The San Diego Padres, minor league affiliates, went 3-0 on Friday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 6-5 vs. Salt Lake) (11-14 on the season)

Aaron Brooks: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (25 pitches, 16 strikes)

Tim Lopes: (2-for-4), HR, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB

Preston Tucker: (4-for-5), 2 RBI

Adam Engel: (1-for-3), 2B, RBI, R, BB

The Chihuahuas strong bullpen kept them in the game for ten innings, allowing Preston Tucker’s fourth hit of the day to walk the game off. El Paso starter Anderson Espinoza struggled, surrendering three runs in 3.2 innings, but the Chihuahuas offense kept pace. They scored a run in each of the first four innings, including a Tim Lopes homer in the third inning. Adam Engel continued his rehab assignment, sending a double into left field before scoring a run. However, while both starters lasted just 3.2 frames, the bullpens traded scoreless frames until the tenth inning. Salt Lake scored in the top half of the inning, but the Chihuahuas answered in the bottom half. Tim Lopes singled Jose Iglesias over to third base before stealing second to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position. On a 2-1 count, Tucker sent a ground ball through the right side, earning El Paso a win. 

San Antonio Missions (Won 6-5 vs. Northwest Arkansas) (10-8 on the season)

Lake Bachar: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K (33 pitches, 18 strikes)

Daniel Johnson: (3-for-5), 2B, RBI, 2 R

Michael De La Cruz: (2-for-4), 2B, 3 RBI, BB

Brantley Bell: (1-for-5), 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

In a very similar fashion to the Chihuahuas, the Missions won a 6-5 affair in ten innings. San Antonio was led by Daniel Johnson, who had a three-hit day, scoring a pair of runs. Catcher Michael De La Cruz was the hero, as his tenth-inning double walked the game off. Just like El Paso, he brought home the tying and winning runs with one swing of the bat. Starter Brian Gonzalez made his way through just three innings, surrendering a pair of runs in his final inning of work. Edwuin Bencomo was crucial for San Antonio, as he worked three more innings to save the bullpen. He allowed just one run, keeping them in the game. Five straight hits in the fourth inning from the Missions brought three runs home, giving them a lead at the time. However, a sacrifice squeeze from Northwest Arkansas sent the game into extra innings, where De La Cruz played hero.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Postponed-Weather) (4-14 on the season)

The rain prevented the TinCaps from playing on Friday night. They’ll play a doubleheader tomorrow against the Great Lakes Loons. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 6-3 vs. Visalia) (14-5 on the season)

Robby Snelling: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 K (75 pitches, 47 strikes)

Ian Koenig: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K (56 pitches, 39 strikes)

Anthony Vilar: (3-for-4), 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, K

Chase Valentine: (1-for-3), RBI

Lake Elsinore used another very good performance from Robby Snelling to lead themselves to victory. He’s got just a 1.13 ERA in four starts this season, a big part of Lake Elsinore’s hot start. Chase Valentine drove in Rosman Verdugo to tie the game at one in the fourth before Anthony Vilar scored on Charlis Aquino’s single. That put the Storm ahead for good, as they scored four runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. It was a big game for Vilar, who added two RBIs in the fifth inning as part of a three-hit day. The Rawhide made three errors, which the Storm took advantage of, as four of their six runs were unearned.

Saturday’s Probables:

El Paso: Matt Waldron (0-2, 8.41 ERA)

San Antonio: Efrain Contreras (0-3, 12.00 ERA)

Fort Wayne: Ryan Bergert (0-1, 2.00 ERA)

Lake Elsinore: TBD

Sam Evans

Sam is a Senior in High School. He has been writing for three years, and started at EVT in June of 2021. He’s headed to Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in the fall of 2023.