stealing a base. The second of those singles from Wells added on to a 5-4 lead in the eighth. Alex McCoy drove in the game’s first run on a second-inning RBI double, and B.Y. Choi drove in McCoy with an RBI single of his own. Zach Evans brought the team to within a run with an RBI ground-rule double in the seventh inning, driving in his 19th run of the season. Kavares Tears was called on in the eighth to pinch-hit and drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Evans hit a sharp grounder to short with two outs and runners on second and third, but Visalia shortstop Adrian Rodriguez couldn’t handle the ball, allowing two runs to score and extending the Storm’s lead to 8-4. 

Kavares Tears was asked to pinch hit in the 8th with the bases loaded.

He delivered a game-winning sac fly pic.twitter.com/VirmSdTUkq

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 27, 2025

Bryan Balzer rebounded after a forgettable start against Fresno to deliver four innings of two-run baseball. The Yokosuka, Japan native struck out five batters in his start while walking none, and his secondaries showed impressive movement to befuddle opponents. He even finished his start in style, snagging a liner up the middle for the final out of the fourth inning. Bodi Rascon tossed his longest outing of the season, throwing four innings of two-run baseball with three strikeouts of his own. After seeing the Storm’s bullpen used frequently throughout the series with Visalia, Rascon’s effort was valiant, and he earned the victory in the effort. 

Bryan Balzer, You’re Too Tough. Your Swag Too Different. Your Pitch Is Too Good. They’ll Kill You. pic.twitter.com/SqdzpJnGaM

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

Storm Lost 9-7 vs Visalia on Sunday (7-14 on the season)

Lamar King Jr – 1-for-2, Sac Fly, RBI Single

Kavares Tears – 1-for-5, RBI Single

Will Varmette – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K (33 pitches – 12 strikes)

Storm starter Will Varmette did not allow a ball put in play in his outing, which sounds good. The not-so-good part? Varmette walked four batters in the game, only throwing 12 strikes and departing down 1-0 with the bases loaded. Luis Gutierrez came on in relief once again and allowed all three inherited runners to score. The left-handed Gutierrez allowed four runs of his own in 3.1 innings of work, with the damage capped off on a two-run home run by Ruben Santana. Vicarte Domingo struck out four in 2.1 innings while allowing one run in relief. While the Vancouver-born Domingo has struggled with hits allowed in his first 9.1 professional innings, he has also struck out 17 batters (for a 35.4% strikeout rate). Adam Conrad keeps putting up scoreless innings out of the Storm bullpen, tossing 2.1 shutout innings with two strikeouts. 

The Storm’s lineup did their part to give the team a chance at a victory, with 10 hits and 13 walks drawn. Ample opportunities were present for the Storm, but the team was afflicted with an inability to get hits with runners in scoring position, stranding 17 runners on base. Kavares Tears finished 1-for-5 with an RBI single, also reaching base on a run-scoring error. Lamar King Jr drew two walks and hit an RBI single, as well as a sacrifice fly in the game. Zach Evans had two RBI of his own in the game, with a sacrifice fly and RBI groundout. Yendry Rojas drew two walks out of the nine-hole, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. Leadoff man Kasen Wells had two hits and three runs scored in the loss, raising his slash line to .288/.400/.388 (.788 OPS) in his first 20 professional games. 

Before the next slate of Padres minor league games kicks off on Tuesday, EVT would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Austin Hartsfield of The Prospect Times, who provided EVT with highlight video and quotes live from the Amarillo-San Antonio series throughout the week.

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.